Soulfood

The Church as a Place of Healing

How can our church be a place of healing?

We want to grow – one of the pleasures of dwelling in the house of God is that his life-giving Spirit causes us to grow. We don’t ever get to a place where we can’t grow any more.

I want to grow in developing and demonstrating curiosity about people by considering how to question them well. Learn their hearts by asking good questions.

I want to grow in giving folks my very soul (1 Thes. 2:8) through communal prayer.

God’s house is a place of words – He is telling us about himself and about ourselves all through Scripture. He tells us the same things over and over using many different words but saying the same things. We should seek to grow in inviting words as people share their trauma and learn to avoid speaking words that stop others from speaking. Avoid giving advice when it is not solicited, and rather ask questions.

If we are listening to the Lord, it will be natural for us to listen to other people.

I need to grow in confessing sin and asking for prayer.

A church is a place of healing when people persevere in prayer for each other. Be the person who remembers others’ joys and sorrows and prays for them and follows up with them months later.

Grow in gentleness – learn to respond with grace and humility.

When we are not intentional about the way we love people, we should not be surprised that people feel neglected and un-tended. Let us do this work of love with great hope and joy!