Table Talk | January 17 & 18

Published January 18, 2026
Table Talk | January 17 & 18

Small Group Guide: Galatians 2:11-21


"The Gospel: The Gospel Is Everything"

Galatians Growth Group video : Week 3 : Galatians Pastor Mike

OPENING PRAYER & ICEBREAKER

Icebreaker Question: "Complete this sentence: When I was younger, ________ meant everything to me."

Share briefly about how that thing shaped your identity, security, or sense of significance at that time.

Sermon Recap 

    1. Key Points:

      1. The truth of the gospel confronts hypocrisy
      2. The truth of the gospel cancels self-righteousness
      3. The truth of the gospel creates a new motivation

      Central Message: Christ plus nothing equals everything. Faith in Christ alone is sufficient for salvation and for living the Christian life.

Discussion Questions

Part 1: Confronting Hypocrisy

Read Galatians 2:11-14

  • Understanding the Story: Why was Peter's withdrawal from eating with Gentiles such a serious issue? What was he communicating through his actions?
  • Personal Reflection: Pastor Mike defined hypocrisy as "the absence of a straight line between what we believe and how we live." Where in your life might there be a gap between what you believe about the gospel and how you actually live?
  • Fear of Man: Peter acted out of fear of what others thought. In what situations are you most tempted to care more about being right with people than being right with God?
  • Practical Application: Pastor Mike mentioned politics, social class, race, and culture as areas where we might not "walk in line with the gospel." How can we better demonstrate that Christ alone—not these other factors—is what makes people righteous before God?

Part 2: Canceling Self-Righteousness 

Read Galatians 2:15-18

  • The Courtroom Analogy: How did the speeding ticket illustration help you understand what it means to be "justified" or "declared righteous"?
  • Self-Assessment: Be honest: When you think about standing before God, what's your first instinct? Do you think about your good deeds, or do you think about Christ's righteousness? Why do you think that is?
  • The Danger of Addition: What are some things Christians today might be tempted to add to "faith in Christ alone" for salvation or acceptance? (Examples: church attendance, moral behavior, spiritual disciplines, political views, etc.)
  • Confidence Check: Are you confident that if you died today and God asked, "Why should I let you into heaven?" that saying "faith in Christ alone" would be enough? If not, what's holding you back from that confidence?

Part 3: Creating New Motivation 

Read Galatians 2:19-21

  • Living FOR vs. Living TO: Paul says that before Christ, he was living "to" the law (for his own sake), but now he lives "for" God. What's the difference? Can you think of examples from your own life?
  • The Heart Question: Tim Keller's paraphrase said, "Though I obeyed God before, it was simply to get something from him." What are some things we might be trying to "get" from God through our obedience rather than simply wanting to please Him?
  • Verse 20 Application: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." What would it look like practically this week for you to live as though "Christ lives in me" rather than living for yourself?
  • Everything or Nothing: Pastor Mike ended with the statement, "If Christ is not your everything, then he died for nothing." How does this challenge or encourage you

Personal Application

This Week's Challenge:

Choose ONE of the following to practice this week:

  • Option 1: Hypocrisy Check

    • Identify one area where your actions don't match your gospel beliefs
    • Confess it to God and one trusted person
    • Take one concrete step to align your behavior with gospel truth

    Option 2: Self-Righteousness Audit

    • Each day this week, examine your motivations: Am I doing this to earn something or to please God?
    • Journal about what you discover
    • Pray for God to give you pure motives

    Option 3: Living for God

    • Choose one relationship where you've been judgmental or distant
    • Reach out to that person in a way that demonstrates "Christ alone" is what matters
    • Share your experience with the group next week

PRAYER TIME 

Prayer Prompts:

  • Confess areas of hypocrisy or self-righteousness
  • Thank God that Christ is enough—the cross is sufficient
  • Ask for help to live FOR God rather than for ourselves
  • Pray for courage to confront hypocrisy (our own and others') in love
  • Request boldness to rest in Christ alone without additions

Close by praying Galatians 2:20 together:

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."

Before Next Week

This Week's Challenge - Choose One:
  • Read Galatians 3 in preparation for the next sermon
  • Share with one person this week: "Christ plus nothing equals everything"
  • Follow up on your practical application commitment