The Evangel Dean Basic Training Resource Handbook

266 • T HE E VANGEL D EAN B ASIC T RAINING R ESOURCE H ANDBOOK

C. Implications from Evangel’s basic parable

Metaphor

Implications

Seed

Sower

Soil

Roots

Stages of Growth (Tree/Plant/Vine)

Fruit

III. Does an Agricultural Metaphor Work for Urban Leaders?

A. The modern city often lacks the beauty of God’s larger creation.

1. The city can choke out life.

a. The absence of green places among urban poor communities

b. The air quality in urban poor communities

2. God’s ultimate intent for the city is green.

a. The new creation will be a garden city, an urban Eden.

b. The tree of life will grow in the midst of the New Jerusalem (Rev 22.1−2).

3. Just because we are urban church planters, doesn’t mean God wants us to be ignorant of his great creation.