Keepers: What Does It Look Like When We Take Care of People

Encyclopedia of the Reformed Faith Pastoral Care

care is one of the church’s structured expressions of the means of grace. Exercised by both clergy and laity, this care includes traditional tasks of general visitation, comfort of the grieving, help for the sick and needy, forgiveness for the guilty, and the “cure of souls” through discipline and forgiveness. Or, pastoral care is a ministry of the church to bring comfort and redirection to persons in need of renewal.

The Practical Works of the Rev. Richard Baxter: Volume XIV Chapter II

As every troop or company in a regiment of soldiers must have their own captain and other officers, and every soldier know his own commanders and colours: so is it the will of God, that every church have their own pastors, and that all Christ’s disciples “do know their teachers that are over them in the Lord.” (1 Thess. 5:12, 13.)

Ministry of the saints?

2 Corinthians 9:1 NKJV

Now concerning the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you;

Are we “ready”

2 Corinthians 9:2 ESV

for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.

The Giver—

Giving and

2 Corinthians 9:6–15 ESV

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

How can I care for you?

The Practical Works of the Rev. Richard Baxter: Volume XIV Chapter II

It is the first and great work of the Ministers of Christ to acquaint men with that God that made them, and is their happiness: to open to them the treasures of his goodness, and tell them of the glory that is in his presence, which all his chosen people shall enjoy: that so by shewing men the certainty and the excellency of the promised felicity, and the perfect blessedness in the life to come, compared with the vanities of this present life, we may turn the stream of their cogitations and affections, and bring them to a due contempt of this world, and set them on seeking the durable treasuer: and this is the work that we should lie at with them night and day

You might remember “the Five Love Languages”

1. Words of Affirmation

2. Acts of Service

3. Receiving Gifts

4. Quality Time

5. Physical Touch

Each of these represent ways in which we can care for one another.

Jesus loves us in every language:

He affirms us with his words—well done good and faithful servant,

He serves us with his actions—mediation.

He blesses us with gifts—salvation, the Spirit, the church, Heaven, relationship with God.

He gives us quality time—in the incarnation, in his mediation, being outside of time he is able to devote eternity to each moment of our existence.

Physical touch may seem inappropriate, but he has touched us all as he added humanity to himself and he continues to dwell in us through the Spirit and he is with us even now just as he promised.

How can we display love for one another and thereby keep one another in the family of God?