What difference would it make in your life if you took time once a week to get together with a couple other Christians simply for the purpose of encouraging, urging, and helping each other grow in your faith? Sometimes we can get so wrapped up in complicated methods for spiritual growth that we forget the simple power of meeting with others for accountability, support, and encouragement.

Sometimes it helps to have some direction for how to help each other grow, so I’ve pulled together a simple list of accountability questions that can be used. Here they are:

PRAY
•    Have you spent time in focused prayer?
•    Have you cultivated an ongoing conversation with God?
•    Have you prayed for others?
•    What answers to pray have you received?

GROW
•    How have you experienced growth in your relationship with God?
•    What have you learned through Scripture?
•    What temptations have you faced and how did you respond?
•    In what areas of life do you desire to grow in?

SERVE
•    How have you served someone else with an attitude of love?
•    Have you shared the gospel with someone in either word or action?

You’ll notice that these questions are based around the themes Pray, Grow, Serve. This is similar to the Rule of Life rhythm that I wrote about here.

So, give it a try! Start getting together with one or two other people and start asking each other these questions of accountability (it’ll only be effective if you are open and honest!) and watch your faith begin to deepen and grow!

Bonus:

Many of these types of simple, small groups will also encorporate pray for pre-believers (people who are not Christians yet) into their time together. I think this is great and helps us to think and live outwardly. To do this, just think of one person and begin to pray for that person as a group. Church Multiplication Associates has put together these prayers based on Scripture to help:

1. Lord, I pray that you draw ________ to Yourself (John 6:44)

2. I pray that ______ will seek to know You. (Acts 17:27)

3. I pray that _______ will hear and believe the Word of God for what it really is.
(I Thess.2:3)

4. I ask You, Lord, to prevent Satan from blinding ________ to the truth. (II Cor. 4:4)

5. Holy Spirit, I ask you to convict ______ of his/her sin and need for Christ’s redemption. (John 16:7-14)

7. I ask that you give me the opportunity, the courage and the right words to share the truth with _____. (Col. 4:3-6; Eph. 6:19-20)

8. Lord, I pray that ______ turns from his/her sin and follows Christ. (Acts 17:30-31, I Thess. 1:9-10)

9. Lord, I pray that ____ would put all his/her trust in Christ. (John 1:12; 5:24)

10. Lord, I pray that _____ will confess Christ as Lord, take root and grow in faith and bear much fruit for your glory. (Rom. 10:9-10; Col. 2:6-7, Luke 8:15)

Helpful Links:

• 3 is enough groups
• Church Multiplication Associates

If you try it out, be sure to leave a comment and let us know how it’s working for you.