Soul Care for One-Another
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 1:13:14
0 ratings
· 4 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
Handout
We don’t grow INTO one-anothering but we grow IN one-anothering.
Tonight will help us grow in our one-anothering.
Part of growing up in Christ is enlarging our horizon of care.
One-anothering or caring for souls is soul care.
Soul care is not making life work on the surface.
Soul care is not done in shallow relationships.
Soul care is not a specific formula.
Struggles in our lives are daily.
We encounter temptation.
We get stuck in sin.
We experience grief.
We are confronted with difficult situations that we need wisdom to navigate.
It pleased God to use the ordinary to care for the ordinary to bring extraordinary growth.
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom,
but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;
God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,
so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom.
For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,
and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
I work in an environment of forced care.
No matter what happens I am forced to give 100% effort and 100% care.
Drugs.
Drunk driving.
Texting while driving.
General sickness.
I shouldn’t be there.
I have to care for them.
What if we had that attitude when it comes to one-anothers.
When it comes to the souls of our fellow church members.
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
What does soul care look like?
It is partly building on what we talked about last week.
Soul care is done by discipling, counseling, teaching, shepherding.
It has to be more than a program or ministry.
Like disciple-making, it has to be the culture or life-blood of the church.
Like disciple making, we could describe soul care as messy and hard.
It is often only hard because we are not loving them the way we should.
We start by having a mindset of getting to know people and meeting them where they are.
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
“Consider” - we have said study…
With your mind attentively fixed on one another.
contemplating with continual consideration the characters and wants of our brethren, so as to render mutual help and counsel
It starts with small talk if you don’t already know them.
We eventually want to talk about the things that consume their days.
The things that keep them up at night.
Maybe ask how they are doing.
If so we need to create a culture that answers that question honestly.
Then we listen for them to talk about Joys and sorrows.
Ask what things have happened to them during the week.
Ask specific questions.
What encouraged you.
What struggles did you have.
What did God teach you.
Find out the events of the week and how they impacted the person.
“Provoke”
To sharpen
To stimulate
To entice
To good works.
Soul care requires genuine listening.
Yet soul care is much more than listening.
We listen then speak with hearts overflowing with Jesus.
Our goal is to help them match scripture to life.
Help them know how to pray - scripture dictates that.
Pray right then and there - requests or thanksgiving.
Follow up later in the week.
Soul care is best done when you know the person well, but we have to start someplace.
Prayerfully and intentionally guide conversation in such a way that they become spiritual conversations.
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
Admonish the idle.
Encourage the faint hearted.
Help the weak.
Be patient with them all.
Make sure people are making good decisions.
Two things…
We do not want a culture where everyone just talks about their problems.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Even if you are the person wanting the encouragement.
You have the same responsibility to go do soul care.
You starting a conversation with others will encourage you.
General topics for spiritual conversations that can lead to soul care.
God
God’s attributes and actions.
The person and work of Christ.
The ministry of the Holy Spirit.
The Bible.
Theology.
Church
Preaching and teaching.
Discuss the sermon or Sunday school class.
make it a point to talk to one person about one thing in the sermon.
Relationships
How are they impacting lives in the church?
Who are some members they think you should get to know.
Out of church relationships they might be struggling with.
Ministry
How their ministry encouraged you.
How someone else’s ministry encouraged you.
Places you think they would serve well if they are not serving.
Places they think you could serve well.
Someone they could disciple or be discipled by.
Evidences of grace in others that encourage you.
How their growth has encouraged you.
How someone else’s growth has encouraged you.
Christian living
Bible consumption.
Theirs and yours.
Bible reading plans.
Tips and tricks.
Spiritual disciplines (habits).
Are they or you using the time wisely?
Prayer life.
Reading habits.
Bad habits.
Sanctification struggles and victories.
Family.
How they are doing with their family.
How are they doing in their singleness.
Disciple-making.
Church attendance.
Not legalistically.
How a certain gathering has encouraged you.
What about a certain gathering would help them.
Specific questions to ask to start a conversation.
How did God save you?
Who are your spiritual role models?
What stood out in the sermon?
In what ways have you enjoyed God this week?
Have you read a helpful book recently?
Have you done anything enjoyable recently?
Is there anything that excites or scares you about the future?
Can we pray about something today?
How is your time management?
What truths about the gospel are particularly sweet to you right now?
Are you meeting with any church members regularly?
Who’s salvation are you praying for?
How is your community impact?
How are you serving the church?
Where do you see yourself growing in the Lord?
Is there a spiritual habit you are making progress in?