October 31 is a busy night in most neighborhoods. But in our home, it is also a day to remember something beautiful: the day in 1517 when a Bible teacher named Martin Luther posted 95 points on a church door in Wittenberg, Germany.
He wasn’t trying to start a new church. He simply read his Bible and saw that people were being told they could buy God’s forgiveness. Scripture said something better: forgiveness is a free gift, given by God’s grace and received through faith in Jesus.
Why it matters for our kids
Our children are growing up in a world that tells them they have to earn love — with grades, looks, likes and being “good enough.” Reformation Day gives us a simple chance to tell them the opposite: God’s love in Christ is a gift. You can’t earn it, and you can’t lose it by having a bad day.
It also reminds us to be thankful for the Bible in our own language. For many of us, that is the Reina-Valera — translated into Spanish by Casiodoro de Reina, a reformer, in 1569.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
EPHESIANS 2:8 (ESV)
How we keep it simple
You don’t need a big plan. Here is what fits in about 15 minutes:
Read Ephesians 2:8–9 together.
Tell the story of Luther and the door in two or three sentences.
Count the Five Solas on one hand: Scripture, Grace, Faith, Christ, Glory to God.
Make a “Thankful Door” — paper notes of things we thank God for, taped to the door.
Sing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” and pray together.
That’s it. Little ones won’t remember every date, but they will remember that Mom and Dad opened the Bible with them and said, “This is a gift from God.”
I made a free bilingual family guide with the story, the Five Solas, activities and questions by age. You can find it here: [LINK TO REFORMATION DAY PAGE].
Soli Deo Gloria — to God alone be the glory.
