Caring for Souls: A Christlike Call to Action

Devotional

Day 1: Caring for Souls Through Prayer

Paul demonstrates that true care for others begins with persistent, specific prayer, even in the midst of his own suffering and trials. He models a life that, despite discomfort and hardship, is deeply invested in lifting up others before God, showing that prayer is not just a duty but a vital act of love and spiritual support. When life feels overwhelming and responsibilities pile up, the call remains to be a person of prayer, interceding for the needs of others and trusting that God uses these prayers to encourage and strengthen the body of Christ. [33:17]

Ephesians 6:18 (ESV)
"Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,"

Reflection: Who is one person in your church or community you can specifically pray for today, asking God to encourage and strengthen them in their current circumstances?

Day 2: Proclaiming the Gospel as the Heart of Soul Care

Caring for souls is incomplete without sharing the life-changing message of the gospel. Paul insists that meeting practical needs or offering comfort must always be accompanied by proclaiming Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, calling people to repentance and faith. The gospel is the only remedy for humanity’s deepest need, and to neglect it—even while doing good—is to miss the heart of true ministry. Let your care for others always point them to the hope and salvation found in Jesus. [47:47]

Acts 2:36-37 (ESV)
"Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”"

Reflection: When was the last time you shared the gospel with someone in need? What would it look like to intentionally bring up Jesus in a conversation this week?

Day 3: Mercy in Action—Moving from Concern to Practical Help

Authentic Christian care is not just inward concern but outward mercy—meeting real needs with tangible acts of love. Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus exemplify a ministry that moves beyond words to action, distributing God’s mercy and grace to others. Good intentions alone do not yield results; it is when you put your hands and feet to the plow, serving others in practical ways, that true joy and God’s glory are experienced. [20:31]

Matthew 5:7 (ESV)
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can show mercy to someone today—perhaps through a visit, a meal, or a helping hand—so that your concern becomes action?

Day 4: Caring with Gentleness and Encouragement—Like a Mother and a Father

Paul models soul care that is both gentle and strong, likening his ministry to that of a nurturing mother and an exhorting father. Gentleness opens hearts to the gospel, while encouragement and exhortation help others walk in a manner worthy of God. True care involves both tender affection and steadfast guidance, rooted in a blameless character that inspires trust and growth in others. [26:05]

1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 (ESV)
"But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us. For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory."

Reflection: Is there someone in your life who needs your gentle encouragement or a word of exhortation today? How can you reach out to them in a way that reflects both motherly tenderness and fatherly guidance?

Day 5: Caring for Souls Means Protecting and Prioritizing People

Paul’s ministry was marked by a deep investment in people—knowing them by name, spending time with them, and protecting them from harm. He urges believers to watch out for those who cause division and to prioritize the well-being of the church family. True soul care means valuing people as God does, being vigilant against anything that would harm their faith, and making their spiritual health a top priority. [12:37]

Romans 16:1-4, 17 (ESV)
"I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at Cenchreae, that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints, and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she has been a patron of many and of myself as well. Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles give thanks as well. Greet also the church in their house... I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them."

Reflection: Who in your church or circle of influence needs your intentional investment or protection today? What step can you take to prioritize their spiritual well-being and unity in Christ?

Sermon Summary

Caring for souls is at the very heart of Christ’s ministry, and it is a calling for every believer. In Ephesians 6:18-22, Paul gives us a glimpse into his own heart, showing how deeply he cares for the people he has served—even while enduring suffering and imprisonment. Paul’s example is not one of distant leadership, but of personal investment, prayer, and sacrificial love. He is transparent about his own needs, asking for prayer, and he is attentive to the concerns of the Ephesian church, sending Tychicus to encourage them and provide updates on his well-being. This is a model of authentic, Christlike care: to pray for others, to proclaim the gospel, and to meet practical needs, even when our own circumstances are difficult.

Paul’s ministry was marked by a willingness to be “fully spent” for the souls of others. He did not allow hardship, discomfort, or personal limitations to diminish his concern for others. Instead, he poured himself out, investing in people by name, as seen in Romans 16, and by protecting the church from harm. His care was not just emotional or theoretical; it was active and intentional, involving both inward concern and outward acts of mercy. This same spirit was caught by his disciples, Timothy and Epaphroditus, who demonstrated genuine concern and sacrificial service for others.

True soul care is both motherly and fatherly. Paul likens his gentleness to that of a nursing mother and his exhortation and encouragement to that of a father. Gentleness opens hearts to the gospel, while exhortation and encouragement help others walk in a manner worthy of God. Caring for souls means entering into the concerns of others, even if they are not our own, and responding with both compassion and truth.

At the core of caring for souls is the gospel. Practical help and good deeds are essential, but they must be accompanied by the proclamation of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. To address only the symptoms of life’s struggles without pointing to the ultimate solution in Christ is to fall short of true ministry. We are called to be people of prayer, to proclaim the gospel boldly, and to meet needs with the mercy and grace that God has shown us. In doing so, we become vessels of God’s love, distributing His mercy to a world in desperate need.

