A Suggested Guide for Recovery Groups and Meetings Patterned on Early AA
Dick B.
© 2011 Anonymous. All rights reserved
August 11, 2011
P. O. Box 837
Kihei, HI 96753-0837
(808 874 4876)
email: dickb@dickb.com
URL: http://www.dickb.com/index.shtml
Introductory Comment
For the past three of four years, and particularly in 2011, scarcely a day goes by that someone does not phone, fax, email, or mail me with the following questions: How to (1) Start a Big Book/Bible Study Group in AA; (2) Hold an old-time, early AA meeting, (3) Organize a recovery group organized in connection with a church, a para-church, or a Christian recovery fellowship in the church; (4) Organize a group of AAs and NAs who want to focus on the early AA Christian Fellowship, and its reliance on the Creator, coming to Him through Jesus Christ, Bible Study, and the old fashioned prayer meetings as they were frequently called, and Quiet Times.
Each communicant has a different agenda, a different point of origin, and a unique 12 Step, recovery group or church community background.
Hence, before beginning with answers and suggestions, I have found it helpful to have each person supply me directly with the following:
1. Their name, mail address, phone number, email, and website, if any.
2. A brief statement of their alcoholism or addiction story.
3. The length of their continuous sobriety or freedom from addiction.
4. Their religion, church or group, and religious beliefs.
5. Whether they believe in the Creator, have accepted Christ, and are willing to lead.
6. Their familiarity with the Big Book, taking the Twelve Steps, and a fellowship
7. Their familiarity with the Bible, and which version
8. The name, address, religion, and faith beliefs of their pastor or priest, if any.
9. The number of people they plan to reach at the beginning.
10. The immediate financial resources they have for acquiring start-up literature.
11. Whether they have read my books, and, if any, the books they’ve read.
When the foregoing have been answered by phone, email, or other communication, I welcome personal calls by phone to discuss moving forward and initial guidance.
Specific Suggestions
Suggested Format for Recovery Group Meetings
Open the Meeting as Follows:
This is the regular meeting of the (i.e.) “The James Club of Maui” or
“The Shoemaker Twelve Step Study” or the “Good Book/Big Book
Study Group”
My name is xxx, and I am your secretary
We will open the meeting with a moment of silence to do with as you wish
Followed by a prayer; and the secretary or chosen person prays (i.e.)
“Heavenly Father. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ for your blessing on this meeting of those who are here to overcome their life-controlling problems such as alcoholism, addictions, and other dependencies. We ask that your wisdom and guidance show us your will for our lives, your way to victory, and how we may glorify you in all that we do here.”
This group patterns its work after that of the first Alcoholics Anonymous Group, which was formed in Akron,
Ohio, The early A.A Christian Fellowship in Akron; stressed the Bible; was known as AA Number One; was a Christian Fellowship; and relied on the Creator to overcome the problems of the members. To the same end, we’ll review several verses from the Bible that guided them in their work:
God’s love: For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life@ (John 3:16)
God’s will: Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge
of the truth (1 Tim 2:4)
God’s word of faith: That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou
shalt be saved (Rom 10:9)
His Word is truth: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth (John 17:17)
Faith in God: But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God
must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him: (Heb 11:6)
Obeying God: Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promises (Heb 10:35-3 6)
God’s Two Great Commandments: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it,
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments
hang all the law and the prophets (Matt 22:37-40)
Forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy
diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Who satisfieth thy mouth with
good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s (Psalm 103:3-5)
The Gospel: And he [Jesus] said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shalt they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover: (Mark 16:15-18)
Early AAs believed that the solution to all their problems was in the Good Book--the Bible.
The Book of James was their favorite. In fact, A.A. co-founder Dr. Bob declared that James, Jesus’ sermon on the mount, and 1 Corinthians 13 were all considered absolutely essential. The original A.A. Society considered it vital that they seek, find, know, and establish a relationship and fellowship with God. Also vital that they study the Book of Acts to see what Christians could and should do by reason of
the teachings and accomplishments of Jesus Christ before he ascended to heaven to be at the right hand of his Father, Yahweh, the Creator.
Tonight’s session will be divided into three parts.
First, I will select someone to read one or several chapters from (i.e.) the
Sermon Mount that Jesus gave and which is reported in Matthew Chapters 5, 6, and 7
Second, I will select someone to read the guide prepared for us by A.A. historian
Dick B. concerning or more of these chapters and the A.A. program.
Third, I’ll open the meeting briefly for comments and discussion on these items.
We will then have a period where each of us in the group may pray to God and to
seek His guidance and healing in respect of our own lives.
And now, we ask that newcomers raise their hands so that we can get to know you.
Please talk to someone after the meeting, give them your name and phone number,
and get theirs so that you may call them for prayers, help, and support. During the
period you are working with our particular meeting group, keep company with believers
whether in shopping, recreation, sports, church, meetings, movies, games, schools,
meals, and so on. See Acts chapters 1 through 4 for what they did in the First
Century that sustained their believing and carried their message of salvation.
For those who have not yet been born again of God’s spirit, please either see your
pastor and do so with that person if you wish, or see me after the meeting; and
we will have a brief ceremony where individually you can confess Jesus as your
Lordand confirm in your heart that God raised him from the dead. This was called
a “real surrender” in early A.A. It enabled a newcomer to be born again and thus
become a child of the living and true God.
