Table Talk | January 3 & 4
Small Group Guide: Galatians 1:1-10
"The Gospel: Unchanged and Unchanging"
Week 1: Galatians | The False Gospel Problem Nobody's Talking About
Opening Prayer & Ice Breaker
Icebreaker Question: What's one New Year's resolution or goal you've made that you actually kept? What helped you stay committed to it?
Sermon Overview
This week, we began a 13-week journey through the book of Galatians. Paul wrote his most corrective letter to churches he had planted, addressing the critical issue of the gospel being distorted. The central message: the gospel is about Jesus alone—nothing added, nothing taken away.
Key Takeaways
The Gospel is God's good news proclaimed by people He's commissioned to share it
- Paul was commissioned directly by Jesus Christ, not by human authority
- The gospel centers on Jesus who "gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age"
God's gospel is to be received and believed as it is, not altered or added to
- The Galatian churches were "quickly deserting" the true gospel
- Adding anything to the gospel (Jesus + works, Jesus + rituals, etc.) destroys its power
- Paul pronounces God's curse on anyone who distorts the gospel
The gospel frees us to focus on our audience of one
- We must choose between pleasing people and pleasing God
- Paul refused to compromise the gospel even under intense pressure
Discussion Questions
Understanding The Text
Read Galatians 1:1-10 together. What stands out to you as different or surprising compared to other letters you've read in the New Testament?
Why do you think Paul uses such strong language ("astonished," "deserting," "God's curse") right at the beginning of this letter? What does this tell us about the seriousness of the issue?
Paul says the Galatians were "quickly deserting" the gospel. What does it mean to "desert" the gospel? Can you do this without realizing it?
Personal Reflection
The Jim Jones illustration: How can someone who starts with biblical truth end up so far off course? What are the warning signs that someone is moving "one degree at a time" away from the true gospel?
Complete this sentence honestly: "The gospel is Jesus plus __________." What are you tempted to add to the gospel in your own life? (Examples: my good works, my church attendance, my morality, my family heritage, etc.)
Read the sermon excerpt from Acts 13:26-39. How does Paul's clear presentation of the gospel challenge or encourage you? What elements of the gospel does he emphasize?
Application & Action
The "Jesus Plus" Challenge: In what areas of your life are you most tempted to rely on something other than Jesus' finished work for your righteousness?
- Your performance at work or home?
- Your religious activities?
- Your moral superiority compared to others?
- Your knowledge or spiritual experiences?
Pastor Todd mentioned that Paul's strongest words were for religious people leading others astray, not for those who were "morally reprehensible." Why is distorting the gospel more dangerous than moral failure? How should this shape our priorities?
People-pleasing vs. God-pleasing (v. 10): Where in your life are you most tempted to compromise truth or the gospel to gain approval from others? What would it look like to be a "God-pleaser" in that situation?
Practical Applications
This Week's Challenge - Choose One:
Daily Reading: Read through Galatians once this week (one chapter per day, six days). Journal one thing that stands out to you each day.
Take the Survey: Text MORE to 64567 and complete the survey about what you might be adding to the gospel. Be honest with yourself and God.
Watch the Overview: Access the Bible Project video on Galatians (link in Monday's devo) and discuss it with a family member or friend.
Gospel Clarity: Write out the gospel in your own words as clearly as you can. Practice sharing it with someone this week.
Identify Your "Plus": Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal what you're trusting in addition to Jesus. Confess it and ask for freedom.
Looking Ahead
Next week, we'll continue in Galatians 1:11-2:10, exploring Paul's testimony of how he received the gospel and the dramatic transformation it brought to his life.
Preparation for Next Week:
- Continue reading Galatians daily
- Reflect on your own salvation story: How did you come to faith in Christ?
- Consider: What has the gospel changed in your life?
Memory Verse
Galatians 1:3-4 "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father."
Final Thought
The gospel is not Jesus plus anything. It's Jesus plus nothing. Any addition to the gospel is actually a subtraction from its power. This week, let's celebrate and rest in the sufficiency of Christ alone.