Mercy Seat Mercy Seat MinistriesMinistries

Session 1Foundations of the Mercy Seat

The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation ArmyAn international movement, is an An international movement, is an

evangelical part of the universal evangelical part of the universal Christian Church.Christian Church.

• Its message is based upon the Bible;Its message is based upon the Bible;• Its ministry is motivated by love for God;Its ministry is motivated by love for God;• Its mission is to preach the Gospel of Its mission is to preach the Gospel of

Jesus Christ and meet human needs in Jesus Christ and meet human needs in His Name without discrimination.His Name without discrimination.

Disciples Bringing Other Disciples Bringing Other Disciples To Christ Disciples To Christ •Andrew brings Simon-Peter to Christ (John 1:40-42)• Philip brings Nathaniel to Christ (John 1:43-49)

Disciples Bringing Seekers to Disciples Bringing Seekers to ChristChrist• Philip leads the Ethiopian to Christ (Acts 8:26-38)

Christ Call the DisciplesChrist Call the Disciples• “Come follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” (Matthew 4:19)

A Place of God’s PresenceA Place of God’s Presence• Hebrew: kapporeth, a

"covering;” the covering or lid of the ark of the covenant.

• It is compared to the It is compared to the throne of grace.throne of grace.

• The Holy of Holies is called the "place of the mercy-seat.”

• The mercy seat is a place The mercy seat is a place where people come to be where people come to be in God’s presence.in God’s presence.

A Place of Sacrifice and ForgivenessA Place of Sacrifice and Forgiveness• Israel made animal sacrifices for their Israel made animal sacrifices for their

sins on the mercy seat on the “Day of sins on the mercy seat on the “Day of Atonement” (Yom Kippur).Atonement” (Yom Kippur).

• Paul says that Christ was a Mercy Seat Paul says that Christ was a Mercy Seat “ “in His own blood.”in His own blood.”• We now approach the mercy seat We now approach the mercy seat

bringing the broken sacrifice of bringing the broken sacrifice of ourselves, remembering the perfect ourselves, remembering the perfect sacrifice of Christ that covers all. In sacrifice of Christ that covers all. In return we seek forgiveness and return we seek forgiveness and healing.healing.

Most people come Most people come to the mercy seat to to the mercy seat to

meetmeet with God. with God.

Some people also Some people also come to the mercy come to the mercy seat seat to meetto meet God, God, by coming to Him by coming to Him for the first time.for the first time.

A Place of Surrender and StrengthA Place of Surrender and Strength• The mercy seat, also known as the The mercy seat, also known as the

penitent form, is in every Salvation Army penitent form, is in every Salvation Army sanctuary.sanctuary.

• William Booth always believed that it was William Booth always believed that it was good to confess one's surrender to God … good to confess one's surrender to God … in public.in public.

• Wherever anyone feels they must live as Wherever anyone feels they must live as God wants them to live, that place can be God wants them to live, that place can be their Penitent Form or Mercy Seat.their Penitent Form or Mercy Seat.

Session 2Guidelines for Mercy Seat

Ministry

• Knowledge of God’s WordKnowledge of God’s Word• Sensitivity to the Holy SpiritSensitivity to the Holy Spirit• FaithFaith• LoveLove• UnderstandingUnderstanding• Tact Tact • SinceritySincerity

• We cannot “fix” their problems.We cannot “fix” their problems.• Band-aids don’t heal broken hearts.Band-aids don’t heal broken hearts.• Freedom of the press does not Freedom of the press does not

apply.apply.• We are not professional counselors.We are not professional counselors.• Our only authority comes from Our only authority comes from

God’s Word.God’s Word.

Our ministry as mercy seat Our ministry as mercy seat counselor involves three counselor involves three

main things:main things:

• Helping bear others’ burdens through Helping bear others’ burdens through prayer. This also involves listening.prayer. This also involves listening.

• Guiding people into acceptance of God’s Guiding people into acceptance of God’s promises for their lives through promises for their lives through personalizing Scripture.personalizing Scripture.

• When necessary, referring those in When necessary, referring those in certain need to the officer or a source of certain need to the officer or a source of professional help.professional help.

