Every October 31st, while the world carved pumpkins and collected candy, we celebrated something infinitely sweeter — the rediscovery of the Gospel of grace alone! Reformation Day wasn’t just about history; it was about rejoicing in the truth that “the just shall live by faith.” This year, our backyard turned into a miniature Wittenberg — full of laughter, learning, and praise to God for the light of His Word breaking through the darkness.
🏰 Pin the Thesis on the Wittenberg Door
Our young “reformers-in-training” had a blast playing Pin the Thesis on the Wittenberg Church Door — a creative twist on Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Blindfolded guests tried to nail their theses in just the right spot, celebrating the boldness of Martin Luther’s stand for truth.
🍫 95 Reese’s on the Door
No Reformation celebration was complete without a little “Reese’s theology”! We taped 95 Reese’s to the front door — a sweet reminder of Luther’s 95 Theses that sparked the movement that changed the world. The kids (and adults) were more than happy to “protest” for their favorite peanut butter cup.
🪱 The Diet of Worms
A jar filled with gummy worms challenged everyone to guess how many were inside — a lighthearted nod to the Diet of Worms, where Luther famously declared, “Here I stand, I can do no other!” The winner earned eternal bragging rights — and, of course, the worms.
💰 The Piñata of Penance
One of the crowd favorites was our piñata, shaped like a papal coffer, bursting with candy. Each swing reminded us of the infamous phrase of John Tetzel: “As soon as a coin in the coffer rings, a soul from purgatory springs.” Thankfully, we rejoiced that salvation doesn’t come by swinging sticks or dropping coins, but by grace alone through faith in Christ alone!
🔨 Nail the 95 Theses (and 5 Solas)
We took things up a notch by letting guests nail the 95 Theses and Five Solas to our wooden fence — hammers and all! The sound of metal on wood echoed through the yard like a hymn of freedom. Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria!
🔥 Burning the Papal Bull
In remembrance of Luther’s defiance against false teaching, we printed out the papal bull (the official document that excommunicated him) and invited guests to toss the pages into the firepit. It became a vivid picture of rejecting error and embracing the truth of God’s Word.
🎙 Preaching and Prayer
Between games and grilled burgers, we gathered to hear a short message from Micah Dukes about Martin Luther, and the unstoppable power of the Gospel. We ended with prayer — asking God to open the eyes of those still trusting in religion rather than in Christ. Post tenebras lux — “After darkness, light!”
👑 Costumes and Coloring
From monks and nuns to tiny Luthers with toy hammers, everyone came dressed for the occasion. The little ones enjoyed coloring pages of the Reformers and the Five Solas while the adults watched clips from Luther and Martin Luther. We also watched the powerful testimony of former Catholic priest Richard Bennett, who came to faith in Christ alone.
🍔 Cookout and Fellowship
We started the evening with a hearty cookout — burgers, hot dogs, and plenty of laughter. Each family brought sides and drinks, but what truly filled the table was the joy of fellowship and gratitude for the grace of God.
✝️ Why We Celebrated
Reformation Day wasn’t about rebellion — it was about revelation. It was about remembering the moment God used courageous men and women to restore the truth of the Gospel to the world. We celebrated not Luther, but the Lord who opened blind eyes to the beauty of Christ alone as our Savior and King.
As Luther said,
“I did nothing; the Word did everything.”
And for that, we gave all glory to God — Soli Deo Gloria!
