Who was Martin Luther?
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| enews BY |
| Mary C. Lindberg |
Every October, Lutheran congregations celebrate Reformation Sunday to honor our church's founder, Martin Luther, and to recall our history of reform. Here are some facts to help you talk to your kids about Luther. (Most kids get him confused with another great reformer, Martin Luther King Jr.)
Who was Luther?
Luther was a religious teacher who lived in Germany about 500 years ago. He and other key leaders started a reformation when they dared to ask critical questions about church practices and teachings. Luther and others were concerned that Roman Catholic leaders were focusing on helping people earn their way to heaven rather than teaching them about God's actions of grace and forgiveness.
Luther courageously challenged the Roman Catholic Church to stop trying to persuade people to give them money and receive salvation in return. He proclaimed God as the one who not only judges us but forgives, loves and saves us. Luther taught that we don't earn God's love: God loves us as a free gift, as grace.
God healed Luther's own troubled soul with a message of acceptance and love delivered through the Bible.
Why do we hear about Luther every October?
Luther made a list of reasons he disagreed with church leaders and thought the church should change (reform). He nailed this list to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, on Oct, 31, 1517. Every year we remember Luther on Reformation Sunday, Oct. 31, giving thanks for our heritage of grace and reform.
What can I tell my kids about Martin Luther?
You can teach your children the good news about God that Luther courageously spoke, wrote and preached. Here it is, in a nutshell:
God loves us.
God forgives us.
God needs us.
God's love is for everyone.
God gave us rules and love.
God talks to us in the Bible.
God is with us.
What is the Small Catechism?
Martin Luther wrote the Small Catechism as a guidebook for families to use at home and practice the Christian faith. The Small Catechism really is small! In a few pages it tells us about the structure of our Lutheran faith: The 10 Commandments, the creed, the Lord's Prayer, baptism, confession and communion. You can buy a Small Catechism or ask your pastor about getting one.
What can we do at home to remember Luther?
· You can use part of a table prayer that Luther prayed: "The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season."
· You can talk with your children about how to stand up for what God shows them to be true.
· When your children ask if they really have to go to bed, you can quote Luther and say, "This is most certainly true."
Who was Luther?
Luther was a religious teacher who lived in Germany about 500 years ago. He and other key leaders started a reformation when they dared to ask critical questions about church practices and teachings. Luther and others were concerned that Roman Catholic leaders were focusing on helping people earn their way to heaven rather than teaching them about God's actions of grace and forgiveness.
Luther courageously challenged the Roman Catholic Church to stop trying to persuade people to give them money and receive salvation in return. He proclaimed God as the one who not only judges us but forgives, loves and saves us. Luther taught that we don't earn God's love: God loves us as a free gift, as grace.
God healed Luther's own troubled soul with a message of acceptance and love delivered through the Bible.
Why do we hear about Luther every October?
Luther made a list of reasons he disagreed with church leaders and thought the church should change (reform). He nailed this list to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany, on Oct, 31, 1517. Every year we remember Luther on Reformation Sunday, Oct. 31, giving thanks for our heritage of grace and reform.
What can I tell my kids about Martin Luther?
You can teach your children the good news about God that Luther courageously spoke, wrote and preached. Here it is, in a nutshell:
God loves us.
God forgives us.
God needs us.
God's love is for everyone.
God gave us rules and love.
God talks to us in the Bible.
God is with us.
What is the Small Catechism?
Martin Luther wrote the Small Catechism as a guidebook for families to use at home and practice the Christian faith. The Small Catechism really is small! In a few pages it tells us about the structure of our Lutheran faith: The 10 Commandments, the creed, the Lord's Prayer, baptism, confession and communion. You can buy a Small Catechism or ask your pastor about getting one.
What can we do at home to remember Luther?
· You can use part of a table prayer that Luther prayed: "The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season."
· You can talk with your children about how to stand up for what God shows them to be true.
· When your children ask if they really have to go to bed, you can quote Luther and say, "This is most certainly true."
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