Sit Where They Sit | Marcus Mecum | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

Sit Where They Sit

7 Hills Church • Jun 28, 2026 • 98 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

To effectively minister to others, believers must follow God's call to "sit where they sit"—observing, listening, and feeling their pain before speaking into their lives. Jesus set the ultimate example by stepping into human reality, bearing our sins, and lifting us up to sit with Him in heavenly places. Every empty seat in God's house represents a lost and hurting soul whom God deeply misses, calling us to act as arrows sent into the world to invite them to His table of grace.

Themes

Empathy and CompassionMercy vs. JudgmentThe Incarnation of JesusEvangelism and OutreachIntercessory Prayer

Key Points

1.
Before God can use us to influence or reach others, He calls us to sit where they sit—to observe, listen, and feel their struggle without immediately speaking.
2.
Experiencing personal failure and receiving God's restoration transforms our view of His presence, shifting our focus from judgment to His mercy.
3.
Mercy receives far greater weight in Scripture than judgment, showing that God's grace always triumphs over condemnation.
4.
Jesus stepped into human reality, taking on flesh to experience every pain, betrayal, and struggle so He could truly relate to us.
5.
Because Jesus sat in our place of sin and brokenness, He raised us up and seated us with Him in heavenly places with every spiritual blessing.
6.
Every empty seat in God's house represents a lost or hurting "David" whom God loves, deeply misses, and wants restored to His table.
7.
Believers are called to be arrows sent out from the bow of the church into families, schools, workplaces, and cities to carry a message of hope.
8.
True outreach begins with intercessory prayer—whispering people's names before God so divine doors open to share His love.

Sermon Moments

“Before God will use you to reach anybody, He will first need you to go sit where they sit for a season—to watch, listen, and feel what they are going through.”

“King David called the Ark of the Covenant the "mercy seat" after his restoration because mercy defines how God relates to restored sinners.”

“The Bible mentions the mercy seat 26 times and the judgment seat only twice, showing that mercy triumphs over judgment.”

“Jesus spent 30 years in normal everyday human life—feeling anger, sorrow, betrayal, and pain—so He could fully relate as our High Priest.”

“Jesus took our sin, curse, and death, and gave us His righteousness, mercy, and blessing, seating us with Him in heavenly places.”

“Every empty seat represents a lost or hurting David who is missed and loved by God.”

“The church functions like a bow, but God needs believers to be arrows sent out into schools, workplaces, and neighborhoods with His message.”

“Before speaking to someone about God, whisper their name in prayer before Him first.”

This Week

Take time this week to pause, listen, and sit where someone sits before offering advice or speaking into their struggles.

Shift your attitude toward others from judgment to mercy, reflecting the redeeming grace God showed you.

Commit to praying specifically for lost or hurting family members, friends, and colleagues by name before sharing the gospel with them.

Be observant in your daily routine to notice "Davids"—people who are troubled, confused, or far from God.

View yourself as an "arrow" sent by God into your workplace, school, or neighborhood to bring hope and direction.

Encourage someone facing deep pain or loneliness by reminding them that Jesus came to flesh and understands their situation.

Actively invite and compel those without a church home to take their place at God's table.

Remember This

Before God can use us to reach others, we must be willing to sit where they sit, view them through eyes of mercy, and go out as arrows to invite them back to His table.

A Challenge for You

Ask God to use you as an arrow sent into your community, whisper the names of lost and hurting people before His throne in prayer, and trust Him to open divine opportunities to bring them home.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.