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LUTHER MOVIE STUDY GUIDE Session 5 LUTHER MOVIE STUDY GUIDE Session 5 DVD scenes for this segment include: 1. The German Bible 2. Music and Marriage 3. Revolt of the Princes This segment is app. 16 minutes in length [Meter #1:39:08 – 1:55:26] INTRODUCTION TO THE VIDEO SEGMENT: In this segment you will see this drama climax at a town called Augsburg. Before that happens, Luther and Frederick, Luther’s prince, express their deep respect for each other; Luther meets and marries a runaway nun by the name of Katherine von Bora; Pope Leo dies; and Ulrich*, Luther’s friend, is captured and burned at the stake for his “Lutheran” beliefs. Over time, many princes in Germany have come to embrace the truths of God’s Word as taught by Luther. The climax comes when all the Lutheran princes of Germany face Emperor Charles the Fifth in Augsburg. Fearing a divided Germany, the Emperor demands that they renounce their Lutheran beliefs. Because Luther is still declared an “Outlaw” by the Emperor, he is unable to go to Augsburg; Philip Melanchthon, Luther’s close friend and co-worker, goes in his place. Luther can only remain where he is and wait for news. * While the names marked with an asterisk are fictitious characters, they do represent things that actually happened at this time. As you watch this segment, get ready to discuss the following questions: 1. How did Frederick react when he first held Luther’s translation of the Bible? Why is it that you and I usually don’t react the same way? What warning do you see here when it comes to our personal study of God’s Word? 2. Martin Luther had to battle depression through much of his life. How did the Lord use Katharine as a blessing for Luther? How does He use Christian family and friends to help us in the same way? 3. Sometimes it might be easy for some to look at the Lutheran Reformation as just dull disagreements among scholars. What portions of this segment (and of the film) tell us that this was not the case? 4. In this segment, what were the Lutheran princes willing to do for the sake of what they believed? Why did they consider their beliefs so precious? 5. The Lutheran princes in Augsburg would have agreed with God’s Word in Ephesians 6:13-17. It says, Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. In your own words, describe what it means to “put on the full armor of God.” Describe what’s meant by “the day of evil.” What does it mean, here, to “stand your ground”? Take a moment and consider all that Martin Luther and his fellow Lutherans went through in this film. Imagine they are standing in front of you right now. You ask them, “What are some things you don’t want us to forget as Lutherans?” What would they tell you? People, Places and Things: Katharina von Bora: Former nun who became Luther’s wife. Zwingli: Former Swiss priest who parted with Luther over the Lord’s Supper. Marburg 1529: Where and when Luther and Zwingli met to discuss their differences. Marburg Articles: Last-ditch effort for Luther and Zwingli to agree. Did not succeed. Torgau Articles: What Luther et al wrote for the Augsburg diet. They helped form the basis for the Augsburg Confession. Augsburg: Where Emperor Charles held diet to unite Lutherans and Catholics. Coburg: Where Luther waited while diet of Augsburg was being held. Eck’s 404 Articles for the Diet in Augsburg: Charges (including false charges) against Lutherans. Melanchthon’s reply to it would become the Augsburg Confession. Augsburg Confession: A formal confession of what Lutherans believe. Presented to Emperor Charles V in 1530. 2 Catholic Leagues: Formed by Catholic princes1525 in Germany; 1 North, 1 South. League of Torgau: League formed by Lutheran princes in Germany. Diet of Speyer1526: German states decided that, during Emperor Charles’ absence, each German state would control its own church affairs as it saw fit. Diet of Speyer 1529: Charles attempted to undo what the 1526 Diet of Speyer had decided. He was only partially successful. Protestant: A term that came out of Diet of Speyer 1529. Refers to one who testifies. Today it describes Christians who do not agree with the Roman Catholic Church. John: Frederick’s brother and successor. Ordered the visitation of Saxon churches. Small Catechism: Luther’s tool for fathers to teach their children. Large Catechism: Luther’s tool for teaching poorly-educated pastors. The Mass: The historic church service in which the Lord’s Supper is celebrated. German Mass: Worship service which Luther put together in German. German Bible 1534: Entire German Bible completed by Luther. Page 1 Key dates in Luther’s life: November 10, 1483: Luther born in Eisleben, Germany. 1505: Luther leaves the law school in Erfurt and enters the monastery in Erfurt, becoming a monk. 1507: Luther becomes a priest. 1510: Luther begins his journey to visit Rome. 1511: Luther is formally transferred to Wittenberg, where he will teach at the University and also serve as a parish priest. 1513-1516: Luther prepares to teach classes on the Psalms and on the book of Romans. During this time the truth of Justification by Faith becomes clear to him. October 31, 1517: Luther nails his 95 Theses on the church door in Wittenberg. 1518: Cardinal Cajetan summons Luther and orders him to recant what he has been teaching. Luther refuses. Luther leaves, fearing for his life. 1519: Luther and John Eck debate at Leipzig. Luther questions indulgences and the authority that the papacy claims for itself. 1520: Pope Leo issues a papal bull, or papal report, which orders all Christians to burn Luther’s writings and gives Luther 60 days to recant. Luther burns his copy of the bull. April, 1521: Luther, as ordered by the Emperor, appears before him at the Diet of Worms. Luther is asked whether or not he will recant what he has written. He refuses. May, 1521: Emperor declares Luther an “Outlaw,” making it legal for anyone to kill him on sight. On his way back to Wittenberg, Luther is “kidnapped” by Prince Frederick’s men and hidden at the Wartburg Castle. May 1521- March 1522: Luther lives at the Wartburg, disguised as a knight. During this time he translates the New Testament into German. 1522: Luther returns to Wittenberg to resume preaching, teaching and writing. 1523: The first Protestant martyrs are burned at the stake. 1524-1525: German peasants misunderstand Luther’s words about freedom in Christ and use his words as an excuse to rebel against the government. 100,000 people die before the government restores order. June 1525: Luther marries Katherine von Bora, a former nun. 1527: Luther writes, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.” Page 2 1529: Luther publishes his Small Catechism. 1530: In Augsburg, the leaders of Lutheran states in Germany present Emperor Charles with the “Augsburg Confession,” a summary of what Lutherans believe on the basis of God’s Word. In spite of what Emperor Charles wants, it becomes pretty clear that Lutheranism is here to stay. February 17, 1546: After many years of preaching and teaching God’s Word and training others to do the same, Martin Luther dies during a visit to Eisleben, the town of his birth. His body is buried in Wittenberg. Page 3 .
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