Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
Table of Contents
Leader Preparation.............................................................................................................................................1
Lesson Overview.....................................................................................................................................1
Lesson Objectives....................................................................................................................................1
Primary Scripture - Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38.........................................................1
Romans 1:17 - For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,[a] as it is
written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”...............................................................................1
Galatians 3:11 - 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The
righteous shall live by faith.”[a]................................................................................................1
Hebrews 10:38...................................................................................................................................1
38 but my righteous one shall live by faith, and if he shrinks back, my soul has no pleasure in
him.”..........................................................................................................................................1
Secondary Scriptures - Psalm 22:1..........................................................................................................1
Psalm 22:1................................................................................................................................................2
Teaching Prep - A Biography of Martin Luther......................................................................................2
Synopsis...................................................................................................................................................2
Early Life.................................................................................................................................................2
Luther the Monk and His Spiritual Anguish............................................................................................2
Luther - Wittenberg - The Study of Scripture..........................................................................................3
Luther - Spiritual Awakening and Enlightenment...................................................................................3
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far
from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night,
but I find no rest. Psalm 22:1.....................................................................................................3
Romans 1:17 -...................................................................................................................................4
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,[a] as it is written, “The
righteous shall live by faith.”.....................................................................................................4
Luther's Protestation of the Sale of Indulgences......................................................................................4
A major source of church funding during this period was the sale of indulgences. An
indulgence was a "get out of purgatory card" that could be obtained for oneself or others
by paying a certain sum to the church.......................................................................................4
"As soon as the coin in the coffer rings The soul from Purgatory springs"......................................5
The 95 Theses..........................................................................................................................................5
The Church Fights Back..........................................................................................................................6
A Closer Look at the 95 Theses...............................................................................................................7
Protestant Reformation............................................................................................................................7
What were Martin Luther's differences with the Catholic Church?........................................................7
Authority: Who decides what Christians believe and and how they worship?........................................8
Priesthood................................................................................................................................................8
Celibacy...................................................................................................................................................8
Holy Orders..............................................................................................................................................8
Communion.............................................................................................................................................8
Church Service.........................................................................................................................................9
Sacraments...............................................................................................................................................9
Marriage...................................................................................................................................................9
Veneration of Saints.................................................................................................................................9
Salvation..................................................................................................................................................9
VIDEOS for the Lesson on Martin Luther............................................................................................10
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
Table of Contents
The Before & After (optional).........................................................................................................................11
Text Message Questions........................................................................................................................11
Parent Email...........................................................................................................................................11
Lesson Guide.....................................................................................................................................................12
Getting Things Started (optional)..........................................................................................................12
Teaching Points......................................................................................................................................12
Summary................................................................................................................................................15
Announcements......................................................................................................................................15
Shared Prayer and Sign of Peace...........................................................................................................16
VIDEOS for the Lesson on Martin Luther............................................................................................16
VIDEOS for Lesson On Martin Luther.................................................................................................16
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Leader Preparation
Lesson Overview
In this lesson we will look at the basic biography of Martin Luther from his early childhood to his changing
the world by inspiring a fundamental Reformation of the only wester Christian Church - the Roman Catholic
Church.
We will generally look at these areas:
• Early Life - where he was born - his parents - his education
• Life-Changing Event - the thunderstorm that altered the trajectory of Luther's life
• Monkness - His spiritual anguish and eventual enlightenment through scripture
• The 95 Theses - his attempt to help the Church reform itself
• Persecution, Trial, Excommunication - the Church responds to his writings and protests
• Key factors in the growth of the Lutheran Movement
Lesson Objectives
1. To remind our students about the details of Martin Luther's life and how and why he began the
Reformation.
2. To connect our students to the key issues during Martin Luther's life that led to his teachings on grace
- priesthood of all people - and the protestations against the Catholic Church.
3. To set the stage for a more detailed look at Martin Luther's movement that began the foundation for
the formation of numerous Protestant Denominations - especially the Lutheran Church.
Primary Scripture - Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews
10:38
Romans 1:17 - For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith
for faith,[a] as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Galatians 3:11 - 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by
the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.”[a]
Hebrews 10:38
38
but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
Secondary Scriptures - Psalm 22:1
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
Psalm 22:1
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.[b]
Teaching Prep - A Biography of Martin Luther
Synopsis
Born in Germany in 1483, Martin Luther became one of the most influential figures in Christian history when
he began the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. He called into question some of the basic tenets of
Roman Catholicism, and his followers soon split from the Roman Catholic Church to begin the Protestant
tradition.
