As he sat on the edge of total despair in a German monastery, Martin Luther found light and joy that has since lit and empowered the way for generations. It has fascinated artists, envisioned reformers, strengthened abolitionists, and given beautiful hope to millions.
Do you know the story? It shouldn't be possible to talk about the Reformation without talking about the gospel. Luther's discovery changed the world and it continues to do so. Michael Reeves has served the church in this 500th anniversary year by writing an evangelistic resource that tells the story of that discovery, draws out its effectiveness and beauty, and speaks of its consequences for the history of the world.
On this 500th anniversary of the Reformation, this resource enables you to use the historical moment effectively to carry on the work of Reformation: to get the story of the gospel to world.
Michael Reeves (PhD, King's College, London) is President and Professor of Theology at Union School of Theology in the UK (www.ust.ac.uk). He is Director of the European Theologians Network, and speaks and teaches regularly worldwide. Previously he has been Head of Theology for the Universities and Colleges Christian Fellowship and an associate minister at All Souls Church, Langham Place, London.
Freedom Movement: 500 Years of Reformation by Michael Reeves is a short, yet powerful look at the story that helped shape the Protestant Reformation. Reeves has done a splendid job at surveying the history behind the Reformation and alerting readers to the theological tension and truth that emerged. The author includes just enough biographical information on Martin Luther to gain the attention of readers and draw them into the drama of the 16th century.
Freedom Movement should be devoured by Christians, especially as we approach the quincentennial celebration of the Protestant Reformation. Studying the Reformation should revive our affection for the Savior and refresh our love for the doctrines of grace. It should refuel our resolve to stand obediently before our sovereign God.
The Reformation was just a minor theological spat with no relevance to today, right? Wrong. This book is an utter gem, and shows how the Reformation (principally through Luther) rediscovered joy, a joy that transforms lives, has shaped history, and is still available for us today. It's pithy, with great design, brilliant illustrations, and written in an captivating format.
Definitely a book to buy, to read, and to give away (in bulk!) in the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation year. Because joy is at stake.
A few years ago, I wasn’t aware of the ministry of Michael Reeves. After seeing him speak at a theology conference I regularly attend the past two years, now anytime I see his name associated with something it gets my attention. This short book is no exception. It was written to help us celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in 2017. The book is creatively put together, with side bar articles (Luther at home, Bunyan and Pilgrim’s Progress, the deaths of martyrs), art work, quotes, song lyrics, differing style fonts and colors. In its short 40 pages (Reeves has written elsewhere extensively on the Reformation), you get an overview of the Reformation that started when Martin Luther, a monk, was struggling to understand what the apostle Paul meant in Romans 1:17. This would lead to Luther being born again, as he understood the “Great Exchange”, where on the cross Jesus, who wasn’t guilty, took and faced God’s punishment for our guilt, so that we could be forgiven. Luther came across something that people had not heard about, that sinners are attractive because they are loved; they are not loved because they are attractive. This would lead to the Reformation, which Reeves writes, would transform millions of lives and change the world. Included in this, was the translation of the Bible into the languages of the people by Luther and Tyndale. In addition, Luther encouraged believers to not retreat to monasteries, but to go out into the world to love and serve others. This book takes just a few minutes to read and is certainly time well spent. Buy copies for others.
7/10 (good): A very brief primer on the Reformation, with a deliberate emphasis on its liberating effect. It's very well designed and illustrated, and might serve as a stepping stone to more useful works. As it stands, it's too short to do anything other than whet the appetite.
Brief, coffee table type book to read in one sitting. Creative overview of the Reformation.
Blurb from the internet:
"As he sat on the edge of total despair in a German monastery, Martin Luther found light and joy that has since lit and empowered the way for generations. It has fascinated artists, envisioned reformers, strengthened abolitionists, and given beautiful hope to millions.
Do you know the story? It shouldn't be possible to talk about the Reformation without talking about the gospel. Luther's discovery changed the world and it continues to do so. Michael Reeves has served the church in this 500th anniversary year by writing an evangelistic resource that tells the story of that discovery, draws out its effectiveness and beauty, and speaks of its consequences for the history of the world.
On this 500th anniversary of the Reformation, this resource enables you to use the historical moment effectively to carry on the work of Reformation: to get the story of the gospel to world."
