WEEK 13- Offering Accountability to Others
MONDAY — Read the passage with your team.
1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ .
Galatians 6:1-2
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:6-21
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29
What does this passage have to say about accountability?
Why is that important?
TUESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
1) Who is qualified to hold another person accountable (Galatians 6:1)? What is the responsibility of a person who administers accountability (v. 1)? What does “restoring a person gently” involve? Do you deal with struggling teammates in this way?
2) By what means does God command you to “expose” the “fruitless deeds of darkness” in others’ lives (Ephesians 5:8-15)? Harsh words of condemnation? Calling attention to their every mistake? Who is this “light that makes everything visible” (v. 14)?
WEDNESDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
God commands His children to “live as children of the light” (Ephesians 5:8), that the light (Christ) will make visible the dark emptiness (the void and the need) in the lives of those who have rejected Him. We can, then, understand “holding others accountable” to mean showing them God (the one with whom they need relationship).
3) In order for your life to reflect a right relationship with Christ, you must “find out what pleases the Lord” (Ephesians 4:10). How can you learn what pleases the Lord? How can God’s Word further be used to hold others accountable (v. 19)? Do you and your teammates use the words of Scripture to challenge, remind, and encourage each other?
4) Your words are a powerful part of your impact upon others. What should be the single goal of the words that come out of your mouth (Ephesians 4:29)? Are you aware of and sensitive to the needs of your teammates? Do you care about building them up? Is a godly athlete only concerned about building up his own teammates? What about his opponents, and fans who are watching him compete? What about the younger kids who are watching your team play? What about the referees that are officiating the game? What is the impact of your team’s speech and attitude on those people?
THURSDAY — Discuss the passage with your team.
5) You’re studying accountability in the setting of athletics and team, but are you only expected to offer accountability (a right relationship with God) to your teammates and others in the context of your sport? What other relationships provide an opportunity for you to share your relationship with Christ? How should you do this? (Review some of the means of accountability you studied on Tuesday and Wednesday.)
6) Does the need for accountability (relationship with God) extend beyond the people you know well — beyond your “comfort zone”? What about outreach? What about your community? If your team feels compelled to serve your community in this way, we’d encourage you to look into the NCSAA Hearts and Minds Project — a community ministry program designed for teams who desire to share the love of Christ (through sports) with their local community. We’d also encourage those who feel drawn to missions work to contact us for more information about missions trips sponsored by some of the excellent short-term missions organizations with which NCSAA partners.
FRIDAY — Discuss sport applications of accountability, and pray together.
· Ask your athletes to briefly reflect on what they’ve learned about accountability this week, and to repeat some of those things. (Remind them of some of the Biblical truths about accountability you’ve discussed, if necessary.)
· Ask your team, “Based on what we learned about accountability this week...What does an accountable athlete do?” Do not settle for vague answers; challenge your athletes to go beyond general qualities of accountability, and to determine what those qualities look like in action.
· Add the results to your team’s list of descriptions of the “accountable athlete”, and be sure the list is displayed somewhere that is constantly visible, as a reminder to the team.
· Pray together as a team. Encourage your athletes to pray for your team’s growth in regard to the discipline of accountability — especially in relation to some of the issues and challenges that you discussed together this week. Challenge them to also ask for forgiveness, when applicable. Give time for athletes to request prayer (regarding accountability or anything else), and pray together.
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