Early Life
Martin Luther was born on November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Saxony, in modern southeast Germany. His
parents, Hans and Margarette Luther, were of peasant linage, but Hans had some success as a miner and ore
smelter. In 1484, the family moved to nearby Mansfeld, where Hans held ore deposits.
Hans Luther knew that mining was a tough business and wanted his promising son to have better and become
a lawyer. At age seven, Martin Luther entered school in Mansfeld. At 14, he went to north to Magdeburg,
where he continued his studies. In 1498, he returned to Eisleben and enrolled in a school, studying grammar,
rhetoric and logic. The curriculum during the late Middle Ages was Latin and church liturgy and doctrine.
Discipline was severe: pupils were caned for misbehavior and not learning their schoolwork. He later
compared this experience to purgatory and hell.
In 1501, Martin Luther entered the University of Erfurt, where he received a Master of Arts degree (in
grammar, logic, rhetoric and metaphysics). At this time, it seemed he was on his way to becoming a lawyer.
However, in July 1505, Luther had a life-changing experience that set him on a new course.
Caught in a horrific thunderstorm where he feared for his life, Luther cried out to St. Anne, the patron saint of
miners, “Save me, St. Anne, and I’ll become a monk!” The storm subsided and he was saved. Most historians
believe this was not a spontaneous act, but an idea already formulated in Luther’s mind. The decision to
become a monk was difficult and greatly disappointed his father, but he felt he must keep a promise.
Two weeks after this incident, Luther joined the Augustinian Order in Erfurt; his father was furious.
Luther was also driven by fears of hell and God’s wrath, and felt that life in a monastery would help him find
salvation.
Luther the Monk and His Spiritual Anguish
The first few years of monastery life were difficult for Martin Luther, as he did not find the religious
enlightenment he was seeking.
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
Luther was extraordinarily successful as a monk. He plunged into prayer, fasting, and ascetic
practices—going without sleep, enduring bone-chilling cold without a blanket, and flagellating himself. As he
later commented, "If anyone could have earned heaven by the life of a monk, it was I." But his soul was
tormented with his fear of sin and his immiment sinfulness.
Many Christians of the late Middle Ages had a great fear of demons and devils, and were terrified of ending
up in hell. Mortality rates were high and life was very uncertain due to disease, accidents, childbirth and wars.
Luther shared those fears and his first years in the monastery he was tormented with the idea that all men were
hopeless sinners in the sight of God and unworthy of salvation.
Some years later, his view changed and he came to believe that Christians could be saved only by true
repentance and their faith in Christ's promise of salvation. He rejected the doctrine that acts of penance and
good works were the keys to heaven.
Luther followed all the requirements of the cloister - prayer, fasting, living a spartan life - but carried
everything to such an extreme that his superiors were worried about him. He wore out his confessor with
marathon sessions of confessing, going over every thought in detail, then starting again from the beginning.
His confessor, Father Staupitz, told him:
"Look here, if you expect Christ to forgive you, come in with something to forgive- parricide, blasphemy,
adultery -instead of all these peccadilloes."
Luther - Wittenberg - The Study of Scripture
His spiritual director, Fr. Johann von Staupitz, sent him to teach theology at the University of Erfurt, and in
1511, at the University of Wittenberg, where he received his Doctorate in Theology. In Wittenberg he was
also the parish priest assigned to minister to the citizens of the town. He excelled in his studies and received a
doctorate, becoming a professor of theology at the university.
A key reason that Luther was sent to Wittenberg was so he could begin really studying the scriptures which he
had not done up to this time. So while at Wittenberg Luther came, for really the first time, face to face with the
Holy Word of God. This led to his spiritual awakening.
Luther - Spiritual Awakening and Enlightenment
Through his studies of scripture, Martin Luther finally gained religious enlightenment. Beginning in 1513,
while preparing lectures, Luther read the first line of Psalm 22, which Christ wailed in his cry for mercy on
the cross, a cry similar to Luther’s own disillusionment with God and religion.
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest. Psalm 22:1
Two years later, while preparing a lecture on Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, he read, “The just will live by
faith.” He dwelled on this statement for some time. Finally, he realized the key to spiritual salvation was not
to fear God or be enslaved by religious dogma but to believe that faith alone would bring salvation. This
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
period marked a major change in his life and set in motion the Reformation.
