Lutherans
Wittenberg's spiritual heirs
Lutherans are members of Protestant Christian churches that follow the teachings of Martin Luther, the 16th-century German theologian whose challenges to Catholic doctrine sparked the Reformation.
Lutheran churches emphasize salvation by grace through faith and the authority of scripture.
Lutheranism is strongest in Germany and Scandinavia, with significant communities in North America: The Lutherans down the street are having their annual lutefisk dinner.
Protest against ecclesiastical corruption
- WittenbergReformation's starting point
- indulgencesExcessive self-granted pleasures
- Diet of WormsImperial council in Germany
- AugsburgBavarian city, Roman-founded
excommunication · papacy · Schmalkaldic League · Peace of Augsburg · reformer · posting · reform
Reason proving rightness
- graceEffortless beauty of motion
- salvationDeliverance from harm
- gospelSacred choral tradition
- sanctificationMaking someone or something sacred
atonement · creed · Apostles' Creed · doctrine · orthodoxy · pietism
Church governing assembly
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- parishLocal church community
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- laityNon-ordained church members
bishop · pastor · ordination · confirmation · catechism · confession · Augsburg Confession · Book of Concord
Formal worship structure
- hymnsReligious songs of worship
- choraleHymn tune or choir
- BachGerman composer surname
- serviceAid or maintenance
communion · baptism · altar · vestments · lectionary · sermon · preaching · organ
Central European nation
- ScandinaviaNordic countries collectively
- SwedenScandinavian country, capital Stockholm
- NorwayScandinavian coastal kingdom
- FinlandScandinavian country, capital Helsinki
Denmark · Iceland · Minnesota · Midwest · immigration · lutefisk · potluck · church supper
95 Theses
Protest against ecclesiastical corruption
- WittenbergReformation's starting point
- indulgencesExcessive self-granted pleasures
- Diet of WormsImperial council in Germany
Augsburg · excommunication · papacy · Schmalkaldic League · Peace of Augsburg · reformer · posting · reform
justification
Reason proving rightness
sanctification · atonement · creed · Apostles' Creed · doctrine · orthodoxy · pietism
synod
Church governing assembly
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- parishLocal church community
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
laity · bishop · pastor · ordination · confirmation · catechism · confession · Augsburg Confession · Book of Concord · ecclesiology
liturgy
Formal worship structure
service · communion · baptism · altar · vestments · lectionary · sermon · preaching · organ · hymnody
Germany
Central European nation
- ScandinaviaNordic countries collectively
- SwedenScandinavian country, capital Stockholm
- NorwayScandinavian coastal kingdom
Finland · Denmark · Iceland · Minnesota · Midwest · immigration · lutefisk · potluck · church supper · Nordic
- FaithsChristians, Catholics, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews
- ChristiansCatholics, Catholic, Protestants, Protestant, Baptist
- religionsChristianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism
- believersbeliever, believers, adherent, devotee, theist
- American ChristianityBaptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Episcopalians, Catholics
- church historychurch history, apostles, Protestant Reformation, Christian history, baptism
LutheransCatholics
Christians following Rome
Roman Catholics · Papists · Eastern Orthodox · papists · Greek Orthodox
LutheransCalvinists
Followers of Geneva's reformer
Presbyterians · Anabaptists · Mennonites · Methodists · Baptists
LutheransPentecostals
Spirit-gift emphasizing Christians
- Lutheran ChurchProtestant denomination from 1500s reform
- Lutheran pastorProtestant minister, reformation tradition
- Lutheran schoolProtestant denomination's educational institution
- Lutheran churchesProtestant denomination worship spaces