Accountability
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We are a church that as individuals and as a body we are seeking to grow into the people that God has created us to be. We are working to learn to walk with Jesus the way He would have us be. That means we are learning to do new things in our walk with Christ that help us grow. It also means we recognize that we’re going to have some stumbles along the way.
We are working to develop new HABITS, and I want to be here to encourage you in your growth.
The author of Hebrews wrote to the church:
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
We tend to look at encouragement as all feel good and positive. We think of it like the cheerleader on the sidelines that is there cheering us toward that next first down, or cheering for us to give it that little bit of extra effort. Thats part of it, but it’s not all of it.
Notice in our verse this morning.
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
“spur one another on” - I chose this translation because of that word, “spur”. Now I may not know much about horseback riding, but I pretty sure I can say without a doubt that spurs don’t feel good. But if we really are about encouraging one another, it’s more than just cheering one another on.
We are in week two of our series on growing closer to Christ. And we’re looking at 6 Habits that we can use to grow in our relationship with Christ. I’m using the acronym HABITS that I first learned from Doug Fields.
HABITS
HABITS
Last week we looked at the first of these and talked about spending time in God’s Word and prayer. I other words, we were spending time, “hanging out with God.”
So here are the 6 HABITS
H - Hangtime with God.
A - Accountability
B - Bible Study
I - Involvement in church
T - Commitment to financial giving
S - Scripture Memorization
So this week we’re looking at Accountability.
H - Hangtime with God.
A - Accountability
B - Bible Study
I - Involvement in church
T - Commitment to financial giving
S - Scripture Memorization
Accountability is sort of like “Fruitcake”. It’s a gift we’re happy to give to someone else, but we’re not good about receiving it. Now personally, I like fruitcake, but I have to admit not all kinds of fruitcake.
We tend to be ready to call for holding others accountable for their actions, but we’re seldom nearly as excited about being held accountable for our own. Yet the Bible is clear:
So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Among Christians, we’re not in a position of power regarding our faith over one another. And still, accountability is important.
There’s a strange thing about accountability. In many ways it is self determined.
What I mean about that is, in many ways you cannot hold me accountable unless that individual allows you to hold them accountable.
coaches
trainers
dentists
doctors
Accountability groups back in Chattanooga
You determined the questions. One final question was required:
“Have you lied or attempted to mislead me in any of your previous answers?”
Why don’t we like to be held accountable?
Why don’t we like to be held accountable?
Fear
Fear of not being good enough
Fear of not being loveable
We fear failure - we live in a culture where failure is not a good thing. In most cases failure is not going to kill you. There are exceptions - parachutes come to mind.
Reality check - you can’t get better without failing. Anyone here ever fallen down?
Concept of Right vs. Wrong
No one wants to be wrong. That’s a given.
But when we base our worth upon whether we’re right or wrong, that’s not God’s perspective and it began all the way back in the garden. Remember it’s not about the right or wrong, it’s about our relationship with God. God loves us when we’re right, God loves us when we’re wrong.
God loves you as you are, in the midst of whatever you’re doing.
That does not mean that God loves what you’re doing.
Perhaps it is a matter of perspective.
We’ve all heard quotes similar to Thomas Edison’s classic quote:
“I have not failed 10,000 times - I’ve successfully found 10,000 ways that will not work.”
Accountability is not about tearing one another down - though it can feel that way at times. But accountability is really about encouragement. Again our verse from Hebrews:
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,
There you see the spurs - the part that may not always feel so good.
not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Encouragement and accountability are really the same thing. I want to encourage you not to do things that hinder your walk with the Lord and I want to encourage you to do the things that help you in your walk with God.
There are healthy habits to develop in doing so.
How can you work accountability into your life?
How can you work accountability into your life?
Be open to being held accountable.
Pray and ask God to lead you to a person that you can encourage and allow to encourage you, an accountability partner.
Pray that you would be coachable and allow yourself to be held accountable.
Be authentic, self-examen.
Together we can develop HABITS that will help us in growing closer to God.
H - Hangtime with God.
A - Accountability
B - Bible Study
I - Involvement in church
T - Commitment to financial giving
S - Scripture Memorization