"Through the Reformation, a tidal wave of social improvement was unleashed. Luther had joined a monastery to do good works for God. But he came to see that it is not God in heaven who needs our good works, it is the people on earth." p.30 "Sinners are attractive because they are loved; they are not loved because they are attractive." p.33 "Battles, kings, conquests and empires all get forgotten in time. Good ideas don't" p. 36 "As he sat on the edge of total despair in a German monastery, Martin Luther found light and joy that has since lit and empowered the way for generations. It has fascinated artists, envisioned reformers, strengthened abolitionists and given beautiful hope to millions."
I’m writing an essay on Luther & the Reformation and my aunt lent me a number of books on the topic - this being one of them. It gave a good basis and overview on the Reformation and Luther’s involvement and it was refreshing to read it in such a modern format & design. Freedom Movement didn’t go into too much detail but I expected that, considering it is a short pamphlet-style book. But it definitely gave me food for thought and I can go deeper into this topic through other books etc. Overall, it was a good, well-rounded overview of the Reformation and finished off with how relevant this period in history is today.
The best kind of Church History! A creatively told story of the Reformation, with only about 17 pages of text scattered amongst illustrations and themes. Uses key events of Martin Luther's life, plus selected people and events from later in the Reformation, to illustrate Reeves beautiful single-line summary of the Reformation's message: "Sinners are attractive because they are loved; they are not loved because they are attractive."
A very brief but helpful essay explaining a bit about who Martin Luther was, what he did, and why it's still important. The book is beautifully designed with lots of pictures and attractive graphic design within but it's is honestly a bit overpriced for what you get. Ideal for someone who has zero knowledge of the Reformation to give them a quick crash course.
Best part: Reeves' summary of the theology that drove the Protestant Reformation as "sinners are not loved because they are attractive, they are attractive because they are loved."
'No man, depend on it, can persist from the beginning of his life to the end of it in a course of self-denial, in a course of generosity, in a course of virtue... unless he is drawing from the fountain of our Lord Himself." Lord Shaftesbury Quick read, but chock full of inspiration to celebrate the reason we have these beautiful truths of scripture available, so graciously to us today!!!!
A great central message but a rather simplistic recounting of history. I don't know that much about the history of the Reformation but even I know that things were more complex and a bit darker than portrayed here. Going into that would have muddied the message of the book but it makes it feel not entirely accurate.
Praise God for this book! Though I do not trace my Christian heritage to the Reformation, I believe that the Reformation is God's work that has done great and wonderful change to the hearts and lives of people that continue to this day, including happiness and joy in Christ. Michael Reeves has done a great job for making this short book so readable, engaging and inspiring!
A quick little book summarising the Reformation recommended to me by a friend upon questioning the difference between Protestants and Catholics. It felt very vague and surface level, and aimed primarily at people who are already religious, which is fine, but didn't make for a particularly interesting read.
Wonderful little introduction to the Reformation, not simply as an historical moment, but as a rediscovery of the good news of the grace of God in Christ. Part church history, part tract, part exuberant celebration, this is a terrific resource.
This little book about the reformation showed me that a lot of people gave their life for this message about the goodness of God and our free access to Him. I discovered things that I've never imagined, that really make me want to dedicate so much more my life to God and the Gospel.
A simple but yet powerful book that reminds us the power of the reformation starting through the words of Martin Luther and how it is still influencing us today. “ Sinners are attractive because they are loved , they are not loved because they are attractive”
"To be so excited about the Bible strikes most today as odd. But the message people were finding there - that God lavishes His love and forgiveness not on the deserving but on all who'll trust Him - was like a burst of Mediterranean sunshine into a grey world of guilt and shame."
Excellent introduction to the Protestant Reformation! Everything from Justification by faith alone to the Scripture being in the vernacular, all within 40 pages
The book was 1 dollar, so I can't be too picky. It'd make a great children's book as an intro to reformation history, and is still a good reminder for me.
5: people are attractive because they are loved [cf. this GKC quote] 8: St. Anne story (Luther was 21) 10: incurvatus in se 11: no stained glass saint; death of two daughters 14: The Freedom of the Christian (king marries a prostitute) 16: Bunyan 17: terrible papacy of Alexander VI (15c); Savonarola and Dante had criticized Catholic popes 21: Bible translation; Bilney, Tyndale 22: Catholic priests complained that people were reading the Bible for themselves; Tyndale martyred 23: Luther's "A Mighty Fortress" 26: Westminster Shorter Catechism; Bach's Soli Deo Gloria 27: post tenebras lux (motto of Geneva, and on commemorative coins) 30: transforming the world—opposing slavery (Wilberforce); Cowper; Newton; Wesley 32: Shaftesbury's philanthropy 33: Latimer and Ridley; Cranmer 34–37: the next 500 years; transforming culture