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It is one of my FAVORITE times of the year: Reformation Month! This is the month that we celebrate how Martin Luther stood up to the Roman Catholic Church and changed the world by nailing his 95 Theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenburg. Today I am excited to share some free Reformation Day printables with you!
Reformation Day printables
We have created some Reformation Day printables for you! These coloring pages feature Martin Luther, the Schlosskirche, and Wartburg Castle (which was Martin Luther’s hideaway for awhile, but more on that later!)
P.S. I am currently in the midst of planning a Reformation Day party for our church, and I am having a blast! We have several fun things planned for it. I can’t wait to share my ideas with you at the end of the post!
But first, a background of the Protestant Reformation!
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century movement to reform the church. In response to the corruption of the Roman Catholic Church, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and many others led a revolt against it, resulting in the establishment of Protestantism.
Corruption in the Church
One major example of corruption within the Catholic Church in Rome was the sell of indulgences. These were fake “get out of jail free” cards that allowed people to “buy” their way into heaven. (Pope Leo X was trying to finish Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and needed money for that pursuit. He also needed spending money for his LAVISH lifestyle!)
Luther and his 95 Theses
Luther, an Augustinian monk at the time, didn’t believe this was right, so he composed 95 theses, or objections to the practices of the Catholic Church. On Wednesday, October 31, 1517, Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg to encourage public debate.
This was the spark that started the Protestant Reformation which changed not only Christianity, but the world. It’s hard to overstate how important this event was! Because of the Reformation, we now have things like freedom of religion, democracy, and modern science.
Bibles for the common folk!
One of the most significant aspects of the Reformation was the way it made the Bible more accessible to ordinary people.
Before the Reformation, the Bible was largely inaccessible to anyone other than clergy and scholars. The vast majority of people were unable to read or understand Latin, the language in which the Bible translations were primarily written. Even if they could read Latin, most people could not afford to purchase a copy of the Bible.
The Reformation changed all of that! Thanks to the work of men like Martin Luther and William Tyndale, the Bible was translated into languages that ordinary people could understand. It was also printed in large numbers and made more affordable. As a result, the Bible became much more accessible to the average person.
This had a profound impact on society! For the first time, ordinary people had direct access to the word of God. This allowed them to develop their own religious beliefs and practices, independent of the Catholic Church. It also helped to fuel the spread of literacy and education.
As a result, the gospel message spread like wildfire during the Reformation, with millions coming to saving faith in Jesus Christ as a result.
The Reformation changed the course of history
The Protestant Reformation was one of the most important events in human history, and we owe a great debt of gratitude to Martin Luther and many other reformers for their bravery in the face of the religious tyranny of the day.
That’s why we take time every October to celebrate this momentous event and the fact that we live in a world where we can freely practice our faith!
An aside about Martin Luther
During his time as an Augustinian monk, Martin was tormented by the knowledge of his sin and strove tirelessly to do “good works.” He would obsessively spend hours confessing his sins to priests, until the priest would get frustrated! Martin Luther even traveled on foot from Germany to Rome….a “holy pilgrimage” that was hundreds of miles!
Over the course of years, Luther began to realize that much of the Catholic Church’s doctrine went contrary to the Word of God. By his careful study of the Bible, he realized he could never earn eternal salvation by his own good works–however zealously he performed them.
The Lord revealed to Martin through His Word that salvation was found by turning from his human efforts and trusting in Jesus Christ alone for forgiveness. Through his study of the Bible, the Holy Spirit opened Martin’s eyes to understood that good works were the result of genuine faith, not a means to obtain salvation.
This revelation caused Martin to repent and trust in Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. As a result of his new found faith, Martin’s life was changed, and he began to live for the glory of God. He became a bold witness for the gospel.
The 5 Solas
The beliefs of Martin Luther and the other Protestant reformers later came to be summarized as the Five Solas: Scripture alone, Christ alone, faith alone, grace alone, to the glory of God alone.
Learning more about the Reformation
Reformation Month is a great time to learn more about this important time in history. Check out some books from your local library, or take a look at the resources I have listed below. If you homeschool, this is the perfect time to do a unit study on church history!
Wanting to learn more about Martin Luther and the Protestant reformation?
Check out these fun Reformation Day resources!
The Barber Who Wanted to Pray, by R.C. Sproul
What do you get when you combine two of my favorite people: RC Sproul and Martin luther? Answer: an excellent children’s book!
