Faith, Persistence, and Overcoming Barriers in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone. Today, we embark on a new journey, exploring the words and interactions of Jesus with real people facing real struggles. Our focus today is on the story of the Syrophoenician woman from Mark and Matthew. This narrative is rich with lessons on faith, persistence, and the nature of Jesus' mission.
Transitions are a part of life, and they often bring uncertainty and doubt. Whether it's a new job, a new school, or a health issue, these moments can be daunting. The Syrophoenician woman found herself in a desperate situation, seeking help for her demon-possessed daughter. Her story teaches us about approaching God with faith, even when it seems like He is silent or unresponsive.
Jesus' interaction with the woman is a profound lesson in faith. Initially, He appears to ignore her, then He speaks of His mission to the lost sheep of Israel, and finally, He engages in a conversation that seems harsh but is deeply revealing. The woman’s persistence and humility in addressing Jesus as "Lord" and "Son of David" show her recognition of His divinity and her unwavering faith.
This story also highlights the barriers that faith can overcome. The woman, a Gentile and a Canaanite, crosses cultural, religious, and ethnic divides to seek Jesus. Her faith inspires her to take bold action, and Jesus responds by healing her daughter, acknowledging her great faith.
Jesus uses this encounter to teach His disciples about the broader mission beyond Israel. He emphasizes that faith is not about religious rituals but about recognizing and trusting in Him. The contrast between the Pharisees' focus on external purity and the woman's heartfelt plea underscores the importance of a pure heart and genuine faith.
In our own lives, we are called to approach Jesus with the same humility and persistence. We must focus on the object of our faith—Jesus Christ—rather than the quantity or quality of our faith. In times of struggle, we should cry out to God, trusting that He hears us and will respond in His perfect timing.
### Key Takeaways
1. Faith in Times of Transition: Transitions in life can be unsettling, but they are opportunities to deepen our faith. Like the Syrophoenician woman, we must turn to God in our moments of uncertainty, trusting that He has a plan for us. Our faith should not be based on making deals with God but on a genuine relationship with Him. [01:41]
2. Persistent Faith: The Syrophoenician woman's persistence in seeking Jesus, despite initial silence and apparent rejection, teaches us the importance of unwavering faith. Her humility and recognition of Jesus' divinity led to her daughter's healing. We must persist in our faith, even when God seems silent, trusting that He is working in our lives. [06:16]
3. Overcoming Barriers with Faith: Faith can overcome cultural, religious, and ethnic barriers. The Syrophoenician woman, a Gentile, approached Jesus with boldness and humility, breaking through societal norms. Jesus' response shows that His mission extends beyond Israel, emphasizing the inclusivity of the Gospel. [12:20]
4. Faith vs. Religion: The contrast between the Pharisees' focus on religious rituals and the woman's heartfelt plea highlights the difference between religion and faith. True faith is not about external purity but about a pure heart and genuine trust in Jesus. We must focus on the object of our faith—Jesus Christ—rather than religious rituals. [36:54]
5. Approaching God with Humility: The Syrophoenician woman's approach to Jesus, acknowledging Him as Lord and seeking His mercy, is a model for us. We must come to God with humility, recognizing our need for His grace and mercy. In times of struggle, we should cry out to God, trusting that He hears us and will respond in His perfect timing. [28:04]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:41] - Introduction to Transitions
[03:10] - Approaching God in Faith
[04:45] - The Nature of Faith
[06:16] - Jesus Probes Our Faith
[07:35] - Comparing Mark and Matthew
[09:21] - The Syrophoenician Woman's Plea
[10:50] - Characters in the Story
[12:20] - Faith Inspires Action
[15:25] - Jesus' Initial Silence
[18:24] - Jesus' Mission to Israel
[20:07] - The Woman's Bold Faith
[23:03] - Overcoming Barriers
[24:42] - The Bread and the Dogs
[26:26] - Messiah or Magician?
[28:04] - Focusing on the Object of Faith
[29:31] - Crying Out to God
[31:05] - Persevering in Prayer
[32:40] - The Why of the Story
[34:04] - Jesus' Mission Beyond Israel
[35:37] - The Pharisees' Accusation
[36:54] - Faith vs. Religion
[38:27] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Mark 7:24-30 - The story of the Syrophoenician woman.