Literature is available for purchase or order at the table in the rear. Be sure to
read your Bibles and pray each day.
Our next meeting will be on _____________.
We will close the meeting by joining hands in a circle and saying the Lord’s Prayer, which will be led by __________. Thank you all for coming. Please join us again.
____________________________________________________________________
Suggestions for Members of the Group
With these suggestions for the individual to follow daily:
Abstain. Under no circumstances, indulge in your temptation problem - alcohol, drugs, cigarettes, lust, over-eating, etc.
Be sure to seek medical help for withdrawal, sweats, shaking, etc.
Thank God for all his blessings, name them and for all blessings that you already have.
Ask God in the name of Jesus Christ to heal you of your illnesses, to guide you away from temptations, to forgive you for your mistakes, to guide you and instruct you to safe habits, friends, places, and activities.
Determine that you will change your life by following God’s commandments as they are set out in the Bible.
Renew your mind in your reading, thinking, speaking - filling it with simple ideas
such as those in Philippians 4:8, 1 John 4:8, and Ephesians 1:19.
Call other believers for prayers, company, joint reading, activities, recreation, meals.
Begin immediately finding someone you can help even if it is by phoning them,
giving them rides, joining them for an activity, reading the Bible with them, or simply keeping fellowship with that person. Urge them to come with you to our group meeting among other meetings.
Don’t give up! Don’t give in. Read James 4:7: Submit yourselves therefore to
God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you
With these suggested readings for individuals or the group:
Read slowly, bit by bit, the Gospels, Acts, and go on with Romans, etc.
Read
Dick B.’s Why Early AAs Succeeded (a Bible study guide)
Use it, beginning at Chapter 4, for individual Bible study or
Group Bible study.
Dick B.’s The James Club: The Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials
Dick B.’s New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A.
Read Psalms such as 23, 31, 56, 91; Proverbs 3:5-6.
With suggestions for filling your hours:
A job, volunteer work, exercise, sports, wholesome recreation, school, reading,
coffee and or meals together, fairs and amusement parks, museums and
exhibits, arranging your affairs, your business, your house, and your yard,
Heed the old AA adage: Don’t get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired.
Get a Sponsor: Ask someone who has a sound Christian life to be your contact and sponsor. Keep in touch. Share your problems as long as your contact provides
you with suggested prayers, Bible segments to read, and positive solutions - not just the “wisdom of the rooms,” sympathetic listening, or some secular experience or solution. Study the Bible, the Big Book, and take the “Steps” with him
Other Meetings Your Group Can Hold
First, consult the Creator for guidance as to content and leader.
Remember that in early A.A. and among the early Christians,
there were daily fellowships.
Then you might consider establishing or going to
. 1 meeting a week resembling the above original AA meeting
1 meeting a week on early AA History
1 meeting a week simply reading the Bible - using the Bible study primer
1 meeting a week teaching the Big Book chapter by chapter
1 meeting a week studying a step and its origins (using my Twelve Steps for You Book)
1 meeting a week on Steps 10, 11, 12, particularly explaining what is involved in
a real Quiet Time and: (1) Born again of God’s spirit. (2) Reading from the Word.
(3) Prayer to God with thanksgiving, praise, seeking guidance, seeking healing,
seeking forgiveness, asking help for others. (4) Asking for revelation from God
for any message He wishes to give. (5) Using devotionals like The Upper Room,
The Runner’s Bible, My Utmost for His Highest.. Read the Big Book instructions on Steps 10 and 11
As to Step 12,
(1) Note that the original spiritual experience was acceptance of Christ
(Romans 10:9), being born again of the Spirit (John 3:1-8), and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:1-8). Then walking by the Spirit of God and not the flesh.
(2) Note that the message that was to be passed on was: God has done for me what I could not do for myself.
(3) Note that the primary principles to be practiced are those specified in
1 Corinthians 13, the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17), the two Great
Commandments love God and love your neighbor (Mark 12:28-31);
Serving (Mark 10:42-45); and witnessing (Matthew 28:18-20).
Dr. Bob cited all the foregoing verses. He emphasized that the steps could
be simmered down to their essence - love and service. He concluded his personal story by assuring AAs that “Your Heavenly Father will never let you down!”
Twenty-five years later (after A.A. was founded, Rev. Sam Shoemaker was addressing A.A. conventions and declaring that a A spiritual awakening involves four things: (1) Conversion. (2) Prayer. (3) Fellowship, and (4) Witnessing.
Suggested Resources Your Group Should Acquire
1. As many copies of the Big Book (4th ed.) as there are members
Plus at least one reprint of the 1st Edition, and Poe’s Concordance to the Big Book.
2. As many Bibles (preferably King James Version) as there are members Plus Young’s Concordance to the Bible.
3. A reference set of the Dick B. 29 Titles - with discounted price.
4. As many of the following Dick B. titles for each as there are members (available at a 50% discount plus s & h)
The Good Book and The Big Book: A.A.’s Roots in the Bible.
Why Early A.A. Succeeded (Bible study primer)
When Early AAs Were Cured. And Why.
Good Morning: Quiet Time, Morning Watch, Meditation
Twelve Steps for You
The James Club and The Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials
New Light on Alcoholism: God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A.
Dickb@dickb.com; www.dickb.com
Gloria Deo
