What Was the Reformation All About?
The Protestant Reformation is a story of transformation—a transformation from hate to love, from slavery to freedom, and from blind faith to a glorious discovery of the truth in Jesus Christ. In this short video, Dr. R.C. Sproul summarizes the main catalyst for the Protestant Reformation and the mission of Ligonier Ministries more than five-hundred years later. This video is also available in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. You’ll find below several other resources that explain what the Reformation was all about.
Books
The Beauty of Divine Grace by Gabriel N.E. Fluhrer
This book introduces readers to the five solas of the Protestant Reformation—Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, and the glory of God alone—explaining their biblical foundations and their significance for Christian faith and life.
Dr. Gabriel N.E. Fluhrer devotes a chapter to each of the five solas, tracing their roots in Scripture and their development through church history addressing common misunderstandings surrounding each doctrine, such as the nature of faith as an instrument rather than a cause of salvation, and the inseparable connection between the sufficiency of Scripture and the finished work of Christ.
The Heart of the Reformation: A 90-Day Devotional on the Five Solas by Ligonier Ministries
Sometimes one word is all that stands between the truth and a lie. During the Reformation, that word was sola: “alone.” That word made all the difference during the Reformation, and the same is true today. This devotional covers the five solas of the Reformation, helping readers to better understand the core biblical truths that display the reliability of God’s Word and the depths of His mercy.
Reformation Women: Sixteenth-Century Figures Who Shaped Christianity’s Rebirth by Rebecca VanDoodewaard
Just as Deborah, Esther, and the New Testament Marys helped shape Biblical history, so the women of the Reformed church have helped to make its history great. In this book Rebecca VanDoodewaard introduces readers to twelve sixteenth-century women who provide Christians today with examples of strong service to Christ and His church. These influential, godly women were devoted to Reformation truth, provided support for their husbands, practiced hospitality, and stewarded their intellectual abilities. This book can help readers better understand church history and how God used women to further the Reformation through their work and influence.
The Unquenchable Flame: Discovering the Heart of the Reformation by Michael Reeves
Burning pyres, nuns on the run, stirring courage, and comic relief: the Protestant Reformation is a gripping tale, packed with drama. But what motivated the Reformers? And what were they really like? In this book, Dr. Michael Reeves, brings to life the movement’s most colorful characters (Martin Luther, Ulrich Zwingli, John Calvin, the Puritans, and others), examines their ideas, and shows the profound and personal relevance of Reformation thinking for today.
Podcasts
Luther in Real Time with Barry Cooper
Covering events that occurred more than five hundred years ago, this podcast invites listeners to walk in Martin Luther’s footsteps at the dawn of the Reformation. Hear in Luther’s own words the powerful story of his journey from heresy charges to his famous stand for the authority of God’s Word at the Diet of Worms.
Renewing Your Mind delivers daily Bible teaching to listeners worldwide. R.C. Sproul launched this outreach in 1994 to help people gain a deeper understanding of who God is as their minds are renewed according to His Word. Tune in during the month of October for Reformation-themed broadcasts.
Film
Luther: The Life and Legacy of the German Reformer by Stephen McCaskell
Discover the story behind the man who sparked the Protestant Reformation. Told through a seamless combination of live-action storytelling and artistic animation, this film presents Martin Luther’s daring life in extensive detail with commentary from R.C. Sproul and other teachers.
Teaching Series
Luther and the Reformation by R.C. Sproul
Centuries after his death, Martin Luther is celebrated as an intellectual giant, a brave opponent of corruption, a shaper of culture, and indeed one of the most significant figures in Western history. Many people, however, are unaware of the events of Luther's life that led him to make a courageous stand for the gospel in the sixteenth century. In this series, Dr. R.C. Sproul provides a thorough introduction to the life and thought of Martin Luther. With an eye to the lessons we can learn today, Dr. Sproul traces the major events of Luther's life and explores the gospel recovered by Luther and the other Protestant Reformers.
