Podcasts about wartburg castle

Ask God to help you spread the truth of Salvation, that it comes as a gift from God through faith and not through anything we do ourselves to attain it. SUBSCRIBE to our sister podcasts:Your Daily Prayer: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-prayer/Your Daily Bible Verse: https://www.lifeaudio.com/your-daily-bible-verse/ Full Transcript Below Remembering Reformation Day  (700 words)  by Lynette Kittle “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God”-- Ephesians 2:8 Some may wonder what Reformation Day is all about and why it is considered such a big deal in Church history. Commemorated on the same day as Halloween, why should we as Christians take time to remember it?  Who's Behind the Reformation? Born November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther grew up to be the catalyst for the Reformation. A thunderstorm is accredited to beginning his spiritual journey in 1505, while he was studying law at the University of Erfurt.  Some may call his experience a crisis of faith, where a bolt of lightning striking near him, terrified him to the point of making a deal with God for divine protection by promising St. Anne he would become a monk if she would graciously spare his life. Even though Luther's father, a hard working miner, strongly disapproved, Luther diligently pursued becoming a monk. Intense in his pursuit of holiness, Luther whipped himself raw in an attempt to appease the wrath of a holy God and feel worthy and deserving enough to go to heaven. As well, he regularly confessed his sins for up to six hours a day.  During Luther's zealous studying of the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit revealed to him that the just shall live by faith and that none of his self-afflictions would justify him before God but only come through faith in Jesus Christ. How Did the Reformation Begin? With Luther's revelation concerning Salvation, came his disillusionment with the errors in the Church's teaching and practices, involving selling indulgences to raise money and convincing individuals that their giving of money for their deceased relatives could release them from purgatory. With hopes of sparking an academic debate and reform, on October 31, 1517, Luther wrote 95 theses against this revenue-generating scheme, along with other abuses he discovered within the Church, nailing his document on the Wittenberg, Germany, Cathedral door for all to see, a common practice at the time. But the Church didn't approve of Luther spreading his findings via the newly invented printing press and wasn't open to his corrections. Still his ideas spread throughout Germany, stirring up much controversy, which led to the Church Council in 1521 demanding Luther recant his thesis.  Luther Ushers in the Reformation However, Luther refused to recant his thesis, writing, “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Holy Scriptures or by evident reason—for I can believe neither pope nor councils alone, as it is clear that they have erred repeatedly and contradicted themselves—I consider myself convicted by the testimony of Holy Scripture, which is my bases: my conscience is captive to the Word of God. Thus, I cannot and will not recant, because acting against one's conscience is neither safe nor sound. God help me. Amen.” Luther's refusal to recant cost him dearly, leading to his being excommunicated from the Catholic Church in 1521 by Pope Leo X. His unwavering stand led him to be declared an outlaw and heretic, causing him to run for his life and find refuge with Fredrick the Wise at Wartburg Castle under an assumed name and disguise.  During his time there, Luther translated the Bible into German, which helped him to put the written word of God into the hands of the common people. His actions ushered in a new era referred to as the Reformation, of placing God's Word in the hands of individuals and giving birth to the Protestant Churches. Luther's efforts gave individuals the opportunity to read the Bible for themselves, leading to many lives being transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He understood how people need to read and study God's Word on their own, believing wholeheartedly what 2 Timothy 3:16, teaches: “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” Intersecting Faith & Life: Ask God to help you spread the truth of Salvation, that it comes as a gift from God through faith and not through anything we do ourselves to attain it. Further Reading: 6 Reasons Christians Should Celebrate Reformation Day https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/reasons-christians-should-celebrate-reformation-day.html Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Thuringia's nearly 1,000-year-old Wartburg Castle has been the scene of decisive moments in German history. DW reporter Hannah Hummel embarks on a journey back through time.

Ever Reforming, Ever Transforming. In this podcast, we recall and celebrate the events that took place in the early 1500s that have shaped and transformed the Church for the past 500 years. We call this series of events the Reformation, which was spearheaded by Martin Luther. We have a natural transition from The Red Letter Challenge to our celebration of the Reformation, primarily when it comes to spending time in the Word. Martin Luther, through the time of the Reformation, not only brought God's Word to the forefront (we celebrate the 500th anniversary of Luther translating the New Testament into German while he was in hiding in Wartburg Castle), he also highlighted God's grace. We considered the historic “banners” of the Reformation – Grace Alone, Faith Alone, Scripture Alone, Christ Alone. 

Welcome the Wartburg, Tennessee!  The town was founded in the 1840s by George Gerding who planned to establish a series of German colonies in the region.  The first settlers named the town after Wartburg Castle in Germany.  The town became the county seat of Morgan County in 1870.  The county is home to the Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary.  The Barkley Marathons, an ultramarathon trail race, was inspired by the failed escape of assassin James Earl Ray from the penitentiary.  Ray covered 12 miles in 54.5 hours before he was caught.  Wartburg and the surrounding area is popular for it's outdoor activities.  Wartburg is the hedquarters for the Obed Wild and Scenic River,  Frozen Head State Park, Lone Mountain State Forest, the Catoosa Wildlife Management Area, and the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area.  We hope you enjoy or trip to Wartburg!

