In a word, it’s the format. Read - Journal - Pray - Share. Our pastor poured a vision of soul care into a small cohort of trainees back in 2020. We simply took that vision and ran with it for Gospel Life.

SoulCare Groups™ are the fruit of that labor. In creating these workbooks we noticed how many great biblical counseling resources there were. To simply do a book study with a few sinner/sufferers didn’t seem enough to really attach scripture to the everyday struggles of life. So, we decided we should curate as many resources as we could on each topic. Typically 10-20 titles for any one subject. For any given topic, we then decide on three that would work together. Typically they would be a primary text, a devotional, and a secondary supporting text.

We then weave these titles together into daily devotional style readings and prompt the participant to journal vertically to the Lord in response to questions that probe the heart. Then each day the participant is given a prayer prompt relative to what they have read and journaled about. Often, there is then a prompt to share something significant with their prayer partner (assigned in group) from that day’s work.

Read-Journal-Pray-Share is a daily rhythm each week (5 days), and then at the end of the week, we prompt with four discussion prep questions that the participants answer in advance of gathering, where they will share their responses with the group and interact with one another under the facilitation of a soul care minded leader(s).

It’s this rhythm of Read-Journal-Pray-Share that is distinct about SoulCare Groups™. And it is the work of curating resources and weaving them together into a cohesive whole that makes SoulCare Groups™ Workbooks unique.

There are many benefits to this group model. For example:

1. There will always be more who need help than there are helpers. So, groups simply make sense.

2. The community and relationships forged in these groups gathering around similar struggles helps believers to realize they are not alone in the ways they struggle.

3. Together, participants find the help and hope they need from the sufficiency of scripture and mutual care in the context of deep community and focused study.

4. This is a proven model for groups-based Biblical Counseling. We have been running incredibly successful groups in our own church since 2022, and have seen them launch in many churches across the US and even a couple internationally.

   (We would be happy to share the results of our pilot groups for any who are interested. Send an email to info@soulcaregroups.org.)

5. SoulCare Groups™ will unburden the pastoral and counseling staff. In the course of a SoulCare Group™, the majority of acute and minor counseling issues are typically addressed and their need for pastor/elder care diminished.

6. People who wouldn’t seek individual care and counsel are coming forward to find the care they need in the SoulCare Group™ setting.

7. SoulCare Groups™ create inherent accountability and transparent relationships.

8. It is the body of Christ sharing one another’s burdens and struggles (Gal 6:1-5).

9. SoulCare Groups™ are an easy on-ramp and kickstarter for soul care ministry in your church!

Be sure to visit our endorsements page and review some of what people are saying about SoulCare Groups™ and the ways they have been blessed to participate.

We have run groups as small as three and as large as twelve. Any more is too many. Any less should be referred to individual biblical counseling and care if possible.

No one can stop you from doing the study on your own. Having said that, they are designed to done in community with fellow believers – in person if possible. Nonetheless, if you work the material deeply for yourself, you will still experience profound change. Try to share what you are learning with someone or find an accountability partner who is aware that you are working the material.

No, in fact, we strongly advise against it. Leaders will work the material alongside students in real time. Because leaders are fellow sojourners in this process, you do not need to be a topical expert. The best way forward is to do the work alongside your group in real time.

Absolutely, we have designed the model with you in mind. Any lay leader with a heart for care can lead these SoulCare Groups™.

No, but there is no question that any amount of training in biblical care and counsel is beneficial to the process. Nonetheless, the workbooks lead and guide you in the process. Aside from carefully reading the note for group leaders and familiarizing yourself with the workbook format, no prior training is required.

We have not run groups for younger than age 18 yet. Maybe we will in the future. If you attempt to run a group with teens, please let us know how it goes. We are curious!

Each topic has a list of companion resources required for the study. Typically, it will include three biblical counseling titles which we have curated and interwoven into the daily readings for that topic.

Do as much as you can daily, then pick up the rest of the work later. For the most part, you get out of it what you put into it, so do everything you can each day, to the best of your ability and by the grace of God. Some groups require more work than others depending on the nature of the issues being addressed.

Once you’ve decided to embark on launching a SoulCare Group™:

1. You would ensure you have two co-leaders to run each group.

2. Next you should recruit the support of your pastoral staff. You don’t want to launch something without their awareness.

3. Next, order your workbooks and the companion resources. We recommend ordering enough for a full group, and then handing them out the first night you meet. There is no pre-work, so they don’t need them until then. (This also gives you freedom to recruit right up until the day of the first gathering)

4. Schedule the start of the groups (12 meetings, 11 weeks of work).

5. Recruit participants

6. Launch!

If you find you have more questions, please send an email to info@soulcaregroups.org and we would be delighted to help you get started!