Resource List for Cobblestone Path ~ The Reformation Age ~ 1350-1648 AD

This is a list of great resources for studying the Christian Church from 1350-1648 AD. This list is designed to coordinate with Cobblestone Path Church History Research Journal ~ The Reformation Age, but can also be used by students just to study the history of the Church. For more great resources chronologically throughout the history of the Church, check here.

I’m really excited about my new book for young adults on Martin Luther! Be sure to check out When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther

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Cobblestone Path Church History Research Journals are designed to help middle school and high school students develop a solid understanding of Christian history one “age” at a time. They will also help young adults develop and strengthen skills in pre-writing (notetaking and organization), handwriting, reading comprehension, and research. While much of the research for the journals will be done using the internet, you’ll want to have a good Christian history overview text (or two) and you may wish to supply your students with some great biographies or literature pertaining to the time period.

Following is a list of recommended resources and suggested supplements. Because I know many of you have younger children as well, I will also recommend some great books from The Reformation Age as well. You can include them in your Church history studies with a few well-chosen read-alouds. No notebooking or research required!

Cobblestone Path ~ The Reformation Age

Each journal covers a period of time (or “age”) in Church History. There’s no clear agreement on the divisions of Church ages, so I have divided these ages thematically and have tried to name them appropriately. Cobblestone Path is designed to look at the major aspects of each age from a global view. Students will find people and movements that stood in opposition to the Christian Church, as well as those who claimed the name of Christ, yet espoused a different gospel. This research journal series is compiled from a Protestant viewpoint. There is not a complete list of the bishops and popes of Rome or of world leaders, however, at every point where the individual popes or world leaders are important to understanding Church history, they are included. Below are the titles and periods covered by each journal.

Cobblestone Path ~ The Reformation Age

Recommended Church History Overviews

For middle and high school students undertaking the study of Church history, I recommend choosing a good overview text (or two), and then allowing students to use the internet to do additional research. Following are five good choices. You’ll want to read reviews and make a decision based on your needs.

• Church History in Plain Language: Fourth Edition
• The Story of Christianity, Vol. 1: The Early Church to the Dawn of the Reformation and The Story of Christianity, Vol. 2: The Reformation to the Present Day
• Turning Points: Decisive Moments in the History of Christianity
• Reformation Heroes
• Heroes of the Reformation

Supplemental Reading For Middle School

• When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther
• Hammer of the Huguenots (Heroes & History)
• History Lives Box Set: Chronicles of the Church (Specifically, the second and third volumes: Monks and Mystics: Chronicles of the Medieval Church (History Lives series) and Courage and Conviction: Chronicles of the Reformation Church (History Lives series))
• The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History
• A Plymouth Pilgrim: William Bradford’s Eyewitness Account of the Mayflower Passengers
• John Welch: The Man Who Couldn’t Be Stopped (Trailblazers)
• John Knox: The Sharpened Sword (Trailblazers)
• Charles Spurgeon: Prince of Preachers (Trailblazers)
• William Tyndale: The Smuggler’s Flame (Torchbearers)
• Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation

Supplemental Reading For High School

• When Lightning Struck!: The Story of Martin Luther
• Reformation Sketches: Insights into Luther, Calvin, and the Confessions
• Girolamo Savonarola (Bitesize Biographies)
• Hugh Latimer: The Foremost Preacher of the English Reformation (Bitesize Biographies)
• John Hooper (Bitesize Biographies)
• John Knox (Bitesize Biographies)
• Renee of France (Bitesize Biographies)
• Samuel Rutherford: Bitesize Biography (Bitesize Biographies)
• Thomas Cranmer (Bitesize Biographies)
• Ulrich Zwingli
• William Farel (Bitesize Biographies)
• The Thunder: A Novel on John Knox
• The Betrayal: A Novel on John Calvin
• Foxe’s Book of Martyrs (Pure Gold Classics)

Reformation Age Books for Preschool to Second Grade

• Joan of Arc
• Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed The World
• The Barber Who Wanted to Pray
• Martin Luther: What should I do? (Little Lights)
• John Calvin: What is the truth? (Little Lights)
• John Knox: Who Will Save You? (Little Lights)

Reformation Age Books for Third to Fifth Grade

• The 100 Most Important Events in Christian History
• Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History
• Mr. Pipes and Psalms and Hymns of the Reformation
• Spy for the Night Riders: Martin Luther (Trailblazer Books #3)
• The Queen’s Smuggler: William Tyndale (Trailblazer Books #2)
• The Betrayer’s Fortune (Trailblazer Books Book 14)
• The Mayflower Secret (Trailblazer Books Book 26)
• Fine Print (Creative Minds Biography)