Nothing else surpasses the first coming and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and few events can claim to have changed the world, but God, in His infinite wisdom, saw fit to use a German Monk’s exposition of Scripture to eventually institute Reformation Day, which commemorates the start of the Protestant Reformation. On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther’s bold action proved to be something that changed the world.
Because of what the Lord taught him through the Scriptures, Martin Luther took a stand against the traditions of the state and the Roman Catholic church to proclaim his 95 theses on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church. In effect what Luther posted became the Five Solas of Protestant belief: “Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone according to Scripture alone for God’s glory alone.” As Pastor Stephen Nichols writes,” Reformation Day celebrates the joyful beauty of the liberating Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Reformation Day is celebrated every October 31, and 2024 will mark the 507th anniversary of Luther’s momentous action. This day is important for evangelical Christians because it speaks about Jesus and about how we are saved, and who we are as Christ-followers. We can use the celebration of Reformation Day to witness to unbelievers, to edify our local church, and to encourage missionaries and churches in other countries.
So what are some ways we as the church can celebrate Reformation Day in a tangible way?
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Martin Luther is the most well-known of the sixteenth-century Reformers, but other key figures include John Calvin (father of Calvinism), Ulrich Zwingli (who “took” the Reformation to Switzerland), Jan Hus (burned at the stake for heresy against Roman Catholic teachings), John Knox (leader of the Scottish Reformation), William Tyndale (translated much of the Bible into English and executed for heresy by the Roman Catholic church), Johann Eck (proponent of the Roman Catholic position and opponent of Luther), John Wycliffe (he preceded Luther and was critical of the papacy), and Johannes Gutenberg (his printing press enabled mass printing of the Bible). Many and varied books and articles are available to study these men who had such an impact on church history.
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The scope of Martin Luther’s 95 theses is astounding and speaks to the sincere and profound prayer and study Luther put into reading and understanding God’s Word for what it is—the truth we are to believe and obey. One way to study the 95 Theses is to portion them into thirty-one segments and use each as a Bible study and devotional during each day of October. For both of the above personal studies, plan a time of discussion with friends and/or family so the truths and impacts of these stalwarts of the faith encourage you to stand firm in your own faith.
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As an introduction, you can use your study notes about the history of the Reformation and assign study members to present information about key Reformers to the group. The main focus can be on the key doctrines of the 95 theses and how they impacted the formation and beliefs of the Protestant Church.
An informative section of the study can be a discussion of the Five Solas (see the link above), which are the Latin terms used to express the Five “Solely” tenets of the Reformation. As a fun addition, research why the Five Solas are expressed in Latin.
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Recommended documentaries include:
a. Vision Video offers a 5-pack of DVDs expressly devoted to the Reformation and its founders.
b. Luther [Film] gives us an enlightening depiction of Martin Luther’s life.
c. Drive Thru History with Dave Stotts [YouTube Video] produced a short history of Martin Luther and Reformation Day.
d. The Christian History Institute’s Reformation Overview is available through Amazon.
Recommended books and articles include:
a. Pastor John Piper shares his recommendations in a very informative article, “What are the Best Reformation Biographies?”
b. Answers in Genesis Ministries created a short article about the history of the Reformation and why it’s important to us.
c. The Story of Christianity, Volume 2 provides a good overview of the Reformation and the men who played a huge part in its formation and spread throughout the world.
d. The Reformation: How a Monk and a Mallet Changed the World, by Stephen Nichols
e. Reformation Timeline: another wonderful chart by Rose Publishing.
f. The Unquenchable Flame by Michael Reeves; a book that looks at the heart of the Reformation.
Thankfully, we have much written and produced about this important date in Christian history. Once you have watched and read your fill of Reformation and the Reformers’ History, try writing a blog post or do short posts on social sharing what you’ve learned. Ask your church elders if you may share what you discovered in your research with a children’s or adult’s Sunday school class.
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Many churches hold special services and/or lectures to focus on Reformation Day. It’s easy to look at local church websites or the local paper’s bulletin board listings of church events. Invite others who may be curious about church history. If your church chooses to have a Reformation Day service, plan your worship music and prayers according to hymns and prayers inspired by the Reformers (e.g. A Mighty Fortress is Our God, written by Martin Luther). G3 Ministries has posted a sample plan of worship for your Reformation Day service. Make sure the Gospel is presented in its entirety.
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Switch up Halloween and give trick-or-treaters information about Reformation Day. Add cookies and/or candy made into shapes of Luther, Calvin, the printing press, and even a scroll representing the 95 Theses. Similarly, you can engage the children in your home with fun yet truthful Reformation-themed crafts or activities. They can then help hand out packets to little ones who stop by during Halloween festivities. Lisa, host of the website, thispilgrimlife gives us great ideas for keeping children happy and busy as they learn about Reformation Day.
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Combine Reformation Day with National Evangelism Day (Ray Comfort’s Living Waters Ministry). National Evangelism Day also takes place on October 31, so it's a wonderful time to share the Good News. As you speak to people from your church, within your home, or in public, use Reformation Day as a conversation-starter to talk about the Gospel and the Good News that Jesus offers us salvation through grace when we place our faith in Him, and not based on any good works that we do or do not do.
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Are any of your church-goers thespians? Here’s a great chance to get interactive with your local community by hosting a one-man play with Martin Luther as the main character. The actor will dress in sixteenth-century attire and can speak from the 95 theses, share about the incident that caused him to become a monk, and talk about his opposition from the state and the Roman Catholic church, etc. At the end of the play, a Q and A session with your pastor can answer questions about the Reformation and why it’s so important for Christians.
Often, small local theaters are open to allowing churches to rent their facilities for a reduced cost. Some other ideas:
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Make sure to light the document at night to draw attention from your neighbors. Have a weatherproof box full of copies of the 95 Theses for anyone to take. Make sure to have copies inside your church building for your members to give to family and friends as well. If you plan to have a special service and/or a one-man performance of Luther, include this on any take-home flyers.
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The following is a list of ministries that offer Reformation Day resources:
In all of these activities, we can do what Luther did on October 31, 1517; we can exalt Jesus Christ as Lord.
In closing, and as a personal task, take time to:
For Further Reading
When is Reformation Day and What Does it Remind Christians of Today?
What is the Importance of Reformation Day?
10 Things to Know about Martin Luther and His 95 Theses
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