Homebound Worship

When Members Can’t Worship with the Church

In God’s Word, the book of Acts, chapter two, Luke recorded the events on the day of Pentecost which set into motion the foundational beginnings of the church. Following the coming of the Holy Spirit and Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, we see the basic functions of the church established. They devoted themselves to spiritual teaching and fellowship (verse 42). They were together because they had all things in common (verse 44). They took care of one another’s needs (verse 45). They attended the temple together, ate meals in one another’s homes, and praised the Lord together and had favor with all people (verses 46 and 47). Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the church was established, and the Lord added to it daily the people that were being saved (verse 47).

The ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic have affected the world in unprecedented ways, and the church is no exception. The church has had to re-think how to carry out basic biblical functions of the church in this “new normal”, as it has been referred to. As the members of our church families have been separated physically from one another, only able to worship online “together”, it has made us all more aware of the ever so important aspect of worshiping physically together.

Even before COVID-19, some members of the church were homebound and unable to gather physically with the body to worship due to disability or illness. Though our churches have established ways to minister to the homebound through prayer, visits, sending cards and other mailed correspondence, and even online worship, many churches do not provide an opportunity for their homebound members to worship physically with other members of the body. Since the basic biblical functions of the church require togetherness, able members of the body have an obligation to take the church to members who are unable to join the body on their own. This should include providing a means for the homebound to worship together with the body of which they are a part.

I believe it is important to emphasize the phrase worshiping with in this context as well. Though some homebound ministries may include singing for the homebound, that is not the same as fulfilling the intended biblical purpose of worshiping with them. Not just singing, but worshiping. Not for, but with. The members of the body that go to the homebound member are just as much in need of them as the homebound member is in need of those who come to them. We need one another. The apostle Paul writes in his letters to the Ephesians (5:19) and Colossians (3:16) to sing “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” with one another. Colossians 3:15 prefaces this by reminding the church that they were called together to be part of one body. We belong to and need each other. Immediately following Colossians 3:15, verses 16 and 17 say, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” God receives thanksgiving and all glory when we meet with one another and worship in His name. We must not overlook any member of the body with this opportunity.

The Homebound Worship Concept

The basic concept of Homebound Worship is for a team of called/inspired members of the church body to plan worship, go to the homes of homebound members and share in a time of worship with them, therefore enabling the homebound member to worship physically with other members of the body.

The established homebound worship team will train and develop small groups to adopt homebound members and schedule periodic times of worship with them. Worship times may consist of such elements as worship songs/hymns, prayer, scripture, testimony, and ordinances.

A Place to Start

As you read this, be encouraged to pray for and honor the homebound members of your church. God may be calling you to take steps to meet this need by creating opportunity for homebound members to worship with the body. Whether you are in a position to start a church-wide homebound worship ministry or not, you can start by establishing a relationship with one homebound member. With Colossians 3:14–17 as your template, let the word of Christ dwell in you, and do everything in His name for His glory!

“Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!” Psalm 34:3 (ESV)