At Compass our purpose is to help you take your next step with Jesus. In this journey called life we experience a constantly changing world, unfulfilled dreams, even national and global instability to name a few. People disappoint us. Possessions evaporate before us. And our personal performance and achievement is less than fulfilling in us. The key to navigating life — and unlocking our deepest needs — is walking with Jesus. Whether you are skeptic, new to Christianity, or just plain jaded, we hope you’ll take your next steps with Jesus. To help you take your next step with Jesus we focus on four areas, which correspond to the four points of the compass: Worship, Nurture, Serve, and Equip.
A further explanation of each is explained in the following list of values. Values, although biblically-based, are not doctrinal statements. They guide our decision making as the boundaries through which we seek to fulfill our purpose. Here they are:
WORSHIP:
It’s Personal: our personal worship of God, centered in the gospel of Jesus Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, is the source out of which all effective public worship and service flows. (Mark 12:30, Mark 2:35-38, Romans 12:1-2)
It’s Based Upon Scripture: while we worship the God of the Bible rather than the Bible itself, the Scriptures reveal His character and are the standard of truth for believers. As a Seventh-day Adventist community we take seriously the whole Bible as a revelation of God’s love and seek to live in Spirit-led obedience to it. (John 5:39-40, 8:31-32, Revelation 14:6-7)
There’s No One Right Way: worship styles are a matter of personal preference. As the everlasting gospel is communicated in ever-changing cultures, the incarnational model of Jesus calls us to be both biblical and relevant to the culture we serve. (Revelation 14:6, 1 Corinthians 9:22, John 4:23, 1 Chronicles 12:32)
NURTURE:
Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness: nurture means that the same love, acceptance, and forgiveness that Jesus has given to us should be extended to others, especially when there are differences. (John 13:34-35, Acts 15:21, Luke 23:34)
Small Groups are Church: sharing life, support, and spiritual encouragement, or ‘being church’, is best expressed not in a large group or alone but in a small intimate community. (The example of Jesus and the New Testament Church: Mark 3:13-19, Mark 17:1, Acts 2:46 and 20:20)
SERVE:
It’s Not About You: the church is not a spiritual cul-de-sac but the bridge through which God wants to bless the world. As such it exists for the benefit of those who are not yet a part of it. (Matthew 13:31-32, 20:28, 28:18-20, Acts 1:8)
No Strings Attached: as Christ-followers we serve in the name of Jesus openly inviting others to a life of selfless service. Nevertheless, we serve others not so they will become Christians but because we are Christian and therefore have a common bond with all humanity which is created in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26-27, Matthew 5:45, Romans 5:6-11)
EQUIP:
God Wants Growth: since fruitfulness is a mark of discipleship God seeks to produce through us both spiritual and numerical growth. (John 15:8, Galatians 5:22-23, John 12:24, Mark 4:8)
Leaders are Equippers: since all believers are called to mission, the role of biblical leadership is help empower each member to carry out God’s ministry for their lives. (2 Corinthians 5:18, Ephesians 4:11-16, 1 Peter 2:4-9)
Every Member a Missionary: we aim to provide a simple path for discipleship which includes baptism/membership, ministry in one of the primary areas (worship, nurture, serve), and being sent out for the planting of new communities. (Matthew 28:18-20, Romans 6:1-4, 1 Corinthians 12, Ephesians 2:19-22, Romans 12, John 20:21-22)
Flexible Structures: What works today wonʼt always work tomorrow. Throughout time and culture God has used different strategies and approaches to communicate the same message. We will always seek new ways to be more effective in our mission. (Compare the four gospels, Daniel 2 & 9, and the diverse ways new churches were planted in Acts.)
