Strengthen Your
Reformed Foundation

Reformed theology is a system of Christian doctrine rooted in the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. It emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura), salvation by grace alone through faith alone (Sola Fide), and the teaching that God predestined some for salvation. Key figures include Martin Luther, John Calvin, and the Westminster Assembly.

Martin Luther (1483-1546) was a German monk and theologian who initiated the Protestant Reformation in 1517 by posting his Ninety-Five Theses to the Wittenberg church door. He challenged the Roman Catholic Church's practice of selling indulgences and emphasized that salvation comes through faith alone, not works. His translation of the Bible into German and emphasis on Scripture as the sole authority transformed Western Christianity.

OIA stands for Observation, Interpretation, and Application—an inductive Bible study method. First, Observation asks what the text actually says by examining the words, context, structure, and literary cues. Then Interpretation determines what the text means for the original audience in its biblical-theological context. Finally, Application considers how the text should transform our beliefs, affections, and actions today.

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession completed in 1646 by the Westminster Assembly of 151 Puritan divines. It consists of 33 chapters covering every major doctrine of Christian faith from a Reformed perspective, including Scripture, God's nature, salvation, church government, and the sacraments. It remains one of the most influential Reformed documents and is used as a standard of orthodoxy by many Presbyterian and Reformed denominations worldwide.

Reformed catechisms are systematic instructional documents that teach Christian doctrine through question and answer format. The most well-known include the Westminster Shorter and Larger Catechisms, and the Heidelberg Catechism. They're important because they provide structured, biblically-grounded instruction in Reformed theology, helping believers understand key doctrines like the nature of God, salvation, the Ten Commandments, and the Lord's Prayer.