Welcome to this new message series. I’ve been really looking forward to this one for some time now, and can’t wait to really dig into each of the FIVE SOLAS starting next Sunday.
This week is just an introduction to what happened on October 31, 1517 that changed everything about the church. It is primarily intended for background and, hopefully, motivation for all of us to jump headlong into these deep, anchoring ideas!
So, October 31 is coming up soon. Most of our culture celebrates that day as Halloween. Did you come from a Halloween background like I did? Or, did you come from a background where your family avoided it?
If you could change one thing about the way our culture celebrates Halloween, what would it be?
Martin Luther’s nailing of his 95 theses to the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg happened on “All Hallow’s Eve,” October 31, 1517. The church had long before named November 1 as “All Saints Day,” recognizing and remembering the saints and martyrs of the church.
For Luther, the sainthood of only some believers was one of the church problems that needed to change.
Jesus prayed for his disciples and for all believers, John records Jesus’ prayer for us in his gospel. Here is part of it:
They do not belong to this world any more than I do. Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.
Jesus, John 17:16-19 NLT
How does the process of sanctification, or being made holy, take place?
What was Jesus’ primary concern in this passage?
What are your greatest influences right now? What informs your thinking the most?
Is this making you more holy, or more like the world? How?
Let’s face it. We are NOT OF this world, but for now we are STUCK IN this world. What is the distinction?
What is our role here?
How did Martin Luther live that out?
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT
What does it mean that Scripture is “inspired by God”? (literally, breathed by God) How does this shape the way you approach Scripture?
What does it mean to submit to the authority of the Word of God? Do you do this? Why or why not?
Apart from God’s Word, is it possible to be equipped for the good works in the world that Jesus has sent you to do, as he prayed about above? Explain.
The church in Luther’s day claimed the Pope had the same authority as the Bible itself. The Pope actually had as much power as Scripture! But Paul told Timothy that Scripture is from God and makes Christians “complete”. It’s not Scripture plus the Pope, nor is it Scripture plus anything else. (Sola Scriptura!)
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
James 1:22-25 NLT
Why do we often hear and not do when it comes to Scripture? What does this say about our faith?
Martin Luther stood before the church leaders and declared: “I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience.”
How do James’s words here help you understand why Luther was compelled to nail his theses to the door of the Castle Church that day?
Considering the pull of culture and all the influences in your life today, how are we likely to hear and not do when it comes to Scripture?
Why do we struggle in these areas?
James was clear. It is easy to live in denial and self-deception. He says simply listening to the message and nodding your head is not enough. Genuine religion and daily life can’t be separated. This is what Martin Luther knew to be true—his study of God’s Word led him to desire to live it out in truth, and lead others to do the same.
We started out talking about Halloween and what you’d like to see changed. What is a change that needs to take place in your own life? What does God’s Word have to do with that issue?
How are we doing as a group at allowing God’s Word to sanctify us more than we allow culture to mold us? How can we grow in this area?
Reformation in the church today takes place as it did in Luther’s day—when the people of God meet personally with God through the Word of God. How does this impact your view of the local church’s responsibility to you and your responsibility to it?