In view of the overall dissatisfaction with the preaching of God’s Word in general, it is necessary to find a practical theological solution to the problem. The importance of a personal house call by the minister or preacher with a view to actual and topical preaching already seems to pose an answer. A visit by the preacher gives the member of his congregation an opportunity to make a contribution to the sermon/message. The preacher must not only give a thorough exergesis of the text, but it is imperative that he should also be familiar with his listeners. The text as well as its context is of cardinal importance for the actual preaching. Knowledge of the context creates space for the text to make the message topical under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The listeners want to hear the Lord in their own circumstances as well as to experience Him as their personal living redeemer. When either the context or the listeners’ participation in the preaching is underrated, the listeners remain untouched by the message and hardly experience a Word- or Spiritual event. The dialogical communication process requires personal contact between preacher and listeners during which not only the preacher hears the voice of God and delivers a message in the course of his visit, but so that the church member will also be able to share his experience with God with the preacher, and then with the congregation. Members of the congregation are also biblically tasked to uplift one another with the Word of God. It is a source of great concern that more and more preachers and church councils have come to regard personal home visits as old-fashioned or even obsolete. The empirical research has strongly supported the concern and needs of church members as regards fruitful home visits by officials of the church. Church councils and spiritual leaders should firmly establish the practice of house calls as one of the basic cornerstones of a healthy and constructive communication with the view to the practical and topical preaching of God’s Word. / Dissertation (MA (Theology) : Practical Theology)--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Practical Theology / unrestricted

Text in Afrikaans / Huisbesoek is 'n kerklike bandeling wat algemeen in gereformeerde kerke beoefen word. Die bandeling is omstrede en word geassosieer met baie besinning en bespreking. Hierdie studie gaan van die standpunt uit dat die teoriee grondliggend aan buisbesoek, nie in ooreenstemming is met die verwagtinge van lidmate nie. In die bantering van die probleem is die teorie van buisbesoek ondersoek met bebulp van 'n literatuur studie. Huisbesoek word ook beskrywe as pastorale sorg. Daarom is die teorie van pastorale so~g ook ondersoek. Empiriese navorsing is gedoen om die verwagtinge van lidmate te bepaal. 'n Ideografiese strategie is gebruik en lidmate is per onderboud gevra na bulle siening. Vanuit die ondersoek bet dit geblyk dat die teorie die praxis van buisbesoek in meeste instansies nie meer ondersteun nie. Vanuit die bevinding sluit die studie af met die trek van enkele riglyne, om teorie nader aan die verwagtinge van lidmate te bring. / Visitation is an activity generally practised in reformed churches. It is not without problems, and form the topic of many discussions. This study works from the premise that the theoretical foundation of visitation, are out of touch with the expectations of church members. In the approach to the problem, the theory of visitation is explored in a literary study. Because visitation can be described as pastoral care, the theory of care has been included in the study. Empirical research was done to ascertain the expectations of church members with regards to visitation. This has been done according to a idiographic strategy, by interviewing church members. From the research the conclusion was drawn that there is a gap between theory and praxis in regard to visitation. In the last paragraphs the author explores ways in which to bring theory closer to the expectations of members. / Practical Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

Text in Afrikaans / Huisbesoek is 'n kerklike bandeling wat algemeen in gereformeerde kerke beoefen word. Die bandeling is omstrede en word geassosieer met baie besinning en bespreking. Hierdie studie gaan van die standpunt uit dat die teoriee grondliggend aan buisbesoek, nie in ooreenstemming is met die verwagtinge van lidmate nie. In die bantering van die probleem is die teorie van buisbesoek ondersoek met bebulp van 'n literatuur studie. Huisbesoek word ook beskrywe as pastorale sorg. Daarom is die teorie van pastorale so~g ook ondersoek. Empiriese navorsing is gedoen om die verwagtinge van lidmate te bepaal. 'n Ideografiese strategie is gebruik en lidmate is per onderboud gevra na bulle siening. Vanuit die ondersoek bet dit geblyk dat die teorie die praxis van buisbesoek in meeste instansies nie meer ondersteun nie. Vanuit die bevinding sluit die studie af met die trek van enkele riglyne, om teorie nader aan die verwagtinge van lidmate te bring. / Visitation is an activity generally practised in reformed churches. It is not without problems, and form the topic of many discussions. This study works from the premise that the theoretical foundation of visitation, are out of touch with the expectations of church members. In the approach to the problem, the theory of visitation is explored in a literary study. Because visitation can be described as pastoral care, the theory of care has been included in the study. Empirical research was done to ascertain the expectations of church members with regards to visitation. This has been done according to a idiographic strategy, by interviewing church members. From the research the conclusion was drawn that there is a gap between theory and praxis in regard to visitation. In the last paragraphs the author explores ways in which to bring theory closer to the expectations of members. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)