LESSON EIGHT
PASTORAL VISITATION

A. PASTORAL VISITATION IS SCRIPTURAL.
•	Some of the Lord's greatest messages recorded were spoken to individuals, e.g. Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman.
•	The pastor should realize that his most effective ministry will be accomplished in the home. 
•	"… and in every house they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ." (Acts 5:42).
•	"Publicly, and from house to house." (Acts 20:20).
•	"… to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction…" (James 1:27).
•	"I was sick and ye visited me: I was in prison and ye came unto me." (Matthew 25:36).

B. THROUGH VISITATION THE PASTOR LEARNS THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE.
•	To preach effectively from the pulpit on Sunday with the largest possible results, the pastor must know his people. 
•	It is in the home that the pastor can best accomplish his duties to his people as their pastor. It is here that people will open their hearts and confide in their spiritual advisor their problems, burdens and needs.
•	At the same time while he is helping and protecting the assembly through visitation he is helping himself to keep human and to live on the same plane with the people.

C. THE PASTOR MUST VISIT ALL WITHOUT PARTIALITY.
•	The pastor must be careful that he has no favorites; all classes, rich and poor, must be visited equally. 
•	If there is any priority at all to be given, the different groups in the church might be listed as follows in the order that they should receive the pastor's time and attention: (1) The sick; (2) Those having spiritual problems, domestic trouble, etc.; (3) Young converts; (4) The aged; (5) The poor; and (6) The regular members having no immediate problems.
•	Pastoral visitation must be regular and systematic. No set rule can be laid down here, for assemblies vary in size and conditions. 
•	He should use the same afternoons and evenings each week. The middle of the week is better than the end of the week. 
•	In order that he may be systematic, it will be necessary for him to keep a record or diary of his daily calls.

D. PASTORAL VISITING IS NOT SOCIAL VISITING.
•	Pastoral visiting is not social visiting. The object of each visit should be a religious one.
•	A good rule to follow is to get the members of the home to talk about themselves, their needs, their problems, their work, the children, etc. 
•	The pastor should be a good listener and take a keen interest in the activities in the home. As soon as the pastor feels that he has accomplished all the good that he can do, he should not linger but bring his visit to an end.
•	The pastor should be very careful in visiting young women in the absence of their husbands.
•	It is necessary for the pastor to call, let him make sure that the husband or other members of the family are present or let him take one of the elders of the church with him.

E. PASTOR MAY BE CALLED TO HOMES BY MEMBERS OF THE ASSEMBLY.
•	Members of the assembly should feel free to obey the Scripture and call for the pastor to pray for the sick at any hour of the day. 
•	In dealing with the sick, his words should be few, calm, tender, and every syllable point towards Jesus. 
•	He must be cheerful and attempt to build up the patient's faith.

F. THE PASTOR ENTERS THE HOME AS A FRIEND.
•	The pastor enters the home not only as a spiritual advisor but also as a friend. 
•	Such a spirit of confidence and affection should exist between the pastor and the people that he should be welcome in every home at all times.

LESSON EIGHT
SELF HELP TEST 

A.	Write a paragraph beginning with the following sentence: "Pastoral visiting is not social visiting."
B.	State the purpose of the pastoral visitation.
C.	Name the different groups in the church in the order that they should receive the pastor's attention:
1.	_______________________________________________________________
2.	_______________________________________________________________
3.	_______________________________________________________________
4.	_______________________________________________________________
5.	_______________________________________________________________
6.	_______________________________________________________________