The Courage To Confront

Key Scripture: Galatians 2:11–14

1. Opening Connection (2–3 minutes)

Years ago, a couple came to our church insisting that they be put into a leadership role. They had attended faithfully and served in different ways for about a year. Then they approached us, saying, “We’re different than the rest of the church. We don’t need anything from you, but God sent us to lead alongside you.”

Obviously, that raised some concerns. There were many ways we could have handled it, but as we prayed, we felt God leading us to respond differently. We approached them and said, “What we see biblically is that leadership happens best in the context of relationship. Think of Jesus and the twelve disciples, Paul and Barnabas, or Paul and Timothy. So let’s build our relationship first — then focus on ministry in the church.”

Ironically, they never wanted to build that relationship. We tried coffee, dinners, time together — but nothing seemed to fit their preference. All the while, I just kept preaching the gospel. And then, within about three months, truth was revealed.

One night, Stella and I had about eight members of our leadership team in our home for a time of study and prayer. Suddenly phones started buzzing. That couple had sent a mass text to the entire leadership team explaining why they should be in leadership — and why they were leaving the church. It was perfect timing. One leader said, “You won’t believe the text I just got.” Another said, “I got the same one.”

We gave time for questions, addressed concerns, and in the end the entire team was affirmed and unified. Truth had revealed itself.

Many people avoid confrontation because we view it as conflict: proving who’s right and who’s wrong. But biblically, confrontation is something deeper.

Definition: Confrontation = Truth Revealed.

The first known use of the word: “confrontation” was in 1632, in a legal document where the phrase: “the confrontation of the witness was made” was recorded.

For the believer, truth is static, eternal, and anchored in God’s Word. Confrontation is not about victory—it’s about revelation. John 14:6

John 14:6 NASB95

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

When we talk about confrontation, it’s easy to think of it as fighting against people. But the Bible paints a different picture. Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:39 not to “resist the evil person” (ponēros).

Matthew 5:39 NASB95

39 “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

That word describes someone whose character is corrupted, yet our calling is not to retaliate against them. Instead, Scripture directs us to see where the true opposition lies. Paul uses the word antikeimai— to be set against or opposed — when he describes how the flesh stands against the Spirit (Galatians 5:17).

Galatians 5:17 NASB95

17 For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

That’s the real confrontation: not with people themselves, but with the powers, desires, and lies that oppose God’s truth. And then we’re told to resist (anthistēmi) — to hold our ground — against those forces: the devil (James 4:7), sin, and spiritual opposition (Ephesians 6:13).

James 4:7 NASB95

7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

Ephesians 6:13 NASB95

13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

2. Scripture Focus (5 minutes)

Galatians 2:11–14 NASB95

11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision. 13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

Peter’s hypocrisy distorted the Gospel. Paul confronted him—not to humiliate, but to reveal truth so others could walk in it.

Key Point: When truth is our aim, confrontation can be done with love, humility, and Gospel clarity.

Paul did not resist Peter as a man, but he did resist the false idea Peter’s actions were promoting. His confrontation wasn’t personal; it was about standing firm in truth so that the gospel itself would not be compromised.

3. Teaching Points (15 minutes)

A. Confrontation Reveals the Gospel

This is where courage comes in. It is not the believer’s responsibility to go looking for a fight. Nowhere in the Great Commission do we see Jesus sending us out to pick battles — we are sent to proclaim the gospel. And as we proclaim truth, opposition will come.

That opposition doesn’t always come from people themselves but from the deeper forces at work. Paul says in Galatians 5:17 that the flesh antikeitai — it opposes the Spirit. Scripture tells us to anthistēmi — to resist, to hold our ground in Christ (James 4:7; Ephesians 6:13). Jesus warned His disciples in Luke 21:12 that persecution would come,

Luke 21:12 NASB95

12 “But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake.

Yet He promised in verse 15: “I will give you words and wisdom that none of your opponents (antikeimenoi) will be able to resist or contradict.”

