After Darkness, Light | Let it Shine

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”” John 8:12

On October 31, 1517 Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany rediscovering and reaffirming the Gospel — sparking the Reformation — illuminating God’s Word.“I would never have thought that such a storm would rise from Rome over one simple scrap of paper…” — Martin LutherIn the early 16th Century the church in Rome started a slick campaign to raise money for improvements to St. Peter’s Basilica. Messengers were allowed to sell “indulgentia” or indulgences that they were told would purchase souls from purgatory; freeing them so they could move on to heaven.During this time period…

Please continue reading here: Taft Avenue Community Church: Orange, CA > After Darkness, Light | Let it Shine.

The Reformation: Trick or Treat?

On this day in 1517, Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of All Saints’ Church in Wittenberg, Germany. Looking back, Luther stated, “I would never have thought that such a storm would rise from Rome over one simple scrap of paper…”

The Reformation: Trick or Treat?

by David Mathis | October 31, 2013

It’s no accident that October 31 is both Halloween and the day remembered for the start of the Reformation. Both key off November 1, All Saints’ Day — or All Hallows’ Day Hallows from the Latin for saints or holy ones.On All Hallows’ Eve, October 31, 1517, the Roman Church received the world’s most memorable trick-or-treater at its door — though barely noticed at the time — when a lowly priest named Martin Luther approached the threshold of the Wittenberg branch in Germany and posted his 95 measly theses they aren’t nearly as impressive as you would expect. The coming All Saints’ Day seemed like an excuse for sparring about the Church’s deplorable sanctioning of indulgences, and Luther was angling for some good-spirited debate.

The Spark That Set the Church Ablaze

…Some nameless visionary translated his theses from the Church’s Latin into the people’s German and sent them far and wide through the printing press. In time, this lowly monk proved to have what it took to hold his ground against the Church and the world — “Here I stand,” he said courageously before the emperor — and under God, he became the human tip of the spear for massive reform…

Read the remainder of the article here: The Reformation: Trick or Treat? – Desiring God.

Links for Reformation Day:

• Article:‘Sola Scriptura’ Radicalized and Abandoned – The Gospel Coalition Blog
• Article: When Jesus Haunts Your Halloween
• Article: Sent into the Harvest: Halloween on Mission
• Article: Trick or Treat: It’s Martin Luther
• Article: 9 Things You Should Know about Halloween and Reformation Day – The Gospel Coalition Blog