Developing Relationships By Pastor Bong Baylon

Discussion Guide No. 9

Accountability
Introduction

W
elcome to the ninth session of DEVELOPING RELATIONSHIPS. When boundaries
are broken, we need to be held accountable. This may be the boundary that
God Himself has set. When this happens, it’s called sin. Sin destroys our
relationship with God, but it also destroys our relationships with one another. For this
reason, the key to developing relationships is to be accountable to others for our thinking,
feeling and doing. We cannot just violate each other’s boundaries and the boundaries of
God and then escape accountability. We are members of one another, and we are
members of Christ’s body. We are accountable to each other before the Lord. This is
what it means to be the body of Christ in this world.

Icebreaker Question:

What do you feel when you hear the phrase “church discipline?”

Scripture reading: Matthew 18:15-20; Luke 17:1-10

Discussion Questions:

1. How would you summarize the process of church discipline in Matthew 18?
2. How would you describe this process? Is it fair or unfair? Is it tedious or easy? You
can use your own description.
3. Based on verses 18 to 20, what are the promises of the Lord to the church if and
when they practice church discipline?
4. How can these promises help in fulfilling this process?
5. What do you think is the meaning of the phrase “if he listens to you?”
6. What is Jesus trying to say in Luke 17?
7. How can you reconcile what Jesus is saying in Matthew 18 with this passage in Luke
17?

Application:

1. Discuss the RESTORE method. Practice it using role plays.

2. Make a commitment to each other before the Lord that you will practice and submit to
church discipline if and when you become Covenant Members.

Assignment:

Choose the next person who will share his or her life testimony in your next meeting.
Pray for that person. Practice church discipline if and when the need arises.