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Ten Questions To Ask When Making A Pastoral Call To Church Members

2/10/2021

1 Comment

 
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A good shepherd will care for the sheep by spending time with the sheep. Jesus said in John 10:14 (ESV), “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me...” Our good shepherd is with us always and promised never to leave us. Yet pastors are called to “shepherd the flock of God (First Peter 5:2),” and part of that call is to spend time with God’s flock. 

Pastors realize early on in ministry they are not omnipresent, but their love for God’s flock does not cease when they cannot gather. So, pastors pray. Pastors schedule time to lift God’s flock by name to the Chief Shepherd.

The pastor will also set aside time to make a pastoral phone call to the member(s) who cannot gather physically with the rest of the flock. While the phone call does not replace the physical presence of the pastor, the phone call can be spiritually edifying for the flock of God. 

Most often, once you begin with an opening question, the conversation will flow. However, should there be a lull in the conversation, here are ten straightforward questions that can open the door for purposeful discussion. 

  1. Family - How is your family doing? Do they have any living relatives? If so, ask about their family. Do they live close? If not, do they speak with them often? Asking about relatives will demonstrate your pastoral care extends beyond a hollow exchange of pleasantries. 
  2. Visitation - Have you had any visitors lately? We are created for interaction, not isolation. Being aware of visits (social interaction) can help understand the state of their emotional well-being. 
  3. Hobbies - What are some things you have been doing to pass the time? Do they have any favorite books? Television shows? Discussing this question can open the doors for ministry. Can your church drop off a collection of books, word-find puzzles, or DVDs? Listen intently with outreach as the target. 
  4. Local Congregation - Has anyone from the church called? The role of the pastor is to care for God's church (First Timothy 3:5), not to be the sole care of God's church. Are they hearing from members? Write thank you notes to those who are making calls. Equip those who are not caring for one another (Ephesians 4:12). God is honored, and the church is unified when God's people care for one another. 
  5. Spiritual Care - How are you doing spiritually? Peter encouraged his readers in Second Peter 3:18, "Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." The call to spiritual growth continues even if God's people cannot physically gather. By asking them to share about their spiritual condition can be the portal to how the pastor can best lead them on their spiritual journey.
  6. Congregation Prayer - How can our church pray for you? The church in Acts was glued to prayer, and often prayed for one another. Most people are encouraged when they know the congregation joins together and are committed to praying for them. Don't forget to ask for their permission to share the request with the congregation.
  7. Outreach - Is there anything our church can do for you? Look for ways to get others involved in their lives. Can someone pick up groceries for them? Do they need any home repairs? When the church loves one another, God is glorified, and your community will recognize those you lead are disciples of Christ (John 13:34-35). 
  8. Pastoral Prayer - How can I pray for you? Pastor, pray for those you are leading. Add their name and prayer needs to your personal calendar. Include in the description their request and any additional notes. Give assurance of the date and time you will personally pray for them. Shepherding God's flock is best done when you lift His flock up to the Chief Shepherd in prayer. 
  9. Pastoral Service - Is there anything I can do for you today? Is there an immediate need that you can assist with? I asked this question and later found myself at the grocery store searching for denture cream. There was an immediate need that God allowed me to help meet by simply asking this question. 
  10. Immediate Prayer - Can I pray with you before we hang up? Ephesians 6:18 says, "...making supplication for all the saints." Prayers are comforting. Prayers are encouraging. Praying before you hang up allows you to speak on their behalf to the Chief Shepherd immediately. While the Chief Shepherd hears our prayers, the one you are praying for will also hear your prayer on their behalf. Knowing their pastor cares enough to call, genuinely listen, enthusiastically serve, and immediately pray will strengthen and encourage those you lead. 

What are some helpful questions you fall back on when you make pastoral calls to those whom God has called you to lead? Leave your comments below to serve other leaders in the ministry. 
1 Comment
NP
2/15/2021 19:09:56

As concerning the Word of life, Luke 10 section 25-28 says: On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?" He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" "You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."
Luke 18 section 18-25 says: A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'" "All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Matthew 5 section 43-48 says: "You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
In Old Testament, the Jewish people and their ancestors were given the Law to observe. First, What Adam and Eve should observe was that they could not eat the fruits from the tree of wisdom. Then, their son Cain was told that he should not kill. As sins became increased, the laws were also added more. Up to the generation of Moses, the Law in Old Testament was given to Israelites. We know that the Law is good and the Law is used to punish people who commit sins, but people cannot obey the Law because the sinful spirits are in people. Even that we know stealing and giving false testimony are sinful, but greedy and pride spirits in us drive us to do sinful things. So as Old Testament prophesied we need to get rid of our sinful nature from our spirits.
Jeremiah 31 section 31-33 says: "The time is coming," declares the Lord, "when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them," declares the Lord. "This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time," declares the Lord. "I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Ezekiel 36 section 24-27 says: "'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
The prophecies are fulfilled when Jesus begins to teach love. The two greatest commandments are " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Love is above the Law and if people have love they are free from the law of sin and death. People who are full of love will not think about stealing or giving false testimony but are merciful and they feed hungry people or give thirsty people something to drink or invite strangers in or clothe people who need clothes. The Law is for people who commit sins. Nobody will say that he will get reward because he does not steal before. But love is the grace we get. And with love we will get eternal life.
Romans 13 section 8-10 says: Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Luke 17 section 2

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