• PrayerPrayer

• ReferralReferral

• Follow-upFollow-up

Beyond the Mercy Beyond the Mercy SeatSeat

Session 3Counseling the

Seeker

• PRAYER- Seeking God’s guidancePRAYER- Seeking God’s guidance• Be aware of age, gender, & Be aware of age, gender, &

backgroundbackground• These guidelines apply for all These guidelines apply for all

people at the altar, whether or people at the altar, whether or not they are first-time seekersnot they are first-time seekers

• Silent prayer (for guidance, and for the Silent prayer (for guidance, and for the seeker)seeker)

• Personal introductions (if necessary)Personal introductions (if necessary)• Questioning (why is the seeker here?)Questioning (why is the seeker here?)• Listening (hearing the seeker’s felt Listening (hearing the seeker’s felt

need)need)• Sharing God’s promises (making the Sharing God’s promises (making the

Bible personal)Bible personal)• Prayer with the seeker (if possible, both Prayer with the seeker (if possible, both

should pray)should pray)

• Emphasize God’s love. (John 3:16)Emphasize God’s love. (John 3:16)• Outline the way of Salvation. Outline the way of Salvation. • Point out God’s answer- Jesus Christ. Point out God’s answer- Jesus Christ. • Stress the need to accept Christ Stress the need to accept Christ

personally.personally.• Encourage a definite decision.Encourage a definite decision.• Consolidate through prayer.Consolidate through prayer.• Make plans for follow-up.Make plans for follow-up.

• Emphasize God’s power Emphasize God’s power (Matthew 28:18)(Matthew 28:18)

• Emphasize God’s promise Emphasize God’s promise (Ephesians 3:14-21)(Ephesians 3:14-21)

• Emphasize the work of the Holy Emphasize the work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13)Spirit (John 16:13)

• Emphasize Commitment Emphasize Commitment (Hebrews 12:1)(Hebrews 12:1)

• Avoid too much pressure or probingAvoid too much pressure or probing• Confessions must be treated in confidenceConfessions must be treated in confidence• The seeker may need to speak with an officerThe seeker may need to speak with an officer• Assure them of God’s pardon of what they have Assure them of God’s pardon of what they have

confessed (1 John 1:9) and of God’s (and your) confessed (1 John 1:9) and of God’s (and your) unconditional acceptanceunconditional acceptance

• Encourage use of “The Armor of God” (Ephesians Encourage use of “The Armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13) and other things to help prevent further 6:13) and other things to help prevent further backslidingbacksliding

• Emphasize the importance of faith (Hebrews 11, Emphasize the importance of faith (Hebrews 11, SA Doctrines 8-9)SA Doctrines 8-9)

• Identify the need.Identify the need.• Stress the importance of Scripture Stress the importance of Scripture

and prayer. (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 and prayer. (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 5:17)Thessalonians 5:17)

• Encourage the seeker to make Encourage the seeker to make specific plans for commitment.specific plans for commitment.

• Move toward rededication of the Move toward rededication of the whole self.whole self.

• Find out why the child is at the Find out why the child is at the altar.altar.

• Explain that Jesus can always Explain that Jesus can always help like a best friend, and he help like a best friend, and he wants to be with them.wants to be with them.

• DO NOT use abstract DO NOT use abstract expressions like “ask Jesus into expressions like “ask Jesus into your heart”. Young children your heart”. Young children take things literally, and will take things literally, and will not understand. not understand.

• Lead the child in a simple Lead the child in a simple prayer. Ask them to repeat prayer. Ask them to repeat after you.after you.

• In dealing with teens, you may need In dealing with teens, you may need to initiate the conversationto initiate the conversation

• Be prepared to ask tough questions- Be prepared to ask tough questions- they live in tough circumstancesthey live in tough circumstances

• If they are first time seekers, move If they are first time seekers, move the teens on to making a definite the teens on to making a definite decisiondecision

• If teens make a commitment to If teens make a commitment to Christ with your guidance, be Christ with your guidance, be prepared to be available for future prepared to be available for future help and supporthelp and support

• Avoid clichés and “Christian-ese”.Avoid clichés and “Christian-ese”.• Listen more than you talk.Listen more than you talk.• Listen actively Listen actively

(ask questions when (ask questions when necessary).necessary).• Do not try to force communication Do not try to force communication

or answers. or answers.

Session 4Case Studies & Role

Plays