Key Takeaways

1. True soul care is sacrificial and personal. Paul’s willingness to be “fully spent” for others, even in the midst of his own suffering, challenges us to look beyond our circumstances and invest deeply in the lives of those around us. Authentic care means prioritizing people, praying for them by name, and being present in their lives, regardless of our own discomfort. [04:55]
2. Caring for souls requires both inward concern and outward action. Timothy and Epaphroditus exemplify how genuine concern must lead to merciful deeds. It is not enough to feel compassion; we must act on it, becoming the hands and feet of Christ to those in need. Ministry is distributing God’s mercy, moving from contemplation to tangible help. [20:31]
3. The gospel is central to all true care. Meeting practical needs is important, but if we neglect to proclaim the gospel, we are guilty of “gospel malpractice.” Addressing only the symptoms of life’s struggles without pointing to Christ as Savior and Lord is to miss the heart of ministry. Our good deeds must be the platform for sharing the life-changing message of Jesus. [44:34]
4. Gentleness and exhortation are inseparable in ministry. Paul models both the nurturing care of a mother and the instructive encouragement of a father. Gentleness opens doors for the gospel, while exhortation and encouragement help others grow in faith. Our character and approach matter as much as our message, and both are essential for effective soul care. [26:05]
5. Caring for what others care about is a mark of Christlike love. Paul responds to the concerns of the Ephesians by sharing about his own situation, not out of self-importance, but because he knows their hearts are troubled. Entering into the concerns of others, even when they are not our own, is a powerful way to encourage and build up the body of Christ. [30:36]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:45] - Introduction: Caring for Souls
[02:10] - Paul’s Personal Appeal for Prayer
[04:55] - Caring for Others Amidst Suffering
[08:19] - Paul’s Humanity and Sacrifice
[12:37] - Paul’s Investment in People
[14:43] - Timothy and Epaphroditus: Caught the Heart of Care
[17:32] - Concern and Mercy in Ministry
[20:31] - Ministry as Distributing God’s Mercy
[22:56] - Paul’s Motherly and Fatherly Care
[26:05] - The Character of Effective Soul Care
[30:36] - Caring for What Others Care About
[33:17] - Don’t Waste Your Trials: Prayer in Hardship
[34:59] - Proclaiming the Gospel in Every Situation
[39:51] - Practical Steps for Soul Care
[44:34] - The Danger of Gospel Malpractice
[46:04] - The Power of the Gospel to Transform
[49:32] - Application: Pray, Proclaim, and Meet Needs
[50:43] - Closing Prayer and Commitment

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Ephesians 6:18-22 (ESV) — 18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel,
20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.
21 So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything.
22 I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.

Observation Questions

What specific things does Paul ask the Ephesians to pray for in verses 18-20?
How does Paul show his personal concern for the Ephesians in verses 21-22?
According to the sermon, what three main ways does Paul demonstrate “caring for souls” in this passage? ([30:36])
Who is Tychicus, and what role does he play in Paul’s ministry to the Ephesians?

Interpretation Questions

Why does Paul, even while suffering in prison, make it a priority to care for others and keep them updated about his situation? What does this reveal about his understanding of ministry? ([04:55])
The sermon describes Paul’s care as both “motherly” and “fatherly.” What does this mean, and why are both aspects important in soul care? ([26:05])
The sermon warns against “gospel malpractice”—meeting practical needs but neglecting to share the gospel. Why is this considered a serious problem, and how can it happen in churches today? ([44:34])
Timothy and Epaphroditus are mentioned as examples of genuine concern and sacrificial service. What does it look like for someone to “catch” this heart for soul care from another believer? ([14:43])

Application Questions

Paul prayed for others by name, even while he was suffering. Who is someone in your life you can commit to pray for by name this week, regardless of your own circumstances? ([04:55])
The sermon says true soul care means being “fully spent” for others. What is one area where you tend to hold back from investing in people? What would it look like to take a step of sacrificial care this month? ([04:55])
Paul’s care was both inward (concern) and outward (action). Think of a recent situation where you felt compassion for someone. Did you act on it? If not, what held you back? ([20:31])
The sermon highlights the importance of both gentleness and exhortation. Which comes more naturally to you—gentleness or exhortation? How can you grow in the one that is harder for you? ([26:05])
Paul cared about what the Ephesians cared about, even if it wasn’t his main concern. Is there someone in your life whose worries or needs you tend to overlook? How can you show Christlike love by entering into their concerns this week? ([30:36])
The sermon warns against “gospel malpractice”—helping people but never sharing the gospel. When you serve or help others, do you look for opportunities to share about Jesus? What is one way you can be more intentional about this? ([44:34])
Paul sent Tychicus to encourage the Ephesians in person. Is there someone who needs encouragement from you—not just a text or email, but a personal visit or call? Who is it, and what is one step you can take this week? ([22:56])

Sermon Clips

Ministering is God working his concern and mercy through you two people. Isn't that interesting? And so you are just a vessel. It starts with God. We love because he first loved us. And the love that flows through us is from God. And so is the concern that we have in our hearts. And so is the mercy that flows through our lives. [00:20:57] (21 seconds) #MercyReflectsLove

Gentleness and the gospel are inseparable. You cannot separate the two. They are inseparable. But as you continue to read in this passage, you see that not only is Paul caring for souls like a nurturing and gentle mother, but he's also caring like a father. [00:25:15] (16 seconds) #MotherAndFatherCare

Caring is truly contributing and if you really care then you're going to do what you can and as you contribute you are actually doing something you are putting your hands and feet to the plow and working in ministry sometimes it is something simple and sometimes it's something very very difficult but God will equip you to be able to do what you can and he'll get the glory and you'll receive the benefits from it listen to me good intentions do not yield results. [00:41:25] (32 seconds) #WalkTheTalk

It is the gospel that pierces the heart. It's the gospel that changes the heart, according to Acts 2, 37. It is the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ that helps someone to see that Jesus is both Lord and Savior, that he's both Lord and Christ. [00:47:12] (17 seconds) #TrueChristianCare

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