Word Count: 451 – Est Read Time: ~2 Minutes
What’s Up
More than half of Christians believe their spiritual life is no one else’s business. That belief is not just wrong … it’s dangerous. (Read the research here: Barna Research)
So What
Faith was never meant to be a solo project. The church is called to disciple, and discipleship requires accountability, even if that ruffles some feathers.
The Point Is
Discipleship Demands Accountability
The New Testament is clear: your spiritual growth is very much the church’s business. Jesus didn’t say, “Keep it to yourself.” He said, “Take up your cross and follow me.”
Warm and Fuzzy Isn’t the Goal
Too many of us seem to believe that church is there to help us feel good. But if you think church is about feeling good, you haven’t read the Gospels. Jesus promised hardship, persecution, and preached radical obedience, not comfort.
Ask the Right Questions
Accountability doesn’t have to be formal. Ask your leaders, your members, and your teams, “What did you read in Scripture this week?” Weekly. Relentlessly.
Build Weekly Accountability into Everything
From small groups to sermons, weave in reflection and response. If there’s no action step, then it wasn’t discipleship, it was just content.
And … ?
The church has bought into the cultural lie that faith is personal and private. But biblical Christianity was never private. It was radically communal, shoulder-to-shoulder, iron sharpening iron. So when 56% of Christians say their spiritual life is no one else’s business, we have a massive discipleship failure on our hands.
But you can turn that around, Pastor. Start by asking better questions. Ask them at the back door after worship. Ask them in staff meetings, board meetings, team meetings. Ask, “What did you read this week?” and don’t flinch when the answer is, “Nothing.” Keep asking.
Then bring that same accountability to your small groups. End every session with two questions: “What is God calling you to do?” and “What will you do about it this week?” Follow up the next week. Repeat. Spiritual maturity doesn’t come from learning more, it comes from living what you’ve learned.
Finally, turn your sermons into weekly mission briefings. Hand out worksheets with Scripture questions, sermon reflections, and 2–3 real action steps. Tell them you’ll follow up. Then do it. “Last week I asked you to do ___. How’d that go for you?” And prime the pump with a couple leaders ready to model what implementation looks like.
Faith isn’t private. Never has been. If your church takes that seriously, your people will grow up in Christ and the culture of passive consumption will die on the vine.
Action!
Want to build a spiritually accountable church culture? Join the Growing Church Network.
