In our Reformed churches we have the practice of house visitation. Usually two elders visit a family or individual members to speak from the Word of God and speak about the needs of the soul and other matters relating to God's kingdom. This is not just a social visit. Nor is it visit to speak about monetary commitment, as it is in some churches, basically fundraising for the church. No, in house visitation office-bearers bring the Word of God to bear on the souls and lives of people.

I. Where does the Bible speak about House Visitation?⤒🔗

Does the Bible talk about house visitation? Yes and no. It doesn't mention it directly, but if you turn to Acts 20:28, you will see the biblical warrant for it. There Paul exhorts the elders over all the flock (Acts 20:28), to feed, instruct, correct, and com­fort the flock. And Paul earlier gave himself as an example: "I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 20).

Jesus also engaged in such one to one care of souls. Think of the instance of Nicodemus (John 3), the Samaritan woman (John 4), Peter at the time of his restoration (Lk 24:34).

II. How did we get House Visitation as we now know it?←⤒🔗

Regular house visitation began in Calvin's Geneva. After he pled for it for a while, the church introduced it in 1550. Why did Calvin encourage this? His fundamental motive was to honour the biblical stipulations for pastoral care to the individual and the families. Alongside this fundamental motive, there are three motives.

1. The Roman Catholic Church had had the prac­tice of confession. It was a sacrament in which people would confess their sins to the priest and the priest would pronounce absolution (pardon), perhaps with the requirement of certain good works. Of course, this is unbiblical, and Calvin and the other Reformers rejected this. Instead, they saw the need for regular house visitation, which is not a sacrament, but it is a form of pastoral care in which one deals honestly and biblically with the souls of people.
    
2. Calvin believed it was an opportunity for teach­ing people. In view of the fact that many persons in their young years had not been properly instructed in the Word of God, and therefore were not adequately acquainted with what the Christian faith is, each year the Elders had to visit the congregation from house to house and inquire into the doctrine and the faith, in order that no one would come to the Lord's Table without knowing the foundation of his salva­tion.
    
3. Finally, Calvin saw a clear connection between house visitation and ecclesiastical discipline. He regarded the regular visits as an effective means to exercise ecclesiastical discipline. He stipulated that in house visitation the Elders had to ask whether family life was harmonious and peaceful, whether there were quarrels with the neighbours, whether there was anything of drunkenness, whether there was any negligence or laziness with respect to church attendance. If the report was too disturbing, the family was called to appear before the consistory.

Elsewhere Calvin stated that the purpose of house visitation is to learn to know the members, in order that the Lord's Table would not be profaned, and to exhort everyone to fulfill his duty to God and to hear His holy Word.

Our Church Order, Article 23 states that "the office of the elders ... is ... as much as possible visit the families of the congregation to comfort and instruct the members, and also to exhort others in respect to the Christian religion...." The original Church Or­der of Dort states that the Elders "insofar as circumstances of time and place permit, (are) to do house visitation both before and after the Lord's Supper for the edification of the congregation, in order to comfort and instruct the members of the congrega­tion..." The original Church Order goes on to state: "and to persuade others unto faith in Christ."

The Form of Ordination of Elders states that it is the office of elders ... "diligently to look whether every one properly deports himself in his confes­sion and conversation; to admonish those who behave themselves disorderly, and to prevent, as much as possible, the sacraments from being profaned; also to act (according to the Christian discipline) against the impenitent and to receive the penitent again into the bosom of the Church..."

And as "watchmen over the house and city of God, (they are to be) faithful to admonish and to caution every one against his ruin."

III. What is Discussed in House Visitation?←⤒🔗

1. The Word of God←↰⤒🔗

In family visitation, the elders choose a passage from the Scripture and speak about it briefly. In church, you come to hear the Word of God ex­plained and applied. In house visitation, the Word of God comes to you through the elders and they briefly explain it and seek to apply it to you. The Word touches on many areas of our lives and brings up all sorts of things in order to have a profitable and God-centered discussion.