Romans 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith,[a] as it
is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
This famous "Reformation text"—Romans 1:17—his eyes were drawn not to the word faith, but to the word
righteous. The text was clear on the matter: "the righteous shall live by faith."
Luther remarked, "I hated that word, 'the righteousness of God,' by which I had been taught according to the
custom and use of all teachers ... [that] God is righteous and punishes the unrighteous sinner." The young
Luther could not live by faith because he was not righteous—and he knew it.
Meanwhile, he was ordered to take his doctorate in the Bible and become a professor at Wittenberg
University. During lectures on the Psalms (in 1513 and 1514) and a study of the Book of Romans, he began to
see a way through his dilemma. "At last meditating day and night, by the mercy of God, I ... began to
understand that the righteousness of God is that through which the righteous live by a gift of God, namely by
faith… Here I felt as if I were entirely born again and had entered paradise itself through the gates that had
been flung open."
On the heels of this new understanding came others. To Luther the church was no longer the institution
defined by apostolic succession; instead it was the community of those who had been given faith.
Salvation came not by the sacraments as such but by faith. The idea that human beings had a spark of
goodness (enough to seek out God) was not a foundation of theology but was taught only by "fools."
Humility was no longer a virtue that earned grace but a necessary response to the gift of grace. Faith no
longer consisted of assenting to the church's teachings but of trusting the promises of God and the merits of
Christ.
It wasn't long before the revolution in Luther's heart and mind played itself out in all of Europe.
Luther's Protestation of the Sale of Indulgences
A major source of church funding during this period was the sale of
indulgences. An indulgence was a "get out of purgatory card" that could
be obtained for oneself or others by paying a certain sum to the church.
At this time, the local prince, Frederick III of Saxony (The Wise), had been granted permission from the Pope
to sell indulgences in Wittenberg to raise money for a bridge over the Elbe.
In addition, a representative, Johann Tetzel, of the Pope was just over the border in Thuringia selling
indulgences to raise money for the Pope and for another German nobleman who was purchasing a church
office (the Bishopric of Mainz) from the Pope. The Pope was selling offices and indulgences to get money for
an ambitious building program which included the construction of St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome. The Pope's
representative, the Dominican Father Tetzel, encouraged people to buy the indulgences with the jingle,
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
"As soon as the coin in the coffer rings
The soul from Purgatory springs"
and telling them their loved ones were crying out to be released from suffering.
Martin Luther was sent to Rome in 1510 on an errand for his order. He was shocked by the lack of morality
and piety of the local clergy and by the luxurious lifestyle of the Pope Leo X, a member of the Medici family.
Pope Leo was known for his expensive tastes and was fond of hunting, gambling and carnivals. The papacy
was at a low point in its history and others had been calling out for reform prior to Luther.
The 95 Theses
Martin Luther was a theology professor at the newly-established University of Wittenberg and had been
spending a good deal of his time reading the Scriptures and writings of the early Christians, especially St. Paul
and St. Augustine.
The university assigned him to teach on the Psalms and the writings of Paul. In studying the Psalms, he
learned that only a righteous person could be at peace with God. Luther was frustrated, because Psalms also
stated that no one was righteous. While studying the book of Romans, however, he came to understand that
"the righteous live by faith." Luther learned that people became righteous when they have faith in Christ. God
gives those who trust in him the righteousness of Christ when they rely on Christ alone to make them
righteous. While Luther could never earn salvation, Christ's work on the cross could make him righteous in
God’s eyes alone. Luther now believed that salvation was a gift of God, given to the one who has faith in
Christ alone.
In addition to learning about God's grace, Luther came to question other Church teachings. He believed the
Bible was the only authority for doctrine and practice. He rejected beliefs in Purgatory, praying to saints, and
gaining salvation through one's works, since these beliefs could not be confirmed by Scripture. The Church
taught that forgiveness could be earned by one's deeds or even purchased with money, but the Bible taught
that salvation was a gift and one could only be saved by receiving it as a gift.
He came to the conclusion there was no evidence in the Bible for believing the Pope had power to release
souls from Purgatory.And he was outraged by this practice by the Church to fund building projects and giving
"false hope".
Therefore, he felt the pieces of paper being sold to escape Purgatory were worthless and pious Christians were
being scammed. The fact that the funds were going from poor German peasants to wealthy Roman clergy
made the fraud even more disturbing. He wrote out a list of his objections to the practice; he named 95 issues
he wished to dispute.
