Recovery is possible.
What does rescue from addiction look like?
Step 1: Jesus calling
- You are not here by accident
Step 2: Surrender
- Not perfection, surrender
- One day at a time
Step 3: Jesus walking with us
Step 4: Repeat
Rescued from Addiction 27 Sep 20
(Message 2) Addiction is a difficult subject to address. Even when we bring it up in church, there are certain addictions that are not talked about. If we don’t address these addictions, how can we expect to find freedom? Join us for stories and a genuine message of redemption and hope. #GCRescueStory #GCCelebrateRecovery
Click here to print.
Download and Print Copy of Questions
Start reading.
John 8:3 – 11
As he was speaking, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in the act of adultery. They put her in front of the crowd.
“Teacher,” they said to Jesus, “this woman was caught in the act of adultery. The law of Moses says to stone her. What do you say?”
They were trying to trap him into saying something they could use against him, but Jesus stooped down and wrote in the dust with his finger. They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” Then he stooped down again and wrote in the dust. When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman. Then Jesus stood up again and said to the woman, “Where are your accusers? Didn’t even one of them condemn you?” “No, Lord,” she said. And Jesus said, “Neither do I. Go and sin no more.”
Start talking. Find a conversation starter for your group.
- Can you relate to any of the people who shared their rescue story in the video on Sunday?
Start thinking. Ask a question to get your group thinking.
- Read Romans 8:26 – 28 NIV. How is it possible God can work for the good through even the horrors of addiction? Have you ever seen first hand, either in your life or the lives of family or friends, God work things for good through some kind of addiction?
- What does the word “redemption” mean to you? Do you believe you deserve redemption personally? Do you believe that there is anyone beyond redemption?
- Read John 8:3 – 11. What did Jesus mean when He said, “let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone”? Why is there no condemnation with Jesus? Like the pharisees in that story, in what ways have you (maybe even unknowingly) condemned others, including those in addiction? What did Jesus mean when He said, “Go and sin no more”?
Start sharing. Choose a question to create openness.
- You might not consider yourself an addict, but the basis of Celebrate Recovery is that EVERYONE has a hurt, habit, or hangup. That means that everyone has something in their life that they need recovery from. If you can identity something within yourself, share with the group if you feel comfortable. Why is surrender the key first step in recovery? Why is surrendering so hard to do?
- Are you personally struggling with secret addiction? (you may not be willing to answer this in group, but you should definitely answer it)
- What are some tools/resources you have found for addressing your addictions, past or present?
- If you think of addiction as anything that takes over your thoughts, actions, and emotions to the point that God and obedience to Him are replaced by that ‘thing’, what safeguards (including participating in CR) can you put in place to help prevent you from falling into the addiction trap? Identify areas in your life where these safeguards could be beneficial and take steps to put them in place.
Start doing. Commit to a step and live it out this week.
- If you are struggling with an addiction please tell someone and start your road to recovery. Everyone in a Small Group should at some point attend a Friday night for Celebrate Recovery. Commit to a Friday night and attend with your group.
Start praying. Be bold and pray with power.
- This is the serenity prayer that is prayed at Celebrate Recovery. “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen”
Start digging. For further study.
in the top right of the video.