Message Highlights

• Paul didn’t compromise the gospel when false teachers tried to add requirements to salvation—he stood his ground because some fights are worth fighting.
  
• We fight over preferences but say “agree to disagree” on gospel truth—often because we can’t articulate what we believe or because our lives contradict it.
  
• This pivotal meeting between Paul and the apostles, where they established unity on core gospel truths, didn’t end with a theological declaration. It ended with one simple command: “remember the poor.” All our theological knowledge is pointless if we don’t live out our faith practically.

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Conversation Starter

What’s a topic where you’ve found it hardest to know whether it’s worth taking a stand or just letting it go?

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Core Discussion Questions

CONNECTION QUESTION
What stood out to you from today’s message about knowing which fights are worth fighting?

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CONTEXT QUESTION
Where have you encountered the phrase “agree to disagree” in conversations about faith, and what was the context?

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CLARITY QUESTION
How did today’s message clarify or change your perspective on the difference between unity and uniformity in the church?

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APPLICATION QUESTION
What truth from today’s message can you apply to your relationships or conversations this week when someone challenges what you believe?

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Additional Questions (Optional)

• Anthony mentioned losing friends over disagreements about minor things while they were willing to “agree to disagree” on major doctrines. Have you experienced something similar? How did you navigate it?
  
• What’s one area where you’ve realized you might be fighting for preferences rather than gospel truth?
  
• How does the ending of this passage—“remember the poor”—challenge the way you think about defending truth?

Exploring the Scripture

Main Scripture: Galatians 2:1–10

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Paul wrote this letter to the churches in Galatia (modern-day Turkey) sometime around AD 48–49, making it possibly the earliest of his letters. The Galatian Christians were being influenced by a group called the Judaizers—teachers who insisted that Gentile believers needed to be circumcised and follow Jewish ceremonial laws to be truly saved. This wasn’t just a theological debate; it struck at the very heart of the gospel message. Were people justified by grace through faith alone, or was something else required?

In Galatians 2:1–10, Paul describes a pivotal moment fourteen years into his ministry when he traveled to Jerusalem to meet privately with the apostles—James, Peter (Cephas), and John. The stakes were high. If the apostles disagreed with Paul’s gospel message, the early church would fracture. If they endorsed the Judaizers’ requirements, the gospel would become a mixture of law and grace. Paul’s account of this meeting shows that the apostles fully affirmed his ministry and message, recognizing that God had called him to bring the gospel to the Gentiles just as Peter was called to the Jews.

What’s striking about this passage is how it ends. After establishing theological unity on the most important doctrines—justification by grace, the deity of Christ, the authority of Scripture—the apostles make only one request: “remember the poor.” This wasn’t an afterthought. It was a reminder that orthodoxy (right belief) must lead to orthopraxy (right practice). The preservation of gospel truth isn’t just an intellectual exercise; it’s meant to transform how we live and serve others.

This passage also forces us to ask ourselves: Do we know the difference between essential gospel truths and secondary preferences? Are we willing to fight for what actually matters while extending grace on issues where Scripture is silent? And once we’ve established theological clarity, are we living it out in practical ways that demonstrate the love of Christ?

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Study Questions

As we walk through this week’s passage in Galatians 2, it becomes clear that Paul’s chief concern is the unity and consistency of the message being preached. He had already established in Galatians 1 that he possessed equal authority as an apostle and that his teaching was received through direct revelation from God rather than from any human source. 

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Paul’s Purpose (v.1-2) 

The disputes and conflicts faced by the Galatian church in this passage continue to persist today. Those who aim to undermine the truth and its messengers have always been present and will remain so.

• What warning does Jesus give in Matthew 13:24-30 concerning this issue? 
• What guidance does Paul offer to elders regarding this problem, as recorded by Luke in Acts 20:28–31?

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The assembly Paul recounts in Galatians 2 is often referred to as the Jerusalem Council. Luke wrote a parallel account of this gathering in Acts 15. 

• In Galatians 2:2, Paul says he went to Jerusalem “because of a revelation.” Compare this with Acts 15:1-2 which describes the same event. How do these two accounts complement each other, and what do they reveal about how God was working through both the Spirit’s leading and the church’s decision-making process?
• Per Acts 15:1-5, what is confirmed as the central issue being brought to the table?
• Paul sought an initial private audience with those who were leaders/possessed reputation (Galatians 2:2). Who did this influential group include (Acts 15:4)? Knowing that Paul was no “respecter of persons” (Galatians 2:6), why do you think he wanted to have this preliminary discussion? 
• At this point in time, Paul had been teaching his divinely appointed message for 17 full years and he had absolutely no doubts regarding the legitimacy of his preaching (Galatians 1:11-19). What exactly did he mean then in verse 2 when he said, “to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain?” 

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Paul’s Opposition (v.3-5)

• Why do you think Paul specifically brought Titus with him to this council? Consider Titus’ standing (2 Corinthians 8:23 and Titus 1:4) and his heritage (v.3). 
• Why did Paul mention that Titus “was not forced to be circumcised?” What was at stake in this decision, and what would it have communicated if the apostles had required it?

