And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus.
Acts 5:42
In the early church, there was a zeal to go from house to house teaching the message of Jesus, and we need to bring it back as something we do more often and with greater enthusiasm. As we go from house to house, we might encounter people who are interested in the message of the Bible and then some who are not. The method of preaching and teaching in homes is based on the Scriptures. When Jesus sent his disciples out, he said,
“And whatever city or village you enter, inquire who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, give it your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing of peace. Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.”
Matthew 10:11-14
These instructions make it clear that the disciples of Jesus are to go from place to place teaching and preaching. Some are going to receive the word, and some are not. Those that do receive it will be blessed, and those who do not we have to move on to the next house that will. We go from house to house because there are people that want to hear the message, and we need to find them.
In Batesville, going from house to house might be difficult because so many people are not home during the day because they are at work, school, or whatever. So then, we think, let’s go in the evening, and that might work, but sometimes people are not home because they have other activities in which they are involved at those times. The point is not literally house to house. Yes, we should try some house to house evangelism, but more than anything, try going from person to person to spread the message because the point is not found in the house but in the people we can reach. The more people you talk to about the message, the greater the odds are that you will find more people willing to listen. If you only go to one person and they reject your message, that is fine; move on to the next. The more people you talk to, the more people you will teach about Jesus.
House to house is not in opposition to person to person. It’s the same thing. It’s you teaching another person no matter where they are, no matter who they are. No matter what, the message is the same, Jesus is the Christ! Teach this everywhere you find a person.
Find someone to talk to about Jesus today, and then find another person after that, and then another after that! Go from house to house and person to person!
I love you,
Alex Mills