Discussion questions

GETTING STARTED  

Before we dive into Galatians 2, let's warm up with a few questions. Today's passage deals with approval, identity, and the pressure to prove ourselves...but we'll start with some lighter experiences we've all had along the way.​

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1. Looking back, what was your favorite part of graduating from high school, college, or another milestone? What do you remember most?

2. What's the funniest, strangest, or most forgettable piece of advice you've ever heard given to graduates?

3. Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt underdressed, overdressed, or completely out of place? What happened?

4. If someone handed you a résumé describing your life right now, what section would be the strongest: education, work experience, special skills, or "other interesting facts"?

5. What's something you tried really hard to impress people with when you were younger that now seems funny, unnecessary, or a little embarrassing?

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DIGGING DEEPER

Galatians 2 isn't just a story about a disagreement between two apostles. It opens a window into the heart of the Gospel, showing us how fear, grace, faith, and identity all intersect in the Christian life. As you discuss these questions, focus on understanding what Paul is teaching and why it matters so deeply.​

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1. Why was Peter's withdrawal from the Gentile believers such a serious issue? What made this more than a simple disagreement about table customs or personal preferences?

2. Antioch was one of the most important churches in the early Christian movement. How does understanding the city's role help us appreciate why Paul confronted Peter publicly rather than privately?

3. Read Acts 10:9-35. What had God already taught Peter through his encounter with Cornelius? How does that background make Peter's behavior in Galatians 2 even more surprising?

4. Verse 14 says Peter and the others were "not acting in line with the truth of the Gospel." What does that phrase teach us about the relationship between correct doctrine and daily conduct?

5. Read Romans 3:21-28. How does this passage expand Paul's statement in Galatians 2:16 that a person is justified by faith and not by works of the Law?

6. The sermon described the Law as a mirror rather than a ladder. According to Galatians 2:16-19, what was the purpose of the Law, and what was it never intended to accomplish?

7. Read Philippians 3:4-9. What "spiritual résumé" did Paul once trust in? Why does he now regard those credentials so differently?

8. Read Luke 18:9-14. Compare the Pharisee and the tax collector. How does Jesus' teaching illuminate Paul's argument about justification by faith rather than religious performance?

9. In verses 17-18, Paul responds to the charge that grace encourages sin. Why do you think that objection arises whenever salvation by grace alone is taught clearly?

10. Read Romans 6:1-11. How does Paul's teaching about union with Christ in Romans help explain what he means when he says, "I have been crucified with Christ"?

11. Galatians 2:20 is one of Paul's most personal statements. What do we learn about the Christian life from the phrases: a) "I have been crucified with Christ" b) "Christ lives in me" c) "I live by faith in the Son of God" d) "who loved me and gave himself for me"

12. Read Hebrews 10:11-14. How does this passage deepen our understanding of Paul's conclusion in Galatians 2:21 that righteousness cannot be gained through the Law and that Christ's sacrifice is completely sufficient?

 

​LIVING IT OUT

Most of us agree with grace in theory. The challenge comes on Monday morning, when we're faced with pressure, expectations, opinions, and the temptation to prove ourselves. These questions are designed to help us think honestly about what it looks like to live the crucified life in the real world.​

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1. Peter's fear didn't cause him to reject the Gospel, it caused him to act inconsistently with it. Where are believers today most tempted to compromise, stay silent, or become a "slightly edited version" of themselves in order to fit in?

2. The sermon challenged us to "name the room." What kinds of rooms tend to exert the most pressure on Christians today: the workplace, social media, family gatherings, school settings, friend groups, church culture, or something else? Why do those settings feel so powerful?

3. Have you ever found yourself measuring your worth by your accomplishments, reputation, productivity, ministry involvement, income, parenting success, or some other "résumé"? Why is performance-based identity so attractive even for people who believe in grace?

4. Graduates often feel pressure to answer questions like, "What's next?" or "What are you going to do with your life?" How can Christians pursue goals, careers, education, and achievement without allowing those things to become the source of their identity?

5. Peter's actions unintentionally communicated that some believers were less accepted than others. What are some subtle ways churches or Christians today can make people feel like they need "Jesus plus something else" in order to truly belong?

6. Galatians 2:20 says, "The life I now live... I live by faith in the Son of God." What practical differences would someone notice in a person who is living from Christ's acceptance rather than constantly trying to earn acceptance from others?

7. The sermon ended with the challenge to "return to the table." Is there a person, group, or situation where fear, pride, hurt, awkwardness, or social pressure has created distance? What does Gospel-shaped movement toward others look like in those complicated situations?