Luther In Real Time
This podcast from Ligonier ministries is EXCELLENT. It is engaging for both adults and kids and is actually a little addicting. “May we listen to the next episode, Mom?” is something I heard a TON when we were working our way through this podcast!
A Mighty Fortress is Our God (sung by Chris Rice)
One of my favorite versions of A Mighty Fortress is our God, an amazing hymn by Martin Luther!
Onward to the Reformation Day printable pack!
The coloring pages in this printable pack feature both Martin Luther and Wartburg Castle which was Luther’s hideout after he was excommunicated from the Catholic Church, and Pope Leo X was in hot pursuit!
I hope your kids enjoy coloring them! Just click on the caption of each image to subscribe and download the Reformation Day printables PDF files. Then, you can print as many copies as you need. I recommend printing on cardstock or heavy duty paper so that the coloring sheets are more durable.
>>As always, please glance at this note before downloading! It outlines how to prudently use resources from the Plum Jolly website!<<
And now, as promised: Reformation day Party Ideas
If you’re looking for some fun ideas to celebrate Reformation Day, look no further! Here are a few of the things that I am incorporating into our party!
Die lebensmittel (food)
· We are having a dessert potluck, and I am encouraging people to bring German desserts. Our family has a traditional recipe for lebkuchen that has been passed down. That is sure to be my contribution to the dessert table!
Dekorationen (decor)
· Decorate with fall colors because…well, it’s October, ha! I plan to put clusters of red, orange, yellow, and brown balloons around the room. In addition, I plan to use gold foil balloon numbers to make a “1517” banner to hang on the wall with twine!
Aktivitäten (activities)
· Have a bonfire and make s’mores (because what’s a party without s’mores?) So we can’t do this because we will be at the church, but other Reformation parties I have been to have had lovely bonfires! SO cozy!
· Play traditional German games like “Topfschlagen” and “Schokoladenessen.”
These chocolate-eating games sound like so much fun!
· I also plan to get together a lively game of Reformation bingo! No gambling, just prizes. Ha!
· I am going to set up a table for the children with the Reformation Day printables from this page and plop buckets of brand new crayons on it! Also, check out this coloring page with another lovely Martin Luther quote on it…about apple trees.
· Children’s story time read aloud: The Barber Who Wanted to Pray, by R.C. Sproul.
Das bonbon (treats)
· My family can attest to the fact that I CAN NOT throw a party without treat bags for the kids, so I plan to wrap some sweets up in these. I haven’t finalized what will fill the bags yet, though!
Kleidung tragen (to wear)
· After-party update: my sweet sister bought this t-shirt (for both she and I) to wear to the Reformation Party. I received so many comments on it!!
I hope you enjoy these free Reformation Day printables and party ideas! Celebrating the Protestant Reformation is a great way to teach kids about Christian history and have some fun at the same time. So put on your best lederhosen (or dirndl) and get ready to PARTY!
Have a blast celebrating Reformation Day – Soli Deo Gloria!
>>Looking for more printable coloring pages? Check out our free fall coloring pages!
What is the gospel?
As Ligonier ministries so elegantly states, “The gospel is the good news that is the solution to the bad news that all people are unrighteous and are under the wrath and curse of God.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the amazing news that God has provided a way for us to be forgiven of our sins and to have eternal life. This gift is made possible only through belief in Jesus Christ alone, who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and rose from the dead to give us new life.
John Stott said it well
John Stott put it beautifully when he wrote, “The gospel is not good advice to men, but good news about Christ; not an invitation to us to do anything, but a declaration of what God has done; not a demand, but an offer.”
Let’s hear from R.C. Sproul
In addition, R.C. Sproul weighs in here with more gospel goodness: “The only way you can receive the benefit of Christ’s life and death is by putting your trust in Him and in Him alone. You do that, you’re declared just by God, you’re adopted into His family, you’re forgiven of all of your sins, and you have begun your pilgrimage for eternity.”
The gospel is a message of hope and salvation, and it is a message that changes lives. It is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). When we share the gospel with others, we are sharing the good news of what God has done for us through the GIFT of His Son, the Messiah: Jesus!
A quick note before downloading your free Reformation Day printables!
Please remember to supervise any children in your charge when they are using materials downloaded from Plum Jolly. Take a look at our Disclaimer for more information on wisely using our website!
This clipart is for personal, church, or classroom use only. By downloading any of the resources available on this site, you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions of Plum Jolly. Thanks and have a BLESSED autumn!
>>Check out these new Reformation Day coloring posters in the Plum Jolly shop!<<
