Victory by Covenant Eyes is based on an age-old philosophy of accountability. When we are willing to give a continuing account of our thoughts and actions to others, this heightens our attentiveness to obey God. When others receive a continual account of our thoughts and actions, it enables them feed valuable and timely wisdom into our life. As we hold one another accountable, we are equipped to more specifically pray for one another.
This goes beyond what we look at on our devices. Being accountable is a valuable practice for all areas of obedience to God.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We should not reduce accountability to only a list of questions. True biblical accountability requires a relationship that seeks transparency for our thoughts, feelings, and actions. However, these questions are a helpful starting point, especially if you haven’t experienced accountability in your life.
Life Transformation Group Accountability Questions
One of the best models I’ve seen in the area of accountability is the LTG (Life Transformation Group) model. One of the things an LTG does is ask good accountability questions. Here’s the list they suggest:
1. Have you been a testimony this week to the greatness of Jesus Christ with both your words and actions?
2. Have you been exposed to sexually alluring material or allowed your mind to entertain inappropriate thoughts about someone who is not your spouse this week?
3. Have you lacked any integrity in your financial dealings this week, or coveted something that does not belong to you?
4. Have you been honoring, understanding and generous in your important relationships this past week?
5. Have you damaged another person by your words, either behind their back or face-to-face?
6. Have you given in to an addictive behavior this week? Explain.
7. Have you continued to remain angry toward another?
8. Have you secretly wished for another’s misfortune so that you might excel?
9. Did you finish your reading this week and hear from the Lord? What are you going to do about it?
10. Have you been completely honest with me?
There are other good lists of questions I have seen. Some of these come from Neil Cole’s Cultivating a Life for God (Church Smart Resources 1999, pp.125-131).
John Wesley’s Accountability Questions for Small Groups
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass onto another what was told me in confidence?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self-justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give the Bible time to speak to me everyday?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to someone about my faith?
10. Do I pray about the money I spend?
11. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
12. Do I disobey God in anything?
13. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
14. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
15. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisee who despised the publican?
19. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I going to do about it?
20. Do I grumble and complain constantly?
Renovare Accountability Questions
James Bryan Smith and Richard Foster have compiled a list of questions for accountability to spiritual disciplines which is one of the Renovare resources.
1. In what ways did God make his presence known to you since our last meeting? What experiences of prayer, meditation and spiritual reading has God given you? What difficulties or frustrations did you encounter? What joys or delights?
2. What temptations did you face since our last meeting? How did you respond? Which spiritual disciplines did God use to lead you further into holiness of heart and life?
3. Have you sensed any influence or work of the Holy Spirit since our last meeting? What spiritual gifts did the Spirit enable you to exercise? What was the outcome? What fruit of the Spirit would you like to see increase in your life? What disciplines might be useful in this effort?
4. What opportunities did God give you to serve others since our last meeting? How did you respond? Did you encounter injustice to our oppression of others? Were you able to work for justice and shalom?
5. In what ways did you encounter Christ in your reading of the Scripture since our last meeting? How has the Bible shaped the way you think and live? Did God provide an opportunity for you to share your faith with someone? How did you respond?
Dave Guiles’ List of Accountability Questions
Dave Guiles, former director of Grace Brethren International Missions, developed these questions:
1. How have you sensed God’s presence in your life during this past week?
2. Have you received a specific answer to your prayers? What was it?
3. Have you spoken with a non-believer about your faith in Jesus Christ? With whom?
4. To whom have you shown God’s love during this past week?
5. What have you learned about God in your personal Bible reading this past week?
6. As a result of your Bible reading this past week, how have you determined to better obey God?
7. Specifically, what area of your life do you feel that God most wants to change? Have you taken specific steps to make those changes?
8. What good habit do you feel God wants to form in your life? Have you taken specific steps to develop that habit?
Adapted LTG Accountability Questions
1. Repent: What sin do you need to confess this week? Did you give in to a temptation or addictive behavior this week? What has the Holy Spirit convicted you about?
2. Believe: How have you doubted God this week? What do you need to believe Him for?
3. Love God: How have you expressed love and devotion to God this week? How did you serve God?
4. Love others: How have you expressed love towards others this week? Are you struggling to love or forgive someone? Have you damaged another with words this week?
5. Follow Christ: Did Christ prompt you to do something this week? Did you do it?
6. Go and Proclaim: Who did you share your testimony or the gospel with this week?
7. Watch Out: How did the enemy attack you or tempt you this week?
8. Fear/Worry Not: What have you worried about this week?
9. Pray (Keep Asking): What did you pray for this week? Did you hear from God through His Word and/or through prayer this week? What will you do about it? How can the group pray for you?
10. Giving: How have you shown generosity this week? Have you coveted something that does not belong to you? Are you content? How are you using your talents/gifts for others?
11. Gather/Remember: How did you gather with other believers this week to remember Christ and encourage each other?
12. Make Disciples: Who would you like to pray for this week (see back side for prayer guide)? Is there anyone you would like to invite to our LTG? Are you feeling led to start a new LTG somewhere?
I really like the adapted LTG questions. I have been in a “regular” LTG group for about a year.
Thanks, Luke. I’m looking for something to help my accountability group be more than socializing and not legalistic. Thanks for the great post!
Great post, some challenging things to ask in this.
Luke, you’ve seen the accountability form we’ve been using, but we’ve been thinking of developing another one (we find the key on the current one can be a bit confusing) but there’s definately alot here that will be usefull.
Thanks.