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  • Treating people we come in contact with, with dignity and respect.  Looking for ways to meet physical needs.  
  • We’re commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves.  Who is my neighbor? How did Jesus answer that in the parable of the good Samaritan?  
    • Essentially, it is anyone I come into contact with.  The irony of it being a Samaritan that helped the Jewish man who had been robbed and beaten should not be lost on us.  
  • James 2:15-16 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

Those that are not here

  • Live Simply So Others May Simply Live – Story about Krull family sponsoring children overseas.  
  • We live in such abundance in the U.S.  – What would it look like for most of us to sponsor a child overseas?  Miss out on eating out once a week?  Go without that morning cup of coffee once a week for the month?  
    • Check sustainability – websites that track how much of your donation actually gets to the end user
  • Ensenada partnership – going to meet the need at the source 
  • James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
  • Hebrews 13:2-3  Don’t forget to show hospitality to strangers, for some who have done this have entertained angels without realizing it! 3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

Billions of people according to world bank who make less than $2 per day.  U.S. has 1 million legal immigrants annually. – video from Roy Beck – We have to get better at helping people flourish where they’re planted. Meeting the need where they live. 

Most of the people entering the U.S. legally or illegally are coming from countries with higher wages than the 3 billion people who make less than $2 per day.  The poorest of the poor aren’t the ones getting help here, for the most part. 

Talking Points:
  • A biblical argument can be made that a government should prioritize care and protection for its own citizens over those from other countries. There is biblical precedent for Christians to prioritize care for those in the church. 1 John 4:11-12, , 1 Peter 4:9 
  • As believers, Jesus commands us to love our neighbors. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, our neighbor is defined as all those we come to whom we come in contact. A person’s immigration status shouldn’t affect the compassion we have for them. Luke 10:27
  • If we really want to be compassionate, we should consider how we meet the need at the source.  Even if we quadrupled the number of immigrants we received in the U.S., it wouldn’t make a dent in the three billion people worldwide who earn less than $2 per day. James 1:27, Hebrews 13:2-3
Discussion:
  1. Would you agree or disagree with the following statement: We have plenty of people in our country who need help before we should worry about those in other countries?  How do you support your answer biblically?  
  2. Have you ever served a mission trip to another country?  If not, would you consider it?  If you have, what lessons did you learn?  
  3. What are practical steps you can take to show compassion to those in your community? 
  4. Have you ever prayed about sponsoring a child overseas?  If not, would you consider it now? 
  5. Why do you think Jesus chose a Samaritan when he was asked, “Who is my neighbor?”