Biblical Examples of Soul Care

God’s Word flows with patterns and models of Soul Care.

Spiritual friendship – David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18); Mary, Martha, and Jesus (Luke 10); Lazarus and Jesus (John 11); Mary and Elizabeth (Luke 1); and, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Daniel 1)

Spiritual counsel – Jethro to Moses (Exodus 18); Mordecai to Esther (Esther); Paul to Philemon (Philemon); Sons of Korah to Israel (Psalm 48:14); Moses to Israel (Torah); and, Paul to the church in Corinth (1 & 2 Corinthians).

Spiritual direction – Nathan to David (2 Samuel 12); Naomi to Ruth (Ruth); Jesus to Peter (John 21:15-23); Paul to Timothy (1 & 2 Timothy); Paul to Titus (Titus); Angel to Elijah (1 Kings 19); Eli to Samuel (1 Samuel 3); and, God to Moses (Exodus 3-4).

Christ as soul care provider – 

• to those whom He healed: the Leper (Matt. 8:2-3); the Centurion’s servant (Matt. 8:5-13); Peter’s Mother-in-law (Matt. 8:14); the paralytic (Matt. 9:1-7); the hemorrhaging woman (Matt. 9:20-22); the two blind men (Matt. 9:27-31); the man’s with a withered hand (Matt. 12:10-13); the daughter of the Gentile woman (Matt. 15:22-28); the epileptic boy (Matt. 17:14-21); the two blind men (Matt. 20:30-34); the widow’s son (Luke 7:11-16); the crippled woman (Luke 13:11-13); the ten lepers (Luke 17:11-19); and, the raising of Lazarus (Luke 11:1-44).
• to those whom He personally encountered: the disciples and the calming of the storm (Matt. 8:23-27); the woman at the well (John 4); to two on the Emmaus Road (John 24:13-32); the disciples and the feeding of the 5,000 (Matt. 14:15-21); and, to the disciples during the last supper (John 15-17).
• to those whom He taught parables: the shepherd and sheep (John 10); the laborers (Matt. 20); the lost sheep (Luke 15); the lost coin (Luke 15); and, the lost son (Luke 15).

Christ receiving soul care – Jesus retreated to quiet places to be with God (Luke 4:42; 5:16; 6:12; 9:10, 18, 28-36; 21:37; 22:39-45; Matt. 14:13, 23; Mark 14; John 6; John 17).