Reformation Sunday and Building Our Legacy

Every year, Reformation Sunday reminds us of an important moment in church history. On 31 October 1517, Martin Luther’s 95 Theses became a catalyst for what we now know as the Protestant Reformation.

But, Reformation Sunday is not simply about remembering something that happened more than 500 years ago. It is a reminder that the church in every generation must continually return to the Word of God and allow His Word to shape our faith, our worship and our lives.

This is especially meaningful for us at Hermon as we continue with our 2026 theme, “Building Our Legacy.”

When we speak about legacy, we can easily think about buildings, ministries, programmes, memories or the number of years a church has existed. But the Reformation reminds us that the most important legacy we can leave is not something we build with our hands. It is a faith that is firmly grounded in God’s Word and centred on Jesus Christ, and a gospel that is faithfully passed from one generation to another.

A Legacy Built on the Word

One of the great cries of the Reformation was Sola Scriptura — Scripture Alone. The Reformers sought to bring the church back to the authority of God’s Word. Scripture is not simply one voice among many. It is the plumb line by which the church examines what we believe and how we live.

This remains deeply relevant today. We live in a world where information is everywhere, opinions are constantly changing, and everyone can create and share their own version of reality. Even Christians can be shaped more by culture, social media and personal preferences than by Scripture.

Therefore, building our legacy at Hermon must begin with a simple question: Are we building our lives and our church according to God’s Word?

“Semper Reformanda” means that the church is to be continually reforming according to the Word of God. It is not simply about changing things to become newer or more innovative. It is about continually examining ourselves and asking whether our hearts, lives and practices are increasingly aligned with Scripture.

As we build our legacy, may we be a church that loves the Bible, teaches the Bible, obeys the Bible, and passes the truth of the Bible to those who come after us.

A Legacy Grounded in Grace and Christ

The Reformation also recovered the glorious truth of Sola Gratia, Sola Fide and Solus Christus — salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

This protects us from thinking that our legacy is something we earn through our achievements. Hermon’s legacy does not depend ultimately on how successful we are, how many programmes we run, or how impressive our ministries may appear.

We are here because of God’s grace. We belong to Christ because of Christ’s finished work. And whatever fruit God produces through Hermon belongs ultimately to Him.

This is why Soli Deo Gloria — to the glory of God alone — brings the Five Solas together. Everything we do, including our worship, service, discipleship and mission, is ultimately for God’s glory.

That is an important word for us as we look to the future. We may have experienced disappointments. Some have left us for other churches, and there are still relationships and hurts among us that need healing. Yet we can continue with hope because the story of Hermon does not depend on us alone.

The Lord has not finished writing Hermon’s story. Our calling is to remain faithful to Him.

A Legacy That Is Passed On

This connects naturally with our Missions Sunday emphasis. A legacy is not something we keep for ourselves. It is something we pass on.

We want the next generation not merely to inherit the name “Hermon”, but to inherit a living faith in Christ.

That means our children and younger believers need to see older believers who pray, serve, forgive, give, witness and persevere. They need to hear the gospel from us and see the gospel lived out among us.

And this legacy must move beyond our church building.

As we look towards Henderson, Bukit Merah and Telok Blangah, we are surrounded by neighbours who need to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. As we partner with God’s servants in Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Philippines, we are reminded that Christ’s mission extends far beyond Singapore.

Our families can build a legacy of mission by serving together in Community Services activities and considering an overseas mission trip with our mission partners. Our Covenant Groups can deepen their fellowship not simply by meeting together, but by serving and witnessing together.

In this way, we become doers of God’s Word and not hearers only.

 

Building a Legacy That Lasts

Reformation Sunday therefore gives us a helpful perspective on “Building Our Legacy.”

We are not called to preserve a tradition merely because it is old. Neither are we called to change simply because something is new.

We are called to remain faithful to God’s unchanging Word.

The Reformation’s great legacy was not ultimately Martin Luther, John Calvin or any other human leader. Its enduring legacy was the recovery of the gospel — Scripture Alone, Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Christ Alone, to the Glory of God Alone.

May that be our legacy at Hermon.

May future generations say that Hermon was a church that loved Christ, stood firmly on Scripture, lived by grace, served sacrificially and proclaimed the gospel faithfully.

And may they discover that the greatest legacy we can leave them is not what we have built, but the Christ we have faithfully proclaimed and the Word we have faithfully passed on.

As we continue Building Our Legacy, may we keep returning to the Word, keep looking to Christ, keep depending on God’s grace, and keep going wherever He sends us.

For the church is “reformed and always reforming according to the Word of God.”

And, by God’s grace, may Hermon continue to build a legacy that points every generation and every neighbour to Christ alone, for the glory of God alone.

^{Pastor Daniel Tan}