The Church as a Culture of Care
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The Church as a Culture of Care:
Finding Hope in Biblical Community
by T. Dale Johnson, Jr.
Chapter 1 Whose Job is Soul Care?
Start with the Church
A Definition of Biblical Counseling and Purpose
The Church is Responsible for the Care of Souls
God-Ordained Institutions
Government
Church
The Church Responsible
Discussion Questions:
1. How does this chapter challenge or change the way you think about the church’s role in “soul care”?
1. How does this chapter challenge or change the way you think about the church’s role in “soul care”?
2. What roadblocks do you see in your own church to becoming the primary way that souls are cared for? What would you have to change? What are you already doing to care for souls?
2. What roadblocks do you see in your own church to becoming the primary way that souls are cared for? What would you have to change? What are you already doing to care for souls?
3. If Sam came to your church for help, what would he find? Does your pastor have the primary responsibility for helping Sam? What (or who) else might be helpful to him?
3. If Sam came to your church for help, what would he find? Does your pastor have the primary responsibility for helping Sam? What (or who) else might be helpful to him?
Chapter 2 A Biblical Vision for the Church as a Culture of Care
Church Culture
The Church as a Culture of Care
Care is Natural
Distinctions of Care
Biblical Considerations
We Care Because He First Cared for Us
We Care Because it is for His Glory
We Care because it is We Care because it is for Our Good
Christlike Care is Supernatural
What is Normal?
Jesus is Normal
Discussion Questions:
1. Describe the culture of your church as you think it would appear to an outsider. Would others be able to identify a caring culture in your church?
1. Describe the culture of your church as you think it would appear to an outsider. Would others be able to identify a caring culture in your church?
2. Why is it important to use biblical categories to describe people’s problems?
2. Why is it important to use biblical categories to describe people’s problems?
3. List some of the reasons Christians are called to care for one another in the church.
3. List some of the reasons Christians are called to care for one another in the church.
4. Why is it important that Jesus is the perfect example of a normal human being?
4. Why is it important that Jesus is the perfect example of a normal human being?
Chapter 3 When the Church Doesn’t Care
Last Resort
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
Creation of a Stigma
What About Science?
The New Norm
Eclecticism
Cost of Cultural Relativism
Our View of Sin and Suffering
Our View of Humanity
Our View of Scripture
Our view of the Church
Our View of God
Consequences
Discussion Questions:
1. Look again at the reasons mentioned for why a church might not practice soul care. Do any fit your church? If so, which ones?
1. Look again at the reasons mentioned for why a church might not practice soul care. Do any fit your church? If so, which ones?
2. How does the DSM contribute to the stigma of mental health problems?
2. How does the DSM contribute to the stigma of mental health problems?
3. How has the church contributed to the stigma of mental health problems?
3. How has the church contributed to the stigma of mental health problems?
4. How does a secular view of human problems affect the church’s approach to soul care?
4. How does a secular view of human problems affect the church’s approach to soul care?
5. How does a therapeutic view of humanity affect our view of God?
5. How does a therapeutic view of humanity affect our view of God?
Chapter 4 Christ as the Head of the Church
The Authority of Christ
Subtle Dismissal
The Church’s Submission the the Authority of Christ
The Functions of the Church
Evangelism
Discipleship
Ordinances
Church Discipline
For the Glory of Christ
Discussion Questions:
1. If we want our churches to grow in having a culture of care, why must we start with the headship of Christ and submitting to Him?
1. If we want our churches to grow in having a culture of care, why must we start with the headship of Christ and submitting to Him?
