When my friend recently read a social media post, she was grieved in her spirit. She reached out to me and we chatted until we discerned that Jesus is Seated. Together, we examined the couch controversy. We opened our Bibles and learned that Jesus is seated. Which contradicts the social media post saying, “You can’t serve God from your couch.”
(image: Unsplash)
We examined this in context. The offensive post was a discussion about online church vs in-person church. Yet another us vs them controversy. Satan will use these social narratives to divide Christians. We propose, if we listen with the heart of Jesus, conflict can lead to unity (see the Book of Acts16:6).
Looking at the Bible, we see many times when Jesus preached outside synagogue walls. He preached Good News on mountains, from a fishing boat, and in private homes. He was not limited by the religious spirit of Pharisees or by religious buildings.
Jesus is Seated: The Couch Controversy
Jesus traveled outside the walls of religion. He invited both Jews (religion) and Gentiles (not believers) into a relationship with God. Jesus dined with tax collectors, the demon possessed, an adulteress, and many sinners. He restored fellowship broken by sin and church regulations. He broke the chains of religious and societal shame.
…and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, (Ephesians 2:6 NASB)
In Heaven, Jesus was seated. Does this mean He stopped serving the Father? Absolutely not! He serves from a seated position (and we can too).
In Ephesians 2:6 the original phrase seated (G4766) means to give (or take) a seat in company with:—(make) sit (down) together.
Serving God From the Couch
There are many ways to serve “from the couch.” Perhaps you are called to be a prayer warrior. Create a prayer organization system. Then look for prayer needs online, or by texting and calling friends. Become a needed intercessor for your church, ministry, pastor, or favorite author. Serve from the couch.
Another method to serve is by writing. Use your written voice to write social posts which encourage people to know Jesus. Or write blog articles, like this one. You might serve by writing books. ASK Jesus where to use your spiritual gifts and talents in order to serve Him. Don’t forget that you can serve with your spoken voice too. Record a podcast. Make a video.
In my ministry, we have been serving Jesus since 2009 by bringing small group experiences to women around the world. We pray for these women, we help them understand the Bible, and we encourage them during the hardest moments of life.
From the couch, we provided compassion and fellowship during seasons of healing, grief, hardship, and divorce. We helped during pandemics, when local churches were closed. We are the Bible Cafe™
We also bring community and Christ-like love to the disabled, depressed, or shamed. Women who are serving in the military. Women who are at college. Even missionary women who crave connection with other Christians. And we serve women taking care of parents with dementia, husbands with illness, or children with special needs. These women struggle to attend in-person church events and Bible studies. And so, we bring a church experince …to their “couch.”
On the couch, in the church, or on a boat…. we are in the company of Jesus. -Christine Abraham
Knowing this, my friend responded to the couch controversy: “Stop putting God in a box. Seek Him. He will show you where, how and when He wants to work through you. Don’t let anyone tell you God can’t bless others through the work He is doing in your life wherever you are.” -Tricia Mcwilliams
A couch is a metaphor for comfort. Yes, you can serve from the couch. Start today!
Bible Verses About Being Seated
God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. (Psalm 47:8 NIV)
He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, And they are exalted. (Job 36:7 NKJV)
In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. (Isaiah 6:1 NIV)
And thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened. (Daniel 7:10 NKJV)
Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Matthew 26:64 NLT)
But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God. (Luke 22:69 NIV)
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. (John 20:11-12 NIV)
Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. (Acts 8:28 NLT)
We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, (Hebrews 8:1 NKJV)
We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. (Hebrews 12:2 NLT)
Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority. (1 Peter 3:22 NLT)
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of gold on their heads. (Revelation 4:4 NIV)
Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. (Revelation 20:11 NIV)
He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” (Revelation 21:5 NIV)
Bible Copyrights For This Article
New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New King James Version (NKJV) Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
CHRISTINE ABRAHAM is a Writer Redeemed by Christ. Lifetime Bible Reader. Coffee Drinker. Beach Walker. Mother of Girls. Bible Teacher. Founder at Bible Café™ Ministries.
