Lutheran Reformation Day Resources

 

The Story of the Lutheran Reformation

About Martin Luther and others

 Time line (WELS/archive.org)

La Réforme, le 31 octobre 1517 (French) (EL)

Images of Reformation History (DW)

Selected Works by Martin Luther

Confessions of the Lutheran Church, authored by Luther

  • Small and Large Catechisms (both 1529): see below
  • Smalcald Articles (1537) (BOC)
  • “Articles of Christian Doctrine which were to have been presented on our part to the Council, if any had been assembled at Mantua or elsewhere, indicating what we could accept or yield, and what we could not.”

Online Books

Luther’s 95 Theses (Oct 31, 1517)

Luther nailing 95 Theses against Indulgences to the door of the castle church, Oct 31 1517 (Click to view larger image)

Study of the structure and content of 95 Theses (what do they mean in context), not a devotional study

Images of Lutheran Preaching (DW)

Other Sources

The Lutheran Confession of the Faith

Luther’s Large Catechism (1529)

Luther’s Small Catechism (1529)

The Six Chief Parts of Luther's Catechism (click to enlarge)

The Augsburg Confession (June 25, 1530)

The Presentation of the Augsburg Confession (click to enlarge)

The Christian Book of Concord (1580) (The Lutheran Confessions)

The Authors of the Formula of Concord (click to enlarge)

Further Reading

  • Historical Introduction to the Book of Concord (Bente) (Online book in PDF) (BOC)

Selected Lutheran Reformation Hymns


(The link under the hymn number is to the text (LH), the link under tune is to the MIDI (LH), and under MP3 is to a choir recording (LHS). Unless otherwise indicated, many of the texts below are by Martin Luther.)

Reformation

  • A Mighty Fortress – TLH 262 (tune) / LW 297 (tune) / LW 298 (tune)
  • Flung to the Heedless Winds – TLH 259 (tune)
    • A Ballad to commemorate the martyrdom of two young Augustinian monks, Heinrich Voes and Johann Esch, in the early days of the Lutheran Reformation who had been condemned to death and burned at the stake in Brussels on June 30, 1523, because of their Lutheran faith. (All 12 original verses, from MusicaNet)
  • Lord, Keep us Steadfast in Your Word – TLH 261 (tune) / LW 334 (tune)
  • If God had not been on our side – TLH 267 (tune)
  • O Lord look down from Heaven behold – TLH 260 (tune)
  • Law and Gospel (both by Matthias Loy) :These two hymns, showing the distinction between the two great teachings of the Bible – the Law and the Gospel, or God’s Commands and His Promises (See Romans 3-4), can be sung separately or as one hymn, alternating verses (as suggested in LW).
    • The Law of God is Good and Wise – TLH 295 (tune) / LW 329 (tune)
    • The Gospel Shows the Father’s Grace – TLH 297 (tune) / LW 330 (tune)

  • Preserve Thy Word, O Savior (Andreas Gryphius) – TLH 264 (tune) / LW 337 (tune)
  • Thine Honor Save, O Christ, Our Lord (Johann Hermann) – TLH 265 (tune)
  • O God, our Lord, Thy Holy Word (auth. unknown, 1527) – TLH 266 (tune) / LW 341 (tune)

Church Year

  • Advent : Saviour of the Nations, Come – TLH 95 (tune) / LW 13 (tune)
  • Christmas : From Heaven Above – TLH 85 (tune) / LW 37 (tune)
  • Easter : Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands – TLH 195 (tune) / LW 123 (tune)
  • Pentecost : We Now Implore God the Holy Ghost – TLH 231 (tune)/ LW 155 (tune)

Hymn versions of portions of The Divine Service

(that is, the Communion Liturgy / the Evangelical Mass)

  • Invocation : We now implore God the Holy Ghost (see above, under Church Year)
  • Gloria in Excelcis : All Glory be to God Alone – TLH 238 (tune) / LW 210 (tune)
  • Sanctus : Isaiah Mighty Seer of Old – TLH 249 (tune) / LW 214 (tune)
  • Nunc Dimmitis : In Peace and Joy I Now Depart – TLH 137 (tune) / LW 185 (tune)
  • Benediction : May God bestow on us His grace – TLH 500 (tune) / LW 288 (tune)

The Catechism: Lord, Help us ever to retain (Ludvig Helmbold) – TLH 288 (tune) / LW 477 (tune)

  • The 10 Commandments : That Man a Godly Life Might Live – TLH 287 (tune) / LW 331 (tune)
  • The Nicene Creed : We All Believe in One True God – TLH 251 (tune) 252 (tune) / LW 213 (tune)
  • The Lord’s Prayer : Our Father, Thou in Heaven above – TLH 458 (tune) / LW 431 (tune)
  • Holy Baptism : To Jordan Came the Christ our Lord – LW 223 (tune) (alt source at CH)
  • Confession : From Depth of Woe I Cry to Thee (Ps 130) – TLH 329 (tune) / LW 230 (tune)
    • The Office of the Keys : Yea, as I Live, Jehovah Saith (Nikolaus Herman) – TLH 331 (tune) / LW 235 (tune)
  • The Sacrament of the Altar : O Lord, We Bless Thee – TLH 313 (tune) / LW 238 (tune)
    • Jesus Christ, our Blessed Saviour (John Huss) – LW 236-237 as one hymn, alternating verses (tune) (alt source at CH)

More on Lutheran Hymns and Hymnals

More!

Sources referenced and further reading / listening.