In commemoration of this month’s 506th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, I’d like to share some of Martin Luther’s major achievements:

1. Luther posted the 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany in October, 1517. These were the differences Luther found between the Roman Catholic Church and the Bible. His refusal to recant these views led to him being excommunicated.
2. Friends of Luther made copies of the theses on the newly-invented printing press, and they spread across Europe in a matter of months. This was the first time a controversy had spread with the help of a printing press.
3. He hid in the Wartburg Castle in Eisenach after his excommunication in 1521. While there, he translated the New Testament into German.
4. Luther published his German Bible translation, and it quickly became a bestseller, as well as a model for other vernacular translations, including Tyndale’s English Bible.
5. Luther taught that the doctrine of justification by faith alone was the central doctrine of the Christian life. He also said that faith came solely as a gift from God.

Join me in celebrating Luther’s influence today and let it inspire you in your ministry. Remember, the Reformation that Luther started over 500 years ago is far from over!

Your partner in ministry,

Nelson

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.