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Paul labeled the Judaizers as “false brothers” which comes from the Greek “pseudadelphos” meaning “sham-christian” or “pseudo-christian.” Their aim was to replace the liberty of the grace of the gospel with the slavery of righteousness by self-effort.

• What role does legalism play in genuine Christian faith and what does legalism nullify? Reference Galatians 5:2-4 and Romans 11:6. 
• What were we set free from through Christ’s sacrifice? Reference Romans 8:2 and Romans 7:6. 
• What are we to do with the liberty we have in Christ once we are saved? Reference Romans 6:18-19, Galatians 5:13, and 1 Peter 2:16.

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The unity Paul and the apostles cared about here in verse 5 was not unity for the sake of cohesiveness or inclusion. The concern was fully for clarity and consistency of the message of the gospel.   

• Where do we get the concept of unity in the church wrong today? What should be our goal? Reference Ephesians 4:1-6, John 17:20-21, and Philippians 1:27.
• How can we maintain unity of the gospel message if we don’t know truth? What does Peter direct us to do in 1 Peter 3:15-16 and 2 Peter 1:5-7? 

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Paul’s Support (v.6-10)

Verses 7-8 make it clear that the same Holy Spirit who energized and empowered Peter was the same Holy Spirit who energized and empowered Paul. 

• What was the only difference between the two teachers? 
• In congruence with Paul’s statements in Galatians 2:7-9, how did the Jewish apostles (James, Peter, and John) and the council respond after arguments were made and debate ensued? Reference Acts 15:7-21.   

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Compare the “right hand of fellowship” offered to Paul as stated in verse 9 with Ephesians 2:11-22.

• What does this gesture represent in terms of the breaking down of barriers between Jews and Gentiles in the church?

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Put yourself in the place of the Galatian believers. Without having access to God’s completed work, there would have been a strong possibility for confusion over whom to trust and whom not to trust.

• What additional obstacles may the Galatian believers have faced in their pursuit for truth considering the unique time and circumstances in which they were living? 
• How can we discern true teachers from false ones and distinguish truth from falsehood today? Reference Matthew 7:15-20 and 1 John 4:1-3. 
• What ramifications may have resulted in the early church had Paul and Barnabas not stood for truth in this specific instance?

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True conversion isn’t just an intellectual exercise that results in a wealth of knowledge; it’s meant to transform how we live and serve others. Read James 2:14-17 and Romans 15:25-27. 

• How does caring for the poor demonstrate the genuineness of our faith, and why is this a natural conclusion to a theological discussion about justification by grace?

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Living It Out

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Pastor Anthony provided us with two application points from the message. Set aside some time this week to reflect on the following:

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1. The Preservation of Truth: 

Often, when we don’t speak up about gospel truth, it’s because we don’t know the truth and/or we don’t live out biblical truth in our lives.

• Do you find this statement to be accurate for you? Which areas of your life could better align with biblical truth? 
• Have you ever found yourself compromising on the truth of the gospel in order to “keep the peace” or to get along with others? How does this behavior actually demonstrate the opposite of true love for others? 
• Is the truth of the gospel precious to you? What proof(s) of this do you see in your own life? 
• Is there anything else you can identify that prevents you from speaking up about gospel truth to your friends, family, and colleagues?

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Can you defend truth to someone who counters with false claims? Do you back up your declarations with action? 

• Take time this week to identify the basic underlying truths of the gospel and find supporting verses for each one so that you can “be prepared to give a defense for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15-16).   
• Where might God be calling you to move from simply “knowing truth” to actually living it out? Identify one way you can “remember the poor” this week—not as a way to earn God’s favor, but as a practical outworking of the gospel you believe. 

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2. The Emphasis of Unity: 

Followers of Christ are called to have complete unity in specific areas (including, but not limited to: God as our sovereign Creator, Jesus’ deity and His death, burial and resurrection for the propitiation of our sins, the Holy Spirit as completion of the Trinity and the helper residing within believers, justification and sanctification by grace through faith, inerrancy of Scripture as God’s direct Word, the sinfulness of all men, eternal security, eternity in either heaven or hell, the mission of the church, etc.) 

• Why is it absolutely essential for believers to be united in these topics?
• How comfortable are you in sharing these truths with others?
• Can you pinpoint the difference between essential gospel truths and secondary preferences?
• Did this message challenge your understanding of true unity within the body of Christ? How would you define biblical oneness within the church?   

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All the theological knowledge in the world is pointless without living out our faith practically. We need to study, know, preserve, and fight for the truth. But in addition to these, we must live out our faith practically to a lost world. 

• Are you currently doing this or is your “head knowledge” overshadowing your “heart knowledge?” 
• As a result of Paul’s courage and faithfulness, the gospel was kept free from legalism and taught to the Gentiles with great blessing. Is there someone who you can be courageous with in sharing gospel truth this week? How can you prepare your heart and mind to share unwavering truth from Scripture?

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Prayer Focus

Ask the Lord to keep Northwest Bible Church in true liberty with which we will all serve Him and one another without maliciousness. 

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John 8:32

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

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1 Peter 2:16

Submit as free people, not using your freedom as a cover-up for evil, but as God’s slaves.