Christian history is full of exciting stories of men and women living for Jesus! The story of Martin Luther, the “Father of the Reformation”, is especially fun to learn about.
Martin Luther’s Life Story
After all, Martin Luther lived in the Middle Ages, a time of kings and princes, knights and peasants, castles and cathedrals.
Martin Luther began his life on the path to becoming a prosperous lawyer, before he felt a strong call to become a monk. As a monk, and later a priest, Martin Luther encountered the good news of Jesus in the Bible. He was saved–and that changed everything!
Not only did Martin live an exciting life, he changed the course of history.
Martin stood up against the false teachings of the Roman Catholic Church. He publicly debated theology, stood trial before the emperor, and was declared an outlaw punishable by death. Martin fled certain danger through a hole in a city wall, was impaled by a sword, was kidnapped, masqueraded as a knight, and organized a high-risk rescue of a bunch of nuns. More importantly, he furthered the reformation of the church back to the gospel we find in Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV:
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
God used Martin Luther’s obstinance, courage, and biblical integrity to reform the church, end feudalism, and bring salvation to many. Martin Luther’s life story is worth teaching to our teens and older kids!
10 Years of When Lightning Struck!
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther was published November 1st, 2015 by Fortress Press. The young adult historical fiction novel is celebrating its ten year anniversary–and it’s because of readers like you!
Check out this quick video. I talk about writing about Martin Luther and about how families use the book in their history curriculum. When Lightning Struck! has become an annual part of many families’ Reformation Day celebrations.
Thank you for being an important part of the success of When Lightning Struck!.
Reformation Resources for Your Family
Check out resources for your family this coming Reformation Day. You can also get them all at Thinking Kids Press!
When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther
The 5 Solas: Signs to Follow on the Narrow Path, A 7 Day Family Bible StudyBuy NowWho was Martin Luther? (Who What Why)What was the Gutenberg Bible? (Who What Why)Why did the Reformation Happen? (Who What Why)
Bible Resources for Your Kids
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Martin Luther and the Reformation
Teach your teens about Martin Luther and the Reformation in an exciting, new way with When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther! The book also makes a wonderful family read-aloud.
Martin Luther (1483-1546) is often referred to as “The Father of the Reformation”. Born during a time of superstition, tradition, and spiritual corruption, Luther gave up a lucrative career as a lawyer to become a monk in the Roman Catholic Church–a path he felt would certainly lead to salvation.
As Luther’s understanding of the spiritual corruption within the Church grew, and he despaired of true salvation, Luther (now a scholar and priest) sought the Bible for answers. Following his discovery of the true gospel in Scripture, Luther began to preach spiritual freedom to his congregation, and to teach biblical (rather than philosophical) theology at the University of Wittenberg.
It was on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther penned his Ninety-Five Theses in Latin in response to the abusive indulgence sales practices of the monk Johann Tetzel in a nearby town. Luther nailed the Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church, the scholarly bulletin board of his day, and mailed a copy to the Archbishop of Mainz. Luther hoped to start a scholarly debate about the practice of selling salvation through plenary indulgences. The response he received was greater–and more dangerous–than he imagined it would be.
Luther’s story is exciting. There are death defying moments, epic spiritual battles, narrow escapes, a kidnapping, revolution, and war. As the “Father of the Reformation”, Luther is a vital figure in Church history. His sacrifice and willingness to wage battle against the spiritual, religious, and political powers of his medieval world allowed Christians throughout time to embrace the truth of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone as explained by Scripture alone once again. May all glory be to God alone!
Read portions of the first eight chapters of When Lightning Struck!:
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