Stephen Nichols: Why the Reformation?

Summary

The sermon discusses pre-Reformation reform movements, including the Brethren of the Common Life, the conciliar movement, and humanism, highlighting their focus on piety, structure, and intellectual freedom, respectively. It argues these movements failed because they missed the central issue: the church's incorrect answer to the question of how to be right with God. The takeaway is that true reform, as exemplified by Martin Luther, hinges on a right understanding of God and the biblical answer to salvation.