Go West young man

So we know what Compass Groups are now, and we know the terms “Higher, Stronger, Deeper, and Farther” and what they signify. You know North is Higher, East is Stronger, South is Deeper and West is Farther. And you know, “Farther” is about reaching out to the untouched. Before you file this away as another discussion about the amazing theories of exponential growth in Christianity through multiplication (One tells one, those two tell two, then those four tell four, etc…) I want to back up a little and look at our Compass. “Farther” is West. The west was America’s frontier: wild, untamed, a little scary with warlike peoples and trails fraught with danger. West on the Cornerstone compass is the same.

Many of us already have “Higher” (worship) figured out. You people are the ones who spontaneously stand up in church and raise your hands while you sing with your eyes closed. You felt good about Jim’s sermon on worship and put a check next to the box below your name.

• Worship. Understood.

Then Jim talked about “Stronger” (relationships). Many of us thought: “Yeah, I got friends and I even go out of my way to talk to people at church that might be visiting or that I don’t remember meeting before." Check the box.

• Stronger. Understood.

This week we are going to hear about Deeper (study). Some are excited about this week because we will be encouraged to go deeper into God’s word. Some of you are, like, really smart. You love to study. You love to explain the difference between Calvinism and…. what was the other one? Anyway, you probably pre-checked the box.

• Deeper. Understood.

But, "Farther." What is that?

Well, try this football metaphor out… Coach Dungy recruits you to become an Indianapolis Colt. “Higher” is your love for the game of football and the way you had that horseshoe tattoo permanently inked across your left bicep. “Stronger” is the way you go to pizza with the team, run laps with the team, and practice with the team. It even applies to the way you snap your towel in the locker room at Peyton when he is doing interviews. “Deeper” is that time you spend studying the difference between a halfback and a fullback. You study the direction to push the opposition on a quarterback sneak…and the reason kickers only have one bar on their helmets and linemen only have one tooth.

But, “Farther?”

“Farther” is actually playing. And it is more. It is playing the game the Coach taught you to play. It is executing the play. It is helping your bloody team mates off the ground after a half yard gain and it is relentlessly moving the football toward the end zone.

1. You can’t be a Colt if you aren’t on the team in a uniform.

2. You can’t play by yourself.

3. You’ll sit on the bench if every time you’re given a play you have to ask to have the play explained again.

4. You were recruited to play football. You can't expect the same players to play offense, defense, and special teams. If you belong on the "Hands" team: Prepare to play, be ready to play.... then take the field when the Coach calls your name.

I am not a Colt. My “Farther” is writing these encouragements (such as they are) to men like you. My “Farther “ was being the best spiritual leader I could be to my kids when they were home and it is still in trying to be the best husband to my wife. It is also played out in my willingness to share Christ with coworkers and customers.

What is your “Farther?”

Are you ready for some football?