Home visits: one household at a time
The annual home visit is one of the most distinctive practices of Reformed church life. Two elders discuss preparation, listening well, opening the Word in someone's home, and handling a visit that does not go as planned.
Outline
- Why we visit: the history and purpose of the practice.
- Preparation: what to know before arriving, and what to set aside.
- Asking questions that open a conversation rather than close it.
- Reading Scripture and praying in a family’s living room.
- Follow-up: what is reported, what remains confidential, and how to tell the difference.
For discussion
- What was the most helpful home visit you have received, and what made it helpful?
- How would you approach a household that clearly does not wish to receive you?