The Church

The Reformation was a significant period of change in the church, focusing on rediscovering the immediacy of Christ and the gospel of free, justifying grace received through faith alone. The Reformers emphasized the importance of the church as the community where Christ is found and known, with the gospel being embedded and embodied within it. They identified the (1) preaching of sacred Scripture, (2) maintenance of the two sacraments, baptism and the Lord’s Supper, and (3) the proper administration of church discipline as the primary marks of the true church.

The Reformation was deeply concerned about both outward reforms of doctrine and practice as well as inward spiritual renewal. Accordingly, key questions during this period centered on salvation and the identification of a true church. Reforming the church usually involved drastic and demanding sacrifices. It required careful exposition of sacred Scripture, educating and training of leaders, articulating beliefs and guarding against misunderstandings, rediscovering how to shepherd Christ’s church, and implementing practical changes ever so patiently to increasingly align the church more closely with Scripture.

Table of Contents

Here is a list of various charts, tables, and diagrams intended to help explain, clarify, visualize, and otherwise unfold this most worthy history.

  1. Corruptions in the Church
  2. Major Schisms in Church History
  3. Protestant Family Tree
  4. Reformation Branches and Reformers
  5. Church Polity
  6. Church Polity and Politics
  7. Church and State

Here is a list of the most substantial areas of reform in the church.

  1. Authority
  2. Justificiation
  3. Sacraments
  4. Preaching
  5. Purity


Reform Worldview Matters