all too often, 'accountability' resides only in the surface realms of "Did you look at pornography" or "Did you drink too much?" instead of addressing the heart behind why we sin. The "sin beneath the sin" if you will.
Here is the link to Stephen Altrogge's 7 Tough Questions To Ask Your Friends, where he outlines the kinds of heart exposing questions he asks his friends as well as offers a bit of commentary on each. I've listed his questions below.
Have you been consistently pursuing the Lord through scripture reading and prayer?
Have you diligently pursued your wife/husband this week?
Have you seen any persistent patterns of sin in your life recently?
Last week you confessed struggling with [insert sin]. Have you taken steps to fight it this week?
When you gave into [insert sin], what were you believing about God in that moment? What were you believing about yourself?
What is the truth that you need to believe in this situation?
When you had the conflict with [insert person], what were you craving at that moment? (source)
RP tries to add:
Do you know God loves you?
Are you seeing Jesus in any ways that excite/secure/compel you?
and finally...
Can I tell you about Jesus?
I have found again and again that my legal & insecure heart will remind me of duty 10 times before it reminds me that Christ has purchased my acceptance with God.
I think this is a both and situation. We need BOTH the tough questions listed AND tender questions i've inserted.
