Schedule

The Protestant Reformation occurred against the backdrop of great corruption in doctrine, worship, and piety. This message will look at the setting of the sixteenth-century Protestant Reformation and the problems in the church that made substantial reform necessary. 

The slogan semper reformanda, or “always reforming,” is sometimes used as a license for continual change in the church’s life and worship. However, this is not what the phrase was meant to signify. This message will examine what it means for the church to be always reforming, particularly in always seeking conformity to God’s Word in light of the reform that the Lord has already brought to His church.

Great doctrinal reform was achieved during the Protestant Reformation as key elements of the gospel were recovered. This message will consider the theological reform of the sixteenth century, focusing especially on doctrines such as justification by faith alone and the final authority of Scripture over the church, as well as why it is important to maintain these teachings today. 

It has been argued that the Reformed branch of the Protestant Reformation considered the reform of worship to be as important as, and perhaps even more necessary than, the reform of doctrine. This message will address the reform of worship during the sixteenth century and its ongoing relevance for today.

Protestants in the sixteenth century reformed church government by moving away from an ecclesiology dominated by monarchical bishops to structures that stressed the plurality of elders, the role of the diaconate, and the involvement of the laity. This message will explore the reformation of church government and the biblical form of leadership that Christ has ordained for His church.

The Reformers brought new emphasis to the doctrine of vocation, emphasizing that all lawful work is a vocation honoring to the Lord and a display of love for neighbor. This message will consider how the doctrine of vocation was reformed during the sixteenth century.

The reform of the church’s doctrine and worship provides the foundation for reformation of the Christian life and piety. This message will stress the importance of making sure that our lives and piety are continually reformed so as to be in conformity with Scripture.