Protestant Churches
Martin Luther
John Calvin
Huldrych Zwingli
Background  Protestantism, as a religious movement, began in 1517 • It started with the Ninety-Five Theses, a document challenging the teachings of the Catholic Church on the nature of penance, the authority of the pope and the usefulness of indulgences • The 95 Theses was Written by Martin Luther (1483-1546), a Christian theologian and Augustinian monk
Background Luther’s reluctant parting from the Catholic Church concerned the sale of indulgences with the intention of freeing souls from Purgatory The Catholic Church teaches that salvation involves a gradual process of sanctification over time. Believers can lose their salvation and become isolated from God. Five Things you should know about the Lutheran Reformation 1. Most people in medieval times had low expectations. 2. The Lutheran reformers were Catholic. 3. People in medieval times weren’t allowed to choose their own religion. 4. Martin Luther wasn’t the only reformer. 5. Luther and his colleagues cared about what you hear in church today.
Background
John Calvin, a major figure of Reformed Theology Teaches three solas of Protestantism. Sola Fide (Faith alone) means that we are never justified by works. Sola Gratia (Grace alone) means we can never do anything to merit God‟s acceptance. And Sola Scriptura (Scripture alone) means that no beliefs are necessary to accept unless they are in the Bible. Huldrych Zwingli, reformer and the early Anabaptist Anabaptists, meaning “re-baptizers For the Anabaptists, baptism was only for adult believers, a mark of their commitment to living a radically new life in Christian community
Background Since the Middle Ages, Protestantism has grown to encompass a wide array of beliefs, traditions, and denominations
Anglicanism Mainline Protestantism Modern or Postmodern Liberalism Evangelicalism Pentecostalism and "Spirit-Filled" Christians
General Belief 1. Sola Scriptura - Doctrine is "by Scripture alone" as opposed to papal decree or council edict. 2. Sola Fide - Justification is received "by faith alone" as opposed to works or sacraments. 3. Sola Gratia - Salvation comes "by grace alone." 4. Sola Christus - Atonement for sins is "by and through Christ alone." 5. Soli Deo gloria - All glory is to be given "to God alone."
Sacrament
Baptism and Lord’s Supper
Family and Marriage Marriage was divinely established in Eden and affirmed by Jesus to be a lifelong union between a man and a woman in loving companionship For the Christian a marriage commitment is to God as well as to the spouse, and should be entered into only between partners who share a common faith God blesses the family and intends that its members shall assist each other toward complete maturity. Parents are to bring up their children to love and obey the Lord Increasing family closeness is one of the earmarks of the final gospel message
ďƒź Christian marriage is a divinely sanctioned union between a believing man and a believing woman for the fulfillment of their mutual love, for mutual support, for shared happiness, and for the procreation and rearing of children who will in turn become Christians. ďƒź Protestant reformers saw the family as the fundamental unit for fostering both religious belief and social stability; therefore, they directed more attention to children and families than had the late-medieval Catholic Church. ďƒź As envisioned by the reformers, the ideal family was a patriarchy in which fathers held ultimate responsibility and authority, but within which mothers were also held accountable for the nurture and education of their offspring.
ďƒź Another significant contribution was the insistence on the importance of basic education and the attempt to spread literacy so that reformed Christians would be able to read the Bible for themselves ďƒź Therefore, marriage was not about a contract or a financial engagement as had been the custom for centuries prior, but a sacred union that should reflect God's love. ďƒź Matrimony is in its nature a union permanent and lifelong of one man and one woman
Church A member of a Western Christian church whose faith and practice are founded on the principles of the Reformation, especially in the acceptance of the Bible as the sole source of revelation, in justification by faith alone A member of a Western Christian church adhering to the theologies of Luther, Calvin, or Zwingli. The church is the community of believers who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour
The church is God's family; adopted by Him as children, its members live on the basis of the new covenant. The church is the body of Christ, a community of faith of which Christ Himself is the Head. The National, Provincial and Local Council is the governing body of the Church and has the authority to establish the program and budget of the Church, including such organizational decisions as may facilitate the work of the Church The Council shall deliberate upon matters affecting the interests of the Church, shall approve policy, and shall adopt canons for ratification by majority vote of the Assembly.
The Council shall consider and report, with reasonable promptness, upon any matter that a Diocese or the Assembly or the Executive Committee may refer to the Council. The Church Protestants believe that God indwells believers through the Holy Spirit. Where Gods people gather together for worship or service, there is fellowship with God and with each other. The church like a body, functions with the cooperation of its combined members. Protestants likewise believe that God has empowered the church with gifts that, when performed properly, edify and equip the church for ministry (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 2:19-22)
 Historically, Protestantism has embraced a congregational organizational structure, which also incorporates governmental bodies of various design, using either an episcopal, synodical, or presbyterian format. Protestant churches are primarily non-credal, but many have church covenants that seek to establish unity of belief and practice for the individual and the congregation as a whole.  The practices of taking Communion or the Lord’s Supper are viewed in various ways, including commemorative, consubstantial, or eucharistic, and are normally open to all believers regardless of denomination.
References: Carey, Phillip, The History of Christian Theology, teaching Company, Chantilly, Virginia, 2008. Skrade, Kristofer, The Lutheran Handbook, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, 2005. Handbook for Religious Belief and Practices. 1987. Wylie, J.A, LL.D. History of Protestantism. New York.