Reformation Sunday
Text : Romans 3:19-28
Pastor Jean M. Hansen
There’s a door in the front of the sanctuary/worship area. What’s that about? It’s here to remind us of the past, but also to acknowledge the present and encourage us to step into the future in our lives together as Lutherans.
The events of more than 500 years ago are what we are remembering today, events in which a door played a key role. A Roman Catholic priest and professor named Martin Luther was concerned about the church of his day, particularly his belief that what he read in the Bible was not being taught to the faithful who could not read it for themselves, since the Bible was printed in Latin, the language of priests and the highly educated.
One of those passages of scripture was from Romans 3 where we read that, “…since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” and, “For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.”
Martin Luther said that if Romans is a little New Testament, then Romans 3:21-26 is a little Romans. He maintained that one had to understand these verses correctly in order to comprehend the gospel. (1) So, to put it in simple terms, people are justified – made right with God – not through our own actions, but through God’s actions.
A story I recently read that illustrates grace tells of a Mom who had been given three yummy, decorated donuts. So, when she picked up her three children from school, she showed them the donuts and promised that they could each have one after they stopped at the local grocery store for some milk and toilet paper. While there, the children all acted like hooligans, not anything close to how they had been taught to behave in a store. When they returned to their SUV, Mom was seething and let her children know how unhappy she was with them. Still, she said she was going to give them the donuts, not because they had done anything to deserve them, in fact, the opposite was true. But she was giving them the donuts because she loved them and had promised to do so, and she was keeping her promise.
That may not be a stellar parenting style, but it’s grace. God’s grace is a gift we did not earn which came to us in Jesus, specifically through his death and resurrection. Jesus has provided redemption, so that we stand righteous and acceptable before God.
So, given that, Martin Luther was angry that his parishioners were being pressured by the church in Rome to buy indulgences. They were promised that when they purchased an indulgence, which they could ill afford, their, or a loved one’s, time in purgatory (a heavenly waiting room) would be lessened and they would enter paradise more quickly. There was even a jingle that was proclaimed by the indulgence sellers from Rome, “When a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs!”
This contradiction of scripture so enraged Martin Luther that he wrote 95 Theses, or statements, protesting the sale of indulgences, and with hammer in hand nailed them to the door of the church, which was considered a public bulletin board. That was the spark that lit the fire of the reformation and led to the eventual formation of the Lutheran church and other protestant denominations, even though Luther’s intentions was only to reform the church of his day.
That’s the past of which we are reminded by this door. No doubt what I just shared is familiar information, but it bears repeating. But how does this door remind us of the present and future of the church? Or, another way to put it, how does it remind us not to forget how to be the church.
In a recent article in the Living Lutheran magazine, Ralen M. Robinson writes this, “Reformation Sunday isn’t just a special day – it should be marked as a holiday. We are called to embody the fire of the reformation promise, which tells us that God’s radical grace is still accessible. Reformation Sunday is more than a familiar tune – it’s a profound act of religious freedom that allows us all to be in one accord and know that we are loved, not because of our actions but because of who we are. The Reformation reminds us that we are perfectly imperfect and encompassed by this radical grace that give us chance after chance, forgiveness after forgiveness, and meets us with love when we feel we are not deserving.” (2)
We are God’s loved and forgiven children, not just one day at the end of October each year, but every day. So, Reformation Sunday challenges us to ask what needs reforming, reviving and renewing today in our congregation, Faith Lutheran Church, and in the wider church of which we are a part, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. As Ralen Robinson noted, Reformation Sunday is a living tradition that challenges us to ask what needs reforming today.
Today, this door stands ready to receive our theses, or statements, about your vision, your prayer for FLC and the ELCA. There are post-it notes in your bulletin. The orange one is for FLC, and the yellow one is for the ELCA. On them you are encouraged to write what you feel needs reforming, reviving, renewing in our congregation and in the ELCA. You’ll be placing them on this door when you come forward for Holy Communion. (Unfortunately, we cannot nail them onto the door, which would be more historically accurate!) I thought it might be helpful to offer some examples of the type of things you might write, so here are a few:
That the ELCA would be unafraid to speak out for those who feel silenced.
That FLC actions would reflect Jesus’ teaching.
That the ELCA would choose courage rather than complacency.
That at FLC there would be a revival of participation in worship, with enthusiasm and joy.
That the ELCA would encourage and support its rostered leaders.
For both:
That congregations would encourage more people to respond to God’s call to ministry.
That our actions would reflect God’s mercy.
Or to be more specific about FLC:
That there would be more veggies offered at the Kinship Café.
That more people would be encouraged to study the Bible.
That screens would be installed in the sanctuary.
That more people be encouraged to publicly share their faith stories.
The door is here, just as it was in 1517, to receive your hopes for renewal, revival and reform as the church of Jesus Christ continues to evolve, always by the grace of God. AMEN
(We will pause for a few minutes before the hymn so you can write your theses; orange for FLC and yellow for the ELCA. There are pens at end of the pews, on the outside aisle. Be sure to bring your theses up with you, and place in on the door.)
“Reformation Day: A Reformation Day Sermon”, Romans 3:21-26, by David S. Dockery, www.preaching.com
“A Living Tradition” by Ralen M. Robinson, Living Lutheran, Fall 2025, pg. 22-23
One of those passages of scripture was from Romans 3 where we read that, “…since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…” and, “For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.”
In a recent article in the Living Lutheran magazine, Ralen M. Robinson writes this, “Reformation Sunday isn’t just a special day – it should be marked as a holiday. We are called to embody the fire of the reformation promise, which tells us that God’s radical grace is still accessible. Reformation Sunday is more than a familiar tune – it’s a profound act of religious freedom that allows us all to be in one accord and know that we are loved, not because of our actions but because of who we are. The Reformation reminds us that we are perfectly imperfect and encompassed by this radical grace that give us chance after chance, forgiveness after forgiveness, and meets us with love when we feel we are not deserving.” (2) We are God’s loved and forgiven children, not just one day at the end of October each
That the ELCA would be unafraid to speak out for those who feel silenced.
That FLC actions would reflect Jesus’ teaching.
That the ELCA would choose courage rather than complacency.
That at FLC there would be a revival of participation in worship, with enthusiasm and joy.
That the ELCA would encourage and support its rostered leaders.
For both:
That congregations would encourage more people to respond to God’s call to ministry.
That our actions would reflect God’s mercy.
Or to be more specific about FLC:
That there would be more veggies offered at the Kinship Café.
That more people would be encouraged to study the Bible.
That screens would be installed in the sanctuary.
That more people be encouraged to publicly share their faith stories.
The door is here, just as it was in 1517, to receive your hopes for renewal, revival and reform as the church of Jesus Christ continues to evolve, always by the grace of God. AMEN