Growing into Christ (6)

“…I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house…” Acts 20.20

The Elder and His Work
David Dickson (1821-1885)
“The frequency of an elder’s ordinary visitation must depend on the nature of the district, the time at his disposal, and the mode of his visitation. Some visit throughout their districts every three months, but perhaps in most cases a half-yearly visit may be found sufficient. Be it more or less frequent, however, every elder should have a plan and keep to it.”

So, elders and pastors, do you have a plan for visiting all your sheep in their homes, or at their places of work? And are you keeping to it? Does every member of the flock in your charge receive a caring, attentive, soul-friend pastor visit regularly? In our day, we take a more “come/see” attitude toward the church than a “go/tell.” We run programs and sponsor activities and try to encourage the people to come to where the leaders are, in the hope that something about the leader and the program will rub off in the bargain. Such an approach to building the church has no Biblical warrant, and is contrary to centuries of church practice. Shepherds must go out to look and care for the sheep, rather than expect the sheep to come to where the shepherds “do their thing.” We’ll never turn our world upside-down for Jesus until we turn ourselves and our churches rightside-up according to His Word.

Do your leaders, elders, or deacons regularly visit all the people in your church? What might be some goals for such visits?

Mission Partners Outreach
Jesus trained and deployed His followers two-by-two, to learn and serve together in proclaiming His Kingdom. Are you following this pattern? Our Mission Partners Outreach provides the resources and framework for making witness-bearing disciples in your church. Want to learn how it works? I’m currently looking for three men to work with me through this six-month training effort, which includes preparing a plan to implement this free training in your own church. Watch this brief video, then contact me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.for more information.

Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.All quotations are from David Dickson, The Elder and His Work (Dallas: Presbyterian Heritage Publications, 1990).