The Upside-Down Kingdom

We welcome Chris Castaldo to the program to explore the Beatitudes. In his book, The Upside-Down Kingdom, Castaldo offers a fresh perspective on these familiar teachings of Jesus, showing how they reveal God’s heart for the poor, the meek, and the persecuted. He also provides practical guidance for how we can live out these values in our daily lives, both as individuals and as a community of believers. The book is recommended for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the gospel and its implications for our lives today. Castaldo argues that the Beatitudes challenge our cultural assumptions about power, success, and happiness, and call us to embrace a different way of living that is grounded in humility, compassion, and justice. Castaldo also draws on his own experiences as a pastor and theologian to provide practical guidance for how we can live out these values in our daily lives. Overall, The Upside Down Kingdom offers a fresh perspective on the Beatitudes that is both challenging and inspiring. Chris Castaldo (PhD, London School of Theology) is the lead pastor at New Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois. Follow him on Twitter at @chriscastaldo. Books by Chris Castaldo The Upside Down Kingdom: Wisdom for Life from the Beatitudes Talking with Catholics about the Gospel: A Guide for Evangelicals The Unfinished Reformation: What Unites and Divides Catholics and Protestants After 500 Years Journeys of Faith: Evangelicalism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Anglicanism Holy Ground: Walking with Jesus as a Former Catholic Justified in Christ: The Doctrines of Peter Martyr Vermigli and John Henry Newman and Their Ecumenical Implications Links Rebekah Eklund, The Beatitudes through the Ages The Center for Pastor Theologians Chapters 00:07 Introduction 03:12 Introducing The Upside-Down Kingdom 04:11 Catholicism and Evangelicalism 08:03 Studying the Reformation in Italy 11:11 Chris’ Family History and the Beatitudes 12:49 Worldly vs. Biblical Measures of Success 17:58 The Beginnings of The Upside-Down Kingdom 19:14 Inaugurated Eschatology and the Kingdom 23:23 Addressing Cultural Assumptions 30:38 Meekness 36:32 Societal and Political Implications of Jesus’ Teaching 39:51 Liberal Christian Ethics 42:26 The Beatitudes and Catholicism 48:57 Hopes and Aspirations for Readers of the Book 52:40 Upcoming Projects 54:34 Integrating Our Studies 56:10 Lessons from Italian Christians 58:35 Conclusion Participants: Camden Bucey, Chris Castaldo Mentioned in this episode: Call the Question! To be able to vote and see the results of our weekly polls, subscribe to our email newsletter for free at reformedforum.org/newsletter. You’ll also receive our bi-annual magazine in digital format. If you provide a US mailing address, we’ll also send you a print copy for free. Cast your vote, and we'll share the results next week.