How to Conduct Faithful Pastoral Visits: A 10-Step Guide

Every pastor I know agrees that visiting church members in their homes is a good thing to do. Generally, none would dispute that a shepherd should do his best to know the sheep in his flock. But are pastoral visits a prescribed practice? Are they scripturally necessary or simply beneficial?

Contrary to modern pastoral instincts, early Protestant pastors believed they were duty-bound by Scripture to teach “from house to house” (Acts 20:20), as Paul seems to commend to the elders of the Church of Ephesus. Other passages seem to describe an apostolic pattern. Peter exhorted elders to maintain some kind of relational proximity: “Shepherd the flock of God that is among you” (1 Pet 5:2). Church leaders are described as those who “will give an account” for watching over the souls entrusted to their care (Heb 13:17). Their accounting and reward (cf. 1 Pet 5:4) will come from the Chief Shepherd, whose earthly ministry exemplified knowledgeable care of his flock: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:14).

Jesus personally knows, names, and cares for each of his sheep, and he delegates watchful care of these sheep to local church under-shepherds, all of whom will give an account to Jesus for the kind of care they provided. Consequently, every under-shepherd in Christ’s church is bound by Scripture to personally know the sheep in their flock and apply knowledgeable spiritual care to them.

Paul’s apostolic practice of visitation, therefore, is at least instructive, if not prescriptive. Pastoral visits are a prudent practice commended by Scripture through which pastors¹ may fulfill their vocation to personally know, instruct, and care for every member in their congregation.

With this foundation in place, what follows are ten practical suggestions for how pastors might conduct these visits faithfully and well.²

1. Determine a reasonable frequency

Factor your church’s size relative to the available pastors (both paid and unpaid) to determine a reasonable timeframe within which to visit every household.

Then consider how frequently you should visit each household, keeping in mind that some members may require more visits than others. Does your goal leave room to prioritize those sheep with greater needs, and if so, how often should those visits occur?

2. Establish a schedule

Once reasonable goals are in place, consider building a schedule for pastoral visits.

In my church, for example, we built a spreadsheet with eleven consecutive one-month “periods” for pastoral visits. Each period is filled with a certain number of households to visit, ordered alphabetically according to our membership directory.

The beginning and end of each of these periods corresponds with a monthly member-focused elder’s meeting (which alternates with our business-focused meetings). In these meetings, we exclusively discuss and pray for the members we visited during the previous period and assign visits for the next period. Paid pastors (like myself) take two or three visits per period for every one made by a “lay” (unpaid) elder, with the goal of visiting each household at least once per year.

Because ministry mimics life, our schedule is flexible. Throughout the year, new members are added and old members resign. New needs arise and former needs abate. Some households are visited more frequently, while others, less so. In any given year, we may need more or fewer periods to visit everyone. While the schedule may be subject to change, we dare not abandon it, as it helps us stay watchful over every saint entrusted to our care.

3. Give advanced notice

When it comes to executing the visits, don’t just pop in. Give members an opportunity to prepare their homes and to consider how your visit will be most useful to them.

As an example, we send emails to members in advance, asking about their availability and making the intent of the visit clear.

4. Be informal

Abandon scripts and agendas. Remember that these beloved saints are inviting you into their homes. Enjoy their hospitality and resist the urge to take charge of the meeting. Instead, lower your expectations. Simplify your goals.

Take time to share stories, laugh together, and update one another on life’s happenings. In other words, conduct your meetings with little pastoral authority and much familial affection.

5. Come with spiritual intention

Remember, informal does not mean unintentional. Our members know in advance that I intend to minister to them in word and prayer.

That said, I am not a private investigator sleuthing secret sins, nor do I come as a spiritual fruit inspector to see if their lives are “up to code.” Rather, I come with a simple, twofold goal:

1. Remind them of the good news of Jesus Christ and
2. join them in drawing near to the throne of grace.

6. Show genuine interest

I remember a mentor of mine who, before he met with church members, would pray, “Lord, make me interested in them.” His passing comment has stuck with me for twenty years.

Pastors more than anyone should exercise a curious care for each member that’s eager to see the ways in which God is at work in them.

Sadly, in the course of a busy ministry schedule, pastoral visitations can become little more than boxes to be checked on a long list of to-dos. But pastors more than anyone should exercise a curious care for each member that’s eager to see the ways in which God is at work in them.

7. Adopt different postures for different saints

We should regard every communing church member (or member “in good standing”) as beloved by Christ and indwelt by his Spirit. Consider that the Apostle Paul repeatedly addresses fellow believers as “brothers” and “sisters,” and postures himself pastorally as a “nursing mother” (1 Thess 2:7–8) and “a father with his children” (1 Thess 2:11–12). So too should be the posture of every pastor toward each member of God’s household. The posture of our pastoral visits—the manner in which we relate to each saint—should be one of familial affection.

