Why is Christ the answer?
· Answer? Answer to what question?
Regardless of your historical source, mankind has struggled from the beginning of time with a variety of personal and interpersonal issues. And all those issues and more are still with us today, so is there really an answer?
The world has almost as many answers as there are people, everyone has their own answer. Look at the issue and world offers a number of solutions to the problem and a suite of testimonies to the effectiveness of that solution.
You are here tonight, in what some would call a recovery meeting or a support group looking for some answers, some encouragement, something that will help with your struggles, challenges, or the issues you face…that’s all of us.
Yes, I think you are in the right place….
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As an introduction to 12 Steps with God, the material we present and the discussion that we will facilitate will be a little different or very different than most other recovery or support groups you might attend.
The foundation for 12 Steps with God program and the associated Biblical Counseling approach to this program are all based on the Bible – the truth of God’s Word in our lives.
In addition, throughout the program we will emphasize the importance of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. This relationship is essential, because a walk of faith with Jesus Christ is what makes lasting victory over the issues in our life possible.
Sitting here tonight, you may not go to church, have read the Bible, or know anything about Jesus Christ…that is just fine, because we would love to introduce you to a loving Savior.
We can get you started with a recovery Bible and make sure you understand mankind’s need for a savior and how God has made every provision for each of us to know Him.
Here in 12 Steps with God, you may notice similarities but we are intentionally different than most recovery or support groups…because Christ is the answer, period.
This ministry is Bible-based and Christ-centered and we are convinced that only through the Word of God and a reliance on the Holy Spirit as a believer in Jesus Christ can we find lasting victory over the challenges or issues we face.
The Bible itself states that the truths contained within it are entirely sufficient to enable a person to live a life pleasing to God… for His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. 4 Through these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world on account of lust. – 2 Peter 1:3-4
The Old and New Testament provide the only authoritative guide for man’s thoughts, speech, and actions dealing with his relationship to God, others and self…
7 The Law of
the Lord is perfect, restoring
the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise
the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of
the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
yes, than much pure gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the
honeycomb.
11 Moreover, Your servant is warned by
them; in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who
can discern his errors? Acquit me
of hidden faults.
13 Also keep Your servant back from
presumptuous sins; let them not rule over me;
Then I will be innocent, and I will be blameless
of great wrongdoing.
Scripture contains the solutions to every problem of attitude, relationship, communication, conduct, and behavior.
To have lasting victory in
facing, dealing with, and enduring any situation of life you must understand
the problem from God’s view, recognize your biblical hope in the midst of the
situation, make a plan to change biblically, and put the plan into practice.
Our 12 Steps with God ministry is a 12 Step group based on the Bible with a small group biblical counseling approach.
God’s Word and the Holy Spirit can:
ü Help us heal all hurts, replace bad habits, and overcome nagging hang-ups1.
ü Help us understand that not all hurting is a result of our sin.
ü Work in anyone’s life; but victory over any life issues comes through faith, spiritual discipline (2 Cor. 10:3-5), and the encouragement/support of all the “one-another’s” as a member of a Bible-believing church.
ü Help us understand that we may not be relieved of all hurts in this life and that as a believer, we have access to God’s all-sufficient grace.
These are the 4 basics of Biblical redemption and victory over our life issues on which we focus:
[1] In addition to spiritual issues and a struggle with sin that a believer can address biblically, a person can be affected by several organic medical conditions that require care/treatment by a medical doctor (MD) and/or prescription medication.