Minute By Minute: Accountability

October 4th, 2020/The Lookout

Question: How many of you would say that you have a high level of accountability in your life?

How about this… who here would be honest and say “I could probably use a little more accountability if I’m being honest.”?

Think about your doctor? Do they hold you accountable to a certain level of health and well being?

How about your personal trainer? Do they hold you accountable to a customized fitness plan?

How about your accountant? Do they hold you accountable to make wise financial decisions?

What about Apple’s screen time notification every week? Talk about accountability! Yikes!

Story: I don’t think that anyone would actually say that zero accountability in your life is a good thing. We can all acknowledge that in order to pursue excellence in your health, fitness, finances, and personal life, there is some degree of accountability that is necessary and beneficial.

The problem isn’t whether or not we agree that accountability is a good thing, but it’s how we execute accountability in the more vulnerable parts of our lives.

When we think of accountability we think of someone holding us to a standard of living. Most often this is something that we’re willing to financially invest in. And I think that is wise. I have a mentor and coach, I pay for the services rendered by professionals so that I can lead at a high level.

The type of accountability that I want to address today is the type that cannot be bought. It’s the type of accountability that you should be held to whether you want it or not, if you are a follower of Christ. We’re going to look at many different passages of Scripture today, but we’re going to start with a passage in Thessalonians that I believe will set the tone for the rest of our discussion. I encourage you to take some notes and really lean in to this topic of accountability.

Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:11

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

Pray:

Title: *Should speak to the Big Idea of the text.

Big Idea:

Spiritual accountability is the action of bringing others around you for the purpose of encouraging you, building you up, and holding you responsible to the standard of God’s Word.

Main Points: 7 Principles For Spiritual Accountability

1. Prepares you to live an impactful life

   1. “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” - Proverbs 27:17

      1. I don’t just want to simply exist, I want to influence. I don’t just want to make an imprint, I want to make an impact!
      2. In order for “iron” to sharpen “iron” it takes getting close. It takes friction and confrontation.
      3. There’s an old saying: “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the ax.”
      4. Illust: My mom was serious about her knives. I remember we had a few Cutco knives. They were sharp! She would always say, “there’s actually less of a chance that you’re going to hurt yourself with a sharp knife than if you have a dull one.”

      5. Excuses: “I don’t have time to meet with an accountability group.”, “I’m busy.”, “I don’t have the energy.” --- You are expending much more time and energy with a dull ax! There’s a better way!

         2. If you want to make the least possible impact then be negative, busy, and isolated.

      6. BUT if you want to achieve your goals, if you want to make wise decisions, if you want to make an impact, then put the right people around you!

      7. “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” - Proverbs 12:15

      8. “Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.” - Proverbs 15:22

         3. “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” - an old saying
         4. There is a popular list on accountability that gets passed around. I can’t point you to a study behind it, but it makes the point. It says individuals have the following probabilities of completing a goal by taking these actions:

      9. Having an idea or goal: 10% likely to complete the goal

      10. Consciously deciding that you will do it: 25%
      11. Deciding when you will do it: 40%
      12. Planning how to do it: 50%
      13. Committing to someone that you will do it: 65%
      14. Having a specific accountability appointment with someone you’ve committed to: 95%
      15. Protects you from careless words and actions
          1. “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” - Matthew 12:36-37
          2. “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” - Hebrews 10:24-25
          3. Jesus says we will give account to God for our words. Here’s how I’d apply that: having accountability in your life can protect you from saying things that could harm yourself and others.
          4. The right people in your life aren’t the ones that condemn or condone all of your words and actions, but they are the ones that constantly encourage you toward love and good works.
          5. If you fear being vulnerable with the people holding you accountable because you will experience guilt or shame, then you have the wrong people in your circle. Biblical accountability is not you being put on trial, but you feeling loved and protected in grace and truth… and in that order!

      16. Points you to God’s Word

          1. “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” - Hebrews 4:12
          2. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” - 2 Timothy 3:16-17
          3. “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” - John 17:17
          4. Biblical accountability is people holding you to the standard of God’s Word, not the standard of the world.

      17. “Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” - Ephesians 6:4

      18. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” - Ephesians 5:25
      19. “Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.” - 1 Corinthians 6:18
      20. “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” - Philippians 4:6
      21. God’s Word is the source for lasting transformation. Conviction comes through the Holy Spirit and His Word, people are a tool God uses to direct His body back to His Word!
          5. There is a difference between self centered accountability and Christ centered accountability. Self centered accountability always encourages you to overcome in your own strength, Christ centered accountability points you to God’s Word and the truth of the Gospel. That you were never meant to save yourself, but that God in His love and mercy saved you from your sin, bondage, and shame and is giving you a new life!

      22. Places you under authority

          1. “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” - Hebrews 4:13
          2. “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.” - Hebrews 13:17
          3. Illust: Pastor Dave
          4. You are under Christ’s authority first and primary, but you are also accountable to others.
          5. Church discipline is a gift in your life, not a burden. I believe that people distance themselves from church for many reasons, one of those reasons is the lack of desire for spiritual accountability.

      23. If you want to grow and become stronger in your faith, then you are going to need the church to come around you and speak into your life.

      24. The higher you go in leadership in the church, the higher the level of accountability you will need, and the higher the standard becomes in your life.
      25. This is why I no longer refer to challenging conversations as “hard conversations”, but they should be called “growth conversations”. Apart from church discipline and spiritual accountability, you will stay stagnant and your spiritual growth will be hindered.
          6. Don’t wait for your pastor to approach you, you come with the questions. “What areas of growth do you see in my life?”, “Do you see any spiritual blind spots in my life?”, “How can I be a better servant leader?”. These questions will yield much fruit and will encourage you toward love and good works.
      26. Predicts pitfalls in your future
          1. “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.” - Hebrews 3:12-13
          2. “Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” - Galatians 6:1
          3. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.” - Proverbs 27:6 NKJV
          4. A good and faithful friend is one who will say “I’ve noticed that you have been isolating yourself lately.”, “I’ve seen you gossip lately and I don’t believe that’s who you want to be.”, “I’m concerned that you are sabotaging some of your relationships.”
          5. Who in your life will call you out in love so that you don’t have to suffer from pitfalls in your future?
      27. Prompts honesty and vulnerability
          1. “Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” - James 5:16
          2. Honesty stems from healthy relationships and people holding you to honest responses to intentional questions.
          3. Honesty is when you are honest when asked a question. Transparency is letting people see what’s going on in your life despite what’s being asked.
          4. Transparency stems from a habit of honesty. Very few people are going to ask the right questions to reveal the depths of your soul, unless they are given permission.
      28. Pursues progress over perfection
          1. “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.” - Matthew 18:15-17
          2. “Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up.” - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
          3. Jesus gives a process for when a brother sins, and the goal is to gain your brother. Here’s how I’d apply that: we’re not looking for perfection, but progression.

How to choose your accountability group:

1. Choose mature believers
2. Choose people you trust
3. Choose people of the same gender

Tips for a successful group:

1. Set expectations early
2. Be honest and transparent
3. Meet weekly & talk often

Personal desired outcomes:

1. Deeper walk with Christ
2. More intimate love for spouse
3. More intentional in parenting

Types of accountability groups at Pinewood:

1. Sunday Gathering
2. Crews
3. Men’s/Women’s Groups