Reformation Day 09
Today is Reformation Day.
It gets marked so because on October 31st, 1517, Martin Luther nailed up his 95 theses on the door of Wittenburg. This event brought legitimacy to many of the things which had been brewing for many years leading up to that point in the church and it helped set the stage for many other pastors and theologians to carry on the work and the ministry of the gospel.
The reformation is truly not at all about Martin Luther, but about the gospel and the many who had a hand spreading it and making it the focal point of the church…it was literally hundreds of pastors who together brought about the reformation. For sure, Luther, Calvin, and John Knox were some of the heavy hitters but there were many other less well known men and some in between. Men like John Wycliffe, John Huss, Thomas Cramner and Oliver Cromwell.
To learn more about the reformation from us see:
Sermon – Reformation Sunday 2009 by Ted McCann
Sermon – The Five Solas by Pastor Duane Smets
Blog – Revelation and Reformation by Pastor Duane Smets
In past years I have written blogs or preached on Luther the Five Solas. This year is John Calvin’s 500th birthday, so I thought I’d let him guest blog for us this reformation day. Many of you have heard brief quotes here and there from him…here is a chance for you to read a piece from him for yourself.
Psalm 36 – “Steadfast Love for Transgressors”
This is part of our summer Psalms series in 2009, where we are preaching through some of Pastor Duane’s favorites Psalms. This week is an exegetical sermon on Psalm 36 titled Steadfast Love for Transgressors. This sermon looks at how transgression works itself out in the heart, God’s steadfast love for transgressors, and how to pray against transgression. This sermon was originally preached July 12th, 2009 at The Resolved Church in San Diego, CA.
Calvin’s 500th Birthday
Today is John Calvin’s 500th birthday. John Calvin began studying theology about the same time most dudes starts popping zits and getting interested in girls…14 years old. But he didn’t become a Chrisitan until ten years later. When he came to truly believe in the gospel, he said it was like light coming into his soul. And from that day to his death bed his cry was fixed on the mercy of Jesus’ death for his sin and giving God glory for it.
Not long after his conversion Calvin became a minister and he did so during a time when many people were being put to death for it. I have already written about the personal impact of Calvin on my life in a past blog titled, One of My Dead Friends: John Calvin
Today, in a tribute to Calvin I’ll add some additional reflections on his work as a preacher, scholar, pastor, church planter and family man…and I’ll provide you with some great resources.
One of My Dead Friends: John Calvin
Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”
I like to joke that most all of my best friends are dead (the truth is they are alive and with Christ). I say that because in my life I have been extremely blessed by the writings of Godly men and theologians who have gone before me. This last Sunday during my sermon I pointed out the moral consistency of Nehemiah, how he “walked his talk” or “practiced what he preached.” Biographies enable you to see that in a person, they go a step further than just reading what somebody wrote and look into the quality and character of a person’s life.
It is very easy to just look around at what is common or accepted but when you read about someone’s life from outside of our current context and time period, you get a vision for something different and often greater. Yesterday, on my day off, I finished a biography I was reading on the life of John Calvin. Here are the things that stuck out to me and inspired me.