On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed his ninety-five theses, or points of discussion, on the door of the Castle
Church in Wittenberg. The document was in Latin and invited other scholars to debate the statements set out.
This was the normal way to offer topics for formal discussion in a community of scholars, so the act of nailing
the paper to the door was not revolutionary. However, the topic was a touchy one. Indulgences were a major
method of fund-raising for the Church.
The 95 Theses included many of the points Luther had learned by studying the Bible. The 95 Theses taught
that only God could forgive sin, that forgiveness could not be purchased, that the Church should seek to save
souls rather than to gain money, and that the Church should teach the Word of God. These were points for
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
debate in which Luther declared his disagreements with the Church. He nailed his 95 Theses to the door of the
Castle Church in Wittenberg on October 31st, 1517. The nailing of the 95 Theses marked the beginning of the
Reformation, a movement to restore Scripture as the authoritative guide for, and Christ as the supreme head
of, the Church.
Then the 95 Theses were translated into German and widely distributed throughout Germany, courtesy of the
printing press. And the movement began in earnest.
The Church Fights Back
The protest against the indulgences set off a conflagration which, step by step, resulted in most of Northern
Europe breaking away from the authority of the Catholic Church.
The reaction of the Church initially was to try and suppress the attack on indulgences by suppressing Martin
Luther. Pope Leo directed the head of the Augustinians to: "quench a monk of your order, Martin Luther by
name". He also allegedly remarked, "Luther is a drunken German. He will feel differently when he is sober".
However, because of the complex politics of the time involving the Holy Roman Emperor, Spain and France,
the Pope couldn't afford to alienate the German princes. Some of the princes were sympathetic to Luther and
German resentment against sending money to Rome was on the rise.
The Pope, directly and through churchmen supporting him, told Luther he was wrong, but would be forgiven
if he backed down. Luther became more adamant and started adding new complaints about the Church. A
flurry of pamphlets and tracts issued from both camps attacking each other.
The Pope wanted to bring Luther to Rome and deal with him, but the German princes, including the Holy
Roman Emperor, Charles V, said Luther should be given a hearing on the issue in Germany. A debate was
held in Leipzig, with Luther challenging the authority of the Pope to decide doctrine and maintaining that
many church practices, including most of the sacraments, were bogus because they conflicted with Scripture.
It was clear by this time that there could be no coming together on these issues, since the very authority of the
Pope was called into question. Luther had made himself very unpopular with the Church. The Church did act
to curb the worst abuses of indulgences, but it was too late. The debate had moved far beyond that. See
Protestant Reformation for a list of the doctrinal differences between Luther and the Church.
Pope Leo sent Luther a notice that he would be excommunicated unless he renounced his heretical views
within 60 days. Luther responded by publicly burning the letter, or "bull" in Wittenberg, along with a stack of
Church writings.
The Church eventually moved to stop the act of defiance. In October 1518, at a meeting with Cardinal
Thomas Cajetan in Augsburg, Martin Luther was ordered to recant his Ninety-Five Theses by the authority of
the pope. Luther said he would not recant unless scripture proved him wrong. He went further, stating that he
didn’t consider the papacy had the authority to interpret scripture. The meeting ended in a shouting match and
initiated his ultimate excommunication from the Church.
Throughout 1519, Martin Luther continued to lecture and write in Wittenberg. In June and July of that year he
publicly declared that the Bible did not give the pope the exclusive right to interpret scripture, which was a
direct attack on the authority of the papacy. Finally, in 1520, the pope had had enough and on June 15 issued
an ultimatum threatening Luther with excommunication. On December 10, 1520, Luther publicly burned the
letter.
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
A Closer Look at the 95 Theses
Protestant Reformation
What were Martin Luther's differences with the Catholic
Church?
During the Protestant Reformation Martin Luther disagreed not only with the selling of indulgences, but also
with some of the fundamental tenets of the official Church doctrine of the 16th century. Here is a very basic
summary of the issues that divided the Catholics and Lutherans of that time.
Martin Luther
Pope Leo X
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
Authority: Who decides what Christians believe and and
how they worship?
Church: The Pope, along with his Church councils, declares doctrine and practice and his pronouncements
cannot be questioned. Doctrine of infallibility.
Luther: The Bible is the ultimate authority for doctrine. Well-meaning Christians can read the Scriptures and
use their reason to interpret the meaning.