2. Matthew 15:21-28 - The parallel account of the Syrophoenician woman.
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the Syrophoenician woman's request to Jesus, and how did she address Him? (Matthew 15:22)
2. How did Jesus initially respond to the woman's plea, and what was the disciples' reaction? (Matthew 15:23) [09:21]
3. What metaphor did Jesus use in His conversation with the woman, and how did she respond to it? (Matthew 15:26-27) [23:03]
4. What was Jesus' final response to the woman's faith, and what was the outcome for her daughter? (Matthew 15:28) [24:42]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus initially ignored the Syrophoenician woman and then spoke about His mission to the lost sheep of Israel? What might He have been trying to teach His disciples? [15:25]
2. How does the woman's persistence and humility in addressing Jesus as "Lord" and "Son of David" reflect her understanding of His divinity? [12:20]
3. What cultural, religious, and ethnic barriers did the Syrophoenician woman overcome to seek Jesus, and what does this teach us about the inclusivity of the Gospel? [13:54]
4. How does the contrast between the Pharisees' focus on religious rituals and the woman's heartfelt plea highlight the difference between religion and faith? [36:54]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time of transition in your life. How did you approach God during that period? Did you find yourself making deals with God, or did you seek a genuine relationship with Him? [03:10]
2. The Syrophoenician woman persisted in her faith despite initial silence and apparent rejection. Have you ever felt like God was silent in your life? How did you respond, and what can you learn from her example? [06:16]
3. Think about a situation where you had to overcome cultural, religious, or ethnic barriers to share your faith or seek help. How did your faith inspire you to take bold action, and what was the outcome? [13:54]
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of focusing on the object of our faith—Jesus Christ—rather than the quantity or quality of our faith. How can you shift your focus more towards Jesus in your daily life? [28:04]
5. The Syrophoenician woman approached Jesus with humility, recognizing her need for His grace and mercy. In what areas of your life do you need to approach God with more humility, and how can you do that this week? [20:07]
6. The disciples wanted to send the woman away because she was different and persistent. Have you ever felt discouraged by others in your faith journey? How can you overcome such discouragement and continue to seek Jesus? [21:28]
7. The sermon mentioned the importance of interceding for others, especially children in transition. Who in your life needs your persistent prayers right now, and how can you commit to praying for them regularly? [21:28]
Devotional
Day 1: Faith in Times of Transition
Transitions in life can be unsettling, but they are opportunities to deepen our faith. Like the Syrophoenician woman, we must turn to God in our moments of uncertainty, trusting that He has a plan for us. Our faith should not be based on making deals with God but on a genuine relationship with Him. [01:41]
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9, ESV)
Reflection: Think about a current or upcoming transition in your life. How can you actively trust God during this period of change, and what steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Him?
Day 2: Persistent Faith
The Syrophoenician woman's persistence in seeking Jesus, despite initial silence and apparent rejection, teaches us the importance of unwavering faith. Her humility and recognition of Jesus' divinity led to her daughter's healing. We must persist in our faith, even when God seems silent, trusting that He is working in our lives. [06:16]
"And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God was silent. How did you respond? What can you do today to persist in your faith, even when you don't see immediate answers?
Day 3: Overcoming Barriers with Faith
Faith can overcome cultural, religious, and ethnic barriers. The Syrophoenician woman, a Gentile, approached Jesus with boldness and humility, breaking through societal norms. Jesus' response shows that His mission extends beyond Israel, emphasizing the inclusivity of the Gospel. [12:20]
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a barrier in your life—whether cultural, social, or personal—that you need to overcome with faith. How can you take a bold step today to break through this barrier, trusting in Jesus' inclusive love?
Day 4: Faith vs. Religion
The contrast between the Pharisees' focus on religious rituals and the woman's heartfelt plea highlights the difference between religion and faith. True faith is not about external purity but about a pure heart and genuine trust in Jesus. We must focus on the object of our faith—Jesus Christ—rather than religious rituals. [36:54]
"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." (Romans 14:17, ESV)
Reflection: Examine your daily practices and rituals. Are there any that have become more about routine than genuine faith? How can you refocus your heart on Jesus and cultivate a more authentic relationship with Him?
