All of the books in the NCD Discipleship Resources series are based on the Trinitarian Compass, which is a unique feature of the NCD paradigm. It uses the dynamics of the colors of light (Red/Green/Blue scheme) as a way of illustrating the practical relevance of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity for the daily challenges of believers: In order to produce pure white light, the colors red, green, and blue must be displayed simultaneously. The color green is related to God’s revelation in creation; the color red, to God’s revelation in Jesus Christ; and the color blue, to God’s revelation in the Holy Spirit. Each of these three revelations corresponds to basic dimensions of life.

The most important dynamics of the Trinitarian Compass, according to its developer, Christian A. Schwarz, are:

• In order to reflect God’s “light” as fully as possible, it is essential that a balance of all three colors is pursued.
• The terms used in any given adaptation of the Trinitarian Compass always aim at representing a complete picture of the topic under consideration, divided into different segments of equal importance.
• The location of these segments in the Trinitarian Compass is more important than the actual terms used for describing them.
• While at an individual level it may be acceptable to be one-sided in terms of one’s favorite colors, at a corporate level the goal of balance must not be abandoned.
• The pursued equilibrium must manifest itself as a “radical balance”, i.e. characterized by a strong presence of all the three colors, not by trying to achieve balance through reducing the strength of a given area.
• For every person, it is beneficial to precisely know his or her respective color blend related to a specific topic. It explains both their strengths and their weaknesses. It also explains which kind of people they should connect with in order to complement for their own imbalances.
• It is always a challenge to learn from the opposite position within the compass, but this is exactly the kind of learning that helps people move to maturity.
• By striving to represent all three colors, the dynamics of “theosis” are activated: a transformative process with the goal of union with God. This very process activates what NCD refers to as “all by itself” growth.