Who was Martin Luther? Teach your kids (ages 8-11) about Martin Luther of the Reformation with this fun Martin Luther biography for kids.
The Irish politician Edmund Burke (1729-1797) once said:
Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.
Christian history is especially important. After all, it’s our family history. Christian biographies are a great way for kids to learn the story of the Christian faith. They are an excellent way to provide perspective for our kids on theology, the Church, and–most of all–God’s sovereign hand in history.
Who Was Martin Luther?
Sometimes the people who change the world come from the most unlikely of places. Places like a little town in a little country no one paid much attention to at the time. Often the people who change the course of history are not all that important seeming until you look back and see what it is they really did with their lives.
Who Was Martin Luther?, Danika Cooley (Christian Focus Publications, 2021), page 9
Martin Luther (1483-1546) is often called the Father of the Reformation.
People like John Wycliffe and Jan Hus had been calling for reform in the Church for more than a century by the time Martin Luther nailed the Ninety-Five These to the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church. But, historical events aligned at the time of Martin Luther’s push for reform–like the invention and proliferation of the printing press and the humanist movement–that allowed Martin Luther’s insistent voice to carry all the way across Europe and into the continents beyond.
Martin Luther and the Reformation
So, why did Martin Luther make a difference in history? Why should your kids be able to answer the question Who Was Martin Luther?
Take a look at some of the impact Martin Luther had on both secular and Christian history. Martin Luther:
- Taught that salvation in Christ is not by our work, but by the work of Jesus alone–by grace through faith. (Ephesians 2:1-10)
- Created a unified German language while translating the Bible into German.
- Advocated for the common person to be able to read the Bible in their own heart language.
- Helped end feudalism.
- Reformed the Church back toward Scripture–and away from human tradition–in areas of doctrine, Church structure, sacraments, and more.
Martin Luther is one of the most written about figures in history precisely because his impact was so great. If our kids are to be well educated in history, they must know this influential figure.
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Reformation Lapbooks here.
Martin Luther Biography for Kids
In a fun and engaging tone, the Christian biography Who Was Martin Luther? will take your kids through the life of the Father of the Reformation.
Who Was Martin Luther? chapters:
- Introduction: Changing the World
- Chapter One: Singing for his Supper
- Chapter Two: A Philosopher
- Chapter Three: O, Holy Rome
- Chapter Four: The Ninety-Five Theses
- Chapter Five: A Diet of Worms?
- Chapter Six: Kidnapped!
- Chapter Seven: A War, a Wife, and a Funeral
- Chapter Eight: The Reformation Spreads
- Timeline
If I told you the whole of Martin Luther’s story, this would be a very long book. After all, most people do many things in their lives, and the years go by one day at a time. We last left our young man Martin in a thunderstorm, beneath an elm tree hit by lightning.
He promised Saint Anna, a dead woman, he would become a monk. Our Martin was many things — competitive, proud, often angry — but he was not a liar.
Who Was Martin Luther?, Danika Cooley (Christian Focus Publications, 2021), page 32
Fabulously illustrated by Martyn Smith, the Who What Why series books are each 95 pages long with 8-9 chapters, perfect for your middle grade (ages 8-11) readers. The fun narrative makes each book an engaging family read aloud, but kids will love, too, that they can read the books on their own.
In fun sidebars, your kids will also learn about:
- The Printing Press
- The Bible
- The Medieval Roman Catholic Church
- The Black Death
- Medieval Monasteries
- Purgatory and Indulgences
- Feudalism
- Bible Translations
- Table Talks
- The Protestant Church
Who Was Martin Luther? is a fun way for kids to learn about a man who changed history and helped the Church remember the true gospel of Jesus Christ.
Purchase Who Was Martin Luther?
Learn more about the Who What Why series and get your FREE Abolition Lapbooks here.
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Christian Biographies for Kids | Christian History for Kids | Theology for Kids
Christian History Matters for Our Kids.
History matters. Now, more than ever, we see how important it is for our children to know and understand history and the Bible.
Here’s why:
- God is the sovereign ruler of all things. It’s important for our kids to see his hand in the history of nations and in the lives of both peasants and kings.
- Christian history is the story of our family history. Our kids get to see how people who love Jesus follow him.
- Understanding history can help our kids learn historic and biblical theology. They learn what the Bible says and what that means for us. They also see when the study of Scripture has taken important turns that have changed the Church.
- Reading Christian biographies and history can be a wonderful way for kids to think outside their own time and culture. God’s Church spans centuries and includes people from every nation.
- Christian biographies help kids consider their own faith, walk with Jesus, and the impact their witness may one day have on others–and on history.
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