Luke 21:15 NASB95

15 for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute.

So biblical confrontation is not about arguing or defeating people. It is about standing firm in Christ and trusting Him to reveal the truth through us. That’s exactly what we see in Galatians 2 — Paul didn’t attack Peter as a man, but he did confront the false idea Peter’s actions were promoting.

B. Confrontation Protects the Church and the Home

Paul’s confrontation with Peter in Galatians 2 wasn’t about personality or rivalry — it was about protecting the integrity of the gospel within the church. Left unchecked, Peter’s behavior would have divided the body of Christ and compromised the truth. Men, the same is true for us in our homes. If we do not confront compromise, sin, and unbelief in our families, the gospel gets blurred there too. Maybe that means addressing immorality you’ve been ignoring. Maybe it’s calling out compromise in your own walk with Christ. Maybe it’s naming bad choices that come from fear rather than faith. Confrontation isn’t easy, but if we won’t confront those things in love and truth, they will spread — just as Peter’s actions spread confusion until Paul stepped in.

C. Confrontation Honors Christ

At the heart of it, confrontation done in love and truth points back to Christ himself. The goal is never to humiliate, dominate, or “win” against someone, but to lift high the sufficiency of Christ and the power of the gospel. Paul’s confrontation in Galatians 2 ended not with division, but with restoration — the gospel stood clear, and Christ was magnified.

And here’s the key: when we embrace biblical confrontation — defined as truth revealed, practically speaking, God giving us the right word in season — we allow God to defend His own character. We get out of the way and become vessels through which the reputation of God can be clearly seen. In those moments, it’s not about us proving our point but about God revealing His truth. In the same way, when you as men resist sin, address compromise, and speak truth in your homes, Christ is honored. Your family sees that Jesus matters more than comfort, silence, or keeping the peace. Courage to confront is not about being the loudest voice in the room — it’s about being the clearest witness to the truth of Christ.

Closing Challenge

Men, this is where the lesson has to land. Courage to confront is not just about Paul and Peter, or theological debates in the first century — it’s about you and your home today. Some of you need to go home and confront immorality that has been creeping in unchecked. Some of you need to confront compromise in your own walk with Christ — places where you’ve been coasting, silent, or afraid. Some of you need to confront choices in your family that are rooted in fear instead of faith. The call tonight is not to go pick a fight, but to let God’s truth be revealed in your life, in your marriage, in your parenting. Will you have the courage to confront — not in your own strength, but as a vessel through which God makes His truth undeniable?

4. Principles for Biblical Confrontation

1. Focus on truth, not opinion.

Anchor yourself in Scripture, not personal preference.

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

Confrontation is about truth being revealed, not us proving we’re right.

2. Confront from the presence of God, not frustration.

Pray first — don’t speak until your heart is steady.

“For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.” (Luke 21:15)

Confrontation done in God’s presence gives words of life, not words of anger.

3. Discern timing.

There’s a time to speak and a time to wait in prayer.

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)

Often the Spirit prepares the way, and we simply confirm what He is already stirring.

4. Rooted in love.

Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). The most confrontational moment in history was the Cross — and it was motivated by love. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son” (John 3:16).

Paul even said in Romans 9:3 that he would be willing to be cut off for the sake of his people. That’s confrontation rooted in love: willing to lay yourself down so others may live in truth.

“Confrontation isn’t about winning—it’s about truth revealed.”

Challenge for the Week (2 minutes)

Confront personally.

Where do you need to confront truth in your own life or in your home? Don’t ignore it — pray, seek God’s presence, and take one step of courageous confrontation this week.

2. Confront passivity.

Invite one person to church this week. Refuse to stay silent about your faith — speak truth with love and let God reveal Himself through your witness.

3. Confront fear with obedience.

Do one thing this week that you’ve been putting off because of fear or discomfort — whether it’s a hard conversation, a decision of faith, or an act of obedience. Step into it trusting God to give you the words and courage you need.

8. Prayer Prompt (5 minutes)