We’re delighted to welcome back Dr. John Bowling, former pastor of College Church and president emeritus of Olivet Nazarene University, as our guest preacher this Sunday. In his reflection below, he invites us to consider the enduring significance of Reformation Sunday and how its call to remember, rejoice, and recommit speaks to our faith today.


This Sunday, October 25, is Reformation Sunday.  This is a day when Christians are invited to remember a moment in history that forever changed the Church—and to consider anew what it means to live faithfully in the present.

On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther, a German monk and theologian, challenged prevailing practices within the church of his day by calling for a renewed understanding of biblical faith and Christian life. His actions helped spark the Protestant Reformation, a movement that emphasized the authority of Scripture, salvation by grace through faith, and the centrality of Jesus Christ.

The great Reformation principles remain as relevant today as they were five centuries ago: Scripture alone, grace alone, faith alone, Christ alone, and glory to God alone. They remind us that our hope rests not in human achievement, religious tradition, or institutional strength, but in the saving grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Yet Reformation Sunday is more than an opportunity to celebrate our heritage. It is also a call to spiritual renewal. The Church must continually examine its life and witness in light of Scripture, asking whether its message, mission, and ministry faithfully reflect the heart of the gospel.

For those of us in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition, the Reformation’s emphasis on grace carries a particularly compelling reminder. God’s grace not only forgives our sins but also transforms our hearts and enables us to live holy lives of love and service. We are saved by grace, through faith, and called to reflect the character of Christ in the world.

Looking forward to seeing you Sunday!

--- John Bowling