Persistent Faith

KEY VERSES:

• Matthew 15:21–28
• Mark 7:24–30
• Romans 10:13–14
• James 1:2–4

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. When heaven feels quiet or cruel — We’ve all had seasons where prayers bounce off the ceiling and life makes no sense. Don’t confuse silence with rejection. (James 1:2–4)
2. The scene — Jesus steps into the Tyre & Sidon region; a Canaanite mom begs for her tormented daughter. She opens with “Lord, Son of David”—language she barely understands, but she brings it anyway. (Matthew 15:21–22)
3. Borrowed faith is welcome—but not the destination — She uses “church words,” yet Jesus isn’t offended. He often takes borrowed faith and makes it personal. (Matthew 15:22; Romans 10:13–14)
4. The uncomfortable part: silence and pushback — Jesus “did not answer a word,” and the disciples want her gone. Silence reveals what’s really inside us and exposes the loud, unhelpful voices around us. (Matthew 15:23)
5. Jesus’ hard saying — “I was sent to the lost sheep of Israel… it isn’t right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” It sounds harsh, but it’s a faith test, not a slam. Will she quit or keep pressing in? (Matthew 15:24–26)
6. Persistent faith answers back — “Even the dogs eat the crumbs…” She believes a crumb from Jesus is enough. That’s gritty, personal trust. (Matthew 15:27)
7. Outcome — Jesus calls her faith “great,” and her daughter is healed. Tested faith becomes trusted faith. (Matthew 15:28)
8. Parallel reminder — The Roman centurion’s faith was also praised—God keeps surprising us by elevating faith from unexpected places. (Mark 7:24–30; cf. Matthew 8:5–13 implied theme)

TALK ABOUT IT:

1. When have you felt like heaven was silent? What did that season expose in you?
2. Where do you usually run first—God, yourself, or something else—when life hits hard? Why?
3. What “borrowed faith” phrases do you say but struggle to believe? How could you make one of them personal this week?
4. Which voices in your life sound like the disciples—shaming, excluding, discouraging? How can you lower their volume?
5. What would “persistent faith” look like for you in one current situation? Be specific.
6. What’s a “crumb” of grace you can point to from the last month?
7. How does James 1:2–4 reframe your current pressure or delay?
8. Why do you think Jesus praised faith from unlikely people (Matthew 15:21–28; Mark 7:24–30)? What might that say about your story?

APPLY IT:

• Build in quiet: schedule 10–15 minutes of silence daily. Let the noise drop so the real stuff surfaces (don’t bail after 60 seconds).
• Pray simply and persistently: one honest sentence you repeat all week: “Lord, help me.” (Matthew 15:25)
• Go to the right “who” first: before texting a friend or doom-scrolling, talk to God about it.
• Turn borrowed faith personal: pick one verse and live it for seven days (e.g., James 1:2–4—practice patience under pressure).
• Filter the voices: write down the messages you’re hearing (shame, “you don’t belong”), cross out what doesn’t match God’s character.
• Name your “crumb”: identify one small sign of grace this week and thank God for it; small doesn’t mean weak.
• Pre-decide your posture: “Even if I don’t get the answer I want, I’m not quitting.” Say it out loud.
• Help someone “outside your circle”: serve a person you’d usually avoid—watch what it does in you.