Readings* Psalm 119:145–152* Psalm 20* Exodus 38:21—39:31* Luke 8:1–21* Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 104–106CommemorationToday we commemorate Friedrich the Wise, Christian Ruler. Elector of Saxony from 1486 to 1525, Friedrich the Wise was instrumental to the Reformation. Although he never met Luther, Friedrich aided Luther significantly, including refusing to extradite Luther when the pope demanded it in 1518 and arranging for Luther to be 'kidnapped' and safely hidden in Wartburg Castle after the Diet of Worms. Beloved of his subjects, Friedrich was called "the Wise" for his sense of fairness and his justice. Upon his deathbed, Friedrich received the Lord's Supper in both kinds — a clear confession of his Lutheran faith.ReaderCorey J. MahlerCopyright NoticesUnless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Unless otherwise indicated, all quotations from the Lutheran Confessions are from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, copyright © 2005, 2006 by Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, call 800-325-3040.Support the show

Image:  The Wartburg Castle taken during my trip there in 2016.In this episode, we continue our series with Pastor Nathaniel Biebert where he digs into the lesser-known details of important milestones in the life of Luther and the Reformation.  Here we look at Luther's "capture" on his way back from the Diet of Worms and his time at the Wartburg Castle.  Support the show

Devotion: Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, That we may gain a heart of wisdom. Weekly Update and Reminders: THANK YOU to all the helpers!  Wednesday Online Bible Class Continues tonight at 7pm! (Gospel of Mark) Weekend Sunday School/Bible Class continues with - “Why Membership Matters” Blood drive (gym) Oct. 22 11-4pm (Great job Senior class! Goal was reached!) Sanctuary Carpet Prep - Council/Deacons approved Saturday, October 16th at 10am for prepping the sanctuary for the carpet installation the week of October 18-22 (starting Monday).  Worship services resume in the sanctuary this weekend! Sanctuary Improvement Fund - have EXCEEDED what is needed for updating the carpet and pews. No further donations are required at this time. Thank you all and praise the LORD! Our Fall Reformation will be held during our normal service times the weekend of October 30-31st. Pastor Caleb Schaller will be our guest preacher. There will not be a meal following this event this year. We look forward to celebrating how the truth of God's Word went out 500 years ago and pray for the LORD to continue to bless our sharing it today as well! Bible Class will be led by Pastor Schaller The "Smalcald Articles" is one of the shorter confessional writings of the Lutheran Church. It was written by Luther toward the end of his life for a meeting with the Catholic Church that ended up never happening. This short, and surprisingly devotional document serves as Martin Luther's "last will and testament." In it Luther shows how numerous Catholic doctrines conflict with the simple gospel, and therefore cannot be allowed to stand. Come join us for a peak into this little known gem of the Reformation. MINNESOTA AREA REFORMATION FESTIVAL – You are invited to attend a Reformation Festival Service at Berea Lutheran Church in Inver Grove Heights, MN on Sunday, October 31 at 4pm .  A meal after the service will be provided by the Ladies of Berea.  In our service we will give thanks to God for the gift of His Word in our native tongue – something that wasn't available to Germans prior to Martin Luther's translation work in the Wartburg Castle 500 years ago this year.  Pastors Luke Willitz and John Schnose will be conducting the service.  Children in attendance are invited to participate in a Joint Children's Choir, singing an arrangement of “Lord Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” (using the translation from Christian Worship #203).  Children are asked to be at Berea by 3:30 on the 31st for warm-up and practice. Our service will be streamed live and archived on Berea's YouTube page www.YouTube.com/c/BereaLutheranChurch  If you plan to attend the meal, please help the Ladies of Berea by registering online at www.tinyurl.com/MNARF21 or by contacting Pastor Nathan Pfeiffer – pastor@BereaCLC.org / 651-432-0101  Prayer List Doctrine of the Day Our Eternal God. “From everlasting to everlasting.”   Hymn of the Day: 411:1,5,7 “From Eternity, O God” TLH

Martin Luther? The Book of Revelation? How could this episode NOT be good? Tune in to explore not only Luther's relationship to a book that has long fascinated people, but the development of the apocalyptic tenor to Luther's thought and the shift of attitude that he had toward this book. Shownotes: *The works from Luther referred to in the episode can be found in volumes 2, 9, 13, 35, 44, 54 of Luther's Works. *The commentary on Revelation by Richard Bauckham I referred to is The Theology of the Book of Revelation (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1993) *The works from Scott H. Hendrix referred to are his article “Luther Against the Backdrop of the History of Biblical Interpretation”, from the journal Interpretation volume 37 (1983)and his book Luther and the Papacy: Stages in a Reformation Conflict. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1981. *The quote from Oswald Bayer on Luther's increasing apocalyptic outlooks is from page 332 of Martin Luther's Theology: A Contemporary Interpretation. Translated by Thomas H. Trapp. Grand Rapids, MI/Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2008. *The quote from Heinrich Bornkhamm on Luther's New Testament prefaces comes from page 83 of his book Luther in Mid-Career. Translated by E. Theodore Bachmann. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1983. *The description of "Historicism" offered by Timothy P. Weber comes from page 366 of the The Oxford Handbook of Eschatology. (Oxford University Press, 2008). *The Revelation commentary we referred to by Robert Mounce is The Book of Revelation (The New International Commentary on the New Testament), Revised Edition. Grand Rapids, MI/Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1998. *The quote from E. Randolph Daniel on Joachim of Fiore is from page 78 of the book The Apocalypse in the Middle Ages.(Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1992) *The quote from Philip D.W. Krey is from the bookThe Last Things: Biblical and Theological Perspectives on Eschatology. Grand Rapids, MI/Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002. *The quote on the nuance in Luther's use allegory from Erik Herrmann comes from his dissertation “'Why the Law?' Salvation History and the Law in Martin Luther's Interpretation of Galatians 1513-1522”, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis *Some of the general information on Luther's attitude toward the Ottoman-Turkish empire comes from Adam Francisco's book Martin Luther and Islam: A Study in Sixteenth-Century Polemics and Apologetics (Brill, 2007). Episode art taken from: https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Eugene_Siberdt_-_Martin_Luther_Translating_the_Bible,_Wartburg_Castle,_1521.jpg --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Devotion: 1 Peter 1:6-8 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love.  Weekly Update and Reminders: THANK YOU to all the helpers! It's looking good so far! MINNESOTA AREA REFORMATION FESTIVAL – You are invited to attend a Reformation Festival Service at Berea Lutheran Church in Inver Grove Heights, MN on Sunday, October 31 at 4pm .  A meal after the service will be provided by the Ladies of Berea.  In our service we will give thanks to God for the gift of His Word in our native tongue – something that wasn't available to Germans prior to Martin Luther's translation work in the Wartburg Castle 500 years ago this year.  Pastors Luke Willitz and John Schnose will be conducting the service.  Children in attendance are invited to participate in a Joint Children's Choir, singing an arrangement of “Lord Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” (using the translation from Christian Worship #203).  Children are asked to be at Berea by 3:30 on the 31st for warm-up and practice. Our service will be streamed live and archived on Berea's YouTube page www.YouTube.com/c/BereaLutheranChurch  If you plan to attend the meal, please help the Ladies of Berea by registering online at www.tinyurl.com/MNARF21 or by contacting Pastor Nathan Pfeiffer – pastor@BereaCLC.org / 651-432-0101  Wednesday Online Bible Class Continues tonight at 7pm! (Gospel of Mark) Weekend Sunday School/Bible Class continues with - “Why Membership Matters” Blood drive (gym) Oct. 22 11-4pm  Sanctuary Carpet Prep - Council/Deacons approved Saturday, October 16th at 10am for prepping the sanctuary for the carpet installation the week of October 18-22 (starting Monday).  Worship services in the MPF for the weekends of October 16-17th and 23-24th weekends.  Sanctuary Improvement Fund - have EXCEEDED what is needed for updating the carpet and pews. No further donations are required at this time. Thank you all and praise the LORD! Our Fall Reformation will be held during our normal service times the weekend of October 30-31st. Pastor Caleb Schaller will be our guest preacher. There will not be a meal following this event this year. We look forward to celebrating how the truth of God's Word went out 500 years ago and pray for the LORD to continue to bless our sharing it today as well! Prayer List Doctrine of the DayIs faith really blind? “We walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7 Hymn of the Day: 31 “When All Thy Mercies, O My God ” TLH 

