Martin Luther (b. November 10, 1483, in Eisleben, Germany; d. February 18, 1546, in Eisleben) is known as the Father of Protestantism. He had studied to become a lawyer before becoming an Augustinian monk in 1505, and was ordained a priest in 1507. While continuing his studies in pursuit of a Doctor of Theology degree, he discovered significant differences between what he read in the Bible and the theology and practices of the medieval church. On October 31, 1517, he posted a challenge on the church door at Wittenberg University to debate 95 theological issues. Luther's hope was that the church would reform its practice and preaching to be more consistent with the Word of God as contained in the Bible.

What started as an academic debate escalated to a religious war, fueled by fiery temperaments and violent language on both sides. As a result, there was not a reformation of the church but a separation. "Lutheran" was a name applied to Luther and his followers as an insult but adopted as a badge of honor by them instead.

Lutherans still celebrate the Reformation on October 31 and still hold to the basic principles of theology and practice espoused by Luther: Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura (grace alone, faith alone, Scripture alone):

• We are saved by the grace of God alone -- not by anything we do
• Our salvation is through faith alone -- we need only to believe that our sins are forgiven for Christ's sake, who died to redeem us
• The Bible is the only norm of doctrine and life -- the only true standard by which teachings and doctrines are to be judged.

Another of Luther's principles holds that Scripture and liturgy need to be in the language of the people.

Many Lutherans still consider themselves a reforming movement within the Church catholic, rather than a separatist movement, and Lutherans have engaged in ecumenical dialogue with other church bodies for decades. However, for most Lutherans adherence to Scriptural truths continues to take precedence over organizational alliances.

Luther's Small Catechism, which contains teachings on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession and Absolution, Holy Communion and Morning and Evening Prayers, is still used to introduce people to the Lutheran faith, as is the Augsburg Confession.

Together with Holy Scripture, which is considered to be the chief means of grace, Lutherans accept two sacraments as God-given means for penetrating the lives of people with his grace. Baptism is the initiating sacrament and Holy Communion is the sustaining sacrament. Together, Word and sacrament focus and make visible the revelation of God’s love and will.

In Baptism, and especially visible in infant Baptism, God freely offers his grace and lovingly establishes a new community. It is in Baptism that people become members of Christ's Body on earth, the church. In Holy Communion -- often called the Lord's Supper or the Eucharist -- those who come to the Table receive in bread and wine the body and blood of their Lord. This gift does not require a physical change of the bread and wine but, rather, is itself the real presence of God's forgiveness and mercy, nourishing believers in union with their Lord and with each other. Thus Lutherans worship and receive communion as sinners who are forgiven and justified before God by their faith alone.