Book Description
Celebrate Recovery is designed to assist churches of any size in starting one or more recovery groups by providing the tools for those who will lead them.


From the Author
John Baker helped develop the Celebrate Recovery ministry at Saddleback Church and is currently serving as pastor of ministries, overseeing the entire Class 301 process, staffing ministries, and helping start new ministries. He earned his MBA from St. Louis University and is currently enrolled in the Master of Divinity program at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary


From the Back Cover
Realize I'm not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable. "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor." Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover. "Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ's care and control. "Happy are the meek." Openly examine and confess my faults to God, to myself, and to someone I trust. "Happy are the pure in heart." Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. "Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires." Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I've done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others. "Happy are the merciful." "Happy are the peacemakers." Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and gain the power to follow His will. Yield myself to be used by God to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words. "Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires."


About the Author
John Baker developed the Celebrate Recovery ministry at Saddleback Church. He is currently serving as pastor of ministries, overseeing the entire C.L.A.S.S. 31 process, staffing the 150 ministries, and helping start new ministries.


Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Denial
Principle 1: Realize Im not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable. Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.
Matthew 5:3 GNB
Step 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
Think About It
Before we can take the first step of our recovery, we must first face and admit our denial.
God tells us, You cant heal a wound by saying its not there! (Jeremiah 6:14 TLB). The acrostic for DENIAL spells out what can happen if we do not face our denial.
Disables our feelings
By repressing our feelings we freeze our emotions. Understanding and feeling our feelings is freedom.
They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of destructive habitsfor a man is a slave of anything that has conquered him (2 Peter 2:19 GNB).
Energy lost
A side effect of our denial is anxiety. Anxiety causes us to waste precious energy running from our past and worrying about and dreading the future. It is only in the present, today, where positive change can occur.
He frees the prisoners ...; he lifts the burdens from those bent down beneath their loads (Psalm 146:78 TLB).
Negates growth
We are as sick as our secrets. We cannot grow in recovery until we are ready to step out of our denial into the truth.
They cried to the Lord in their troubles, and he rescued them! He led them from their darkness and shadow of death and snapped their chains (Psalm 107:1314 TLB).
Isolates us from God
Gods light shines on the truth. Our denial keeps us in the dark. God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:57).
Alienates us from our relationships
Denial tells us we are getting away with it. We think no one knowsbut they do.
What is the answer?
Stop lying to each other; tell the truth, for we are parts of each other and when we lie to each other we are hurting ourselves (Ephesians 4:25 TLB).
Lengthens the pain
We have the false belief that denial protects us from our pain. In reality, denial allows our pain to fester and grow and turn into shame and guilt.
Gods promise: I will give you back your health again and heal your wounds (Jeremiah 30:17 TLB).
Accept the first principle of recovery. Step out of your denial! Step into your Higher PowersJesus Christsunconditional love and grace!
Write About It
1. What areas of your life do you have power (control) over? Be specific.
2. What areas of your life are out of control, unmanageable? Be specific.
3. How do you think taking this first step will help you?
4. As a child, what coping skills did you use to get attention or to protect yourself?
5. What was the family secret that everyone was trying to protect?
6. How do you handle pain and disappointment?
7. How can you begin to address your denial?
8. In what areas of your life are you now beginning to face reality and break the effects of denial?
9. Are you starting to develop a support team? Are you asking for phone numbers in your meetings?
List them on the inside back cover of this workbook!

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Realize I'm not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable. "Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor." Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him, and that He has the power to help me recover. "Happy are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ's care and control. "Happy are the meek." Openly examine and confess my faults to God, to myself, and to someone I trust. "Happy are the pure in heart." Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. "Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires." Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I've done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others. "Happy are the merciful." "Happy are the peacemakers." Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and gain the power to follow His will. Yield myself to be used by God to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words. "Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires."

Author Biography: John Baker developed the Celebrate Recovery ministry at Saddlebak Church. He is currently serving as pastor of ministries, overseeing the entire C.L.A.S.S. 31 process, staffing the 150 ministries, and helping start new ministries.

SYNOPSIS