SoulCare Foundations I: The Basic Model

This course is designed to help you enter people's interior lives at a meaningful level and make a lasting difference in their lives.

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This course is designed to help you enter people’s interior lives at a meaningful level and make a lasting difference as they deal with life’s struggles and crises. Some people call this type of help “counseling.” Others call this help “pastoring.” And perhaps others think of this kind of involvement as what one friend does for another friend. Larry Crabb uses the word SoulCare, with its focus on the inner life, where we become who we were intended and long to be.

  1. Understand the basic model of SoulCare.
  2. Resist temptation to keep relationships shallow.
  3. Move into somebody’s life (with the wisdom that knows how the soul works) in meaningful, deep, soul-connecting kinds of ways.
  • I feel that I have learned so much, both about myself, and how to walk wisely with others in SoulCare, and cannot wait to continue with the rest of this course. I am sad that Larry Crabb is no longer with us, but so thankful he had completed this very good and necessary work, so that others can carry on walking out the principles Christ left us to follow.

    — Rebecca, United States (US)
  • I'm enjoying the course, and it's 'in-time' application during my time teaching at my church. Thank you for providing this course.

    — Robin, United States (US)
  • I absolutely love this course. First because I am learning so much. Secondly because it is aiding in my spiritual growth. Thirdly because I feel it is challenging, yet presented in a way that I can understand and follow, and even reflect on how I have counseled in the past and how I can become a true SoulCare provider in the future.

    — Sheila, United States (US)
  • This course is very practical. Information learned can be applied to all aspects of life.

    — Esosa, United States (US)
  • I am grateful this was recommended by my MDiv grad School as part of my 'Pastoral' practicum - this is vital info for anyone mentoring and counseling others in the church  

    — Richard, United States (US)
  • Loved this course, realized many hard things about myself and my relations to others.

    — Jim, United States (US)
  • This information is very enlightening

    — Carol, United States (US)
  • It was a joy to take a walk down Memory Lane with my former professor. I find that thirty years later I am a better student and understand Soul Care better because of maturity and life experiences. I took the course as a "Premium member" for credit, review, and support of ODBU! I will be a frequent student till The Lord takes me home,

    — Frank, United States (US)
  • It was a wonderful course. I especially appreciated how Dr. Crabb stressed the importance of being curious in our relationships with others. That is so needed in our culture and something I need to be more aware of and grow in myself.  

    — Lauren, United States (US)
  • I really enjoyed the course and it helped me to really think about myself, my motives, and my purpose for this training.

    — Sandra, United States (US)
  • Super helpful material; I'm so excited for the next modules!!! Thank you, Dr. Crabb!

    — Shari, United States (US)
  • I have learned so much in this course and I find most of the lectures addressing the problems in my life. I am grateful for this opportunity and pray that the grace anointing of God will increase in Dr. Crabb's life

    — Faith, United Kingdom (UK)
  • I found this to be exceptionally clear and revolutionary in concept! The only area that felt unclear was the specific categories to be used for reflective listening.  

    — Anna, United States (US)
  • Very well organized and presented in a genuine manner. As a Christian transition from secular counseling it is very spot-on in bringing the only way to truly help another person find their way.  

    — Larry, United States (US)
  • I enjoyed the course very much. It has prompted me to think about having vision for another person and developing curiosity.

    — Barbara, United States (US)
  • This course is not what I expected. But I am glad that I took it. I think it will help in my interactions with others.

    — Ironia, United States (US)
  • I learned a lot about how to care for another soul, and also about myself!

    — Kristina, United States (US)
  • This course is actually changing me and how I look at myself and others. This is such a a heart warming course. Thank you Dr. Crabb

    — Beverly, United States (US)
  • In all the work I have been doing dealing with people in church, this course is what was missing in me. It has changed how I am dealing with people as they share their struggles. It is an amazing course. I did attend Bible school in Zimbabwe but never got an opportunity to be exposed to this course. I will certainly recommend it to all ministers.

    — Farai, South Africa
  • The questions in the quizzes were sometimes framed differently from the lecture and were a little hard to work out what they meant. The course has made me challenge my own thinking and methods of helping others. I find that I need to spend time thinking over the material. I would LOVE to see some role plays to make some methods clearer.  

    — Gayle, Australia
  • Divine insight into the soul showing our fallen nature and how one can be directed back to God by caring for another's soul.

    — Robert, United States (US)
  • This was a wonderful course. I have been looking for something like this for 4 years. The insights given by Dr Crabb were given in bite sized pieces and I loved having the transcript available too. I will be able to look back at them when I need to refresh my memory about any topic covered. I thought the assignments were creative and productive. Well done there! They made me connect the dots and cemented my understanding of the material.  I am looking forward to the next Course.

    — Gaynor, New Zealand
  • Not the approach I expected. But has proven to be what I need and has been very beneficial on my journey to where I am trying to get.

    — Lorenzo, United States (US)
  • I learned so much. Before, I was a person who believed just make them see they are wrong because the Bible says different, but now I have a whole new attitude.