Priesthood
Church: The priesthood is a sacrament granted by the Church. Priests have special powers not granted to
lay-people; only a priest can administer the sacraments and officiate at the mass.
Luther: Believed in the "priesthood of all believers"; any Christian can administer the sacraments and lead
church services.
Celibacy
Church: Celibacy is the holiest state and is a requirement for priests, nuns and monks.
Luther: There is nothing in Scripture requiring celibacy. In fact, the Bible wants people to "be fruitful and
multiply". Preachers should be married so they aren't tempted to sin.
Holy Orders
Church: Being a monk, priest or nun is a higher state and of higher spiritual value in God's eyes.
Luther: Christians should live in the world and practice Christian charity on their neighbors. Living with a
spouse and children teaches and builds character in a way denied to monks. This is what most pleases God.
Communion
Church: During the Mass, the priest changes the wine and bread into the blood and body of Christ
(transubstantiation); it only appears to be wine and bread. The congregation shares Christ's sacrifice and
receives a blessing from God by participating in it.
Luther: Any Christian can perform the mass, and Christ doesn't become the bread and wine, but his body and
blood are present "in essence" along with the wine and bread (consubstantiation). (Christ's presence is not just
symbolic, as some of the other Protestant leaders believed, e.g. Zwingli). The spiritual gift of the mass
depends on the mental state of the recipient. Unless the person has faith and is truly repentant, the mass
confers no benefit.
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
Church Service
Church: The mass must be in Latin and the priest wears special vestments. Only the bread is shared with the
congregation; the cup of wine is for the priest.
Luther: The service should be in the language of the people and the congregation shares the bread and wine.
No special clothing is required.
Sacraments
Church: there are seven sacraments and only a priest has the power to administer them. The priest can grant
remission of sins through the sacrament of confession.
Luther: Only the sacraments of baptism and communion have a foundation in Scripture. The rest can be of
some spiritual benefit, but they are not required. Confession is a good spiritual practice, but can be made to
any Christian. The priest has no power to forgive sins, only God can do that.
Marriage
Church: Marriage is a sacrament and is only valid when performed by a priest. Marriage with someone
outside the church is not valid.
Luther: Marriage is not a sacrament. Marriages between non-Christians are just as valid as Christian
marriages and Christians may marry non-Christians.
Veneration of Saints
Church: Saints can intercede and help people who pray to them. Only the Pope has the power to canonize
saints.
Luther: Prayers should only be to God. Adoration of saints and praying to them borders on pagan idolatry.
Saints can canonize themselves.
Salvation
Church: People are saved and go to heaven through faith and good works; faith alone is not sufficient.
Luther: Salvation is through faith alone; good works are not necessary, although generally someone who has
faith, repents their sins and loves God will naturally do good works.
CLARIFICATION: Most of these doctrinal issues are very complex, and theologians from both camps have
written oceans of text discussing these topics, so the above is a grossly simplified version of their positions!
Others may well disagree with these representations.
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
VIDEOS for the Lesson on Martin Luther
1. Martin Luther and The Reformation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTgdeKx8PUI 17 minutes
long History Chanel production. VERY GOOD!
2. Martin Luther Reformer’s Famous Statement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOWfTjkJc48 9
min clip from the movie “Luther” on the Diet of Worms trial and his response. very good
3. A Charlie Brown Reformation Day - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V8QzwHnPDk A 1:25 clip
from the original Linus speech dubbed in – Play this AFTER the above video.
4. Lisa Creates Life – Simpsons - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l7zJ7NsFjY Lisa creates a test
tube world – and creates Lutherans! Goofy and fun!
5. Martin Luther, the 95 These and the Birth of the Protestant Reformation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4d_7dOC-GQ&t=26s 11 minute review of Luther’s time and the
95 theses and the Reformation – very good summary especially starting at 1:45.
6. Luther 95 Theses - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijjbtcAEOnY&t=44s A briefer review – 4:33
– of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses from the movie “Luther” – good
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The Before & After (optional)
Text Message Questions
Did you know that this year we are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation? Come to Ignite to
learn more about Martin Luther and his movement.
Parent Email
Over the next four lessons we will be studying Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation and its impact
on our faith. Please encourage your student to attend his Ignite Small group!
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Lesson Guide
Getting Things Started (optional)
WELCOME: Take some extra time to welcome and make each student feel welcomed to IGNITE!