2. Personal Faith-life←↰⤒🔗

We regard the conversation about the state of the soul and the walk with the Lord as the very heart of house visitation. The Elders do well to raise impor­tant spiritual questions during the visitation, such as. 'How do I receive a personal faith? What actu­ally is it to know Christ? How can I receive more assurance? What is it to live out of the promises of God? How can I give expression to my faith in the hard reality of every day?' We should not be sur­prised if the subject of the Lord's Supper comes up. If you attend the table, you should be able to speak how the Lord brings you there and what it means to you personally. If you do not attend the table, you should be able to speak about that as well, perhaps the struggles or the questions you may have with respect to the Lord's table.

3. The Unique Circumstances of the Family←↰⤒🔗

Usu­ally, the Elders will use this topic as the start for their conversation. They ask about the work situa­tion of the parents and the study of their children. They will ask about special happenings in the fam­ily — the birth of a baby, the graduation of one of the older children. Some families encounter many trials and afflictions. The Elders are to express their sympathy with the sick member of the family who perhaps is cared for in a care facility. An important question is how the other members of the family are coping with the sickness of one of the members of the family or if one of the children recently passed away.

4. Fruit on the Preaching←↰⤒🔗

A conversation on the fruit of the preaching is not the least important part of house visitation. The Elders surely will want to ask whether the family receive food for heart and life in the worship service on the Lord's Day. If this is not true, the elders could pursue the reasons, both in terms of inward reasons as well as outward reasons.

5. Personal Bible Study and Prayer and Family Worship←↰⤒🔗

The Elders should emphasize the importance of qui­et time for reading the scriptures, meditation, and prayer. They will ask how this functions in every one's life and if need be give advice. Also they will ask how they as family practice the daily family worship: scripture reading, prayer, singing, and then the practice of speaking about the Lord and His Word in the family relationship, the upbringing of the children, and everything else in family life.

6. Living in this World←↰⤒🔗

House visitation also concerns the broad relation­ships of school, work, society, and politics. The family may bring up various points as well. There is no topic that we encounter in life that is to be ex­cluded from house visitation. To be sure, the topic is to be spoken about before the face of God, as in His presence, to be considered in the light.

Elders do well to listen to difficulties and struggles people might be having. It may well be that the elders have no ready-made answers to help them. Moreover, they need to recognize that their task is a pastoral one. They should not spend a long time about political and societal issues. Rather, they will stand and kneel alongside of those whom they visit and together with them seek the way that God points to in His Word.

There is also place for admonition regarding worldliness and putting off worldly habits. Don't be surprised if the elders ask about which school your children attend and how as father and mother you are combating worldliness in your home. The elders have the duty to ensure as much as possible that children are taught in schools that stand as close as possible to what we believe and teach in our doctrine.

IV. How can you most Benefit from House Visita­tion?←⤒🔗

1. Consider this a Good time to take Stock←↰⤒🔗

Physicians often tell us to have a regular check-up. Now, in a certain way, every day we should examine ourselves, and every Lord's Day we should examine ourselves, as well as in preparation for the celebration of the Lord's Supper. But, think of house visitation as an opportunity to go over where you are, how you and your family (if you have one) are doing. It's time to take stock and see how and where we need to perhaps make changes.

2. Consider this a Good time to ask Questions and seek Advice←↰⤒🔗

Of course, you are always welcome to reach out to myself or an elder with questions and issues you believe we can help you with. But consider house visitation as a time to seek such advice and ask questions that have been weighing on you and you would like some more clarity on. Perhaps you have been struggling with one or other problem that weighs you down, or in your study of the Bible, cer­tain things are unclear. At the appropriate moment, you can ask them of the elders.

3. Consider this as a Good time for Spiritual Fel­lowship←↰⤒🔗

I know the elders love to report on the visits where there was a spirit of love and warmth while talking about the things of the Lord, sort of like the men on the road to Emmaus. When that warmth spills over, this can be most edifying and helpful for all involved.

4. Consider how you can Best serve the Lord and His Cause←↰⤒🔗

Sometimes visits can focus on what people are getting or not getting out of church. And there is a place for open discussion. However, think of house visitation as a way to find out how everyone can best be benefited with spiritual focus, vision, love, and service one to another. House visitation would be a memorable and helpful thing if everyone walks away from it as a time to be inspired and encour­aged to serve the Lord and his people on the earth. The elders have a responsibility to do this. But everyone can contribute to this.

May God give you that you would rightly use these opportunities, and may He bless you with fruitfulness to His honour and glory.