April 27, 2025

Pastor Brian McGuffin

Introduction

As a parent/grandparent/caregiver/friend - how do you react to requests that are never ending no matter how often you refuse the request?  Would an outside observer think the refusal was justified or unjustified? Why?

Scripture

Matthew 15: 21 - 28  ESV

21 And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” 23 But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” 24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26 And he answered, “It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs.” 27 She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. 

Discussion Questions

1. a) Why was this Canaanite woman not likely to be accepted by Jews?

    b) What does she want from Jesus?

    c) What does she do when Jesus ignores her?

    d) What is the disciples' reaction to her?

    e) What explanation does Jesus give her for not granting her request?

    f) What is she willing to accept? 

    g) What does that tell you about her belief/faith in Jesus?

2. What does this woman's interaction with Jesus teach us about how we need to approach Jesus with our needs?

3. What does the phrase "persistent, relentless faith" mean to you?

4. When you are upset with a situation/problem, what is your first, second, third ... way of dealing with it?

5. What is your reaction when your prayers are not answered - when or how - the way you wanted?

6. a) How easy or hard is it for you to fully submit to God and let Him deal with your requests/problems in His own way?

    b) Describe a time when you did submit to God's will. What was the outcome for you?

7. The following verses tell us about prayer and the way God thinks about us. Read them carefully and summarize what they say in your own words. Really pay attention to what God wants you to know.  (Notice the words in italics.)

    a) So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God,   let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.   Hebrews 4: 14 - 16  NLT

    b) If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. 6 But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. 7 Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.   James 1: 5 - 7  NLT

    c) And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love  God and are called according to his purpose for them.   Romans 8: 26 - 28  NLT

    d) And yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
            We are the clay, and you are the potter.
            We all are formed by your hand.
         Don’t be so angry with us, Lord.
             Please don’t remember our sins forever.
          Look at us, we pray,
            and see that we are all your people.   Isaiah 64: 8 - 9  NLT

    e) The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
            slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
            9 He will not constantly accuse us,
             nor remain angry forever.
            10 He does not punish us for all our sins;
            he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
            11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
            is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
            12 He has removed our sins as far from us
             as the east is from the west.
            13 The Lord is like a father to his children,
            tender and compassionate to those who fear him.
            14 For he knows how weak we are;
             he remembers we are only dust.    Psalm 103: 8 - 14  NLT

    f) And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.    1 John 5: 14 - 15  NLT

An excellent article about prayer can be found at gotquestions.org