When Justice Sleeps, Faith Comes Knocking

Jesus calls us to a faith that is not passive, but persistent—a faith that refuses to be silent in the face of injustice. The story of the relentless widow and the corrupt judge is not about the judge’s character, but about the widow’s refusal to give up. In a world where systems delay, deny, and discourage justice, faith is found in those who keep showing up, who keep praying, who keep demanding what is right even when the odds seem insurmountable. This is not a gentle or polite faith, but a stubborn, relentless faith that presses toward justice, even when peace seems to betray us and those in power mock or ignore the cries of the vulnerable.

We live in a time when leaders often serve themselves, bowing to wealth and rewriting rules to benefit the few. Yet, hope is found in the millions who peacefully protest, in communities that refuse to be divided, and in churches that welcome all but refuse to tolerate hatred. Our calling is not to play it safe or remain silent, but to be informed, to hold those in power accountable, and to stand with those who suffer—whether they are families separated by unjust policies, prisoners longing for freedom, or children starving in distant lands.

The call is to see the humanity in every person, even those we struggle to understand or forgive. To live by love, as Jesus did, while still crying out for justice. Disagreement is inevitable, but hatred has no place among us. We are part of each other’s stories, and our faith is measured not by our comfort, but by our willingness to trouble the silence, to disturb systems of oppression, and to persist in hope and action.

Faith does not end with prayer; it rises from prayer to action. It keeps knocking on the doors of power, the gates of despair, and the hearts that have grown numb. The Kingdom of God is not a distant promise, but a present reality wherever justice is pursued and mercy refuses to die. God is already turning the latch from the inside—our task is to keep knocking, to keep loving, and to never lose heart.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Persistent faith is not passive; it is relentless in the pursuit of justice. Like the widow who kept knocking, we are called to show up, speak out, and demand what is right, even when the systems around us seem unmoved or corrupt. Our faith is measured by our willingness to trouble the silence and disturb the status quo for the sake of God’s justice. [01:26]
• 2. True Christian community welcomes all, but draws a clear line against hatred. Disagreement is natural and even necessary, but we are called to come to the table, discuss our differences, and leave hatred behind. The church is a place where unity is forged not by uniformity, but by a shared commitment to love and justice. [08:20]
• 3. Being informed and holding leaders accountable is a spiritual responsibility. It is not enough to simply vote or hope for the best; we must pay attention, speak truth to power, and support those who protest injustice. Silence and complicity create generational trauma, but informed action can help heal and transform our communities. [10:26]
• 4. Faith and protest are not opposites, but twin acts of hope. Prayer is not a retreat from the world’s pain, but a way of fueling our persistence and courage to act. When we pray with our voices, our bodies, and our choices, we embody a faith that refuses to grow numb or give up, even when we are weary. [22:17]
• 5. The Kingdom of God is present wherever justice is pursued and mercy endures. It is not a distant or future reality, but something we participate in now, whenever we dare to act as if God’s reign of justice and peace is already here. Our faith keeps knocking, trusting that God is already at work, turning the latch from the inside. [24:50]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:25] - The Parable of the Widow and the Judge
• [01:05] - Faith as Relentless Persistence
• [02:16] - Responding to Current Events
• [03:00] - The President’s Video and Public Protest
• [04:04] - Following Jesus, Not Playing Nice
• [05:11] - The Power of Peaceful Protest
• [06:39] - Seeing Humanity in Our Enemies
• [07:55] - Radical Welcome and the Limits of Hatred
• [09:49] - Political Accountability and Being Informed
• [12:39] - Justice Beyond Partisan Lines
• [13:26] - Leaders, Laws, and Public Responsibility
• [15:32] - The Backward Slide of Justice
• [17:59] - The Church’s Role in Justice and Inclusion
• [19:41] - Persistent Hope Amid Injustice
• [21:32] - Faith That Troubles the Silence
• [22:40] - God’s Grief and Our Responsibility
• [24:09] - Where Is Your Persistence Needed?
• [24:50] - The Kingdom of God Among Us
• [25:26] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Luke 18:1-8 (ESV) – The Parable of the Persistent Widow —
> And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 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?”

Observation Questions

1. In the parable, what motivates the judge to finally act on the widow’s request? (Luke 18:4-5)
2. According to the sermon, what is the main point Jesus wants us to notice about the widow’s actions? [00:25]
3. What are some of the ways the sermon describes the systems or leaders that the widow (and we) are up against? [01:26]
4. How does the sermon describe the kind of faith Jesus is calling us to have? [01:05]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus use a corrupt judge and a persistent widow to teach about faith and prayer, instead of more “righteous” characters? What does this say about the kind of faith God values? (Luke 18:1-8; [00:25])
2. The sermon says, “Faith is not passive. Faith is relentless, pressing toward justice.” What does it mean for faith to be “relentless” in the context of injustice? [01:05]
3. The sermon talks about the church being a place that welcomes all but draws a line against hatred. How can a community balance radical welcome with a refusal to tolerate hatred? [08:20]
4. The sermon says, “Faith troubles the silence. Faith disturbs the systems that page, bomb, and silence.” What does it look like for faith to “trouble the silence” in our world today? [21:53]

Application Questions

1. The widow kept showing up and demanding justice, even when the system was against her. Is there a situation in your life, community, or the world where you feel called to “keep knocking” for justice? What would persistence look like for you? [21:32]
2. The sermon challenges us to be informed and to hold leaders accountable, not just to vote and hope for the best. What is one practical step you can take this month to be more informed or to speak up about an issue of injustice? [10:26]
3. The church is called to welcome everyone but not tolerate hatred. Have you ever experienced or witnessed disagreement in the church that crossed the line into hatred? How did you or could you respond in a way that reflects Jesus’ love and justice? [08:20]
4. The sermon says, “Prayer and protest are not opposites. They are twin acts of faith.” How can you combine prayer with action in response to injustice you see around you? Is there a specific issue you feel called to pray for and act on this week? [22:17]
5. The sermon asks, “Where is your persistence needed? In your neighborhood? Your church? Your workplace? Your ballot? Your prayers?” Choose one area and share with the group where you feel God is calling you to persist. [24:09]
6. The sermon describes the Kingdom of God as present wherever justice is pursued and mercy endures. What is one way you can help make God’s Kingdom more visible in your daily life this week? [24:50]
7. When you feel weary or discouraged by injustice, what helps you “not lose heart”? Is there a verse, practice, or person that encourages you to keep going? [25:47]