HIGHS & LOWS: Take the time for each person to have plenty of time to share with the group their
challenges and their triumphs (shiny spots vs bruised spots - happies vs crappies). Keep in mind some of the
challenges that are mentioned and maybe pray for them at the end of this section.
ASK:
1. How many of us gathered here today are LUTHERAN?
2. How many were baptized Lutheran?
3. In your opinion, what does it mean to be Lutheran?
Say Something Like: There are many religious groups and denominations - Lutherans - Methodists Episcopalians - Baptists etc... Tonight we will be talking about the PERSON who started it all. By some
estimates there are over 33,000 different Christian groups or religious organizations distinct from each other.
And of these there are approximately 40 different religious denominations or separate Christian belief
systems in the world.
ASK: Who started this whole REFORMATION thing? (Martin Luther in 1517)
SAY SOMETHING LIKE: So let's get to know who this rebel - Martin Luther - was...
Teaching Points
VIDEO: A Charlie Brown Reformation Day - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V8QzwHnPDk
Say Something Like: This is a nice way to start our discussion on Martin Luther. But because we have so
many baptized LUTHERANS here tonight - let's see how much you really know!
QUIZ: Give this quiz to your group. Do it as a group and then TEACH after each question. There will be a
longer video after a few of the questions so that they will be able to answer the questions more successfully.
• When & Where Was Martin Luther Born – Nov. 10, 1483 – Eisleben, Saxony Germany
• What was his father’s profession or trade? – Miner
Hans Luther was a miner and later worked in the smelting business of the mines and did so well that he
owned many smelting businesses. His success allowed Hans to send Martin to various schools for a much
different future.
• What field of study did Luther’s father, Hans, want him to enter? – lawyer
In 1501, Martin Luther entered the University of Erfurt, where he received a Master of Arts degree (in
grammar, logic, rhetoric and metaphysics). At this time, it seemed he was on his way to becoming a lawyer.
He started to study the law when he had a life changing experience.
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
• In 1505, Luther suddenly decided to become a monk instead of a lawyer. What dramatic event
happened to him that contributed to this decision? Hit by lightning and after praying to St. Anna he
vowed to become a monk if his life was spared.
• What university did Luther study theology and the bible and then become a professor of Theology?
Wittenberg
• Luther was a member of which monastic group?
1. Dominicans
2. Franciscans
3. Friars
4. Augustinians
VIDEO: Martin Luther and The Reformation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTgdeKx8PUI
• How many THESES or COMPLAINTS were written on the sheet of paper that Luther nailed to the
Church door in Wittenberg? 95
• A pardon from a priest for sins one has committed is called:
1. A petition
2. An indulgence
3. A thesis
4. Mass
He came to the conclusion there was no evidence in the Bible for believing the Pope had power to release
souls from Purgatory.
Therefore, he felt the pieces of paper being sold to escape Purgatory were worthless and pious Christians
were being scammed. The fact that the funds were going from poor German peasants to wealthy Roman
clergy made the fraud even more disturbing. He wrote out a list of his objections to the practice; he named 95
issues he wished to dispute.
On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed his ninety-five theses, or points of discussion, on the door of the Castle
Church in Wittenberg. The document was in Latin and invited other scholars to debate the statements set out.
• True or False: Luther believed that a person had to be a member of the church in order to be a
Christian. (false)
Luther came to believe “The just will live by faith.” He dwelled on this statement for some time. Finally, he
realized the key to spiritual salvation was not to fear God or be enslaved by religious dogma but to believe
that faith alone would bring salvation. This period marked a major change in his life and set in motion the
Reformation.
• What are some of the main complaints that Martin had against the Catholic Church?
1. Sale of Indulgences
2. Papal supremacy or infallibility
3. Priests forgiveness of sins
4. Tradition versus Biblical basis for beliefs –
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
5. That the earth is really flat
• Who came to sell indulgences in Juterborg, near Wittenberg, in 1517?
1. John Hus
2. John Tetzel
3. John Wycliffe
4. John Knox
• When did Martin Luther nail the 95 theses against the sale of indulgences?
1. 1 February 1522
2. 7 April 1521
3. 11 September 1519
4. 31 October 1517
• How did the Church respond to Luther’s 95 Theses and subsequent teachings?
1. burned his books
2. declared him an outlaw outcast
3. excommunicated him
4. eventually called him to the Diet of Worms for a public trial
• Who excommunicated Martin Luther on November 9, 1518?
