When difficult things are happening in our world it can be awkward or even scary to want to bring it up with our group for fear that that the discussion will get heated or out of control.
If you are hesitant to bring up what is happening in Los Angeles, it may be because you are concerned with,
“How will they respond?”
“What if I don’t have the answers?”
And that’s normal. I have the same questions.
Heck, I’m not even sure I want to bring it up but because, I believe, as a Christian and a member of God’s body, The Church, I cannot ignore it, even if I wanted to, and I’ve wanted to.
If you do want to bring it up, I’ve put a few things together to help.
Prayer: A Prayer for Los Angeles
I am far removed from LA so the most I can do is prayer. I’ll be sharing this prayer with my students tonight and we’ll be praying it together.
Heavenly Father,
We come to You with heavy hearts as tensions rise in Los Angeles. You are the God of peace, justice, and mercy, and in moments like these, we cling to You for wisdom and clarity.
We pray for every person involved—for those protesting, seeking to be heard; for those enforcing the law, striving to maintain order; for leaders making difficult decisions; and for families caught in the middle, feeling fear and uncertainty.
Lord, protect the vulnerable. Bring peace where there is unrest. Heal anger with understanding. Guard all hearts from bitterness and all hands from harm.
Grant courage to speak truth with grace and ears willing to listen with empathy. Help Your church be a voice of reconciliation, not division—a light in the shadows of confusion.
We do not ask You to take sides, Lord, but to take over. Reign with Your justice, Your compassion, and Your mercy.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Scriptures to Reflect On
If you choose to go deeper, these are good scriptures for students to reflect on.
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Micah 6:8 – How we should respond in times of conflict.
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
Romans 12:18 – Encourages personal responsibility for peace.
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”
Matthew 5:9 – The role we can play as followers of Christ.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9 – A call to compassion
“Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”
James 1:19-20– A practical posture for engaging emotionally charged situations.
Discussion Questions
You may not want to address these in a large group but a smaller group so everyone can be heard.
What do you think it means to “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly” in real-life situations like what’s happening in LA right now?
When you hear about protests, immigration, or military involvement, what emotions rise up in you—and where do you think those come from?
How can we, as followers of Jesus, be peacemakers in our own communities, schools, and online spaces?
Why is it sometimes hard to be both compassionate and fair? What does the Bible say about holding both together?
Have you ever felt caught between two sides of an issue? What helped you respond with grace?
What can we do this week to live out the kind of justice and mercy Jesus modeled?
Lastly, if you’re concerned with things getting heated, I prepared this Hot Topic Covenant you can have students agree upon before you get the discussion started. You can ask them to sign it or read each section and get a verbal agreement of “I/We agree”
HOT TOPIC GROUP COVENANT
This small group covenant is designed to help everyone talk about difficult topics with love and grace.
I Will…
Participate fully (I will bring my full self to the discussion) with honesty.
Accept correction if I cross any boundaries set up by the leader (insults, judging others, etc.).
Affirm (not agree) others for sharing what’s important to them. Be respectful and not interrupt others when they are speaking.
It’s OK…
Not to share.
To politely disagree.
To talk with your parents about what you heard and to process the conversation.
It’s not OK…
To use sarcasm or mockery towards others.
To question someone’s faith because they disagree with you.
To share someone else’s story outside the group without their permission.
May The Church, and your church, arise and shine in these times.