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ETS ACADEMY · LESSON 2

The Reformation

Teaching points

  • The Reformation was not a break from Christianity — it was a recovery of it. Five solas: Scripture alone, Christ alone, Grace alone, Faith alone, God's glory alone.
  • Martin Luther's 95 Theses (1517) challenged indulgences and sparked a movement that changed the world.
  • John Calvin, Ulrich Zwingli, and others built Reformed theology that emphasized God's sovereignty and the authority of Scripture.
  • The printing press made the Bible accessible to ordinary people for the first time. Technology served the Gospel.
  • The Reformation reminds us: when the church drifts, God raises up reformers. Every generation needs reformation.

Read in Scripture

  • Romans 1:17
  • Ephesians 2:8-9
  • 2 Timothy 3:16-17
  • John 8:32
  • Acts 5:29

Reflect

  • What 'reformation' does the church need today?
  • How does the principle of sola Scriptura affect the way you lead and teach?
  • What traditions in your church are biblical, and which are merely cultural?
  • How can you be a reformer in your own context?

Put it into practice

  • Study one Reformer (Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Tyndale) this week.
  • Read one chapter of the Bible in a language you understand — thank God for the translators.
  • Identify one area where your church needs reformation, not just improvement.

Jesus Generation Movement Academy teaching. Sources and credits →