Church Accountability

1 John 2:3-6

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says “I know him” but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Why is it important to pursue holy living?
Are you prepared to present your deeds for judgement before Christ if you died today? Good or evil?
Are you still living in a particular sin you need to turn from?

Romans 6:1-14

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.

Why is it important to pursue holy living?
Are you prepared to present your deeds for judgement before Christ if you died today? Good or evil?
Are you still living in a particular sin you need to turn from?

2 Corinthians 5:10

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Why is it important to pursue holy living?
Are you prepared to present your deeds for judgement before Christ if you died today? Good or evil?
Are you still living in a particular sin you need to turn from?

Hebrews 4:13

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Why is it important to pursue holy living?
Are you prepared to present your deeds for judgement before Christ if you died today? Good or evil?
Are you still living in a particular sin you need to turn from?

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

What would you say to someone that says they can do things on their own?
Why is it important to meet together regularly?
When was the last time you confessed your sins to someone else out loud? How did it benefit your walk?

Proverbs 27:17

Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

What would you say to someone that says they can do things on their own?
Why is it important to meet together regularly?
When was the last time you confessed your sins to someone else out loud? How did it benefit your walk?

Hebrews 10:24-25

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

What would you say to someone that says they can do things on their own?
Why is it important to meet together regularly?
When was the last time you confessed your sins to someone else out loud? How did it benefit your walk?

James 5:16

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

What would you say to someone that says they can do things on their own?
Why is it important to meet together regularly?
When was the last time you confessed your sins to someone else out loud? How did it benefit your walk?

Galatians 6:1-2

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

What would you say to someone that says they can do things on their own?
Why is it important to meet together regularly?
When was the last time you confessed your sins to someone else out loud? How did it benefit your walk?

Romans 13:1

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

Why should you submit to church/government authorities?
Who institutes these authorities?
Think of one area you are currently not submitting to authority.

Titus 3:1-3

Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people. For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

Why should you submit to church/government authorities?
Who institutes these authorities?
Think of one area you are currently not submitting to authority.

Proverbs 12:15

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.

Are you teachable? Can you handle rebuke?
Do you have a someone to give you wise counsel when you need it? If not, decide to find out that person.

Proverbs 28:26

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

Are you teachable? Can you handle rebuke?
Do you have a someone to give you wise counsel when you need it? If not, decide to find out that person.

Psalm 1:1-2

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

Are you teachable? Can you handle rebuke?
Do you have a someone to give you wise counsel when you need it? If not, decide to find out that person.

Luke 17:3-4

"Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

Who should we rebuke: believers or unbelievers?
Why do we often shy away from rebuking or keeping others accountable?
What’s the right way to rebuke? What’s the wrong way?

Matthew 18:15-17

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Who should we rebuke: believers or unbelievers?
Why do we often shy away from rebuking or keeping others accountable?
What’s the right way to rebuke? What’s the wrong way?

2 Timothy 4:1-4

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

Who should we rebuke: believers or unbelievers?
Why do we often shy away from rebuking or keeping others accountable?
What’s the right way to rebuke? What’s the wrong way?

2 Timothy 3:16-17

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Who should we rebuke: believers or unbelievers?
Why do we often shy away from rebuking or keeping others accountable?
What’s the right way to rebuke? What’s the wrong way?

Revelation 3:19

Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent.

Who should we rebuke: believers or unbelievers?
Why do we often shy away from rebuking or keeping others accountable?
What’s the right way to rebuke? What’s the wrong way?

Proverbs 27:5-6

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Who should we rebuke: believers or unbelievers?
Why do we often shy away from rebuking or keeping others accountable?
What’s the right way to rebuke? What’s the wrong way?

1 Timothy 5:19-20

Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

Who should we rebuke: believers or unbelievers?
Why do we often shy away from rebuking or keeping others accountable?
What’s the right way to rebuke? What’s the wrong way?

2 Corinthians 7:8-10

For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it—though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while. As it is, I rejoice, not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved into repenting. For you felt a godly grief, so that you suffered no loss through us.

For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death.

Who should we rebuke: believers or unbelievers?
Why do we often shy away from rebuking or keeping others accountable?
What’s the right way to rebuke? What’s the wrong way?

Ephesians 4:25-26, 32

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Who should we rebuke: believers or unbelievers?
Why do we often shy away from rebuking or keeping others accountable?
What’s the right way to rebuke? What’s the wrong way?

Matthew 7:2-5

For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

What’s one sin you’d find hard to rebuke someone because of your own sin?
When should we avoid rebuke?
How do you rebuke/correct someone in love?

Romans 2:21-24

you then who teach others, do you not teach yourself? While you preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the law dishonor God by breaking the law. For, as it is written, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”

What’s one sin you’d find hard to rebuke someone because of your own sin?
When should we avoid rebuke?
How do you rebuke/correct someone in love?

John 7:24

Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

What’s one sin you’d find hard to rebuke someone because of your own sin?
When should we avoid rebuke?
How do you rebuke/correct someone in love?

Titus 3:9-11

But avoid foolish controversies, genealogies, dissensions, and quarrels about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. As for a person who stirs up division, after warning him once and then twice, have nothing more to do with him, knowing that such a person is warped and sinful; he is self-condemned.

What’s one sin you’d find hard to rebuke someone because of your own sin?
When should we avoid rebuke?
How do you rebuke/correct someone in love?

Proverbs 6:16-19

There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that make haste to run to evil, a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.

What’s one sin you’d find hard to rebuke someone because of your own sin?
When should we avoid rebuke?
How do you rebuke/correct someone in love?