Last week, we wrapped up our Rethink series. As we went through that series, a common theme kept resonating in my own life: accountability. Try as I may, I need other people in my life pushing me towards forgiveness, trust, commitment...all those things we emphasized in this series. And our new series, "the Gap", won't be any different. In the challenge to reconcile what we believe with who we are, there is still a need to have at least one person asking us the difficult questions.

If you're confused about exactly what accountability is supposed to look like, you aren't alone. And it can look completely opposite from one person to the next. Some people meet in groups, others feel more comfortable having an individual. Some are more structured, others are more relaxed. 

Anyone who has had good accountability in their life can tell you that it's life changing. When we look at the lives of anyone in the Bible (or even modern day) that accomplished anything of great significance, one thing is common. They had someone there encouraging them and sharpening them the whole way. Adam had Eve, Moses had Aaron, David had Jonathan, Paul had Silas, Timothy had Titus…. even Jesus himself had a group of twelve walking beside Him, with an inner three (check out Matthew 17 for an example).

Accountability is NOT:

· Drums & Sports – accountability is not an attempt for men to increase their testosterone by hiking into the wild to beat drums naked around a fire. Nor is it a time to sit around and talk about sports for 2 hours.

· Makeup & Gossip – likewise, accountability is not painting nails and doing each other's makeup while sitting around sharing the latest celebrity news and flipping through magazines.

· Opposite Sex Bashing – it's not a time to bash the male/female race or the person you are in a relationship with.

· Recovery Group - the intent is to tackle and overcome all sin and circumstances, not just a weekly meeting focused on one specific issue

· Bible Study – though the Word should be the central focus, it is not the only one

· Whining Session – leave the economy, church, pastor, government, boss, etc. complaining sessions at home

· Non-Commitment – if you are looking for a relationship or group where you can show up whenever you feel like it or have nothing better to do, this is not it

What IS accountability?

· Intentional – focused and purposeful with a mission in mind

· Inviting – an inviting environment is essential for confession and growth. Comfort is a must--so avoid environments where you'll get distracted

· Honesty & Confession – without these, there is no accountability (James 5:16)

· Praying Together

· Challenging & Rebuke – we are to take our sin and the sins of others seriously and attack them head on. This is where the sharpening happens (James 5:19-20, Galatians 6:1)

· Loving & Non-Judging – just because we are to challenge and rebuke each other does not mean we are to judge (Romans 12:10)

· Encouragement – “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:11

· Carrying each other’s burdens – “Carry each others burdens, and in this way you fulfill the law of Christ.”  Galatians 6:2

· Sharing Life Together