EBIs-06e 201107 Short Clip Late one night in 1521 in a massive stone room of Wartburg Castle, Martin Luther sat in the luminous ring of a flickering candle. Suddenly, Luther scooped up his inkwell and violently flung it at the wall. Satan was an adversary so present to Luther, that his translation of God’s Word [...] The post DEPLOY YOUR PERSONAL SECURITY GEAR–God Uses to Protect YOU From Alien, Demon & Satanic Attacks appeared first on Discover the Book Ministries.

Readings* Psalm 116* Psalm 123* Leviticus 23:23–44* Luke 12:35–53* Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Art. VIII ¶¶ 66–70CommemorationToday we commemorate Frederick the Wise, Christian Ruler. Elector of Saxony from 1486 to 1525, Frederick the Wise was instrumental to the Reformation. Although he never met Luther, Frederick aided Luther significantly, including refusing to extradite Luther when the pope demanded it in 1518 and arranging for Luther to be 'kidnapped' and safely hidden in Wartburg Castle after the Diet of Worms. Beloved of his subjects, Frederick was called "the Wise" for his sense of fairness and his justice. Upon his deathbed, Frederick received the Lord's Supper in both kinds — a clear confession of his Lutheran faith.ReaderCorey J. MahlerCopyright NoticesUnless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Unless otherwise indicated, all quotations from the Lutheran Confessions are from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, copyright © 2005, 2006 by Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, call 800-325-3040.Support the show (https://confident.faith/donate/)

Readings* Psalm 8* Psalm 126* Psalm 32* Genesis 1:20—2:3* Mark 1:14–28* Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord, Summary, Foundation, Rule, and Norm ¶¶ 1–8CommemorationToday we commemorate Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor. Born on 10 November 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther originally studied law. After a close brush with death during a storm, Luther switched to studying theology and entered an Augustinian monastery in 1505, when he was twenty-one years old. Luther received his doctorate in theology in 1512. Teaching at the newly established University of Wittenberg, Luther began to question some of the doctrines of Rome. Luther’s investigation of the Scriptures and of Roman doctrine led to the posting of the *Ninety-Five Theses* on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg — the spark that started the Reformation.Although Luther had not intended a real break with Rome, the Roman church had other ideas. Luther was excommunicated in 1521, and was forced into hiding in Wartburg Castle, where he translated the New Testament into German. We remember and honor Luther for his dedication to the Scriptures and to the teaching and preaching of right doctrine, regardless of threats and oppression, primarily, at the time, from Rome. Although he died on 18 February 1546, Luther’s work, in rescuing the Gospel, lives on in every church where Christ crucified for sinners is preached with fidelity and where the Scriptures are taught with faithfulness.ReaderCorey J. MahlerCopyright NoticesUnless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Unless otherwise indicated, all quotations from the Lutheran Confessions are from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, copyright © 2005, 2006 by Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, call 800-325-3040.Support the show (https://confident.faith/donate/)

After Martin Luther's famous declaration at the historical Diet of Worms, he hid in the Wartburg Castle. While in "exile" there for 11 months, he undertook the monumental task of translating the Bible for his countrymen to read; but it was still a time of great spiritual trials for him.We, too, are in a spiritual battle; and if we rely on our own strength, we will lose. Our strength must come from the Lord. Our culture tells us to "look within," and then we will be strong; but the Apostle Paul teaches us that it is in Christ that we can do all things. If we are outside of Him, we belong to the prince of darkness; but He has purchased us to Himself, and made us alive. And He is our source of strength -- just as He has been for all His saints and martyrs in all ages. Who is our enemy? The devil himself! In different ways and methods -- tyrannical governments, cultural pressure, advertising, trials, heresies, and even prosperity -- he is always working to attack and deceive us. We are also faced with many various temptations from inside of us, which is why we can't "follow our heart" and look for strength therein.But these attacks do not place us in a hopeless situation! We are to wrestle with the devil, but only in the power of our Lord Jesus. Because of His victory that He has already won, we can succeed in this battle -- even though some days may be harder than others. On the cross, Christ came out on top as the Conqueror; but as we wait for Him to come and consummate the victory, we must still continue fighting -- in His strength!