    — Martha, United States (US)
  • I found that overall, the course was challenging. I was grateful for the time Dr. Crab went back to basics, and when he provided examples from his own life experiences. I would suggest that it would be helpful for students if the Overview and Objectives sheets actually had the Lesson Numbers printed on the sheets.

    — Ray, United Kingdom (UK)
  • I really, really hated the first four lessons. I don't need/like to be told again and again and again that I am a self-centered person. I know how imperfect I am and that any help I can offer to others that is of any real value must come from God. I also am a doer, (a Martha, not a Mary - I know Mary is preferred by Jesus, but someone has to cook). Once we got to the nitty-gritty of the course, I found it useful. However, I sometimes found that the semantics of the course were a bit confusing. I like the idea of not giving advice or analyzing. This is really valuable, though sometimes, people do need advice on how to handle or what to do in a difficult situation.

    — Patricia, Canada
  • This course confirmed through practical steps what the Lord has been trying to show me about myself, as well as how to truly relate to Him and others.

    — Andrea w, United States (US)
  • I enjoyed the format and the stimulation the course gave me. Nicely balanced lectures.

    — Colin, United Kingdom (UK)
  • I learned so much about myself and others and I'm looking forward to the next soul course. Everyone should take this course. If public schools offered this course in high school, we would all have the ability to help each other live a godly life and be happy. Dr. Crabb is an awesome teacher!

    — Laurie, United States (US)
  • Great course!

    — Gary, United States (US)
  • I am grateful for this opportunity to study soul care. I have learnt a lot.

    — Gloria, Nigeria
  • I enjoyed learning a new way to approach others about their needs and problems. I also have a new way about looking at myself when it comes with dealing with others' issues and concerns.

    — Tameka, United States (US)
  • I would have loved to have an outline to print to make notetaking easier, especially with the diagram that was used.

    — Angela, United States (US)
  • Some kind of book or material ordered by themes and topics could have been helpful to have besides the transcript. Great course besides that!

    — Omar, Mexico
  • This has been an amazing course and I am recommending it to several friends.

    — Joan, United States (US)
  • I somewhat struggled with the idea of "hating your friend's flesh". I need to sit with that to allow it to reveal its meaning to me. Real life examples were very helpful. A great mix of tutor input and questions for reflection to stimulate learning. THANKS SO MUCH!

    — Elena, United Kingdom (UK)
  • SoulCare makes more sense than the secular approach. The material was presented in a way that benefits any style of learner. Personally, having access to the lecture transcript, helped reinforce the teaching.

    — Waynette, United States (US)
  • Very interesting.

    — Tracy, United States (US)
  • Very valuable and thought provoking course!

    — Karen, United States (US)
  • The course provided me with a completely new way of thinking about caring for people. I lead a group for widows and this will be extremely helpful for me in caring for them. Thank you for he!ping me to better care for them.

    — Jillian, United States (US)
  • I have learned a lot from the course and the last lesson really is what I struggle with and need constant reflection on. It's secular world training and work environment that encourage us to take charge and demonstrate our abilities. Meanwhile, my faith humbles me and reminds me that I can only do good through Christ. It's a constant battle.

    — Elaine, Canada
  • Soul Care is a course I came across years ago and is a course that isn't recognized as it should. Many organizations not just church, but government organizations that include social work or criminal justice should make use of this platform. It would be great if there was a way a "student" could highlight notes as a part of the lecture. It would go hand and hand. It would cut down on a lot of writing and save a lot of time

    — Tamarus, United States (US)
  • These lessons convicted my own soul and have opened my mind and heart to a new, biblical way of thinking that is so full of hope and power. Thank you Dr. Crabb and thank you ODBU for providing this course, a blessing from our Lord.

    — Thu-van, United States (US)
  • A difficult concept but one that I fully embrace and hope to gain additional understanding.

    — Philip, United States (US)
  • I definately learned some valuable lessons about myself and am also wiser about how to respond when someone presents with an opportunity for soulcare. I have a broader vision of what God might do in someone's life. I also learned some of what I have been doing is short sighted and even cuts off the opportunity to go to a deeper more honest place with someone. I think there could be a little more humor injected into the lessons. Pretty serious all the time. That said, thank you for helping me learn some valuable things about soulcare.

    — Roy, United States (US)
  • Helpful insight with lessons that were interesting. The stories and his experiences shared also enhanced the learning experience. I was pleased with the content that was delivered and have already recommended to fellow believers.

    — Christina, Canada
  • Discussion questions are good. No place to ask a question. Thank you for your time and energy and heart for the LORD and for His and those He is calling to Himself.

    — Karen, United States (US)
  • I like how I can work at this as time and energy allows. I value how Dr. Crabb reviews things often. This helps them become familiar thought processes.

    — Lisa, Canada
  • It exceeded my expectations. Thank you!

    — Langdon, United States (US)
  • This course is an absolute blessing! I am learning so much and I look forward the remaining course lessons.

    — Laurie, Canada

Course Content

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Intermediate Level
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Course Details

  • 10 Lessons
  • 31 Activities
  • 11 Assessments
  • 27 Min Average
  • 10 Hrs Minimum
  • Course Award

Course Resources

Videos Audios Transcripts Discussion Questions
Lecturer

Larry J. Crabb, PhD (1944-2021)