Yet we also acknowledge that not every saint requires the same kind of care. Pastors ought to offer care specifically attuned to each member’s spiritual condition and personal circumstances. Although not exhaustive, consider the different postures needed for the following sub-categories of saint:

i. Straying saints

Some members may be noticeably absent from the church’s gathering for extended periods of time. Reasons for such absences abound, and not all involve sin. Whatever the reason, one of Christ’s sheep has wandered away from the flock, and a good shepherd reflects godly care by pursuing them and carefully bringing them back (Ezek 34:16; Luke 15:3–7; 1 Pet 2:25).

ii. Sinning saints

Pastors should assume of every member what is true in himself: They are new creations (2 Cor 5:17) with indwelling sin (Rom 7:20–21) that require regular encouragement against the deceitfulness of sin (Heb 3:13). Tragically, like the widows under Timothy’s care, some sheep will “stray after Satan” into various kinds of sin (1 Tim 5:15). For these saints, scriptural reproof and correction may be necessary (2 Tim 3:16). And because they are God’s children, the pastor does well to assume that the indwelling Spirit is greater than their sin, and that he will prepare them (though, perhaps, not immediately) to receive godly rebuke (Heb 12:5–6; Prov 9:8; 12:1; 15:31–32).

iii. Suffering saints

If every saint in this present age is a sinner, then every saint is also a sufferer. Insofar as no congregation is without a suffering saint, no pastor is without a ministry of encouragement and comfort. Setting an example for his flock, he must “visit widows and orphans in their affliction” (Jas 1:27). His visits include praying (Jas 5:13), comforting (2 Cor 1:3–4), sympathizing (1 Pet 3:8), encouraging (1 Thess 5:14), providing (1 John 3:17), and reminding (especially of their resurrection hope; 1 Cor 15).

iv. Shut-in saints

Many churches will also have members who are prevented from gathering with the church due to chronic illness, a lengthy recovery, a permanent disability, or age. Such saints seem to fit James’s exhortation for the “elders of the church” to “pray over … the one who is sick” (Jas 5:14–15). Sadly, due to their indefinite absence from the church’s regular gatherings, shut-in saints are easily overlooked or forgotten. Since they cannot gather with the congregation, pastors should minister to them regularly (perhaps even weekly) by means of pastoral visits.

8. Provide tactful care

Pastors should bring the aroma of Christ into homes with him. Our Lord Jesus does not break bruised reeds or quench smoldering wicks (Matt 12:20; cf. Isa 42:3). Neither should we.

Our posture toward his sheep should mirror his lowliness and gentleness (Matt 11:29): straying saints follow him; sinning saints turn to him; suffering saints find comfort in him; and shut-in saints hope in him.

9. Keep visits short—but allow for more time when necessary

Pastors need to provide just enough time for members to open up (which takes more or less time, depending on the member), but not so much time that any one visit monopolizes your schedule and prevents you from showing the necessary care for every member.

That said, some members will inevitably need more time than you planned. I recall many times when a member shared something important or broke down in tears only minutes before I planned to pray and leave. So be flexible.

10. Plan follow-ups as needed

And, if necessary, schedule another meeting soon.

In the course of your visitations, sins will be confessed, marital or parenting issues will be revealed, or heartbreaking news will be shared, requiring one or more follow-up meetings.

Depending on the immediacy of the need or severity of the issue, in our practice we may add that household in the next visitation period, or even multiple consecutive periods, shuffling the schedule as needed.

Conclusion

Pastoral visitations are a prudent practice governed by the general principles of Scripture concerning the relationship between a church’s shepherds and its members. Application of these principles will differ from church to church, depending upon ministry context, membership makeup, and the leadership of each church. But whatever form it takes in your church, the ultimate goal is to see knowledgeable leaders intentionally shepherding those for whom they will one day give an account.

May the Lord give all his under-shepherds great grace for such a great task!

Share your thoughts

How does your church handle pastoral visitations? Join us in the Word by Word group to share your thoughts.

Resources for further reflection

Related content

• How to Plan a Pastoral Hospital Visit
• Unpacking Elders and Deacons, Shepherds and Servants of the Church
• Servant-Leadership: How Jesus Redefines Greatness
• Go Beyond the Pulpit. Pastor While “Walking Around.”
• Why Protestant Pastors Should Read a Catholic Pope on Pastoral Ministry

1. Throughout this article, I will use “pastor” and “elder” interchangeably.
2. The following is not prescriptive but suggestive of how this practice might be applied. Every pastor or group of pastors must determine for themselves what is most prudent for fulfilling their pastoral duties to their own congregation.