Readings* Psalm 105* Job 13:13–28* John 6:22–40* Smalcald Articles, Part III, Art. XIV–XVCommemorationToday we commemorate Martin Luther, Doctor and Confessor. Born on 10 November 1483 in Eisleben, Germany, Martin Luther originally studied law. After a close brush with death during a storm, Luther switched to studying theology and entered an Augustinian monastery in 1505, when he was twenty-one years old. Luther received his doctorate in theology in 1512. Teaching at the newly established University of Wittenberg, Luther began to question some of the doctrines of Rome. Luther’s investigation of the Scriptures and of Roman doctrine led to the posting of the Ninety-Five Theses on the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg — the spark that started the Reformation.Although Luther had not intended a real break with Rome, the Roman church had other ideas. Luther was excommunicated in 1521, and was forced into hiding in Wartburg Castle, where he translated the New Testament into German. We remember and honor Luther for his dedication to the Scriptures and to the teaching and preaching of right doctrine, regardless of threats and oppression, primarily, at the time, from Rome. Although he died on 18 February 1546, Luther’s work, in rescuing the Gospel, lives on in every church where Christ crucified for sinners is preached with fidelity and where the Scriptures are taught with faithfulness.ReaderCorey J. MahlerCopyright NoticesUnless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.Unless otherwise indicated, all quotations from the Lutheran Confessions are from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, copyright © 2005, 2006 by Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. All rights reserved. To purchase a copy of Concordia, call 800-325-3040.Support the show (https://confident.faith/donate/)

This is where minnesingers met to compete, Martin Luther translated the Bible into German and students demanded German unity. Wartburg Castle is both a tourist attraction and a landmark.

A Mighty Fortress - A Cantata prepared for The Festival of the Reformation. A production of KNNA the Cross Radio. Bringing Bach Back examines the theology and music of Bach Cantatas. This Cantata examines the Martin Luther Hymn and how it was treated by Bach, including the amazing counterpoint contained within the first movement. Cover art - Photo of the Wartburg Castle in Germany

If you battle temptation... if you battle despair... if you battle spiritual doubts... remember this- you're a normal Christian. And you also have something in common with Martin Luther. Ashe labored for the Lord, Lutherbattled mightily with discouragementsanddoubt. Some of Luther's greatest spiritual struggles struck as he translated the Bible from Greek into German so that his own countryman could, for the first time, read God's Word themselves. Biographers say Luther could be heard throughout Wartburg Castle shouting, -I am baptized--Sometimeshe'd write the words on his desk, in chalk- -I am baptized-- -If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God...your life is hidden with Christ in God.- Colossians 3-1,3 -NKJV- The ApostlePaulurgedColossian believers tolivedailyasthosewhodiedtotheirold, self-centeredlife and rose again to a new, God-centered life in Christ. Baptism pictures this transformation powerfully and is meant to be a great shield against every assault that Satan and his world unleash against God's children. Every follower of Jesus has cause to say often -I am baptized--

For our two Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols services (always packed), Marlene Pietsch brought us extracts from a sermon prepared in 1521 by Martin Luther when he was in exile in Wartburg Castle. [Organ/Choir - Christmas Eve]

For our two Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols services (always packed), Marlene Pietsch brought us extracts from a sermon prepared in 1521 by Martin Luther when he was in exile in Wartburg Castle. (This service provides the better music recording if you are requesting a CD.) [Organ/Choir - Christmas Eve]

Martin Luther was a devout Roman Catholic priest.  He loved the word of God and held to its truths tenaciously.  He came to question some of the practices and teachings of his church.  He posted 95 theses (or points of concern) to the door of the parish church in Wittenberg, Germany where he often preached.    For his protests, he was ultimately put on trial before the emperor and ecclesiastical leaders.  He was ordered to recant but he refused.  He famously said,   Your Imperial Majesty and Your Lordships demand a simple answer. Here it is, plain and unvarnished. Unless I am convicted [convinced] of error by the testimony of Scripture or (since I put no trust in the unsupported authority of Pope or councils, since it is plain that they have often erred and often contradicted themselves) by manifest reasoning, I stand convicted [convinced] by the Scriptures to which I have appealed, and my conscience is taken captive by God's word, I cannot and will not recant anything, for to act against our conscience is neither safe for us, nor open to us.  On this I take my stand. I can do no other. God help me.   For his disobediences he was excommunicated by the Pope and condemned as an outlaw by the Holy Roman Emperor.  He could be killed with immunity.   A German prince gave him refuge in the Wartburg Castle.  It became his temporal fortress and there he translated the Scriptures into the German language.   But his true and eternal fortress was the Lord God.    To this point he wrote one of if not the best-loved hymn of all time: “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”  Some of the lyrics are:   A mighty Fortress is our God, A Bulwark never failing; Our Helper He amid the flood Of mortal ills prevailing: For still our ancient foe Doth seek to work us woe; His craft and power are great, And, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.   Did we in our own strength confide, Our striving would be losing; Were not the right Man on our side, The Man of God’s own choosing: Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He; Lord Sabaoth His Name, From age to age the same, And He must win the battle.   And though this world, with devils filled, Should threaten to undo us, We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us: The Prince of Darkness grim, We tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, For lo! his doom is sure, One little word shall fell him.   That word above all earthly powers, No thanks to them, abideth; The Spirit and the gifts are ours Through Him who with us sideth: Let goods and kindred go, This mortal life also; The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still, His Kingdom is forever.   For Martin Luther, God was his fortress.  In that confidence he defied emperor and pope.  In God he trusted.    What is your fortress?  In what or in whom do you trust?  To whom do you run in times of trouble?   Psalm 91 makes clear who ought to be our fortress and refuge. It also makes crystal clear the blessings that come when our God is our fortress.  Let’s open our Bibles and our hearts to these truths this morning.   Songs of the Summer “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” Psalm 91:1-16   Dwellin the Lord He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty (91:1).   Enter His shelter Enjoy His shadow Dependon the Lord I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” (91:2)   Proclaimyour trust in Him Personalizeyour trust in Him Deliveranceby the Lord For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence(91:3).   He will deliver from evil He will deliver for eternity

To protect himself from the possibility of arrest or murder, Martin Luther disguised himself as Junker Jorg. Listen as Dr. Stephen Nichols tells the story on location at the Wartburg Castle.

