When In Doubt
6. When the Church Doesn’t Look Like Jesus
June 1, 2025
Table Talk (⅓ of meeting)
- What topic always interests you?
- Briefly share: What’s one thing you are thankful for this week and what’s a challenge you’re facing?
- How did it go with reading a challenging Bible passage through the lens of Jesus (our action step last week)? OR how are you responding to God’s promptings?
- Spend time worshipping God through song. Recommended: Christ Be Magnified by Cody Carnes.
Scripture Discussion Guidelines
- Everyone shares in sentences, not paragraphs.
- Focus only on what this passage is saying, not on other passages.
- Share from your perspective – we won’t argue or give advice.
- Give everyone time to respond. Silence is OK.
- The facilitator will facilitate discussion, not teach.
Discover what God is saying to you. (⅓ of meeting)
Scripture Context: The Apostle Peter has wavered in his allegiance to the Gospel in favor of upholding Jewish traditions. He would refuse to eat with Gentiles (non-Jews) even though God had spoken to him that they were united by faith in the complete work of Jesus on the cross. The Apostle Paul writes in this passage about his confrontation with Peter.
Read Galatians 2:11-21
- Have someone recap this in their own words.
- What speaks to you from this passage?
- What does this Scripture teach us about dealing with messiness in the Church?
- How does fear of criticism or rejection cause you to compromise truth, like Peter?
- Have you ever questioned your belief because of what you saw someone “spiritual” do or say? How did you work through that? Note: Keep conversation productive by focusing on your response.
- If you had a friend come to you who said they were thinking about leaving their church or faith because of the behavior of someone there, how would you counsel them based on this passage?
Go do it. (⅓ of meeting)
- What is one area where you sense God calling you to be a solution to a problem within His Church? Share what action step you are feeling called to take.
- What role can you play in helping restore someone who has wavered because of poor church leadership or hypocrisy?
- Pray as you are led for our Table and church- that we would each grow in love, truth, boldness, and unity. Pray that we would not only recognize problems in the Church, but also be part of God’s solution.