Preparing for Your Elders to Visit

by Dr. Joseph A. Pipa, Jr
reproduced with minor editing with permission of the author

The God Given Responsibility to Shepherd

God has given to the elders of His Church the responsibility to shepherd His flock. Paul says in Acts 20:28,

"Take heed… unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood".

Similarly, Peter wrote in 1 Peter 5:1-3,

"The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."

This is no small task. Church officers will give an answer to God for the discharge of their office. In fact, Hebrews 13:17 says, "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account." One of the principle ways this oversight is exercised is in pastoral visitation.

Yet, sad to say, pastoral visits are not always used in a manner that allows the parties involved to reap the greatest spiritual benefits. One thing you may do to increase the profit of a pastoral visit is to prepare for it. If families were prepared for pastoral visits, then the time spent would be extremely more profitable. How then does one prepare?

Taking a Spiritual Inventory

In the first place, use the occasion of a pastoral visit to take a spiritual inventory of your life. Examine yourself, your relationship to God and others (your family, neighbours, co-workers, the world, etc.) to determine how you are doing spiritually. Seek an answer to such questions as: How do I know for sure that I am a Christian? Am I engaged in regular Bible Study and prayer? Can I say with certainty that on a daily basis I am dying to sin, and living more righteously? What sins am I struggling with? Can I point to areas in my life where I have grown? If you have a family, then ask yourself these questions: How is my family doing spiritually? What am I doing regarding family devotions? Do I see any evidence of grace in the lives of my children? …

… Are my children showing an increased interest in the things of the Lord? Do they like prayer, Bible reading, attending worship, and singing psalms? If you prepare in this way, then you will be able to give a substantive answer when asked about your spiritual growth. Furthermore, you will benefit spiritually from the period of self-examination.

Being Honest About Your Problems

Out of this spiritual inventory, there should flow a second area of preparation. Are there any areas in your Christian experience with which you are having problems? James says in James 5:16 to "confess your faults one to another." The pastoral visit is the perfect time to be honest and open about your problems. Are you having trouble with consistently studying the Bible or family devotions? Is there a particular sin that continues to get the upper hand in your life? Do not wait until the problem is insurmountable. Be prepared to share your problems and to seek counsel and prayer concerning them.

Seeking the Advice of Your Elders

A third area of preparation deals with the direct solicitation of advice. Be prepared to ask those visiting you if they see any "problem" areas in your life (or in the lives of your family members) that need to be addressed. Do not be afraid to ask these kinds of questions. We have all had spiritual blinders on at one time or another. Seeking the advice of others who have gone through similar difficulties will provide you with helpful insights to deal with your problems. In the same manner, ask your elders if there are things that you could be doing to serve the Lord. We all have promised to support the work of the church with our time, talents and treasures. Finding out where we can be of use not only blesses us, but will also give us an opportunity to be a blessing to our brothers and sisters in the Lord.

Your Spiritual Doctors Are Here to Serve You

When an individual goes to their doctor for a check-up, they usually give some thought to how they are feeling. The individual evaluates their various aches, pains, and seeks to determine which are important and which are not. The tragedy is that sometimes a person may fail to tell the doctor about a particular symptom because they deem it unimportant, or worse, because they are afraid of what it might mean. Yet, that symptom might be the early warning system of some serious disease that could be remedied more easily in its present state. If the problem is ignored, then the disease worsens until finally measures that are more serious need to be taken, or as it happens, it is too late to act.

Your elders are physicians of your soul. Their task will be a hundred times easier and more effective if you will examine yourselves and speak openly and frankly to them about your spiritual condition and needs. Remember that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure. This maxim is true for our spiritual life as well. Let us practice spiritual preventative medicine! W


"There is no place for any loose stone in God’s edifice" (Joseph Hall)

Questions for Pastors & Elders to Ask

By Dr. Joseph A. Pipa, Jr

"Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves" (2 Cor 13:5a)

I. Your Understanding of Yourself
Do you know for sure that you are a Christian?
Are you engaged in regular Bible Study? Alternatively, are you having difficulty with consistent Bible Study and family devotions?
How is your prayer life? Do you pray regularly?
Can you point to areas of your life where you have grown recently?
Are there any areas in your Christian experience in which you are having problems?
Is there a particular temptation or sin that continues to defeat you spiritually?
Where would you like to see yourself be spiritually in 1 year, 5 years and 10 years?

II. Your Understanding of God
What has God been teaching you about Himself lately? Or, what Attribute of God has meant the most to you recently?
Are there any theological truths/doctrines that you are wrestling with, confused about, or need clarification on? Have any of your theological beliefs changed?
What Christian books have you read lately?
Are you able to tell others about Christ and His Gospel?

III. Your Relationship to the World
If you have a family, how is your family doing spiritually? What are you doing with respect to family devotions (Bible reading, prayer, catechism, etc.)?
Do you see any evidence of grace in the lives of your children? Are they showing an increased interest in the things of the Lord? Do they like to pray and read the Bible? Are they baptized? Are they ready to make a profession of faith?
How is your relationship with your Spouse? Children? Others?
How do others see your walk as a Christian (home, neighbours, work, church, etc.)?
How are you seeking to affect the world around you with your Christian faith?

IV. Your Relationship to the Church
What would you like to see "improved" at our Church?
What do you especially like about our Church?
What kind of advice/counsel can we provide you with at this time?


"You would count him unworthy the name of a friend who, knowing a thief or an incendiary to lurk in your family with a design to kill, or rob, or burn your house, would conceal it from you, and not acquaint you with it in his own accord. There is no such thief, murderer & incendiary as sin. Silence or concealment in this case is treachery. He is the most faithful friend, and worthy of most esteem and affection, that deals most plainly with us in reference to the discovery of our sin. He that is reserved in this case is but a false friend, a mere pretender to love, whereas, indeed, he hates his brother in his heart" (David Clarkson).

"A foolish physician he is, and a most unfaithful friend, that will let a sick man die for fear of troubling him; and cruel wretches are we to our friends, that will rather suffer them to go quietly to hell, than we will anger them, or hazard our reputation with them" (Richard Baxter).

"Reprove compassionately. Soft words and hard arguments do well together. Passion will heat the sinner’s blood, but compassion will heal his conscience" (George Swinnock).