God’s Design for Community

God exists in community – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit – Gen 1:26

God did not design man to be alone, it is the only thing he calls “not good” during Creation – Gen 2:18

God designed believers to be united into one body, for their encouragement and growth – Eph 4:15-16

Accountability Requires Humility

We must be willing to be honest about our struggle with sin and temptation – 1John 1:5-10

We are commanded to look out for another – Phil 2:1-4

The goal is not just asking for help against sin, but to be humbled by our need for a Savior – Ps 51:16-17

How Boundaries and Accountability Can Help Fight Sin

Boundaries can help guard against temptation, but they can’t keep us from sin – Col 2:20-23

Boundaries are not meant to be legalistic; they are meant to be wise – 1 Cor 6:18; 2 Tim 2:22

Boundaries help us think about the will of God, what is good, acceptable and perfect – Rom 12:1-2

Accountability helps to rescue us from sin – Gal 6:1-2, Heb 3:13

Accountability helps stir us up to love and good works – Heb 10:24-25

Accountability helps remind us of the gospel – 1 Cor 15:1-2

Practical Aspects of Accountability

Have someone you trust help hold you accountable – your parents, a friend, youth leaders

Make sure your accountability relationships are appropriate

Generally, a guy for guys and a girl for girls, an exception might be a parent or sibling

Don’t cause each other to stumble

Three things that, if all found together, anyone WILL fall into temptation. But if just ONE is removed, they likely won’t pursue explicit content. (David Powlison). 

1. Availability: Obviously, if the source is removed, then it will literally be impossible to find
   explicit material. Unfortunately in our sex-saturated world, this is literally impossible. Any determined individual will be able to find it. 
2. Anonymity: If someone is watching their every move, whether physically present or digitally through accountability software, someone is far less likely to blatantly pursue pornography. 
3. Desire: Of course, if you don’t want to do it, you just won’t. Remove the desire, then remove the temptation (James 1:14-15). This is easier said than done, but it is also the goal to which we ALL should be striving. 

Find someone who is willing to ask tough questions, be consistent and commit to pray for you

Find someone who will not just ask how you are doing, but who will remind you of God’s grace in Christ

Accountability is not just policing, or trying to find sin in someone, or just calling someone out when they do wrong; accountability is about encouraging and praying for the other person

Make sure you are ready to hold someone accountable by submitting that person to Christ and not trying to solve their problems by yourself

Make sure you are willing to be held accountable and will honestly confess your sin and temptations

Be gracious and loving, but do not be tolerant of sin

Practical Aspects of Boundaries

Think through what is appropriate and inappropriate and what causes you to sin or be tempted and seek to avoid those things

Let those holding you accountable know what your boundaries are

Don’t elevate your boundaries to be equivalent to Scripture Romans 14:22-23

Use all available means, such as Covenant Eyes

The Heart of the Matter is a Matter of the Heart

Accountability is not just about seeking behavioral change; it is about seeking heart change – Prov 4:23

Accountability is not about changing behavior to satisfy an accountability partner, but God – Heb 4:13, Eph 4:30

We must be changed by the gospel, not by our own efforts or the efforts of others – Titus 2:11-14