The Protestant Reformation is one of the most pivotal points in church history. If you haven’t had a chance to put together lessons covering Martin Luther and the Reformation, there’s no need to skip learning about this important historical event. Use these free YouTube videos to teach your children about the Reformation. There’s everything from short videos that summarize the key points of the Reformation to full-length movies and documentaries.

Short Videos

Videos in this section range from two to about 30 minutes long. Most of them can be enjoyed by the entire family.

Martin Luther -The Animated Movie – Produced by Fishpond Productions.

A Fun, Animated History of the Reformation and the Man Who Started It All – Created by National Geographic.

Reformation Rock – Uses music to teach the key points of the Reformation.

The Ballad of Martin Luther – A catchy tune tells the story of Martian Luther and the Reformation.

The Story of Martin Luther – Teaches Martin Luther’s story using Playmobile animation.

Martin Luther and Reformation Day – Short summary of the Reformation created by Drive Thur History.

Torchlighters: The Martin Luther Story –  An animated video with activities, coloring sheets, and a study guide.

Reformation Polka – An animated music video about the life and times of Martin Luther.

Martin Luther (As Told by Littles) – This video, narrated by children, tells the story of Martin Luther.

The Bride of Martin Luther (As Told by Littles) – This video tells how Martin Luther met Katharina von Bora. It’s the second part of the above “As Told by Littles” video.

Martin Luther’s “Here I Stand” – Max McLean narrates the speech that launched the Protestant Reformation. This one may not hold the attention of younger children.

Full-Length Movies and Documentaries

The videos in this section range in length from about 40 minutes to almost two hours. While some of them can be enjoyed by the entire family, others will likely be a bit above most younger children’s understanding and may not hold their attention. I would recommend previewing the videos to determine age-appropriateness.

Martin Luther – Documentary created by PBS.

Rick Steves’ Luther and the Reformation – This documentary was filmed on location in Europe.

Martin Luther – Filmed in 1953 and is the first motion picture portrayal of the Protestant Reformation.

Luther – Luther’s life from becoming a monk in 1505 to the Diet of Augsburg in 1530.

Martin Luther: A Return to Grace – A documentary about the life and legacy of Martin Luther.

Martin Luther and the 95 Theses – Gordon Cornwell Theological Seminary lecture explaining the 95 Theses in detail. I’d recommend this one for teens only, as it is likely too advanced for younger children.

Note: This post was originally published on September 27, 2020 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.