1. Pope John Paul II
2. King Charles
3. Cardinal Cajetan
4. Pope Leo X
• Where, on 18 April 1521, did Martin Luther defend his teachings?
a) Diet of Worms
b) Consistory at Avignon
c) Parliament in London
d) Estates General in Paris
• What is the/a Diet of Worms?
1. a terrible weight loss program
2. an official gathering of secular and religious leaders to conduct an official inquiry
3. a collection of exotic wormage
4. Weight Watchers Convention
• Which of the following were NOT included in Luther's teachings?
a) Salvation cannot be earned, but is a gift from God to those who rely on Christ's righteousness alone
for salvation.
b) The Bible is the ultimate authority, and teachings that disagree with the Bible should be ignored.
c) The human will is enslaved to sin, and man will not repent until God graciously changes his heart.
• d) Christians should not participate in war.
• What was Martin’s wife’s name? Katerina
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
• What was unusual about Katerina? She was a former nun
• True or False – was Luther the first to translate the Bible into German – NO – there were other
vernacular translations including the Augsburg and Wenceslas bibles.
• What invention helped with the Protestant Reformation after Luther translated the bible into German?
The Printing Press invented in Wittenberg in 1454 by Guttenberg
SAY Something Like: So now we should all have a little understanding of who Martin Luther is and what
motivated him to start the Reformation. A couple of more questions...
ASK:
True or False - did Martin start all of this to OVERTHROW the Roman Catholic Church and start up his own
Church? (NO - he loved the Roman Catholic Church - but he felt compelled to change it - to REFORM IT from within if possible.)
What action kept Martin from reforming the Church? (He was excommunicated and tried and found guilty of
heresy at the Diet of Worms. That forced him into hiding and kept him from changing the Church from within.
He then translated the bible from Latin and Greek into the vernacular German. And now thousands could
read the scriptures for themselves.)
Did Martin want this new movement/ Church to be named after him? (NO - he though that was crazy!)
What was the name of the Church that MARTIN wanted? (Likely something like... Evangelical Church of
Christ - but not after him!)
VIDEO - just for fun if time Lisa Creates Life – Simpsons - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l7zJ7NsFjY Lisa creates a test tube
world – and creates Lutherans! Goofy and fun!
Summary
Martin Luther is one of the most important men after the birth of Christ. In a recent poll he was listed as the
NUMBER 3 most influential MEN in History. Number one is Albert Einstein - and number two is Isaac
Newton and then Martin Luther.
Luther started the Protestant Reformation which changed the theological - political - and sociological
landscape of the world in his time and for the future generations.
Announcements
1. Ash Wednesday was Wednesday - Lent has begun - please make an extra effort to attend worship and
senior high ministries during these 40 days of preparation before EASTER.
2. CHAOS will be in the Senior HIgh Youth Room for FELLOWSHIP on Wednesday, March 8. Cindy
and Tim will be leading fellowship. 6:45 - 8:15 PM!
3. Please go to CHAOS on Wednesday nights during LENT.
4. Special 8th Grade Night is Wednesday, March 15 - 7 to 8:15 PM in the Fellowship Hall. We will be
having some fun with the 8th graders and tell them about our senior high youth ministries! Please
come help welcome the 8th graders.
5. IGNITE will meet again on Sunday, March 19
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Martin Luther: His Life and Impact
Shared Prayer and Sign of Peace
Please share in prayer with your group. Use candles and hold hands if you want.
Then share a sign of peace.
VIDEOS for the Lesson on Martin Luther
VIDEOS for Lesson On Martin Luther
1. Martin Luther and The Reformation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTgdeKx8PUI 17 minutes
long History Chanel production. VERY GOOD!
2. Martin Luther Reformer’s Famous Statement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOWfTjkJc48 9
min clip from the movie “Luther” on the Diet of Worms trial and his response. very good
3. A Charlie Brown Reformation Day - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2V8QzwHnPDk A 1:25 clip
from the original Linus speech dubbed in – Play this AFTER the above video.
4. Lisa Creates Life – Simpsons - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7l7zJ7NsFjY Lisa creates a test
tube world – and creates Lutherans! Goofy and fun!
5. Martin Luther, the 95 These and the Birth of the Protestant Reformation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4d_7dOC-GQ&t=26s 11 minute review of Luther’s time and the
95 theses and the Reformation – very good summary especially starting at 1:45.
6. Luther 95 Theses - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijjbtcAEOnY&t=44s
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