There are certain things everyone expects to see or hear on Reformation Day: bright red colors, the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,” and a sermon expounding the Law and Gospel that makes Lutherans Lutheran. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see the classic brown cover of the Concordia Publishing House book Martin Luther: A Man Who Changed the World passed to a child during the sermon or pulled out during Sunday School.
This brown-covered book is certainly familiar to me, and it might be for some readers as well. As congregations across the world celebrate the Reformation, books like this offer a valuable opportunity to teach children about the history of the Lutheran Church. Who was Martin Luther? What did he do?
One day, a child might ask, “What makes Lutheran theology different from Catholicism?” or “What is justification?” But a good place to begin this time is with a simpler question: What was the Reformation?
Each of these five books offers a different way to introduce children to the people, events, and ideas that shaped the Reformation. Some are straightforward histories, some invite children to interact with the story themselves, and others broaden it beyond Martin Luther alone.
The book provides a straightforward introduction to Luther’s life and the events that led to the Reformation. It gives children a historical framework for understanding why October 31 is remembered and why Luther’s teaching continues to matter.
What will they learn? Children will learn the basic story of Martin Luther and the Reformation, giving them a foundation for exploring the theological ideas that emerged from it.
2. The Story of Martin Luther Activity Book
What will they learn? Children will be introduced to Martin Luther, the major events of his life, and the basic story of the Reformation, all while interacting with the material in a way that makes the history easier to remember.
Katharina’s story also gives children a glimpse into the Luther family’s world apart from the Reformation. They can learn about Katharina’s life as a nun, her escape from the convent, her marriage to Martin Luther, and the household she helped establish in Wittenberg.
What will they learn? Katie’s story reminds children that history is not made only by the famous names we find in textbooks. The Reformation was lived out in homes, families, churches, schools, and communities.
What will they learn? This book can help children begin to see Luther not simply as a historical figure but as a person living through a moment of enormous religious and cultural change. Children will encounter the major events of Luther’s life and begin to understand the questions and convictions that drove him.
What will they learn? The Reformation unfolded within a particular time and place, shaped by the printing press, political conflicts, debates within the church, and renewed attention to the authority of Scripture. Children can begin to understand the Reformation as a broad historical movement rather than the story of one man. They will encounter some of the people and forces that shaped the movement and its lasting influence.
Teaching children about the Reformation doesn’t require beginning with a theological textbook or expecting a seven-year-old to understand every debate surrounding free will.
Sometimes the best place to begin is with a story—and readiness to answer the questions that come with that:
Who was Martin Luther? Who was Katie Luther? Why did Luther object to practices within the medieval church? What happened when his ideas spread? And why are Christians still talking about these events 500 years later?
Use these free activities alongside each of these books to help teach children all about the history of the Reformation.