Five hundred years later, "it's still all about Jesus," St. John's Lutheran Church Pastor Paul Scheperle said, as Lutherans across the country celebrate the anniversary of the Reformation on Tuesday.
"Martin Luther's breakthrough came as he read the passage 'saved by grace through faith a part from the works of the law all by the work of Jesus Christ and him alone,'" Scheperle said. "This is the 500th anniversary of one event that is considered the start of the Reformation."
Oct. 31 is commonly known as Halloween, but for Lutheran Christians it marks the day Martin Luther pinned his 95 theses to the door of the Wittenburg church in Germany in 1517, challenging controversial practices of the Catholic Church at the time.
One key change was the issuance of indulgences. At the time, indulgences were essentially a piece of paper - sold by Catholic churches - granting repentance and pardoning the sins of those who purchased them.
This was the very idea that prompted Luther to take action and confront the church. Historians said Luther never intended to create additional denominations, he just wanted to see reform within the church.
After Luther's message gained traction, some people separated from the dominant faith of Catholicism, later creating divisions of Lutherans and other Protestant Christians.
Luther is also known for translating the Bible from Latin to German in 1522.
Today, Lutherans seek the Book of Concord to explain what they believe and why they believe it - all based on scripture.
Sam Powell, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Jefferson City, said his congregation has been gearing up for Tuesday's Reformation Day since April by going through the Small Catechisms and singing hymns by Martin Luther.
"In general, the biggest contribution the Reformation has had is the emphasis on the word of God and not human ideologies," Powell said. "The second is the emphasis on how God freely gives his grace and mercy through Jesus because he loves us."
Members of Lutheran churches across Central Missouri will gather at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 803 Swifts Hwy. in Jefferson City, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The church service is open to the community.
Earlier that day at 10 a.m., 90 seniors from the Learning in Retirement organization will mark the occasion at United Church of Christ, 118 W. Ashley St. in Jefferson City.
Calvary Lutheran High School students and community members will take turns reading scripture from 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday.
"Part of the idea was to bring God's word to everyone, and that's what we want to do," Calvary Lutheran Principal Eric Ahlers said.
The Southside Philharmonic Orchestra will host a performance Friday themed around the 500th anniversary of the Reformation at 7 p.m. at the United Church of Christ.