In this episode of The UpWords Podcast, host John Terrill sits down with theologians David Buschart and Ryan Tafilowski, co-authors of Worth Doing: Fallenness, Finitude, and Work in the Real World. Together, they explore a more universal theology of work that speaks to all professions—not just those with high agency or prestige.

The conversation dives into:

• Why most faith-and-work discourse overlooks the realities of fallenness and finitude.
• How embracing our created limits can be liberating rather than frustrating.
• How gaining a theology of work that moves beyond only ideas of productivity or calling can help us in the trenches of our jobs.
• How a more robust theology of work can provide spiritual wisdom for navigating seasons of toil and unmet expectations.

If you’ve ever wondered how your daily labor—whether in the boardroom, classroom, or trades—fits into God’s story, this episode offers clarity and hope.

About our guests:

W. David Buschart (PhD, Drew University) is professor of theology and historical studies at Denver Seminary. He is the author of Exploring Protestant Traditions and coauthor of Theology as Retrieval. He is a ruling elder and member of the theology committee of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Ryan Tafilowski (PhD, Edinburgh) is an assistant professor of theology at Denver Seminary and the lead pastor of Foothills Fellowship Church in Littleton, Colorado. He is the coauthor, with Ross Chapman, of Faithful Work: In the Daily Grind with God and for Others. He previously served as theologian-in-residence for the Denver Institute for Faith and Work.

Resources & Links:

• 📖 Worth Doing: Fallenness, Finitude, and Work in the Real World = https://www.ivpress.com/worth-doing
• 🔗 Denver Institute for Faith & Work = https://www.denverinstitute.org/
• 🔗 Karam Fellowship = https://karamfellowship.org/
• Theology of Work Project = https://www.theologyofwork.org/

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This episode was created by the SLBF STUDIO at Upper House.

Produced by Daniel Johnson and Dave Conour

Edited by Dave Conour