This teaching series (also available as a book) discusses several crisis moments in the life of Martin Luther that led to his recovery of the gospel as revealed in Scripture. Justification by faith alone was a liberating truth for Luther and the other Protestant Reformers, and it is still good news for God’s people to cherish today.
Justified by Faith Alone by R.C. Sproul
How do we answer the question, “What must I do to be saved?” The doctrine of justification by faith alone is at the center of Reformation theology and remains critical for all believers today. This doctrine is continually under assault, yet without it, there is no gospel. In this lecture series, Dr. R.C. Sproul explores the doctrine of justification historically and theologically. He carefully defines each term in the phrase “justification by faith alone” while pointing to the imputation of a perfect righteousness found only in Jesus Christ.
The Necessity of Reforming the Church by W. Robert Godfrey
What if the priorities of the church and the priorities of God’s Word were worlds apart? This realization launched the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation, as men such as Martin Luther and John Calvin worked to bring the church back under the authority of Scripture. Slowed by opposition, Calvin wrote to defend the necessity of reforming the church. In this teaching series, Dr. W. Robert Godfrey gathers insights from Calvin’s treatise to ask penetrating questions for Christians and congregations today as the work of reforming the church continues.
Reformation Truths with Michael Reeves
Some people dismiss the Reformation as a peculiar chapter of history with little relevance to contemporary life, but nothing could be further from the truth. In this eight-part teaching series, Dr. Michael Reeves explains that the Reformation still matters because the gospel still matters. This series surveys the beliefs of Roman Catholics and Protestants, revealing that these two traditions hold very different views on salvation—one relies on our performance, while the other rests on Jesus’ righteousness alone.
For Kids
The Woman Who Helped A Reformer by Rebecca VanDoodewaard
What does Katharina Luther do with an old monastery, lots of children, a busy husband, many guests, and little money? Work very hard! In this board book, take a peek at Katharina Luther’s days looking after it all out of thankfulness to God.
These simple stories, written with toddlers in mind, have beautiful, engaging illustrations that will have your children asking you to read them over and over!
Martin Luther: Christian Biographies for Young Readers by Simonetta Carr
In this volume for children, Simonetta Carr tells the compelling story of Martin Luther, the monk who wrote ninety-five questions, hoping to start a discussion about sin and repentance. The book traces Luther’s quest for peace with God, his lifelong heroic stand for God’s truth, his family life, and his numerous accomplishments. The Reformer’s greatest accomplishment, Carr writes, was “his uncompromising emphasis on the free promise of the gospel.”
Reformation Heroes by Joel Beeke and Diana Kleyn
The Reformation did not happen instantaneously. Rather, it was something that God in His providence arranged over a number of years. This book looks at how the Lord used various individuals to plant the seeds of church reform long before Martin Luther published his Ninety-Five Theses. Readers will learn about figures including John Knox, Peter Martyr Vermigli, Zacharias Ursinus, and Willem Teellinck, who contributed to the Reformation. Also included are chapters covering the Anabaptist and Counter Reformation movements.
Faithfulness Under Fire: The Story of Guido de Bres by William Boekestein
The life of Guido de Bres teaches us that we can find enduring hope in the gospel of Jesus Christ, even during persecution. Author William Boekestein sensitively tells the story of de Bres for children, guiding them through his turbulent life and times—from his birth in 1522 in a small Belgian town, to his call to the ministry and study under Reformers such as John Calvin and Theodore Beza, to his authorship of the Belgic Confession, to his life of suffering and his martyr’s death in 1567. Skillfully crafted illustrations and an easy-to-understand narrative combine to capture the entire family’s interest in—and admiration for—this amazing Reformation hero.
Collections
Browse more curated content on our website and mobile app by selecting the following Reformation-themed collections.
- What Are the Five Solas? by Various Authors
- The English Reformation by Various Authors
- New to Reformed Theology by Various Authors
