PC002 Outline

Christ College Assignment Cover Sheet
The following essay, of which I have kept a copy, is entirely the work of the undersigned and all
sources of ideas and expressions are duly acknowledged in footnotes, endnotes or in-text
referencing. The completion of this form is equivalent to providing your signature.
ACT Number 202234926
Unit Code and Title PC002-812 Pastoral Care
Lecturer Dr Cameron Clausing
Date Due 22/02/2024
Date Submitted 22/02/2024
Extension Number
Date Extended To
Staff Only
Late Penalty
Assessment Topic/Question/Number
Word Count Required 1000 Word Count Actual 905

(Body) (Body)
Maximum Word Word Count Actual
Count (Footnotes) (Footnotes)
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Introduction:
Since the conception of the Church 2,000 years ago, pastoral care has been an essential and
large part of the Elder’s role. With pastoral care often looking significantly different from church
to church, and across cultures and generations, how does God define it, and what is the biblical
view on pastoral care that is timeless, and transcends cultural and generational differences?
This essay argues that elders, or undershepherds, are to demonstrate pastoral care by leading
the flock toward glorifying and enjoying God, beginning with guiding them toward union with
Christ. They are to do so with sacrificial and servant-hearted love, while grasping the reality of
the human condition - that humans are part of God’s good creation, but have fallen and been
separated from God due to sin. This includes imparting an understanding that being ‘in Christ’
gives one's life purpose, (which is to glorify and enjoy God), and to be united in Him both in his
life, which includes suffering, and in his death and resurrection. Through this understanding,
hope, strength and encouragement will be obtained through the many trials and celebrations of
life. Elders are also to guide the flock toward an understanding and response to this truth within
a covenantal community of the church and within the family unit.
Main Point: It is Christ, who is the true and only shepherd who gathers his flock to himself
through the elders, his undershepherds.
- John 10:1-21 Exegesis
- Jesus is the gate - Jesus is the way to enter his flock.
- Jesus is the Shepherd - Jesus gathers the lost sheep and brings them into his pen.
- Calvin’s Commentary on John - Jesus the only Shepherd who raises, equips, sends and
empowers through the Spirit his undershepherds.
- Ephesians 4:11-13 God gifts shepherds to the Church.
Conclusion: It is Christ that gathers and brings the lost into his flock through his Spirit; elders
have been called, equipped and gifted to the Church as undershepherds.
Main Point: Pastors are to shepherd like Christ, with a sacrificial servant-hearted love.
- John 10:11-15 - Sacrificial shepherding
- Matt. 20:25-28 - Christ came to serve.
- John 13:31-35 - Love and serve others just as Christ loves you.
Conclusion: Pastoral care needs to be driven by a love for others, imitating the perfect love of
Christ exemplified by his death on the cross.
Main Point: Effective pastoral care is predicated on the understanding of the human condition:
that mankind is created by God in his image, and that we have fallen and separated from Him
due to sin.
- Genesis 1-2 - Humanity created by God equal, and in his image. Turned away from
God’s good rule and became separated.
- ‘Humanity’ in Theology for the pastor by John McClean
- Romans 3:10-12 - total depravity
- Common grace - John Murray:“is every favour of whatever kind or degree, falling short
of salvation, which this undeserving and sin-cursed world enjoys at the hand of God”
Main Point: Pastoral care is about leading others to live out the God given purposes for our
lives: to Glorify Him, and enjoy Him forever.
- 1 Cor. 10:31 and Romans 11:36 - to Glorify God.
- Phil. 4:4 and Rev. 21:3-4 - To enjoy him.
- Pointing people to God’s given purpose for their lives. Pointing them to find their joy in
God not in the world.
Main Point: Glorifying and enjoying God, along with all the spiritual blessings gifted to us,
begins with our union with christ.
- Ephesians 1 - Our union with Christ is the cause of all the spiritual blessings given to us.
-
Main Point: Being ‘in Christ’ means sharing in his suffering and to know the power of his
resurrection.
- A biblical understanding of suffering
- Phil. 3 - to know the power of the resurrection. That that power resides in us, will raise us
up from the dead. Pain, suffering and trials will disappear, and will find true healing.
- Rev. 21:1-6
- Pointing people to the new heaven and earth yet to come.
Main Point: Only through being ‘in Christ’ and coming to a greater understanding of that reality,
will that give true hope, strength and encouragement through the various turmoils and trials of
life.
- Ephesians 1 - Sanctification, atonement, adoption (all spiritual blessings) come from
union with Christ NOT good works.
-
Main Point: Pastoral care is practiced within covenantal relationships: within the Church and
families.
- Not as individuals, but saved into God’s people, the Church.
- Care practiced by all members but the responsibility of the elders.
- God works through families.
The undershepherd’s major concern is for people to come into union with Christ and for their
flock to comprehend and live out that reality in all areas of their lives. A pastor’s greatest
concern needs to mirror Christ’s concerns: for people’s souls. For pastoral care, in the words of
Senkbeil, is a care for souls. That does not mean the pastor should neglect or ignore the daily
earthly concerns of his flock, but what’s the point of attempting to alleviate a person's sufferings
and struggles with surface level solutions if they are to spend an eternity in hell? As
undershepherds we need to point people to the fact that they will only find joy, fullness, and the
strength to endure life’s struggles, in Christ. Only being in Christ will we experience all the
spiritual blessings gifted to us to find true joy and strength. Therefore, it’s the undershepherd’s
role to point people to that truth in all areas of their lives.
Bibliography
Calvin, John. Calvin : Institutes of the Christian Religion. Edited by John McNeill.
Translated by F.L. Battles. Vol. 1. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox
Press, 2011.
McClean, John. “Humanity.” In Theology for Ministry: How Doctrine Affects
Pastoral Life and Practice, edited by William Edwards, John Ferguson, and Chad
Van Dixhoorn. Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing, 2021.
Pope Gregory I. Pastoral Care. 590AD. Reprint, Westminster, Maryland: The
Newman Press, 1950.
https://ia800308.us.archive.org/8/items/ancientchristian009979mbp/
ancientchristian009979mbp.pdf.
Senkbeil, Harold L. The Care of Souls : Cultivating a Pastor’s Heart. Bellingham,
Washington: Lexham Press, 2019.

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Christ College Assignment Cover Sheet

Unit Code and Title PC002-812 Pastoral Care

Lecturer Dr Cameron Clausing

Date Due 22/02/2024

Date Submitted 22/02/2024

Word Count Required 1000 Word Count Actual 905

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