Thinking Outside The Window

Chapter Nine—Scripturally Sound!

Thinking inside the book

1. Why does Nina Gunter say, “If you take missions out of the Bible, you won’t have anything left but the covers”?
2. What is the author’s argument about the Day of Pentecost phenomenon in the city of Jerusalem and today’s global trends in the world’s major cities?
3. Study Acts 8:4 and Acts 17:26-27. Who moves people and why?
4. Throughout the scriptures God seems to have a particular concern for widows, orphans and strangers (immigrants), to be treated with love, justice and mercy. Why do you suppose so?
5. Read Matthew 25:31-40
   1. Have you had any insight into this passage that you didn’t have before?
   2. How does this apply to you, your family and local church today?
6. Read James 2:8, Leviticus 19:18, 33-34. How will you say your country, city, campus, and church rate in:
   1. ‘loving the stranger as yourself’
   2. ‘not neglecting to show hospitality to foreigners’
   3. ‘treating the foreigner as your native-born citizen’
   4. ‘not taking advantage of foreigners who live among you’
   5. ‘not mistreating immigrants’?
7. What was the underlying reason why God asked His people to treat foreigners/strangers/immigrants in the aforementioned manner?
8. The (Toronto) Star article cited in this chapter asked a very relevant question: “International students or ‘Cash Cows’?” Considering your society’s view of and approach towards them, which is the dominant answer? Can you surmise why?
9. From Hebrews 13:2 would you say showing hospitality is a command to Christians or an option? How does your church and your own family rate in hospitality on a scale of 1 to 10 (1 being despicable; 10 being super-duper). Why do you think so?