Alcoholics Anonymous History: Holiday Study of A.A. and the Book of James

Alcoholics Anonymous History:

Alcoholics Anonymous History -- the origins, the roots, and the early tools can be your special, simple, inexpensive way of reading, studying, learning, and applying three of the early A.A. Christian Fellowship program's absolute essentials--as Dr. Bob called them. The three, in the order of your holiday study of A.A, can be (1) The Book of James in the Bible. (2) Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in the Bible, and (3) 1 Corinthians 13 in the Bible--the so-called chapter on love.

Studying Each Chapter in the Bible along with A.A. Literature - one portion at a time

Your study can be easy. You can take one Bible chapter at a time. You can use one of Dick B.'s commentaries on the segment and the chapter. And you can have the Big Book and Steps at your side.

Asking Guidance from God, and Learning A.A.'s Roots in the Bible

The starting place, of course, is seeking God's guidance as to what He wants you to read, absorb, and apply from the particular chapter of what Dr. Bob called "the Good Book." See: Dick B., The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible. www.dickb.com/goodbook.shtml. You can order it online..

Alcoholics Anonymous and The Book of James:

This book of the Bible was said by Bill Wilson to be the favorite of early AAs. So much so that many wanted to call the A.A. Society "The James Club." And since we first featured this piece of history, many AAs, Christian and otherwise, have formed Big Book/Bible Study groups. Some called "James Clubs."

Relevant Items to Look for:

For openers, you might consider those portions of the Book of James that even the First Edition of the Big Book and its A.A. groups retained in one form or another.

These were: 1) Asking God for guidance. 2) Avoiding temptation. 3) Helping others without respect of persons. (4) Emphasizing that "faith" alone was barren or dead if not accompanied by works--deeds that God mapped out for us to do. (5) Guarding that erring member the tongue. (6) Submitting yourself to God and resisting the devil. (7) Cleansing your life. (8) Humbly yourself before God expecting Him to lift you up. (9) Eliminating grudges. (10) Seeking healing through the Lord. (11) Confessing your faults to another. 12). Recognizing that effectual fervent prayer of a righteous person avails that person much.

Your Specific A.A. Guide: The James Club and the Original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials:

Use this all-important guide by Dick B., The James Club and the Original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials. www.dickb.com/JamesClub.shtml. You can order this online.

You'll find a chapter by chapter, verse by verse, comparison of portions of the Book of James with significant Big Book and other A.A. literature.

Three Suggested Study Tools:

Again, your study tools: The Book of James, The James Club and the Original A.A. Program's Absolute Essentials, and The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.'s Roots in the Bible. All available to you on line.

dickb@dickb.com, 808 874 4876.