Christian Accountability for a Healthier Church

Written by Warren |Posted on May 25, 2009 | Comments

This morning I listened in to White Horse Inn’s podcast (April 5,2009 edition) speaking on Church discipline. They mentioned that in other Churches, elders would visit other members in their homes for some coffee. At the visitation the elder would ask the member(s) if they were blessed with the Sunday preachings. If they think they are growing spiritually or not. If not, they would ask what the member(s) would suggest to encourage spiritual growth.

Now I thought that was a great idea. This would be a good opportunity to manifest Christian accountability among the brethren. Since I am not officially an elder, but at times I do teach, I would want to do visitations among the brethren.

After lunch I was sifting thru Phil Ryken’s book “City on a Hill.” And I was reading thru the subject of growing together in groups. In it, Ryken emphasizes the importance of having small groups. It creates an environment of acceptance, accountability, and most important of all love towards the brethren. Burdens would be discussed and the prayer life of the group would become healthier as they show their care for each other. In it he says this “Every time we meet, we pray. And every time we pray, we throw more fuel onto the fire of the Spirit’s ministry in the Church.” (City on a Hill, page 90)