The Parable of the SOILS The thief comes to steal kill and destroy, but I have come to bring life...

The Parable of the SOILS

The thief comes to steal kill and destroy, but I have come to bring

life – and life in all its fullness

No Depth

Shallow

Deep

NONEGROWTH

Quick then

SCORCHED

Competing then

CHOKED

FRUITFUL

x30x60

x100

DEPTH

GROWTHTHE WHY

The WHY

I want to start by saying just two simple sentences about the church. First, the church

exists to worship God in Jesus Christ. Second, the Church

exists to make new disciples of Jesus Christ. Everything else is decoration. Some of it may

be very necessary, useful, or wonderful decoration– but it’s decoration.

The WHY

Our motive driving this priority (making disciples

and evangelism) for the Church is not, not, not –

never, never, never – that numbers are looking fairly

low and the future is looking fairly bleak. Never.

This is not a survival strategy.

The WHY

This is not to say I am in any way nonchalant about

the seismic challenge facing the church. But

evangelism is not a growth strategy. Of course we

want to see full churches. But this is not anxiety for

an institution, or worst still self-survival.

The WHYJohn Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

who died in 407AD, said this:

“Nothing is more deadly than a Christian who is in different to the salvation of others. Indeed I won der if such a person can be a true Christian. To become

a disciple of Christ is to obey his law of love; and obedience to the law brings joy beyond measure and description. Love means to want the best for others, sharing with them the joy of love. So the

Christian feels compelled to speak to others about the law of love, and the joy of obeying this law. Of

course, many people are shy about speaking to others; in their case actions motivated by love will

be a most eloquent testimony. But those who are not shy will surely want to express their joy at every opportunity. There is no need to use fine

words or elegant phrases.”

The WHY

Our desire for growth is simply because

growth is about LIFE and we long to see as

many people as possible find this

LIFE

John 12 

The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy. But I have come that they might have life and life in

all its fullness!

DEANERY VISION 

TO SEE HUNDRED’S OF PEOPLE BECOME DISCIPLES AND OUR WHOLE CITY

TRANSFORMED BY GOD’S LOVING RULE

DEANERY PLAN 

EVERYONE A DISCIPLEEVERYONE A DISCIPLEMAKER

EVERY CHURCH A DISCIPLESHIP COMMUNITYEVERYWHERE A DISCIPLESHIP INVITATION

Colossians 1:28-29 

He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we

may present everyone fully mature in Christ. To this end I strenuously contend with all the

energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

CULTURESTRUCTURE

SO FARSO GOOD

BATH DEANERY

KINGDOMDISCIPLEGOSPEL

CULTURE

An honest look at ourselves

Membership

3300

HealthSmall Groups

Children and families20-30’s

Mission contactsMaturity

Community LifeWorship

Buildings and financeStaff structuresSpiritual health

our future

DiscipleMembership

3330

The WHY

I want to start by saying just two simple sentences about the church. First, the church

exists to worship God in Jesus Christ. Second, the Church

exists to make new disciples of Jesus Christ. Everything else is decoration. Some of it may

be very necessary, useful, or wonderful decoration– but it’s decoration.