The aim of this series of four sermons was to give some Biblical teaching, correction and encouragement on the theory and practice of pastoral care.
In churches “pastoral care” very often has quite a narrow reference in the minds of those who use the term. We might characterise this as “visiting and supporting those going through circumstances such as grief or sickness.”
I think that however important those aspects of care are, the Bible meaning of “pastoral care” is both wider and deeper.
“Pastor” translates “shepherd” in the Bible. Pastoral care/shepherding Biblically is therefore
“the oversight of the wellbeing of Christ’s flock”.
Whilst this clearly will include prayer and support for each person depending upon their faith situation and circumstances, the heart of it is spiritual care – pointing them to Christ and to repentance and faith in Him.
Pastoring rests ultimately in Christ as the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), and is delegated by Him not only to “pastors” or church leaders, but also to those in recognised roles with spiritual responsibility towards others (youth leaders, Bible study group leaders), and in a diluted sense to every church member called to have an interest in the spiritual wellbeing of our fellow sheep.
Biblical language of shepherding is used not only of God leading and feeding his people in the Old Testament (Exodus, Deuteronomy, Psalms 78, 95 etc, Ezekiel, Zechariah), but of Moses and of David – both of whom had hands-on experience of being shepherds to real flocks. Wicked leaders of God’s people are called false shepherds (Jeremiah and Ezekiel).
The image of shepherd is used of Christ supremely in the New Testament (John 10:1-18). He also speaks of the crowds as “sheep without a shepherd”, a need to be met first by His own sending from God to teach the gospel (Mark 6:34) and then by His urging prayer for more workers whom he sends (Matthew 9:36).
Finally, the noun “shepherd” or the image of “feeding and caring for sheep” is also used (more rarely) firstly of apostles, and then of church leaders (Matt 10:6; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 20:25-31; John 21: 15-19; Eph. 4:11). Furthermore, commands to shepherd-like actions such as teaching, warning and leading others are extremely common in Acts and in the pastoral and other epistles.
Pastoral care is therefore not just visiting the sick or praying with them. Nor is it managing volunteers or organising socials. It depends upon other skills and relates of course to the physical, mental and emotional trials that we go through. But it is at heart a spiritual work, and the medicine we dispense is gospel truth.
It has been said (see Michael Emlet’s helpful book below) that every Christian we meet is both a saint and a sinner or a sufferer – and often all three at once. For each of these conditions of the believer, the cure is to be pointed to an aspect of the person and work of the Lord Jesus , the gentle and lowly Shepherd, mighty Prophet, Priest and King.
With that theological groundwork clear, what are the aspects or roles of being a good shepherd modelled upon Jesus the Good Shepherd?
These have been helpfully summarised under four headings as “knowing, guarding, leading and feeding” the sheep. In each case Jesus is both the perfect example and the subject of our work.
Knowing the sheep includes being prepared to go out and search for the lost sheep (here pastoral care and evangelism overlap) as well as personally being committed to each and every one. It means being aware of how often they attend church, how long they have been Christians, what are some key moments in their spiritual journey, and whether they are baptised or fully members of the church yet. But it includes also showing personal interest in the people under our care, praying for them, spending time 1:1 with them, noticing what is going in their life, laying down our lives for them.
Guarding the sheep means being aware of the spiritual, emotional and physical dangers faced by those in our care, with one eye on their lives and one eye on the culture and its characteristic idols, attacks and temptations. It also means being prepared to ask difficult questions (in love and gently) and to give unpopular teaching or challenges when we feel it is in their spiritual interest to do so. It means urging and showing them to take care of their own spiritual life and offering ourselves as an example. It means praying for their protection from evil and temptation. It means taking care of our own souls first.
Leading the sheep means knowing where good spiritual nourishment is found and pointing those in our care to it. It means giving counsel when a person asks for advice about a life path or decision. It means keeping others focussed on God and His mission in our lives, ambitions and priorities. It also means prayerfully encouraging each one to be growing in Christ and in the key aspects of discipleship (worship, service, evangelism, spiritual disciplines). Above all it means leading by example in our own character of humility, love, gentleness and perseverance.
Feeding the sheep includes encouraging those in our care to make Sundays a priority, ideally twice, for their spiritual benefit, and to be committed to youth or small groups. Ensuring that their Bible diet is rich and varied, not thin and all of one type. But it also includes pointing them to good resources for Christian reading, learning or devotional life, such as books and podcasts. For parents it means helping them to see the key role they have in shepherding the heart and faith of their children through reading the Bible and prayer with them.
In our modern western and evangelical church world, there has been an emphasis on “leadership” as the key model of what a church pastor does, and this has not always been happy and healthy. Seeing all of us with care of others as first of all pastors and under-shepherds, and leadership as merely one aspect of that task defined by Jesus’ example, is surely a much better way.
Further reading
The Reformed Pastor (Richard Baxter)
The Christian Ministry (Charles Bridges) (especially Part 5)
Concerning the True Care of Souls (Martin Bucer)
Saints, Sinners And Sufferers (Michael Emlet)
Book of Pastoral Rule (Gregory the Great)
Shepherds After My Own Heart (Timothy Laniak)
Pastoral Theology in the Classical Tradition (Andrew Purves)
The Care of Souls (Harold Senkbeil) (especially chapters 1 and 5)
Calling Christian Leaders (John Stott)
The Shepherd Leader (Timothy Witmer)
Some To Be Pastors and Teachers 
Every believer is redeemed. Therefore, no longer viewed by God as a sinner. He sees us now as if we never sinned
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