What is Accountability?
Accountability is often considered a way to get others to hold us accountable to Biblical values. Even wikipedia describes accountability partners as “a person who coaches another person in terms of helping the other person keep a commitment.”
However, the dictionary definition for accountability is: “the quality or state of being accountable”.
True accountability is so much more than asking others to ensure I keep a commitment. True accountability should first and foremost be a commitment on my end to hold myself accountable. This should drastically reduce the importance of the qualifications of the person on the other end of that accountability equation.
What matters is that I have a systemized solution in my life that will continually allow me to hold myself accountable to another (or others). To account for my past week/month etc.
Accountability will only work in the long-term if I don’t consider it a babysitter watching over me, but instead another tool for me to be honest with myself and the world, regaining and maintaining my integrity or wholeness of self, and the Godly man I am called to be.
Accountability Questions
These questions were originally developed at Generations Church, and modified over time by me & others.
- Staying Spiritually Awake
We refuse to be spiritual zombies. I will seek God daily in his word and prayer. I will participate in weekly worship and fellowship with the body of Christ.
Have you spent time daily in the scriptures and prayer?
Have you been faithful in weekly worship and fellowship with the body of Christ? Have you been obedient to what God is asking you to do? - Living with Integrity & Generosity
We choose to live with integrity and open hands. I will be completely honest in all my financial dealings and I will give generously to God’s kingdom.
Have you been completely honest in all your financial dealings?
Have you been generous toward God’s Kingdom? - Walking in the Light
We refuse to keep our sins and temptations in the dark. I will confess my struggles and my failures to my brothers, and I will be humble enough to receive the grace and rebuke they offer.
Have you been honest about your struggles, temptations, or setbacks this week?
Is there anything you’re keeping in the dark that needs to be brought into the light? - Honoring Our Relationships
We refuse to coast in our most important relationships. I will actively pursue my wife’s heart and listen to what’s on it. I will know my children’s hearts by developing a relationship with them, disciplining them, and encouraging them to be all that God has called them to be.
Have you pursued your wife’s heart this week, not just managed life alongside her?
Have you been fully present with your kids — engaging their hearts, not just correcting behavior?
4a. If single, we refuse to treat sexual sin as normal. I will treat the women I date with honor and I will not touch my future bride sexually until the day I marry her.
Have you been sexually pure in your dating relationships this week?
4b. As parents of adult children, we refuse to either control them or check out. I will pursue relationship over authority — knowing their hearts, offering counsel when it’s welcome, encouraging them toward all God has called them to be, and entrusting to Him what is no longer mine to manage. Have you pursued your adult children’s hearts this week without trying to manage their lives? Have you entrusted to God what you can no longer control in their walk? - Living Out Our Faith Boldly
We carry the love of Jesus into our everyday lives. His gospel is good news, not bad, and we will continually work to impact our world for Christ.
Have you done something intentional and specific this week to share Christ or impact someone for Him? - Walking in Purpose
We have a specific calling on our lives, and God is always taking us to our next step.
Are you allowing distractions to creep into your life, or preventing you from pursuing your purpose? - Guarding Our Joy
We refuse to hold a grudge and we refuse to let the circumstances of life steal our joy.
Did something or someone rob you of your joy or cause you to harbor a grudge? - Honoring Our Bodies
We honor our bodies as temples of the Holy Spirit — not as things to neglect, abuse, or ignore.
Have you nourished your body with intention this week?
Have you cared for your body through rest, movement, and discipline? - Surrender Over Self-Reliance
We choose surrender over self-reliance. I will not white-knuckle my way through life or try to control what only God can carry.
For any trip-ups this week mentioned above, have you surrendered these to God?
Are you white-knuckling or hoarding control?
What have you not fully surrendered?
Are you surrendered and open to correction from your brothers?
Verses
We cannot and should not do it alone…
Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
- James 5:16
As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend.
- Proverbs 27:17 NLT
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.”
- Matthew 18:19-20 NLT
9 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. 10 If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. 11 Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? 12 A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.
- Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
5 An open rebuke
is better than hidden love!
6 Wounds from a sincere friend
are better than many kisses from an enemy.
- Proverbs 27:5-6 NLT
Walk with the wise and become wise;
associate with fools and get in trouble.
- Proverbs 13:20 NLT
We aren’t as smart or strong on our own as we think…
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
- 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NLT
Pride leads to disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.
- Proverbs 11:2 NLT
Don't be impressed with your own wisdom. Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
- Proverbs 3:7 NLT
The first to speak in court sounds right—until the cross-examination begins.
- Proverbs 18:17 NLT
Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.
- Proverbs 12:15 NLT
People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.
- Proverbs 16:2 NLT
Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth—a stranger, not your own lips.
- Proverbs 27:2 NLT
There is a path before each person that seems right,
but it ends in death.
- Proverbs 14:12
Mockers hate to be corrected, so they stay away from the wise.
- Proverbs 15:12 NLT
Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions._
- Proverbs 18:2 NLT
We should seek advice and counsel. (this is wise)…
Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance.
- Proverbs 1:5 NLT
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
- Proverbs 1:7 NLT
Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.
- Proverbs 2:3-5 NLT
So don't bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.
- Proverbs 9:8-9 NLT
To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.
- Proverbs 12:1 NLT
People who despise advice are asking for trouble; those who respect a command will succeed.
- Proverbs 13:13 NLT
The instruction of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death.
- Proverbs 13:14 NLT
If you ignore criticism, you will end in poverty and disgrace; if you accept correction, you will be honored.
- Proverbs 13:18 NLT
If you listen to constructive criticism, you will be at home among the wise. If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding.
- Proverbs 15:31-32 NLT
A single rebuke does more for a person of understanding than a hundred lashes on the back of a fool.
- Proverbs 17:10 NLT
Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge._
- Proverbs 18:15 NLT