The Church as a Culture of Care

We all know people in our world are struggling ―eating disorders, addictions, depression, sexual issues, marital problems―the list goes on and on. Can the church help or is that an outdated concept that no longer fits modern problems? In The Church as a Culture of Care, biblical counselor Dale Johnson explains that the church is still the primary place where those who struggle can receive lasting hope and healing.

Pastors and lay leaders in the church often feel inadequate to address certain needs and are unsure of how to help. This book is designed to help erase the stigma of “mental health issues” in the church and to present the church as the primary haven for answers to deep-seated human problems. Readers will learn that God has designed every function of the church to be an integral part of soul care. God has provided the church with the necessary resources for us to care well for one another. Prayer, the Word, the work of the Holy Spirit, and Christian community are God’s provisions to lead all of us to Christ―even those with the deepest struggles.

Counselors, ministers, and lay leaders will be empowered to have confidence in God’s purpose for the church, the power of his Spirit, and the sufficiency of his Word for soul care.

1. Opening Credits
2. Dedication
3. Introduction
4. Chapter 1: Whose Job Is Soul Care?
5. Chapter 2: A Biblical Vision for the Church as a Culture of Care
6. Chapter 3: When the Church Doesn’t Care
7. Chapter 4: Christ as the Head of the Church
8. Chapter 5: Christ as Our Good Shepherd
9. Chapter 6: The Care of Under-Shepherds
10. Chapter 7: Equipping the Saints
11. Chapter 8: Counseling in the Local Church
12. Closing Credits