Reformation Day: Family Night

Join us, Sunday, Oct 27 from 5-7PM for our annual Reformation Day Celebration! This family themed party night will highlight the life and times of John Knox who gained famed as he suffered for the gospel as a galley slave, patiently pastored the people of Scotland, and prophetical called queens and nobles to repentance. The night will start in the sanctuary with a 20-minute interactive discussion that will introduce ABC to the provocative and yet kind Scottish pastor.


Once we wrap up things in the Sanctuary, we will head to the ABC Fellowship Hall for games and snacks. Lots of Candy and prizes will be on hand help kids appreciate the life and ministry of John Knox. To help catch the Middle Age Scottish vibe, we encourage both kids and adults to dress up as a British King or Queen, or as a knight, a monk, or in other Renaissance costumes. We hope you and your family will join us on Oct. 27th at 5PM!

Why John Knox?

Perhaps somewhat ironically, Knox never wanted to preach. But with the arrest of his mentor and the Reformation in Scotland in full force, Knox decided he could not sit out this fight for truth and ascended to the pulpit of St. Andrew's Church. Unfortunately for Knox, that pastorate would not last long as Edenborough was surrounded by a French fleet.  He would spend the next several months rowing in a galley. But when he got out, he returned to the ministry boldly sharing the truth of Jesus with peasant and Queen alike, loving much and suffering much, leaving behind a rich legacy that the modern church can still benefit from. 

What is the Reformation?

On October 31, 1517, Luther nailed the 95 Theses to the door of the Wittenberg Chapel, seeking to debate the practice of indulgences: the idea that salvation and redemption could be bought with earthly coins. 


Luther challenged this practice because he had discovered that the Bible said that salvation came by faith alone and through grace alone. It was a free gift that no man, woman, or child could earn through good works or purchase with their hard-earned money.


Though Luther initially sought to reform the church, he had set in motion the world altering event which historians have now labeled the "Reformation."


Despite Luther's pleas for biblical debate and discussion, the Roman Catholic Church universally rejected Luther's biblical reforms and threatened those who taught Luther's gospel ideas with death. Lacking any other option, Luther and the other followers of Jesus left the corrupt teachings of Rome to create a new church founded upon the gospel, namely, the protestant church (a church for those who protested the religion of the Catholic Church). 


Baptists, Lutherans, and Presbyterians and many other gospel centered churches exist today because this lone monk in Germany rediscovered the beauty of the true gospel which proclaims that Jesus saves sinners by his grace and mercy through the work of the cross! Thus, we celebrate the Reformation for without it, we would not have the gospel that we so dearly love.