2017 marks 500 years since Martin Luther set the Reformation in motion and Germany is celebrating all year. Join Travel Brigade on “The Luther Trail” as we visit places where Luther lived and check in on exhibits and celebrations commemorating his life. We’ll visit Erfurt and the monastery Luther joined to begin his religious life. We’ll also visit Luther House in Eisenach where he lived as a school boy and hike up to Wartburg Castle where he was held “prisoner” for his own safety. Along the way, we’ll tell you about national exhibitions and celebrations happening in 2017 and tell you how you can create your own Luther Trail on a visit to Germany. Enjoy the trip! Follow us on Twitter @TravelBrigade.

Condolences for a close family friend, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima's visit to Germany, Queen Elizabeth returns to London and two royal centenaries.See more in this week's show.Visit our website https://rightroyalroundup.com.au.Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RightRoyalRoundup, follow us on Twitter @RightRoyalRound and Instagram rightroyalroundup.

Check your local public television station for this new Rick Steves' Europe episode! Hamburg, Germany's mighty port city, has risen from the ashes of World War II with a gleaming new skyline and a brisk creative energy. From there, we visit the great historic sights of Martin Luther and the Reformation (Erfurt, Wittenberg, and Wartburg Castle) before finishing in the capital of Franconia: wine-loving Würzburg. At http://www.ricksteves.com, you'll find money-saving travel tips, small-group tours, guidebooks, TV shows, radio programs, podcasts, and more on this destination.

Check your local public television station for this new Rick Steves’ Europe episode! Hamburg, Germany’s mighty port city, has risen from the ashes of World War II with a gleaming new skyline and a brisk creative energy. From there, we visit the great historic sights of Martin Luther and the Reformation (Erfurt, Wittenberg, and Wartburg Castle) before finishing in the capital of Franconia: wine-loving Würzburg. At http://www.ricksteves.com, you'll find money-saving travel tips, small-group tours, guidebooks, TV shows, radio programs, podcasts, and more on this destination.

1520 was a big braking point with Luther in his church relations. The Pope did not receive the 95 Theses and explanations well and issued a Papal bull, Exsurge Domine (Arise O Lord) (1520). This warned Luther that if he did not stop he would be excommunicated. Luther took this bull and Canon Law and burned them. He continued to write. The Babylonian Captivity of the Church (1520) covered the sacramental trappings of the church. In 1521 he was summoned before the Diet of Worms and asked to recant. This is where he famously stated, “Unless I am convinced by the testimony of the Scriptures or by clear reason (for I do not trust either in the Pope or in councils alone, since it is well known that they have often erred and contradicted themselves), for I am bound by the Scriptures I have quoted and my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not retract anything, since it is neither safe nor right to go against conscience . . . May God help me. Amen.” This was not an argument for being anti-authority nor individualism as the sole arbiter of truth. Luther did not deny the need for authority or submitting to it. After this Diet he was excommunicated and considered a criminal. Luther, aided by a friend, escaped and hid in Wartburg Castle for about a year. During this time he started to translate the New Testament into German. Many were critiquing the church and wanted reform. Luther had a lot of admirers and returned to Wittenberg and began to teach and preach. In 1525 he married Katharina von Bora in the middle of the Peasant’s Revolt. In 1530 we have the Augsburg Confession which crystalized the Lutheran reform as a movement. In 1534 the Bible was published in German which was a huge step in the process of reform. Late in 1545 he was asked to travel to and settle a dispute between the town of Mansfeld and the church. He died there on February 18, 1546 in the exact place he had been born. His life was always devoted to the service of the church. Consider the relationship between Melanchthon and Luther.

