Accountability: Doing Life Together

Accountability is being responsible to someone or for some action (Collins Concise Dictionary)

Christian accountability is a check and balance system to protect us from harm from ourselves and others. We do this by being open to what we are thinking and doing, so we can receive encouragement and reproof from one another.

Accountability is the realization that we are liable, responsible, and answerable for our actions in life to God and our key Christian brethren--best applied in a small group setting.

Christians are called to belong, not ust to believe. It is impossible to grow alone in our faith.

1. Let us connect.
-carry each others burden
-we are to connect with each other, meeting regularly
-we are to support each other--both encouraging and correcting
-"burdens" refer to heavy, crushing weight one person could not possibly carry.
THE START OF ACCOUNTABILITY IS AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT WE NEED HELP AND CAN NO LONGER CARRY OUT PROBLEMS.

Why don't people want to share their life with others?
A--ashamed to open about one's past
P--pride
A--afraid of commitment
T--trust issue
H--hypocricy or living in double standards
Y--you dont see this as a priority

Let us be careful to connect and not police on our brethren.

2. Let's choose to care
-we must restore one another
-we must ask tough questions
-we must be careful, as these things may happen to us as well
-"Restore" is that of restoring a broken bone, which requires extra care and gentleness

Sadly, when we help, we have to take the risk of being misunderstood and be seen as meddling. However, we are encouraged to not give up doing good.

Why do Christians participate in a group?
H--honest
A--accountability
P--productivity
P--pastoral care
Y--you win your unsaved friends

*based on Galatians 6:1-2