Belong 101: Accountability

MONDAY

If you consider yourself a person after God’s own heart you can probably be described as having the heart of a disciple. This week, as we take a look at what discipleship really means, you will be able to see for yourself whether or not you indeed have the attitude that leads to having the heart of a disciple. Read Matthew 28:18-20. As we follow Jesus we are to make disciples. How do we do that? (It’s a two step process) How long does it take to do step #2? Can you successfully accomplish step 2 if you yourself haven’t paid much attention to it? This week we’re not going to look at making other disciples. We’re going to focus on making sure that you let Jesus’ disciples make one out of you. You have been called to follow Jesus. Discipleship is followship. If you’re going to call people to follow, you better be following Jesus yourself! A penitent (repentant) disciple is a follower; a follower of Jesus becomes a servant; a servant becomes a leader. This week talk to your discipler about what you see lacking in your followship of Christ. Pray for a disciple’s heart. Write Psalm 51:17 on an index card and memorize it.

TUESDAY

God calls all of us to be accountable to Him: read Hebrews 4:12-13. How does God’s Word uncover our hearts? Does the Word teach you what kind of attitude you are to have? Can it point out to you when you have a bad attitude? How do you respond when you are being cut? Do you realize that it is God who is cutting, with and through His Word? What, then, is the vehicle that God uses to hold us accountable to Him? Should you then become very familiar with this vehicle, i.e., the Bible? Read Hebrews 13:7,17. Since you are called to followship, who are you to submit to? Why? Are you to imitate their faith? According to verse 17, what are your leaders held accountable for? Do you believe this? Your actions will be a testimony of your faith! Write 1 Timothy 4:16 on an index card and memorize it. Thank God for the leadership He has provided for you. See to it that you glorify God by respecting them as your older brethren in Christ.

WEDNESDAY

One of the most illustrative passages about discipleship is Ezekiel 33:7-11. What role is Ezekiel given? Isn’t this the same role that your leaders have been given? What will happen to your leaders if they don’t warn you about your sin? What happens to you if you listen to what your leaders warn you about? What happens if you don’t listen? From verse 10, what effect does sin have on you? From verse 11, what does God desire for you to do? How is then, that God is going to use your leaders to benefit you? If your desire is to be accountable to God, understand that means being accountable to your leaders and to each other. We are our brother’s keeper! If your desire is to repent and turn to the Lord then hold yourself accountable to your brother/sister! Remember, repentance begins with confession! Write James 5:16 on an index card and memorize it. Make a list of the things you want to repent about before the Lord. See to it that you hold yourself accountable to these things with your discipler.

THURSDAY

Accountability is a word we tend to shy away from. Why do you think that is? Is it because it requires you to make a commitment...to see to it that your attitudes reflects Jesus’? Read carefully Romans 14:12-13. Will you be held accountable collectively or individually? From verse 13, are we to work toward helping each other out with our accountability? How do you think this can be accomplished? It is obvious from this passage that judging one another is not the way to hold each other accountable to God. If you continue on reading 15:1-8 you will notice that you are to accept your brother and be at peace. You are to edify and encourage with the Scripture. As 2 Tim. 3:16-17 says, you are to use the Word to teach, correct, rebuke and train in righteousness. Discipleship is not a forum for judgment, but for training in righteousness out of love for each other. Write this last scripture on an index card and memorize it.

FRIDAY

Since being held accountable involves being taught, corrected and rebuked, always keep in mind that these things come from the Lord. Read Hebrews 12:5-16. Verses 5 - 9 speak about how the discipline of God is manifested and why it is given. Verses 10 and 11 speak of the purpose of the Lord’s discipline. Verses 12 and 13 are an exhortation to not give up. His discipline is not given to burden us, but rather, to set us free from the burden of sin (remember Ezekiel 33:7-11 ?). Verses 14 and 15 summarize what accountability is all about. There goes that phrase again: See to it... That means: hold yourself accountable! Today’s memory verse is challenging! Write Eph. 4:11-13 on an index card and memorize it. Isn’t God’s plan awesome?!

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