The story of a brave rescue. Grammar unit: Relative clauses

This episode of CS is titled, Martin's List.In the summer of 1520, a document bearing an impressive seal circulated throughout Germany in search of a remote figure. It began, “Arise, O Lord, and judge Your cause. A wild boar has invaded Your vineyard.”The document was what's called a papal bull—named after that impressive seal, or bulla bearing the Pope's insignia.  It took 3 months to reach the wild boar it referred to, a German monk named Martin Luther who'd created quite a stir in Germany. But well before it arrived in Wittenberg where Luther taught, he knew its contents. 41 of the things he'd been announcing were condemned as à “heretical, scandalous, false, and offensive to pious ears; seducing simple minds and repugnant to Catholic truth.” The papal bull called on Luther to repent and publicly repudiate his errors or face dreadful consequences.Luther received his copy on the 10th of October. At the end of his 60-day grace period in which he was supposed to surrrender, he led a crowd of eager students outside Wittenberg and burned copies of the Canon Law and works of several medieval theologians. Included in the paper that fed the flames was a copy of the bull condemning him. That was his answer. He said, “They've burned my books. So I burn theirs.” That fire outside Wittenberg in December of 1520 was a fitting symbol of the defiance toward the Roman Church raging throughout Germany.Born in 1483 at Eisleben in Saxony to a miner, Luther attended school at Magdeburg under the Brethren of the Common Life. He then went to university at Erfurt where he learned Greek, graduating w/an MA in 1505. His plan was to become a lawyer, but the story goes that one day he was caught in a thunderstorm; a bolt of lightning knocked him to the ground. Terrified, he cried out to the patron saint of miners: “St. Anne, save me! And I'll become a monk.” To his parents' dismay, Luther kept the vow. 2 weeks later he entered the Augustinian monastery at Erfurt where he became a dedicated brother. Some years later he said about his being a monk, “I kept the rule so strictly that I may say that if ever a monk got to heaven by sheer monkery, it was I. If I had kept on any longer, I should have killed myself with vigils, prayers, reading, and other work.” Luther pushed his body to health–cracking rigors of austerity. He sometimes engaged in a total fast; no food OR water, for 3 days and slept without a blanket in winter.In the Erfurt monastery he did further theological study and was made a priest in 1507. When he transferred to Wittenberg in 1508, he began teaching moral theology, the Sentences of Peter Lombard, and the Scriptures. A visit to Rome on Augustinian business in 1510 opened Luther's eyes to the corruption so prevalent among the higher clergy there. When he returned to Wittenberg in 1512 he earned his Doctorate in Theology and was appointed to the Chair of Biblical studies which he occupied for the rest of his life.But throughout this time, Luther was consumed by guilt and the sense his sinfulness. While the majesty and glory of God inspired most, it tormented Luther because he saw himself as a wretched sinner, alienated from an unapproachably holy God.While performing his first Mass, Luther later reported, “I was utterly stupefied and terror-stricken. I thought to myself, ‘Who am I that I should lift up mine eyes or raise my hands to the divine majesty? For I am dust and ashes and full of sin, à and I am speaking to the living, eternal and true God?'” No amount of penance nor counsel from his peers could still Luther's conviction he was a miserable, doomed sinner. Although his confessor counseled him to love God, Luther one day burst out, “Love God? I do not love Him - I hate him!”Luther found the love he sought in studying the Word of God. Assigned to the chair of biblical studies at the recently opened Wittenberg University, he became fascinated with the words of Christ from the cross, “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?”  Luther found an odd solace in the idea that that Christ was forsaken. Luther was a sinner. Christ wasn't. The answer had to lie in Christ's identification with sinful humans. Luther began to ponder the possibility that Jesus endured estrangement from God for us.A new and revolutionary picture of God began to develop in Luther's restless soul. Finally, in 1515, while pondering Paul's Epistle to the Romans, Luther came upon the words of Ch1v17 “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”This was the key that turned the lock and opened the door to everything else that would follow. He said, “Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between the justice of God and the statement that ‘the just shall live by his faith.' Then I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise.”Luther saw it clearly now. Man is saved only by his faith in the merit of Christ's sacrifice. The cross alone removes sin and save from the grasp of the devil. Luther had come to his famous doctrine of justification by faith alone. He saw how sharply it clashed with the Roman church's doctrine of justification by faith and good works—the demonstration of faith through virtuous acts, acceptance of church dogma, and participation in the sacraments.The implications of Luther's discovery were enormous. If salvation comes through faith in Christ alone, the intercession of priests was unnecessary. Faith formed and nurtured by the Word of God, written and preached, requires neither monks, masses, nor prayers to the saints. The mediation of a Church magisterium crumbles.At first, Luther had no idea where his spiritual discovery would lead. It took a flagrant abuse of church finances to move him to the center of rebellion in Germany, and into a revolutionary position regarding papal authority.The sale of indulgences, introduced during the Crusades, remained a major source of church income, especially that destined for Rome. The theology behind indulgences is rather complex and a subject we could spend considerable time on, but the upshot is this:  Jesus and the saints have done far more good than they need for themselves and have lived lives that produce an excess of righteousness others can draw upon. The Church hierarchy, specifically the Pope and his agents, are able to open what's called the “Treasury of Merit” all this excess goodness has gone in to, and assign it to less worthy individuals. So, in exchange for a meritorious work—like, making a pilgrimage, going on a Crusade, or making a financial contribution—the Church offered the sinner exemption from acts of penance.All too often, the peddlers of indulgences made them seem a sort of magic—as though a contribution automatically earned the one seeking it a reward, regardless of the condition of their soul. Sorrow for sin was conveniently overlooked. And some even implied you could buy permission to sin before committing it. All this deeply troubled Luther.So, armed with his new understanding of faith, he began to criticize the theology of indulgences in his sermons. He ramped things up in 1517 when