As pastors, we recognize our sacred calling to teach and preach God’s Word to our flock. But one of the questions we’ve been pondering is that of our call to counsel and care for them as well.
How does or should the care of souls within the local church impact our preaching? Does the dual focus on counseling and teaching have an impact, positive or negative, on either role? Can you only effectively be one or the other?
I am delighted to introduce you to a guest who has the answers to all these questions and more. Scott Gnuse is the teaching and leadership pastor at New Castle Bible Church in Mackinaw, IL.
In this episode, Scott shares how these two roles affect each other, why we should be careful not to neglect the ministry of prayer, our responsibility to genuinely care for people, and much more.
Listen in!
Resources:
- Connect with Scott on Facebook
- New Castle Bible Church
- Learn more about our 5-Project Biblical Counseling Blueprint Model™
- Explore the rest of our website – bcmnational.org
Key Takeaways
- Our ultimate role is to shepherd the souls in our flock. We are not merely called just to preach or just to counsel. We are called to care for the souls of people. This is accomplished through both preaching and counseling.
- We are both a public and private minister of God’s Word. These two spheres of influence are interconnected. Our people will get more out of our sermons if we have taken the time to know and care for them throughout the week.
- Remember the ministry of prayer. Your church may be in a place where you aren’t yet able to have a vibrant SoulCare™ ministry. If this describes your situation, don’t be discouraged! One of the most powerful ways to care for others is through a strong ministry of prayer. Prayer allows us to truly know one another — our struggles, our hopes, and the areas where we need to grow. It is through consistent prayer that we come to understand our flock more deeply and faithfully bring their needs before the Lord.
Meet Scott
Scott Gnuse is the teaching and leadership pastor at New Castle Bible Church in Mackinaw, IL. He has a Master of Divinity as well as a degree in history. Scott has been married to his wife, Holly, for over ten years. They are parents to two daughters and are licensed foster parents.
