Discipleship Training for Gospel Living


Discipleship Training for Gospel Living


Learning Environments


Theology Thursdays

The purpose of this teaching we begin on January 25th is to give an overview of that theology called Reformed Theology, as distinguished from other branches of historic Christianity. We won’t have the time or the opportunity to go into all of the details of Reformed theology, but I want to give a sort of overview, an introduction to the main ideas that we find in Reformed theology. Following this on other Theology Thursdays we will go into more specific details of many tenants in greater detail.


Women’s Discipleship

We are studying “A Fruitful Life” by Jerry Bridges. You can order it here! 

“We want to live loving, joyful, anxiety-free lives. Yet how can we live in grace when we’re so busy battling our old patterns of behavior?

Jerry Bridges explores the nine aspects of the “fruit of the Spirit” described in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These qualities of character can truly mark our lives if we devote ourselves to a twofold pursuit: God-centeredness and God-likeness. Jerry shows us how to practice the fruit in daily life.”

Please email sharonruthallen@gmail.com to sign-up or if you have any questions.

What is Compass SOLA?

Compass SOLA is one of three primary ways we do discipleship at The Compass Church. Along with our Sunday morning Gatherings and our GPS Missional Communities, Compass SOLA exists with the highest stated value of learning. We believe that discipleship is about giving people more Bible (not less), more theology (not less), more spiritual disciplines (not less), more Gospel (not less), more Christ (not less).

Compass SOLA, at the very heart, is a kind of intentional disciple-making. Discipleship never terminates with a disciple; all disciples are called to go and make disciples. Disciple-makers must themselves be disciples of Jesus. Discipleship is not just a program but a total reorientation to reality. We begin to see who God truly is, who we are, what God has done, is doing, and will do in the world — shaping a God-centred worldview. Discipleship is not more than Jesus, but more of Jesus. 

What does the name ‘Compass SOLA’ mean?

The Five Solas are five Latin phrases (or slogans) that emerged during the 16th century Reformation to summarize the Reformers’ theological convictions about the essentials of Christianity.

The Five Solas are:

Sola Scriptura  “Scripture Alone”

The Bible alone is our highest authority.

Sola Scriptura  “Scripture Alone”

The Bible alone is our highest authority.

Sola Fide  “Faith Alone”

We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

Sola Fide  “Faith Alone”

We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ.

Sola Gratia  “Grace Alone”

We are saved by the grace of God alone.

Sola Gratia  “Grace Alone”

We are saved by the grace of God alone.

Solus Christus  “Christ Alone”

Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Saviour, and King.

Solus Christus  “Christ Alone”

Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Saviour, and King.

Soli Deo Gloria  “To the Glory of God Alone”

We live for the glory of God alone.

Soli Deo Gloria  “To the Glory of God Alone”

We live for the glory of God alone.

The Five Solas form the nucleus of the evangelical faith. They not only capture the Gospel of Jesus Christ and explain how that Gospel takes root in the sinner, but they also define where the authority of that Gospel resides and to what end that Gospel is preached and proclaimed. At the very heart the Five Solas are a celebration of the Gospel itself. The reformers were willing to lay their lives down for these Solas, first and foremost because they believed the Gospel itself was at stake.

Compass SOLA is committed to deep discipleship rooted in the Gospel, and we believe the Five Solas capture the very heart of that Gospel.

Compass SOLA is built around three values of disciple-making.

  • Disciple-making is an intentional process of evangelizing non-believers, establishing believers in the faith, and equipping leaders.

    “Make disciples” implies intentionality and process. Compass SOLA is our way of creating an intentional discipleship culture where people can learn and grow in their faith and confidence in speaking with new people or going to new places for the sake of the Gospel. Compass SOLA is a place where you can become further discipled and equipped to make disciples.

  • Compass SOLA is also designed with the understanding that discipleship making happens within the context of the local church. Discipleship will feel aimless if discipleship is churchless. Compass SOLA is about a conviction and belief that the church is the primary context for holistic discipleship. We believe that a person should be able to come to faith, grow in the faith, and walk in Christian maturity solely by being formed by the local church. This is the basic sequence of the Gospel. We are orphans adopted in Christ's family, then we grow into mature members of the household. The local church owns discipleship! Jesus didn't have in mind maverick disciple-makers; He had in mind a community of believers who, together and under the authority of the local church, seek to transfer the faith to the next generation.

  • Compass SOLA is a people-to-people ministry where you learn, are challenged, and develop with a group of committed sojourners. When discipleship is rooted in the local church, there are no spiritual orphans but rather sons and daughters growing into adults and part of the whole family of God. When Jesus said “make disciples”, we cannot help but remember how He made disciples: three years of teaching twelve men on the dusty road. Disciple-making, then, is the Word of God shaping men and women within life-on-life relationships. This is Gospel-driven, Word-saturated, intentionally teaching one another to obey what Jesus commanded.

Compass SOLA will help you understand who God is as you become more familiar with the Bible and what God has done to reconcile the world to Himself in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Compass SOLA will help you think through major biblical doctrines and how, as a result, your beliefs are shaped by them.

Compass SOLA will also help you apply those beliefs to every sphere of your life. With biblical knowledge and rightly rooted beliefs, you live out God’s story in your day-to-day, becoming a more whole disciple of Jesus Christ.

Compass SOLA houses all of The Compass Church East’s intentional “learning environments.” Here you will find Foundational 101 teaching, Bible Studies and, throughout the year, various other opportunities to learn on a variety of topics and cultural issues.