Table Talk | November 15-16

Kyle Patrick   -   November 16, 2025

Growth Group Discussion Guide: “The Best News Isn’t Changing Me”

Series: This Is the Gospel – Week 2

Opening

Key Scripture Passages

• Romans 6:11-14 – Dead to sin, alive to God
• Romans 7:14-20 – The struggle with wanting and doing
• 1 John 1:9 – Confession and forgiveness
• Romans 5:10 – Reconciliation through Christ

Main Takeaways

1. As a child of God, you have a new kind of sin problem– You now have the ability to choose righteousness, but still struggle with the flesh.
2. Strongholds run deep because they’re tied to your affections – The real battle isn’t about doing right; it’s about wanting right.
3. Confession and reconciliation should be our first responses to sinful affections – We must confess not just our sinful actions, but our sinful desires.

Discussion Questions

Understanding the Message

1. The Dilapidated House Analogy: How does the illustration of receiving a free but dilapidated house relate to your experience as a Christian? What parts of your “house” feel like they need the most work?
2. Justification vs. Sanctification: Pastor Todd distinguished between positional salvation (justification – “courtroom”) and progressive growth (sanctification – “food court”). Why is this distinction important? Which one do we tend to focus on more?
3. The Definition of Strongholds: Review the definition: “A sinful, reoccurring, dominating thought pattern or habitual behavior that hinders one’s spiritual growth and relationship with God.” What makes strongholds so difficult to overcome?

Going Deeper

1. The Romans 7 Struggle: Read Romans 7:14-20 together. Have you ever felt the frustration Paul describes – wanting to do good but doing what you hate? Share an example (as comfortable).
2. The Affections Problem: Pastor Todd said, “The real battle isn’t about doing right. It’s about wanting right.” How does this change your perspective on your struggles with sin? Why is it hard to admit we actually want what’s sinful?
3. What Sin Does For Us: The message stated, “The areas in your life where sin keeps having its way with you is because you actually like what that sin is doing for you.” This is a challenging statement. What are some examples of what sin provides that keeps us coming back to it? (Examples given: anger provides emotional release and leverage)
4. The Wrong Tools: How have you tried to fight sin with “willpower,” “more Bible knowledge,” or “trying harder”? Why don’t these tools work to change our affections?

The Solution

1. The Expulsive Power of a New Affection: We don’t eliminate old affections by creating a vacuum, but by replacing them with new, godly affections. How is this different from just “trying to stop” a sin?
2. The Cup Illustration: How does the illustration of filling a cup with water (to remove the air) help you understand the process of transformation? What “new affections” might God want to fill your life with?
3. Transformed Confession: Pastor Todd shared how his confession has changed from “God, what I did was wrong” to “God, what I want is wrong.” How might this deeper level of confession lead to greater transformation?

Practical Application

1. Evidence of Change: Looking back over your Christian life, what are some affections or desires that God has already changed in you? How does recognizing this give you hope for current struggles?
2. Falling on the Cross: What does it mean to “fall on the cross” daily? How does remembering that Jesus died for our present sins (not just past ones) change our approach to ongoing sin struggles?

Personal Reflection & Action Steps

This Week’s Challenge:

“Father God, I confess that my affections are misaligned with your will for this area of my life, that I want what is contrary to your ways, that I love what you hate and I hate what you love in this area of my life.”

“Father God, I fall upon the cross in my need for forgiveness for my actions and affections that are misaligned with your design. Thank you for Jesus’ sacrifice that rescued me from death and provides a means for ongoing forgiveness for my sin now.”

• List 2-3 strongholds or recurring sin patterns in your life
• For each one, honestly answer: “What is this sin doing for me? What do I like about it?”
• Ask God to reveal what new affection He wants to replace it with

Closing Discussion

Closing Prayer

• Confession of misaligned affections
• Thanksgiving for Jesus’ sacrifice that covers present sin
• Requests for God to change our “want to”
• Commitment to rely on God’s resources, not our own willpower