the Dominican John Tetzel was preaching throughout Germany on behalf of a Vatican fund–raising campaign to complete the construction of St. Peter's basilica in Rome. In exchange for a contribution, Tetzel boasted, he would provide donors with an indulgence that would even apply beyond the grave and free souls from purgatory. Tetzel was a clever sloganeer who understood the power of marketing. He came up with the catchy ditty - “As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs.”To Luther, Tetzel's preaching was more than bad theology, it bordered on blasphemy. Irked by Tetzel's fleecing of the common people and provoked by his studies in Scripture, Luther drew up 95 propositions for theological debate and on October 31st of 1517, following university custom, posted them on the Castle Church door at Wittenberg, the place people put public notices. Among other things, Luther's list argued that indulgences can't remove guilt, do not apply to purgatory, and are harmful because they create a false sense of security. Little did anyone know that the spark had just been lit that fired the Reformation.Within a short time, Tetzel's fellow Dominicans in Germany denounced Luther to Rome as guilty of preaching dangerous doctrines. A Vatican theologian issued a series of counter-theses to Luther's list, claiming that anyone who criticized indulgences was guilty of heresy.At first, Luther was willing to accept a final verdict from Rome. But he quickly shifted to the position that his critics show him in Scripture that he was wrong. As his appeal to the Bible grew, he began to question the doctrine of purgatory. During an 8–day debate in 1519 with Church theologian John Eck at Leipzig, Luther said, “A council may sometimes err. Neither the Church nor the Pope can establish articles of faith. These must come from Scripture.”Luther had moved from his first conviction—that salvation was by faith in Christ alone to a second. Scripture, not popes or councils, is the standard for Christian faith and behavior.John Eck didn't miss Luther's spiritual resemblance to Jan Hus. After the Leipzig debate, he asked Rome to declare Luther a heretic. Luther put his case before the German people by publishing a series of pamphlets. In his Address to the Nobility of the German Nation, Martin called on the princes to correct abuses within the Church, to strip bishops and abbots of their wealth and worldly power, and to create a national, German Church.In his work titled, The Babylonian Captivity of the Church Luther spoke not to the Papal Schism of a century and a half before but how the doctrine of justification by faith had reformed, get this, his doctrine of the Church. He argued that Rome's sacramental system held Christians “captive.” He attacked the papacy for depriving individual Christians of their freedom to approach God directly by faith, without the mediation of priests. He said that in order for a sacrament to be valid, it had to be instituted by Christ and exclusively Christian. By these tests Luther could find no justification for five of the Roman Catholic sacraments. He retained only Baptism and the Lord's Supper, and placed even these within a community of believing Christians, rather than in the hands of an exclusive priesthood.All this had sweeping ramifications for the Church.  It brushed aside the traditional view of the church as a sacred hierarchy headed by the pope and returned to the early Christian view of a community of Christian believers in which all believers are priests called to offer spiritual sacrifices to God.In his 3rd pamphlet published in 1520, The Freedom of a Christian Man, Luther set forth in a conciliatory but firm voice his views on Christian behavior and salvation. This work is probably the best introduction to his central ideas. He wrote. “Good works do not make a man good, but a good man does good works.”On the eve of his excommunication from the Roman Church, Luther removed the necessity of monasticism by stressing that the essence of Christian living lies in serving God in one's calling whether secular or religious. All useful callings, he said, are equally sacred in God's eyes.In June of 1520, Pope Leo X issued his bull condemning Luther, giving him 60 days to turn from his heretical course. The bonfire at Wittenberg made clear Luther's intent, so his excommunication followed. In January of 1521 the pope declared him a heretic.The problem now fell into the hands of the young emperor, Charles V, who was under oath to defend the Church and remove heresy from the empire. Remember that all Church hierarchy can do is examine those suspected of heresy and declare them innocent or guilty. Punishment was not the duty of priests or monks. That was for the civil magistrate to carry out. So when Luther was declared a dangerous heretic and booted from the Church, it fell to the Emperor to carry out his execution. He summoned Luther to the imperial assembly at Worms, called a Diet, to give an account of his writings. Charles V understood how highly charged the political situation around Luther was since he'd become the hero for a good part of the German nobility Charles desperately needed in his contest with France and the Turks. The emperor wanted to make sure Luther was a verifiable heretic and not just someone Rome wanted to be rid of.While the exact record of the Diet at Worm s is a little cloudy, it seems one day, as Luther was shown a table full of books purported to be his, wherein his radical ideas were expressed, when asked if they were indeed his, and if he stood by all that he had written in them, he hesitated and showed some uncertainty. Whether his hesitation was due to his concern that maybe there were books there he'd NOT authored, or that some of his earlier writings may not have been as accurate in reflection of his present views – or that with the Emperor watching him he was being faced with a potentially life-ending challenge – we don't know. In any case he was allowed to retire for the day where he reflected on what he was really being challenged by and emerged to stand before the assembly on the morrow were he once again insisted that only Biblical authority would sway him. In a famous and oft quoted line he stated, “My conscience is captive to the Word of God. I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither honest nor safe. Here I stand, I cannot do otherwise. God help me. Amen.”Bold. Courageous. But Charles V was not impressed. He declared Luther an outlaw. He pronounced, “This devil in the habit of a monk has brought together ancient errors into one stinking puddle, and has invented new ones.” Luther had 21 days for safe passage to Saxony before the sentence fell. It never came. Luther was saved from arrest and death by Duke Frederick the Wise, the prince of Saxony whose domains included Wittenberg. The Duke gave Luther sanctuary at his lonely Wartburg Castle. Disguised as a minor nobleman, and given the alias Junker George, Luther stayed for a year. He used the time to translate the New Testament into German, an important first step toward reshaping public and private worship in Germany.

