The nature and life of the church is one of the most crucial issues facing Christians in the closing years of the twentieth century. Questions of ministry and liturgy, authority and freedom, appear in a wide variety of guises throughout the world-wide church. Relativism and uncertainty seem to be as common in the church as in the world. Many Christians wonder whether there is any way forward. In this context, The Reformation of the Church is an invaluable aid. An anthology of documents, drawn largely but not exclusively from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, it presents in a readily accessible form the finest thinking of the reformed fathers on authority and freedom, the need for reformation, the nature of the government, unity and membership of the church of Jesus Christ. Warmly welcomed when first published in 1965, and widely use since then, these documents provide invaluable material for ministers, elders, leaders, students and all Christians who are concerned to see Christ's church fulfill her God-given role at a critical juncture in her history.

In 1517, Augustinian monk Martin Luther wrote the infamous Ninety-Five Theses that eventually led to a split from the Catholic Church. The movement became popularly identified as the Protestant Reformation, but Church reform actually began well before the schism. In The Church and the Age of Reformations (1350–1650), historian Joseph T. Stuart and theologian Barbara A. Stuart highlight the watershed events of a confusing period in history, providing a broader—and deeper—historical context of the era, including the Council of Trent, the rise of humanism, and the impact of the printing press. The Stuarts also profile important figures of these tumultuous centuries—including Thomas More, Teresa of Ávila, Ignatius of Loyola, and Francis de Sales—and show that the saints demonstrated the virtues of true reform—charity, unity, patience, and tradition. You will learn: Reform efforts in the Catholic Church were underway before Luther’s Ninety-Five Theses. The Church did not sell the forgiveness of sins with indulgences. Millions of people did not die in the Spanish Inquisition; there were less than 5,000 deaths during a 350-year period. Inquisitions led to legal advances such as grand juries, the need for multiple witnesses, and defendant protections that are still in place today. The so-called Catholic Reformation was conducted in four stages and exhibited respect for Church authority, human free will, and the saints, and focused on the new universal reach of the Church around the globe due to missionary work. A map and chronology are included. Books in the Reclaiming Catholic History series, edited by Mike Aquilina and written by leading authors and historians, bring Church history to life, debunking the myths one era at a time.

An unabridged, unaltered edition of the Disputation on the Power & Efficacy of Indulgences Commonly Known as The 95 Theses

Richard Muller, a world-class scholar of the Reformation era, examines the relationship of Calvin's theology to the Reformed tradition, indicating Calvin's place in the tradition as one of several significant second-generation formulators. Muller argues that the Reformed tradition is a diverse and variegated movement not suitably described either as founded solely on the thought of John Calvin or as a reaction to or deviation from Calvin, thereby setting aside the old "Calvin and the Calvinists" approach in favor of a more integral and representative perspective. Muller offers historical corrective and nuance on topics of current interest in Reformed theology, such as limited atonement/universalism, union with Christ, and the order of salvation.

In a work that is as much about the present as the past, Brad Gregory identifies the unintended consequences of the Protestant Reformation and traces the way it shaped the modern condition over the course of the following five centuries. A hyperpluralism of religious and secular beliefs, an absence of any substantive common good, the triumph of capitalism and its driver, consumerism—all these, Gregory argues, were long-term effects of a movement that marked the end of more than a millennium during which Christianity provided a framework for shared intellectual, social, and moral life in the West. Before the Protestant Reformation, Western Christianity was an institutionalized worldview laden with expectations of security for earthly societies and hopes of eternal salvation for individuals. The Reformation’s protagonists sought to advance the realization of this vision, not disrupt it. But a complex web of rejections, retentions, and transformations of medieval Christianity gradually replaced the religious fabric that bound societies together in the West. Today, what we are left with are fragments: intellectual disagreements that splinter into ever finer fractals of specialized discourse; a notion that modern science—as the source of all truth—necessarily undermines religious belief; a pervasive resort to a therapeutic vision of religion; a set of smuggled moral values with which we try to fertilize a sterile liberalism; and the institutionalized assumption that only secular universities can pursue knowledge. The Unintended Reformation asks what propelled the West into this trajectory of pluralism and polarization, and finds answers deep in our medieval Christian past.

