Yearly theme
Why was this theme chosen?
It grounds us in the heart of God's desire for His people. By choosing this verse for the year, we are committing ourselves to a discipleship journey that is deep, visible and faithful.
We want to be a church that:
- Lives out God's love in tangible ways
- Reflects His character in how we treat others
- Walks closely with Him in humility and obedience
Act justly
Justice is often described as “getting what you deserve.” Because God is holy, He must deal with sin. Scripture reminds us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
At the cross, justice was satisfied and mercy was shown. Jesus took the punishment we deserved so that we could be forgiven and restored.
Acting justly means restoring others as we have been restored; it means setting things right according to what is true and good.
Without humility, justice can become prideful or self-righteous.
Without mercy, justice can become harsh and legalistic.
But rightly understood, it reflects God’s righteous standard and His desire for what He loves to flourish. Justice is rooted in God’s very character. To “act justly,” then, is to align our lives with God’s standard. It means refusing partiality, standing against wrongdoing, and seeking what is right in our relationships, communities, and daily decisions.
Justice is a lived expression of God’s character in the world around us.
Love mercy
If justice means “getting what you deserve”, then mercy means “not getting what you deserve”.
God’s mercy is perfectly balanced with His justice. In His compassion, He withholds the judgment we rightly deserve. His mercy is most clearly revealed at the cross.
As Christ bore the punishment for our sins, He made it possible for mercy to be extended to all who repent.
Mercy does not eliminate justice, it flows from justice that has been fully satisfied in Christ. Without justice, mercy can display prejudice. Without humility, mercy can just be a show.
So what does this mean for us? We love mercy because we have received mercy. We practice forgiveness, compassion, and kindness in our relationships because we ourselves have experienced them.
When God calls us to “love mercy”, He is calling us to love others in the same way we have been loved.
Walk humbly
If justice is “getting what you deserve” , and mercy is “not getting what you deserve” , then grace is “getting what you do not deserve” .
Grace is God giving us forgiveness, new life, and relationship with Him, not because we earned it, but because He is loving and generous.
When we truly understand grace, it humbles us. We did not save ourselves or earn God’s love. Isaiah 64:6 says “ ...our righteous acts are like filthy rags” . It is humbling to realise that even our best efforts are nothing compared to God.
So when Micah 6:8 calls us to “walk humbly with your God”, it means living with a constant awareness of our dependence on Him. It means setting aside pride, admitting our need, and giving Him the credit for the good in our lives.
Humility grows when we remember we are people saved by grace. Without humility, justice becomes harsh. Without humility, mercy becomes selective.
We walk humbly by staying close to God, depending on His strength, and choosing to serve rather than be served. It is only through His grace, and from a place of humility, that we are able to act justly and love mercy as He calls us to.
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