This episode is titled “The Witness of Stones.”I've had the privilege of doing a bit of touring in Europe. I've visited the cathedral at Cologne, Germany on several occasions. I've been to Wartburg Castle where Luther hid out. Mrs. Communion Sanctorum and I did a 2-week tour of Florence and Rome for our 30th Anniversary. We saw lots of churches and cathedrals. No matter what your thoughts about medieval Christianity, you can't help but be impressed by the art and architecture the period produced.Some modern Christians, especially those of the Evangelical stripe, visit a medieval European cathedral, and come away impressed at the architecture, but mystified and maybe, a few anyway, a bit angry.Mystified on WHY people would go to such extremes to build such an immense and impressive structure. Angry at the massive expense such a structure meant.This episode seeks to explain the why behind medieval cathedrals.Churches in general and cathedrals in particular served two main purposes. First, the building was a place for worship; that worship being centered on the Mass. Second, the church was a place of instruction.The architecture was used as a tool for BOTH of these.In an age when only a small portion of society was literate, church buildings became a kind of “book in stone,” telling God's story in the paintings and carvings that adorned the walls, and later, in the dazzling light of stained glass windows.Churches and cathedrals were made elaborate because of the theology of the Mass that we've looked at in the episode on the Eucharistic controversy. While the debate was long, the Church eventually settled in on the doctrine of transubstantiation; the belief that at the words of the priest, the bread and wine of Communion are transmuted into the literal body and blood of Christ. A portion of the consecrated host is kept in a container called a tabernacle, making the church into a house that holds the most precious thing in the universe; the body of Christ. It's for this reason churches have long been regarded as sacred refuges. The church's specialness derived from the presence of the host. And of course, that host deserved a house worthy of its importance.Think of the consecrated host as the finest gem. Such a jewel deserves an elaborate setting. It was this mentality that fueled the building of Europe's Medieval Cathedrals. While churches were the meeting place of the faithful, their primary function was to serve as the location where the great miracle of transubstantiation took place.Following the Edict of Milan ending official persecution of Christians, the first church buildings were built in the same pattern and plan as Roman basilicas. These were civil government buildings used for a variety of purposes but officially designated as the hall where the king held court. The Roman basilica was in the shape of a capital “T.” Churches built in the 7th thru 11th C, a period called Romanesque, were built in a small “t” floor plan. The addition of the space at the top of the “t”, called the apse, was to provide room for the clergy who became increasingly distinct from the laity. As more priests and monks were added to the choir, the apse grew.Another major change in Romanesque churches was their roofs. They went from wood to stone. Stone roofs were possible because of the use of semi-circular arches that supported the additional load. When arches transect each other, it forms a vault. The challenge these arches, vaults, and stone roofs put on builders was the lateral stress they exerted. The weight of all that stone had to go somewhere and where it went was to the walls of the church. To keep them from toppling over, they were made sturdier by adding weight and width. So Romanesque churches are massive, imposing structures of thick walls and few windows.In the mid-12th C, Romanesque architecture gave way to a new movement called Gothic. That label was applied much later by those who considered the style barbaric, so worthy of association with the Goths who'd helped bring Rome down. The basic floor plan for churches remained the same, but Gothic architects used pointed, rather than semi-circular arches and vaults. This allowed much higher ceilings. The weight was born by columns rather than walls, which doubled and trebled the lateral thrust on the columns. So external columns were built outside the church and used as additional support for the internal columns by means of an ingenious prop called a flying buttress. Since the weight was now born by columns rather than walls, the walls grew lighter and could be replaced by large stained- glass windows, whose scenes depicted stories from the Bible and lives of the saints.Just imagine the first time a peasant wandered into Cologne Cathedral! The only church he'd ever known was the centuries old massive block building back home that could hold no more than 200. He stands in the plaza in front of Cologne cathedral and tilts back his head as he takes in the church's front façade, carved with hundreds of statues of Apostles and saints. His head keeps going back and back because there seems no end to the spires that rise ever higher, pointing like fingers toward God in His heaven. Dumbstruck that anything could be so big and reach so high, he stumbles in the front door, expecting to be greeted by the thick gloom he's used to in the church back home. But this church isn't dark; it's filled with light. On his right is the main sidewall of the church, pierced by the most magnificent works of art he's ever seen. More than that—than he's ever even conceived! They are massive windows of colored glass through which the light streams. And they cast images of stories he's heard many times. These are the Apostles, Jesus, Mary, and the saints. And the ceiling over his head is so high he can't see it because it's veiled in shadow. He stands there with mouth hanging open and wonders how he's going to make his wife and family believe the wonders he's seeing. He simply has no words to describe it; no point of reference in all his experience.Earlier I said that medieval churches were books in stone. These books told the story of God's creation and the human condition. The average town church only told a few chapters of that story while a cathedral was an entire encyclopedia.The story begins outside, looking at the front façade. While the Gothic cathedrals of Europe are all unique, they bear many similarities. Most have twin towers that soar into the sky. Most are entered via 3 doors; a North, Center, and South entrance that leads to the center and side aisles of the nave of the central hall. Cathedrals were built on an East-West axis with the façade at the west end. Above the central entrance is a large circular stained-glass window, called the Rose window. The central porch and entrance are the largest and were often kept closed for normal church services as they were for the exclusive use of the king or nobles. Commoners used the north and south doors.The porches for each door were elaborately decorated with sculptures of dozens upon dozens of figures both large and small. The left or North porch was often devoted to depictions of normal, everyday life. The labor of the months and various occupations are found there. The idea was to capture the human condition, especially as it intersected with the Life of Faith.The Central porch was more often than not a rendering of the Last Judgment. So, Jesus is seen seated in glory at the apex, judging the souls of mankind, who are found lower down rising from the dead. At the very bottom are depictions of hell and the torment of those souls cast into eternal damnation. Flying around Jesus' throne are the saved in heaven and myriad angels.The South, right-hand porch was often given to the elevation of Mary.Standing across the front of the entire façade are statues of the OT prophets, the Apostles, and Saints.Poised above the central portal is the West Rose Window. From outside one cannot see the beauty of its stained glass, but the design is still noteworthy. Many of these rose windows have the appearance of an elaborate spoked wheel.If you stroll around the outside of the cathedral, rather than rushing to enter through one of those glorious portals, you'll note how though the building lies heavy and squat on the land, it's many spires and vertical embellishments all seem to lighten the effect. Like they are “lifting” it off the ground.Those gruesome gargoyles that have fascinated so many aren't just for decoration. They served an important architectural and engineering purpose. They added weight to the columns that bore the load of the roof. Figures of fearsome demeanor, perched outside, they reminded people making their way into the church that while evil was outside in the world, the Church was a holy sanctuary free of such malevolence.Tourists entering a medieval cathedral today are often met by a lot of stone. The walls are gray, the stone rough. When first built, these walls were awash in color. The sculptures were painted. Gold-leaf was everywhere. And the treasures of the church were on full display. Well, they were when times were good. When not so good, they were sold and used to buy food or outfit soldiers for defense of the realm. Yes, cathedrals were a kind of public storehouse, kept against times of trouble.Inside, as you arrive at the head of the central aisle, you approach the altar area and the choir, or apse; sacred place for the clergy. Cathedrals were built where they were because they possessed some special relic from the Church's past, a piece of the true Cross; the thumb of some saint. These relics were often kept in a special box called a reliquary and stowed away in a vault under the main altar of the church. They would be taken out and carried in procession at special events and days of the year.The back of the apse, so the East wall of the cathedral, was the building's most elaborate and largest stained glass windows.Protestant visitors to Europe's medieval churches and cathedrals are often confused on why there are so many little side rooms that dot the walls of the nave. They appear almost as places were smaller services were held – and that is in fact what they were; chapels for smaller services. Some of these were the donation of wealthy patrons and families where they would conduct their own private services. It's in these chapels that some of Europe's greatest art is to be found.As we end this episode, I want to again thank all those who've left a message on FB or gone by and Liked the page. Those reviews on iTunes are stellar and one of the best ways to get the word out to others about the podcast. Each country has its own iTunes store, so reviews from each country are only seen by people there. So I encourage our many international listeners to leave a review of CS on their iTunes store. Thanks.Let me give a quick preview of what's coming . . .I've been doing a LOT of reading and study for our next phase of Church History. The next era we'll dive in to is the Reformation in Europe. The more I read, the more I realize we need to go back a bit and take a closer look at the call for reform that had been heard in the Western church long before Martin Luther came on the scene. It's a real injustice to the history of the Church to think he arose out of thin air. That fact is, Luther could have done nothing if there hadn't already been a lot of work done in moving for reform.Once we've laid the groundwork for the Reformation, we'll take a look at what was happening in the rest of the word as far as the Faith was concerned. Then we'll return to the story of Reform in Europe.So, get ready for some fun stuff.