Martin Luther 2: Glimpses for Kids children's worship bulletin

The Forgiveness of God
I was feeling depressed about all this one day while studying in the reading room. I was looking in the New Testament at St. Paul's epistle to the Romans when I came upon the Scripture in Romans 1:17, "The just shall live by faith." I suddenly sprang from my chair with greater happiness than I'd ever known!

I realized, in this one flashing moment, that God freely gives forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all who believe in Jesus Christ. Oh, what a relief! What a great hope for heaven! It wasn't my good works that earned me a place in heaven. God would give it as a free gift to those who trusted Him and believed the message of the gospel. I felt as though the gates of heaven had just been opened to me! I was finally able to sense God's love.

The Work of God
Imagine my surprise one day when a monk named John Tetzel began selling pieces of paper to people. He claimed that if they bought that piece of paper called an indulgence, God would forgive their sins. People actually believed they could have God's forgiveness by buying a piece of paper.

John Tetzel wouldn't listen to what I had to say, so I needed a way to make my point that indulgences were wrong. It was a common practice for scholars to write down their positions on religious subjects and tack them on the door of Wittenberg's Castle Church. I decided this was the best way to start the debate on what Tetzel was doing. On October 31,1517, I tacked my 95 Theses, or 95 reasons, onto the door of the Castle Church.

That day, I had no idea that my 95 theses would be the spark that lit the fire of what came to be known as The Great Reformation.

PostScript
Martin Luther had a big problem: How did he dare stand against a powerful church, long traditions, and great teachers? Yet before God, he felt he had no choice.

There are now about 65 million people in the world who are Lutherans. However, Martin Luther never intended to start a new or separate church. He wanted to see the Roman Catholic Church reformed.

Make It Real! Questions to make you dig a little deeper and think a little harder.

As a child and young man, Martin Luther thought of God as angry and harsh. When you think of God, what characteristics do you think of?
Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses in order to begin a debate on topics he felt strongly about. Can you hold a mock debate in your classroom or in your family? What modern topics would be good to debate?
Luther said, "Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise." He was especially inspired by Mary's song, the "Magnificat." Do you have a particular song that inspires you?
A "defining moment" can be described as an event that changes the course of your life. Can you describe some of Martin Luther's defining moments?

Martin Luther, Father of the Reformation

Luther posting his 95 Theses on the door of Wittenberg's Castle Church.