There are 5 areas of your life, and my life that growth is possible. They are listed below.

Intellectual, Social, Emotional, Physical, Spiritual.

Today though, were talking mainly about spiritual growth.

Everyone here needs what I’m talking about, everyone needs at least one real friend, an accountability partner.

Here is the definition of Accountability

“Accountability�? is a Christ- centered relationship, which encourages spiritual growth and life change.

Accountability means having at least one other person that you can count on that will encourage you to grow spiritually and change your life.

This person really can change your life.

About 2 years ago, a friend and I would always go to the gym to work out. We’d always go at the same time, on the same days. Had I have just been going by myself, I would have skipped many times, but since he was there to hold me accountable to going to the gym, I never missed because I knew he would have been mad, and he never missed because he knew I would have been mad.

An accountability partner is just that. Someone who will be there to challenge you when you don’t want to be challenged any more.

On a slightly different note, it’s a proven fact in my life, and many people’s lives…You either become better or worse because of the friends you have and the people you hang out with.

Illustration about rock climbing:

One day, a few of my friends decided to go stay at one of their cabins up in the mountains, and they invited me. A few days later, we get up at about 6:00am and drive up to this cabin in the mountains, somewhere near a river.

To make this very long story shorter, one of the days we were up there, we decided to go rock climbing…good idea then…bad idea now looking back.

So first we hike down to the river, and climb the steepest rocks near the river, but still not too much of a challenge. Then one of my friends remembers there are some rocks at the top of a mountain…bad idea #1.

So we start on our way up this mountain…but it’s not just a regular mountain, its takes about 30 minutes to get to the top…but the catch is that it’s a strictly four-wheel drive trail. And we really found out why it was a four-wheel drive trail.

After about 45 minutes we got to the top, and we go to this small building at the highest point, and inside we find a forest ranger who sits up there all day and looks for fires in the forest. This forest ranger stays up there for 1 week during the month, and to get up and down the mountain…they send a helicopter in…that’s how steep this mountain was.

Anyways, as we were up there, we see these huge rocks that we decide to climb.

One of my friends is short and couldn’t reach all the ledges, and he only makes it about ¼ of the way, the second guy was a chicken and stopped then too. So its down to just me and my friend Ruben. After about 30 minutes of figuring how were going to get to the top of this rock, we decide we’ll shimmy around the open face of the mountain, and climb that side.

Bad idea #2.

As were going over there, we dislodge a rock about the size of a softball, and it hits the side of the mountain and bounces out and lands about 500 feet down, and disintegrates. This was a very steep mountain.

Finally after about an hour we manage to get to the very top, and we take a picture to document our stupidity, and then we can’t get down.

To get up we had to help each other, and now there is no way down except jumping about 30 feet.

Once again, we stand up at the top for about 30 minutes…this is as close to the sun as I have ever been…and it was hot up there. So instead of just waiting for heat exhaustion to set in, we decide to just go for it and jump.

They decide I will go first…bad idea #3…so I lay down on my stomach to try to get as close I can to the ground…our two friends on the ground move all the big rocks out of our landing zone, and I jump.

As I was falling I remember thinking…this fall is not nearly worth the reward for getting to the top…

I decided before the jump that as I hit the ground, I would try to hit with my feet to break the fall, the try to kind of roll so I didn’t break my legs.

Well, it didn’t exactly work like that because I wasn’t jumping at an angle, I was jumping straight down.

So as I hit the ground, my legs broke my fall…but then I just smacked the ground with my back and shoulder.

Then Ruben decides to try what I wasn’t able to do successfully…and he wasn’t successful either.

The point of this story is that if I were up in the mountains alone, I never would have done that…it wouldn’t have been fun by myself.

Look at Roman numeral 1. Accountability helps me tackle the problems I face. In the word “Accountability�? circle the word count.

Do you have a friend who you will be able to count on when times get tough? Someone who will climb the mountain with you, and not just sit and watch you fall?

These 5 numbers under Roman numeral 1 are the 5 benefits of accountability. If you don’t have them, it’s not a big deal; these are the ideal list to aim for when you have an accountability partner.

ON PAPER
Read Ecc. 4:10 – Relationships
Read Gal. 6:2 – Relationships

God wants us to have friends so that they can bear our burdens.

Everyone wants to be completely known, and still loved.

Would your friends still be your friends if they knew every thought you had, and knew everything little thing you did?

Read #2 on paper

ON PAPER
Read Ecc. 4:78
Read Prov. 18:24

I’m sure there aren’t too many guys who say “Ya, I really want to share my feelings and thoughts, and I still want to be loved�?

But eventually you’ll come to a place where you’ll really be glad you have an accountability partner…I promise.

Read #3 on paper
Everyone needs advice from friends…not companions.

The difference between friends and companions is what they tell you when you ask for advice. Friends will tell you the honest truth whether you want it or not…companions will tell you what you itching ears want to hear…even if it’s not the best for you.

Read Prov. 12:15

Tell story about sunglasses in restaurant.

That is a silly example but it illustrates a good point.

Right this down: A good friends advice should be listened to.

My friend saved me from embarrassment and sin…had I of not listened, I would have yelled at our waiter.

Read Prov. 12:15 again

Read #4
This isn’t talking about every day problems; this is talking about deep issues, divorce, abuse, and addiction, stuff like that.

Read James 5:16 emphasize, “so that you may be healed.�?
Why have an accountability partner? “So that you may be healed�?

Read #5
Read Prov. 27:6
Explain “friendly wounds�?

Read Prov. 27:17

Here are some practical applications:

Roman numeral 2
Read #1
This can be done with SAG 5

Read #2
Admit struggles, but you have to be real and honest.

Read #3
Ask questions, you must genuinely care though.

If you say “Yeah, I’d like to try this accountability thing�?, either let myself or someone you know and trust and get connected with an accountability partner today.