Reformation Celebration! SOLA FIDE

REFORMATION CHALLENGE!
Week 2 - Sola Fide

Sola Fide - what do we mean? Faith brings justification and good works rather than faith and good works bringing justification (see the entirety of Galatians). It is of utmost importance that when we read the Bible to our children that we do not merely tell them to have faith and be like Abraham or like any of those mentioned in the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11).  What we SHOULD focus on is that God is the only truly faithful and trustworthy One. Faith should always lead us to the One who is perfectly faithful and trustworthy. Faith is NOT about us "doing doing doing" but that we "can't can't can't." Jesus did for us what we could not do for ourselves. My faith is not my own but was purchased at the cross. Faith is a wonderful gift from God. You cannot give your children faith, but you can help to give them a structure and foundation for which God can build.  A good story to read to them this week would be of when God told Abraham to count the stars - Abraham did and he believed God's promise and it was counted to him as righteousness. Abraham believed because God was trustworthy. This is why we believe too. It is not because of our faith, but because of God's worthiness. If this doesn't make you want to sing, I don't know what will! 

 In honor of the 500th anniversary of the reformation and the resurgence of congregational singing, my family and I are doing something special each day this month. Every evening, we are singing A Mighty Fortress is Our God (Martin Luther). It is our goal that our children (even our two year old) will be able to sing all four stanzas by Reformation Day at the end of the month.  Even if you don't have children, commit to singing this text every day. It will be good for your soul.  I hope you will do this challenge along with us! We will post a video of us singing together on Reformation Day. I'd loveto see our feeds full of this wonderful text! My 4 and 5 year old can sing all four stanzas now, and my two year old is chiming in on the first stanza. Keep singing! 

This week, here are some song suggestions for you:

By Faith (Getty) - this is one of my favorites, and we sing this every day after Bible story. The chorus is perfect for children: "We will stand as children of the promise. We will fix our eyes on Him our soul's reward - till the race is finished and the work is done: we walk by faith and not by sight." One of the things I love about this text is that the Getty's go through all of Scripture and tell stories of faith through poetry.

My Faith has Found a Resting Place - this was actually supposed to be on our list to sing this week, so make sure you check this one out! This hymn is a great way to teach your children what the Gospel clearly is.

My Faith Looks up to Thee is a beautiful hymn to meditate on if you are not familiar with it.

You can also review How Firm a Foundation from last week. 

Resource Corner

Here is a great book for children. It can be read a page at a time for younger children. Beautifully illustrated and written. These would make great Christmas gifts if you are looking for solid books for your family or grandchildren. It is great to have books like this to learn about maybe some of the "lesser" knowns of the reformation. John Knox is one of my favorites. There are many biographies you can find on him if you don't know much about him. 

• Five Reasons to Teach your children about the Reformation
• How the Protestant Reformation Started
• Keller, Piper, and Carson on why the Reformation matters today