Biblical Comparisons with the traditional 12 steps

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.
   “I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out” (Romans 7:18)
2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13)
3. We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God. “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God — this is your spiritual act of worship” (Romans 12:1)
4. We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:40)
5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)
7. We humbly asked him to remove all our shortcomings. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
9. We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12)
11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out. “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly.” (Colossians 3:16)
12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs. “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.” (Galatians 6:1)

Recovery Principles Based on the Beatitudes

If you suffer from one or more of the effects defined in the following, Celebrate Recovery can offer a solution of healing for you.

Hurt: to experience physical pain caused by yourself or another; to feel emotional pain; undergo or experience difficulties or setbacks. The feeling of being hurt is an emotional reaction to another person’s behavior or to a disturbing situation -(e.g., abuse, abandonment, codependency, divorce, relationship issues, etc.)

Habit: regular repeated behavior pattern. An action or pattern of behavior that is repeated so often that it becomes typical of somebody, although he or she may be unaware of it. Addiction, such as an addiction to a drug, food or some other stimuli that deadens ones feelings. A habit is an addiction to someone or something (e.g., alcohol dependency, drugs, food, gambling, sex, shopping, smoking, etc.).

Hang-up: a psychological or emotional problem or fixation about something. An issue that causes persistent impediment or source of delay. Hang-ups are negative mental attitudes that are used to cope with people or adversity (e.g., anger, depression, fear, unforgiveness, etc.)

Healing and growth are possible by applying the principles of Celebrate Recovery to your life!

Partial list of hurts, hang-ups, and habits:
Abandonment
Abuse – Physical, Sexual, Emotional
Adult Children of Dysfunctional Families
Adultery
Alcohol Dependency
Anger
Anxiety
Chemical Dependency
Codependency
Controlling Personality
Depression
Divorce
Drug Dependency
Eating Disorders
Fear
Food Addictions
Gambling
Grief
Guilt
Same-sex Attraction
Insecurity
Loss of Relationship
Nicotine Dependency
Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior
Overspending
People-Pleasing
Perfectionism
Pornography
Rage
Rejection
Relationship Addiction
Sadness
Sexual Addiction
Shame
Workaholism

To accept the things I cannot change,

The courage to change the things I can,

And the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;

Taking, as Jesus did,

This sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it;

Trusting that You will make all things right

If I surrender to Your will;

So that I may be reasonably happy in this life

And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen

– Reinhold Neibuhr, 1934

Below are guidelines we implement during Celebrate Recovery Small Groups.

Keep your sharing focused on your own thoughts and feelings.
Not your spouse’s, boyfriend’s, or your family members’ hurts, hang-ups and habits, but your own. Focusing on yourself will benefit your recovery as well as the ones around you. Stick to “I” or “me” statements, not “you” or “we” statements. Limit your sharing to 3–5 minutes, so that everyone has an opportunity to share; and to ensure that one person does not dominate the group sharing time.

There is NO cross talk.
Cross talk is when two people engage in conversation excluding all others. Each person is free to express his or her feelings without interruptions. Cross talk is also making distracting comments or questions while someone is sharing, speaking to another member of the group while someone is sharing or responding to what someone has shared during his or her time of sharing. Additional types of cross talk would be handing a tissue or tissue box while someone is crying during their time of sharing. This interrupts feelings. Remember, there is healing in tears!

We are here to support one another, not “fix” one another.
This keeps us focused on our own issues. We do not give advice or solve someone’s problem in our time of sharing or offer book referrals or counselor referrals! We are not licensed counselors, psychologists, or therapists, nor are the group members. Celebrate Recovery groups are not designed for this. It is up to the participants to include outside counseling to their program when they’re ready.

Anonymity and confidentiality are basic requirements.
What is shared in the group stays in the group. The only exception is when someone threatens to injure themselves or others. We are not to share information with our spouses/family/coworkers. This also means not discussing what is shared in the group among group members. This is called gossip. Please be advised, if anyone threatens to hurt themselves or others, the Small Group Leader has the responsibility to report it to Celebrate Recovery Ministry Leader.

Offensive language has no place in a Christ-centered recovery group.
Therefore, we ask that you please watch your language. The main issue here is that the Lord’s name is not used inappropriately. We also avoid graphic descriptions. If anyone feels uncomfortable with how explicitly a speaker is sharing regarding his/her behaviors, then you may indicate so by simply raising your hand. The speaker will then respect your boundaries by being less specific in his/her descriptions. This will avoid potential triggers that could cause a person to act out.

• Are there things in my life that I do that hurt others?
• Is there something I wish I could live without?
• Is it time to crack my denial and admit I am not in control of my life?
• Do I have a painful habit or hang-up from which I need to be freed?

If you answered “yes” to any of these statements then we urge you to attend a Celebrate Recovery meeting to see if it is for you.

Celebrate Recovery is for everyone who wants to take off their mask and experience acceptance, compassion, love, freedom and life-change. There is no need to sign up, just show up!