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:
- 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?
- Have you ever served a mission trip to another country? If not, would you consider it? If you have, what lessons did you learn?
- What are practical steps you can take to show compassion to those in your community?
- Have you ever prayed about sponsoring a child overseas? If not, would you consider it now?
- Why do you think Jesus chose a Samaritan when he was asked, “Who is my neighbor?”