BIG IDEA

I want people to help me live for Jesus.

MESSAGE NOTES:

WHAT: 

 Accountability to living the life I say I want to live, a life pursuing to live like Jesus, makes me reliable, trustworthy, and consistent.

We would all like to be known as a person who is reliable and trustworthy. And you and I can recognize those people in our lives who are not. We can think of those people that are nice genuine people but you know you can’t really rely on them to be consistent to themselves.

There is an old saying that goes like this “Talk is cheap.” What this means is that it is easy and cheap to say you will do something, but it is hard or expensive to actually do that thing.

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Matthew 7:13-14

This is Jesus recognizing that it is hard to not only talk the talk but also walk the walk.  And Jesus recognizes that many people take the easy way and only talk the talk.

SO WHAT:

The Bible is not silent on the struggle that we experience. The struggle to walk to the walk and it says we need help.

9 Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their efforts. 10 For if either falls, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to lift him up. 11 Also, if two lie down together, they can keep warm; but how can one person alone keep warm? 12 And if someone overpowers one person, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 (CSB)

It is hard for you and me to lead the lives we say we want to and on top of that we can recognize that we need help to live the lives we say we want to live.  

So what stops us from doing that?  What stops us from finding that other person who can help us when we are down, who can walk with us through our struggles, who can be strong when we are weak...or put another way...who can keep us accountable to walking the walk and talking the talk.

Let’s be honest with ourselves, the reason is because it’s terrifying.  Who could that person be? How could I tell them? What will they think of me? These fears are so dangerous because they stop us from reaching out for accountability, and ultimately that leads to isolation.

NOW WHAT:

You recognize that you need accountability in your life but you are still worried about what that person might think. How they might see you after you confess what is going on in your life.

There are “friends” who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24 NLT

A person who is going to stick closer than a brother/sister is a person who genuinely loves you and wants the best for you. But love is not just acceptance and affection...love also has a correction side to it.

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

God designed the church to be we, not me. So that we could encourage and help each other live for Jesus.

It is vital for you and me to have people around us who will help us up when we are spiritually weak and will help us continue walking that narrow road that leads to life.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

Q1: What behavior do you want to change?

Q2: Who can be the person you invite in to help you be accountable to making that change?

Q3: What fears or doubts keep you from sharing and asking for help to live for Jesus?

Q4: Do you feel like you’re the kind of friend who “destroys” each other or the kind of friend that sticks closer than a brother/sister?

Q5: How can you help those around you live for Jesus?