Sunday July 2, 2023

Call To Worship:

Galatians 6:1-2: "My brothers and sisters, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear with one another's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ."

Songs:

Forever

Verse 1

Give thanks to the Lord

Our God and King

His love endures forever

For He is good He is above all things

His love endures forever

Sing praise sing praise

Verse 2

With a mighty hand

And an outstretched arm

His love endures forever

For the life that's been reborn

His love endures forever

Sing praise sing praise

Misc 1

(Pre-Chorus)

Sing praise sing praise

Chorus 1

Forever God is faithful

Forever God is strong

Forever God is with us

Forever forever

Verse 3

From the rising to the setting sun

His love endures forever

And by the grace of God

We will carry on

His love endures forever

Sing praise sing praise

Come Thou Fount

Verse 1

Come Thou Fount of every blessing

Tune my heart to sing Thy grace

Streams of mercy never ceasing

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount I'm fixed upon it

Mount of God's unchanging love

Verse 2

Here I raise my Ebenezer

Hither by Thy help I'm come

And I hope by Thy good pleasure

Safely to arrive at home

Jesus sought me when a stranger

Wandering from the fold of God

He to rescue me from danger

Interposed His precious blood

Verse 3

O to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be

Let Thy grace now like a fetter

Bind my wandering heart to Thee

Prone to wander Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart O take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

Prone to wander Lord I feel it

Prone to leave the God I love

Here's my heart O take and seal it

Seal it for Thy courts above

In Christ Alone

Verse 1

In Christ alone my hope is found

He is my light my strength my song

This Cornerstone this solid Ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love what depths of peace

When fears are stilled when strivings cease

My Comforter my All in All

Here in the love of Christ I stand

Verse 2

In Christ alone who took on flesh

Fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones He came to save

Till on that cross as Jesus died

The wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live

Verse 3

There in the ground His body lay

Light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day

Up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine

Bought with the precious blood of Christ

Verse 4

No guilt in life no fear in death

This is the power of Christ in me

From life's first cry to final breath

Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell no scheme of man

Can ever pluck me from His hand

Till He returns or calls me home

Here in the power of Christ I'll stand

Teaching: “Seeking God’s Kingdom First: Kingdom Accountability”

6 Main Aspects of Accountability (Broadly)

  1. Answerability: Individuals or organizations should be able to explain their actions, decisions, or behaviors to those who have the authority to demand explanations. This requires transparency and openness.

  2. Responsibility: Being responsible means accepting the consequences of one's actions and fulfilling the duties and obligations associated with a particular role or position.

  3. Trustworthiness: Being accountable involves being trustworthy and reliable, as others rely on individuals or organizations to act in their best interests.

  4. Consequences: Accountability involves accepting the consequences of one's actions, which can include both positive and negative outcomes. It means being willing to face the results, whether they are intended or unintended.

  5. Standards and Expectations: Being accountable often requires adhering to established standards, rules, and expectations. These can be set by law, regulations, policies, or agreed-upon norms within a particular context.

  6. Learning and Improvement: Accountability involves learning from mistakes or shortcomings and taking steps to improve future actions or behaviors. It is about using feedback and experiences to grow and make better choices in the future.

Passages on Accountability

  • Galatians 6:1-2: "My brothers and sisters, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. Bear with one another's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ."

  • James 5:16: “Therefore confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.”

  • Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” 

  • Matthew 18:15-17, “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector.”

  • Proverbs 27:17, “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.”

  • Luke 12:48, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.”

  • Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing songs, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.

6 Key Aspects of Kingdom Accountability

  1. Personal and Communal Responsibility: It starts with us recognizing our personal responsibility to live according to the teachings of Christ as well as our communal responsibility to helping our community live according to the teachings of Jesus. 

  2. Mutual Support and Encouragement: Christian accountability often takes place within a community of believers, where individuals support and encourage one another in their spiritual journey. It is not unilateral and it is never fully achieved. Meaning, we don’t arrive at perfect faithfulness to the Way of Jesus and therefore become the standard for how everyone else should live. Jesus is that standard. You and I both have places of growth left in us. And we need to support and encourage one another in that.

  3. Correction and Guidance: Christian accountability also includes the willingness to provide gentle correction and guidance when someone strays from the Way of Jesus. This is done with love, humility, and a desire to restore individuals to a right relationship with God and others.

  4. Confession and Repentance: Accountability within Christianity involves a willingness to acknowledge one's sins, faults, and mistakes, and to seek forgiveness and repentance. It requires humility and a willingness to admit wrongdoing, ask for forgiveness, and make amends.

  5. Spiritual Growth: Christian accountability aims to foster spiritual growth and maturity. It involves challenging one another to develop a more Christ-like character.

  6. Stewardship: Christian accountability extends to the responsible stewardship of resources, talents, and opportunities. It involves using these blessings in ways that honor God, benefit others, and advance His kingdom.

First Group Prayer Time:

  • You do not have to share if you do not want to.

  • Share something in your personal life, family, job, health, etc. that you would like prayer over.

  • Once a person shares, someone else volunteer to pray a simple prayer of healing, blessing, or Jesus’ presence within and over the prayer request.

  • Continue til everyone who would like to share has had a chance.

Second Group Prayer Time:

  • Focus on the Character of God & the Fruit of the Spirit

    • Gracious

    • Merciful

    • Patience

    • Steadfast Love

    • Faithfulness

    • Forgiveness

    • Justice

    • Compassion

    • Love

    • Joy

    • Peace

    • Kindness

    • Goodness

    • Gentleness

    • Self-Control

  • Which of these (choose between 1-3) are you wanting to grow in this summer?

  • After a person shares, someone pray a simple prayer over that person to grow in their desired area of Jesus’ character and the Spirit’s fruit.

  • Once everyone has had a chance to share, if they’d like, move on to communion as a group.

Communion:

  • Once you have finished the 2 prayer focuses, head up to take communion together.

  • Have someone pray over the communion in your group.

Benediction:

Our Father in heaven,

May your name be revered as holy.

May your kingdom come.

May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.


May the strength of God pilot us;

May the wisdom of God instruct us,

May the hand of God protect us,

May the word of God direct us.

Be always ours this day and for evermore.


Amen

Jared King