Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, elders, and other church leaders to members of their church. It involves walking alongside people during times of need, providing guidance, support, and encouragement from a biblical perspective. The Bible has much to say about how we are to care for one another within the body of Christ. Here is an overview of the key principles of pastoral care found in Scripture.
Caring for People as Sheep
The Bible often refers to believers as sheep and church leaders as shepherds who are tasked with caring for the flock. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep (John 10:11). Elders are told to shepherd the church of God by providing oversight and care (1 Peter 5:2). This involves feeding the sheep through biblical teaching (1 Peter 5:2), protecting them from false teaching (Acts 20:28-31), guiding them in paths of righteousness (Psalm 23:3), binding up the injured (Ezekiel 34:4), strengthening the sick (Ezekiel 34:4), and searching for lost sheep to bring them home (Ezekiel 34:4, Luke 15:4-7). Like a good shepherd cares for each sheep individually, pastors are to know their people well and provide personalized care.
Bearing Burdens
An essential aspect of pastoral care is bearing one another’s burdens. Paul teaches that we are to “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). This means coming alongside those experiencing grief, illness, doubt, suffering, loneliness, financial hardship, broken relationships, sin issues, or anything else that weighs heavy on them. As church leaders bear burdens with their people, they point them to Christ who promises rest for the weary and heavy laden (Matthew 11:28-30).
Weeping with Those Who Weep
Pastors are called to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15). Entering into the pain and sorrow of others reflects the heart of Jesus who was moved with compassion and wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:33-35). Pastors provide care through mourning with those experiencing loss, empathizing with hurt feelings, and crying out to God on behalf of those enduring trials. As pastors enter into suffering with church members, they emulate how Christ draws near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).
Praying for People
Prayer is vital to pastoral ministry. Paul asks church members to pray for him that he would preach the gospel clearly (Colossians 4:3-4, 2 Thessalonians 3:1). James instructs church leaders to pray over the sick and anoint them with oil as they minister to them (James 5:14). Paul often assured churches that he continually prayed for them (Romans 1:9, Ephesians 1:16, Philippians 1:3-4). Pastors follow this biblical model by praying for those under their care—for their spiritual growth, physical healing, faith in trials, resistance to temptation, life decisions, and more. Fervent prayer expresses care for people.
Exhorting and Admonishing
Part of pastoral care involves exhorting and admonishing fellow believers. This means offering timely words of counsel, caution, or encouragement. Paul tells the Colossians that as part of wholeheartedly serving Christ they should “admonish one another with all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16). The book of Acts records that Paul exhorted and strengthened the disciples he met in his travels (Acts 14:21-22, 15:32). The writer of Hebrews says church leaders keep watch over people’s souls and will give an account to God (Hebrews 13:17). Faithful words of exhortation and admonishment guide people to wise decisions and spiritually healthy living.
Promoting Peace and Reconciliation
As part of their shepherding role, pastors are tasked with promoting peace and reconciliation within the body of Christ. Paul implores church members to “agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you” (2 Corinthians 13:11). When conflict or offense threatens the peace of the church, pastors help bring about reconciliation. They remind people to humbly forgive as Christ has forgiven them (Colossians 3:13). Pastors also exhort people to make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3). Godly counsel and care from pastors can resolve interpersonal conflicts and restore relationships.
Speaking the Truth in Love
Pastoral care includes speaking hard truths to people in a loving manner when necessary. Paul instructs the Ephesians that we are to speak the truth in love in order to help each other grow to maturity in Christ (Ephesians 4:15). Though speaking truth can be difficult at times, pastors must do so for the good of those they shepherd. This may involve confronting sin, correcting doctrinal error, and addressing unhealthy life patterns. Pastors are to speak truth with hearts of compassion, not condemnation, pointing people to God’s mercy and grace.