2. What functions of the church are means of soul care?
2. What functions of the church are means of soul care?
3. How has the Spirit used these functions to care for your soul? Give one or two examples.
3. How has the Spirit used these functions to care for your soul? Give one or two examples.
4. What are some of the reasons we might not trust in Christ’s power to build and use His church?
4. What are some of the reasons we might not trust in Christ’s power to build and use His church?
Chapter 5 Christ as Our Good Shepherd
Jesus the Great, Good Shepherd
The Shepherd Cares for His Church
Savior Who Seeks the Lost
Redeemer
Wonderful Counselor
Conforms Us to His Image
Sacrificially Loves Us
Washes Us with the Word
Feeds and Nourishes Us
Cherishes Us
Heals the Broken
Strengthens the Weak
Makes the Flock Rest
Protects the Flock
How the Sheep Should Respond to the Shepherd?
Listen to His Voice
Depend on Him
Discussion Questions:
1. List some of the ways that Jesus shows himself to be the Good Shepherd of his people, the church.
1. List some of the ways that Jesus shows himself to be the Good Shepherd of his people, the church.
2. How is Jesus Shepherding you right now? How do you see him shepherding your church right now?
2. How is Jesus Shepherding you right now? How do you see him shepherding your church right now?
3. Name the ways we are to respond to Christ’s shepherding of us.
3. Name the ways we are to respond to Christ’s shepherding of us.
4. Which of these responses do you need to grow most in? which of these responses does your church need to grow most in?
4. Which of these responses do you need to grow most in? which of these responses does your church need to grow most in?
Chapter 6 The Care of Under-Shepherds
Shepherd the Flock of God
Concerning Trends
Keep Watch
Protect the Flock
Make the Flock Rest
Feed the Flock
Strengthen the Weak
Heal the Broken
Seek the Lost and Wandering
Corporate Proclamation
Personal Ministry
The Work of the Spirit
Deacons
Response of God’s Flock to the Care of Under-Shepherds
Discussion Questions:
1. How has the professionalization of pastoral ministry impacted both pastors and church members? How has it impacted your church?
1. How has the professionalization of pastoral ministry impacted both pastors and church members? How has it impacted your church?
2. What are some ways elders are called to “keep watch” and “pay careful attention” to the sheep in their care?
2. What are some ways elders are called to “keep watch” and “pay careful attention” to the sheep in their care?
3. What is the role of the Spirit and the Word in under-shepherding?
3. What is the role of the Spirit and the Word in under-shepherding?
4. What should the relationship be between public and personal ministry in the church? How is your church doing in these areas?
4. What should the relationship be between public and personal ministry in the church? How is your church doing in these areas?
Chapter 7 Equipping the Saints
The Goal: Maturity in Christ
The Measure of Christ
Truth in Love
Methods of the Church
The Expression: Worship
The Expression: Personal Holiness
The Expression: Care for One Another
Discussion Questions:
1. Why is “equipping the saints” a key task for elders?
1. Why is “equipping the saints” a key task for elders?
2. What resources has God provided for equipping others? Why might we be tempted to dismiss them as insufficient?
2. What resources has God provided for equipping others? Why might we be tempted to dismiss them as insufficient?
3. How does learning to worship as part of daily life equip the saints?
3. How does learning to worship as part of daily life equip the saints?
4. How “holy” must someone be before they start caring for others?
4. How “holy” must someone be before they start caring for others?
Chapter 8 Counseling in the Local Church
Are All Counselors?
Preventative Care
Intensive Care
Living Testaments
A More Excellent Way
Erasing the Stigma
Discussion Questions:
1. Do you think of yourself as a counselor?
1. Do you think of yourself as a counselor?
2. How does offering preventative soul care help when intensive care is deeded?
2. How does offering preventative soul care help when intensive care is deeded?
3. What should the culture of the church that offer intensive care look like? How is that different than the modal of care in our culture?
3. What should the culture of the church that offer intensive care look like? How is that different than the modal of care in our culture?
4. The last part of this chapter describes a church culture of dependence on God and each other, where people with problems are not stigmatized but instead offered help. How can your church grow in becoming this kind of culture?
4. The last part of this chapter describes a church culture of dependence on God and each other, where people with problems are not stigmatized but instead offered help. How can your church grow in becoming this kind of culture?