And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another… – Hebrews 10:24-25

Accountability is an essential in every healthy Small Group.

The goal of accountability is not confession of sin. People should not equate accountability in Small Groups as going to see a priest in a confessional booth to get something off their chest. Accountability must include growth, progress, and change.

The above verse speaks to the heart of accountability. Accountability is not running alongside of someone and hitting them with a stick when they fall down. Instead, accountability is running alongside of someone and helping them up … and helping them move forward in their walk with Christ.

Accountability has the potential to be the most fruitful time in Small Groups, or it can be the most unproductive. I’m sure we’ve seen both in our Small Group experiences. Let me suggest four things to keep our accountability times meaningful:

1) Make it a priority and give it the time it deserves. Make sure your managing your study/discussion time to reserve 30-60 minutes for breakout time. And when you break out, guide that time to include meaningful sharing, not just surface conversations.

2) Cast the vision for transparency and confidentiality often. Here’s something to do this week: Begin your accountability time with sharing your heart about lowering masks and being authentic, committing to accept and not judge one another, and reminding what is shared in the group stays in the group. To get to deeper level of transparency there most be confidentiality (a sense of equal level of trust) and mutuality (a sense of equal level of sharing). Maybe you should read the previous sentence again. And the best way to get deeper transparency in your group is to model it yourself!

3) Get to specific evaluation (how are you doing with…) and action steps (what will you do this week with…). Accountability is more than someone identifying some Personal Growth Points. That’s a starting point. Encourage people to move beyond vague generalities to where they’re at with specific issues and commitments. Ask: “How can I pray for you specifically this week?” Most of the time people haven’t thought through specific steps they need to take. And if they haven’t through it through, they will never take those steps. And this is your role as a spiritual leader in your Small Group. If you’re not pressing them (in love), who is?

4) Faithfully follow up in prayer, through a phone call, and at the next group meeting. Follow up by adding the request to your daily prayer list. Follow up with an phone call or email to cheer them on as you run alongside of them. Follow up by reviewing specific commitments and prayer requests from the previous week at the next Small Group time. After all, isn’t this is when accountability really begins? It’s not just confessing sin or making a commitment, but accountability is ... well … keeping someone accountable to what they said they would do.

I have deep accountability in my life. I trust all of you are experiencing the benefits of authentic accountability in your own lives and promoting it in your group.

Cheering you on!