Exercising Church Discipline
In rare cases where church members remain unrepentant in serious sin or doctrinal error, pastoral care extends to exercising church discipline. This is done in hope that the person will be convicted of their error, repent, and be restored to the fellowship (1 Corinthians 5:5, Galatians 6:1). Jesus gave instructions on addressing unrepentant sin among believers in Matthew 18:15-20. Though disciplining members is difficult and should be approached in a spirit of humility (Galatians 6:1), it can prompt repentance and prevent the spread of sin’s corrupting influence (1 Corinthians 5:6-7). Pastors care enough to protect the purity of the church.
Modeling Godly Leadership
Perhaps one of the greatest gifts pastors can give their congregations is to model godly servant leadership. Peter exhorts church elders to be “examples to the flock” (1 Peter 5:3). As members observe pastoral staff loving their families, exercising integrity, serving joyfully, and walking closely with the Lord, they are inspired to follow this godly example. Congregations need faithful leadership they can see and imitate up close within the church body. Pastoral care happens not just through what pastors say but how they live.
Equipping People for Ministry
Pastors care for church members by equipping them for ministry. Paul states that the job of church leaders is to prepare all of God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up (Ephesians 4:12). Rather than trying to meet every need in the church themselves, pastors should train members how to effectively care for one another. Church members can be equipped to serve as small group leaders, volunteers in the church’s mercy ministry, lay counselors, hospitality team members, and more. A church filled with ministers reflects excellent pastoral care.
Imparting Spiritual Gifts
The Bible connects pastoral care to imparting spiritual gifts. Paul instructs Timothy not to neglect the spiritual gift he was given when the elders laid hands on him (1 Timothy 4:14). The laying on of hands often imparted gifts and callings (Numbers 27:18-20, Deuteronomy 34:9, Acts 13:2-3). This practice continued in the early church for appointing people to service and ministry. Pastors can come alongside church members to help discern their spiritual gifts and guide them in using those gifts effectively for the benefit of the church.
Encouraging Generosity
Faithful pastors teach biblical stewardship and lead members to use their resources generously for God’s work. Paul commends the Macedonian church for begging to give beyond their means to the collection for the saints (2 Corinthians 8:1-4). He sends Titus to encourage the Corinthian church to give generously like they promised (2 Corinthians 8:6-7). Church leaders are responsible to make sure needs are met within the church body (Acts 11:29-30). As they cultivate generosity in their congregations, needs are supplied.
Administering Church Ordinances
Pastors oversee the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper which are important expressions of care within the church. The book of Acts records baptisms of new believers under the direction of Peter and Paul (Acts 2:41, Acts 16:15). Paul passed on instructions he had received from the Lord regarding taking communion in a worthy manner (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). Faithfully administering these ordinances which testify to the gospel provides comfort and care for believers.
Appointing Elders
As Paul and Barnabas established new churches, they prayerfully appointed elders in each one to carry on shepherding the believers after they left (Acts 14:23). The qualifications for overseers given in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 emphasize maturity, spiritual leadership in the home, sound doctrine, and good reputation. The process of raising up, evaluating, and training potential elders is an important part of pastoral care that ensures the continuation of biblical ministry in the church.
Caring for Fellow Elders
Pastors have a special responsibility to care for fellow pastors and elders. Paul appeals to the Philippian church to receive Epaphroditus with joy and recognize his labor, for he nearly died carrying out the work of Christ (Philippians 2:29-30). He also expresses deep affection for Epaphras who worked hard for the Colossian church (Colossians 1:7-8). Peter exhorts church elders to shepherd God’s flock willingly and eagerly, not domineering over those in their charge, and being a godly example (1 Peter 5:1-3). Pastors should form meaningful relationships with peer leaders in which they pray for, encourage, and exhort one another.
In summary, biblical pastoral care involves shepherding people with compassion, bearing their burdens, weeping and rejoicing together, praying diligently, exhorting wisely, promoting peace, speaking truth in love, exercising appropriate discipline, modeling godliness, equipping others, imparting spiritual gifts, encouraging generosity, administering ordinances, training new leaders, and caring for fellow pastors. This kind of spiritually nurturing leadership following the example of Jesus builds up the church to maturity in Christ. By fulfilling their calling as humble shepherds, pastors can care for the precious people God has entrusted to them.
