If a church is to exalt Christ by living in love, truth, and unity, then there will be an authentic pursuit of accountability in the Christian relationships God has blessed us with. James 5:16 tells us to confess our sins to each other and to pray for each other. Not so we can know everyone’s dirty laundry and spread it through the church via gossip, but for the purpose of prayer and healing. The prayers of righteous men (women) are powerful and effective. Authentic accountability relationships will center around the glory of Christ in the sanctification of his people. This happens through humility, confession, and prayers offered in belief.
This morning I wrote my accountability partner a list of questions I need to be asked. I’m sharing these with you in the hopes that they might spur you on to make a similar list. If you seek God, He will reveal to you the areas in which you need to grow. Find an accountability partner you can trust and hand them the keys to the hidden parts of your life… for the glory of God and the hope of mutual sanctification.

1. Have you been treasuring Christ above all of the other good gifts of the gospel?
2. Have your actions this week been for the praise of God, or for the praise of people?
3. Have you diligently and consistently spent time in the Word and in prayer?
4. Have you been a servant leader for your wife, tempering honesty with love and kindness?
5. Have you smiled/laughed with and encouraged your kids more than you’ve spoken sternly?
6. Have you been above reproach sexually with any and all thoughts, images, and women in your life?
7. Have you exercised consistently and been faithful to honor God with your eating?
8. Have you been wise in appropriately balancing time between work and family?
9. Have you sought to pray for and share the gospel with any non-believers this week?
10. Have you spent time learning and growing through reading and listening to other Godly men?