4-19-2026: Welcoming the Stranger

Sermon Title: Welcoming the Stranger 

Scripture Reading: Deuteronomy 10:17-19, Matthew 25:31-46 

Sermon Focus: Issues of refugees and immigration are obviously political, economic and cultural issues — but sometimes we miss that they are also biblical issues, with profound ramifications for God's mission. What does the Bible say about these issues facing our nation and the church of Jesus Christ? In today's message, guest speaker Matthew Soerens of World Relief explores various biblical principles that can shape how we think about and respond to issues of refugees and immigration. 

Thank you for going deeper in conversation with your small group. Use the following questions to help guide your small group discussion:  

1. Begin by reading Matthew 25:31-46 to yourself silently, giving everyone a few minutes to read and reflect. After that, have someone read the passage aloud. How does this encourage you? Also, how does it challenge you? 

2. Jesus identifies himself with “the least of these.” Refugees and immigrants are often among the most vulnerable. How ought Jesus’ teaching reshape the way we see immigrants, refugees, or outsiders in our community? What do you think makes it difficult for some people to see Christ in them? 

3. In Matthew 25, the righteous are commended for practical, tangible acts of care.  What are some ways we tend to spiritualize compassion instead of practicing it?  What do you think are some real-world barriers (political, economic, or personal) that keep us from acting? Also, what part does prayer play in these concerns. 

4. Soerens emphasizes both personal action and awareness of broader systems.  How do we balance Jesus’ call to individual compassion with the complex realities of immigration policy? Where might we be tempted to use complexity as an excuse for inaction? Also, while some things are beyond our control, each of us can love an immigrant or refugee. What might that look like? 

5. Fear of the “other” often shapes attitudes toward strangers. What fears do people commonly have about immigrants or refugees? How does Matthew 25 challenge those fears? Also, read 1 John 4:18. How does this apply? 

6. LIFE ON MISSION QUESTION: In Matthew 25, the dividing line is not belief alone, but love expressed in action. What specific, practical step could you take this week to “welcome the stranger” in your sphere of influence? As a group, how could you embody this passage together in your local context?