Day 5: Approaching God with Humility
The Syrophoenician woman's approach to Jesus, acknowledging Him as Lord and seeking His mercy, is a model for us. We must come to God with humility, recognizing our need for His grace and mercy. In times of struggle, we should cry out to God, trusting that He hears us and will respond in His perfect timing. [28:04]
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." (1 Peter 5:6-7, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a current struggle or burden you are carrying. How can you approach God with humility today, casting your anxieties on Him and trusting in His care and perfect timing?
Quotes
1. "You are also in a transition. There's many transitions in life. For some of you, you may have started a new school, started new classes and a new career. Some of you may be transitioning from a job to a new one. Some of you may have transitioned with a new child into your home, or you may have transitioned with a new child leaving. You may have sent them off to college. You may have sent them off to work. It may be a time that you're transitioning from a health issue or relationship issue. We all have transitions in life." [01:41] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "It's a question of purpose and meaning in our lives, and sometimes that drives us to really just focus on what do the people around me say? What should I be doing according to what other people say? I wanted to help you tie this in. It's not about what other people say. It's about what does God want you to do? When you find yourself in that place, that transition period, and it can be a positive thing or a negative thing, how are you to respond?" [02:30] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We treat God almost like a deal maker Santa Claus. The problem with that is if you make that deal and it doesn't follow through the way you thought it was going to happen, where does that leave you with your faith? You start to blame God. Earlier this spring, there was a famous female U.S. lawyer. I won't use her name, but she was in her last season before she retired. She had a career ending injury, season ending, which was a career ending injury. And in the press conference and talking about this injury, she says, I'm not a religious person or anything. And if there was a God like this, talking about her injury, is proof that there isn't." [03:10] (51 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "A great picture of this is all of us at one point were little children, or you have children, or you at least watch children, and children are prone to, you know, falling down, hurting themselves, skinning an arm, skinning a knee. And what do they do when that happens? They get overwhelmed, that little lip starts quivering, they start crying, and they reach out to a parent. They reach out to one that is safe, because they want to be comforted. They want to be helped. And during those times when we find ourselves in a pickle, that's what God wants us to do. Just reach out to him, go to him, and then he's going to care for us." [04:45] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "So our main point today, from our story about the Syrophoenician woman going to Jesus and having this conversation, I want you to see that a persistent teacher, Jesus Christ, as this persistent teacher, probes your faith. He probes your faith to reveal his divinity. Sometimes it feels like it's testing, but what he's wanting to do is show you that he is the one true God, he is the one that has your salvation, and he is the one that will walk with you in the good times and the struggles." [06:16] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "Faith inspires our action. So that's our first point. Faith inspires our action. Let's look at Matthew, and let's see. We'll look at actually both of them. I'll be commenting on both. And we'll see this reaction, or this action from this Syrophoenician woman. Mark says that she came out, and she fell down, and she was begging him. Matthew says she was crying, and it has this idea of being very noisy. She's in despair. She's broken. Imagine a parent advocating for your sick child who's possessed by a demon, the text says. What lengths would you go to to help out your child?" [12:20] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Don't be discouraged by church people. Don't be discouraged by people who seem to be hypocrites. Or don't let the people sitting in the pews distract you from walking and running to Jesus. I know there's a time in my life when I struggled and I walked with God and I thought, you know, I just don't like the people. They seem to be, people in church, they seem to be judgmental. They seem to be a little different from me. They seem to be a little arrogant, a little pompous. God doesn't care. He doesn't care about that. Because the reality is, every single person in here is flawed and failed. And he says, come together. Come with me. You don't have to clean yourself up." [21:28] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "So in our times of trouble, why don't we do that more? Why don't we just say, God, have mercy upon me. Help me. Focus on the object of your faith. Don't try to cling yourself up before you come to Christ. There are no barriers. He is a hundred percent approachable despite all of our circumstances. He just may not answer the way he think he's going to answer. Remember, he was first quiet. Then he talked to his disciples, said, I'm sent to Israel. Then he has this really interesting discussion with her. And she picks it up very quickly. Says, yes, Lord, just give me a little bit of you." [28:04] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "Risen Church, to be a disciple of Christ, to make disciples, you have to know the one true risen God. Jesus Christ himself, he's open to you. All he's asking you to do is come to him in humility and worship him as God. And then he's going to open up the floodgates of heaven, because he says, I've come to give them life and life more abundantly. During those struggling times, he says, come to me. He's calling us, as he did his disciples in Matthew 28, go to all the nations, make disciples. So how are we doing that?" [38:27] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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