2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation when Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses to the door of a church in Wittenberg in 1517, triggering one of the most important revivals in Christian history. Christians everywhere were reminded what they believed in and why, and to put Jesus Christ in the center of it all!The Reformation Time Linepamphlet covers the dramatic events and key people that led to the formation of Protestantism. Gain fresh insights into the rise of Protestantism and deepen your understanding of faith in rich history. Includes: 400 Years and Over 130 Key Eventsof Church History & Bible Translations (1215-1698) Summaries & Illustrationsof Over 30 Influential Figures (Martin Luther, John Calvin, Joan of Arc, King James, and more!) Full-Color Map & Chartsof the spread of Reformation & origins of Protestant teachings Family Tree of Christian Denominations and much more! 12 panels, fits inside most Bibles, 8.5 x 5.5 inches, unfolds to 33" long.See 400 Years of Church History in a Fold-Out TimelineReformation Time Lineis a small, 14 panel pamphlet that shows all the key people and events that were part of the Reformation--one of the most important periods in church history. This illustrated, easy-to-follow time line, begins with the pre-Reformation period, 1215-1515, presenting the dramatic events leading to the bold actions of Martin Luther and the onset of the Reformation period. Luther''s actions were only part of the process that shaped Western Christianity.Discover Fascinating Insights in the 3 Reformation Time Periods: The Pre-Reformation Period, 1215-1515 The trial of Joan of Arc, 1431 Martin Luther is ordained as priest and celebrates first mass, 1507 The Reformation Period, 1515-1563 Luther introduces German-language worship services, 1522 The Church of England branches off the Catholic Church The Post-Reformation Period, 1564-1689 The term "Puritan" is first used for Protestants who want to "purify" the Church of England of ceremony and ritual not found in the Bible, 1564 Packed With Charts, Illustrations, Map and TimelineThe Protestant Reformation is a rich period of history, packed with key turning points, influential people, and unforgettable events that shaped the course of Christianity forever. It can be dizzying to keep track of it all, but when it''s laid out side-by-side in timelines, charts, and a map, it''s never been easier! Full-Color Illustrationsof over 30 Key Events and People Origins of Protestant Doctrines Map showing the spread of the Reformation Family Tree of Protestant denominations History of Bible translation into the English language Christian History Timeline Covers Over 130 World-Changing Events and 30 Key People The Pre-Reformation Period, 1215-1515 The Magna Carta The trial of Joan of Arc Martin Luther John Wycliffe William Tyndale The Reformation Period, 1516-1563 Erasmus John Calvin Anabaptist movement Founding of the first Protestant college Ulrich Zwingli King Henry VIII becomes the head of the English church The Post-Reformation Period, 1564-1689 King James Bible is published Separatists / "Puritans" reject the Church of England and sail to America on the Mayflower Blaise Pascal converts First missionary societies formed by Protestants Easily Compare Protestant Teachings & Christian Denominations at a GlanceChurch doctrines and denominations can be difficult to understand -- but when you can compare the teachings and denominations side-by-side, it''s never been easier! Whether you''re comparing the Lutheran Church with the Anglican Church or Calvinism with Arminianism, it''s all laid out in easy-to-read charts. Branches of the Reformation including Reformation Leaders Branches of the Reformation Christian Denominational Offshoots The Five Solas of the Reformation and their meanings The 5 Points of Arminianism The 5 Points of Calvinism (TULIP) Reformation Time Lineis a fascinating and useful church history resource that you will refer to again and again.Used for: Individual study Discipleship Small Group or Sunday School class Christian School Homeschoolers New Believers'' class Church giveaways

The Failure of Denominationalism and the Future of Christian Unity One of the unforeseen results of the Reformation was the shattering fragmentation of the church. Protestant tribalism was and continues to be a major hindrance to any solution to Christian division and its cultural effects. In this book, influential thinker Peter Leithart critiques American denominationalism in the context of global and historic Christianity, calls for an end to Protestant tribalism, and presents a vision for the future church that transcends post-Reformation divisions. Leithart offers pastors and churches a practical agenda, backed by theological arguments, for pursuing local unity now. Unity in the church will not be a matter of drawing all churches into a single, existing denomination, says Leithart. Returning to Catholicism or Orthodoxy is not the solution. But it is possible to move toward church unity without giving up our convictions about truth. This critique and defense of Protestantism urges readers to preserve and celebrate the central truths recovered in the Reformation while working to heal the wounds of the body of Christ.

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