Step 1 - Admit

We admit we are powerless over our addictions, brokenness and sinful patterns – that in our own power our lives are unmanageable.

Foundation 1

“For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” (Romans 7:18)

Key Theme

Realize your need for help.

Remember

There is hope for you – even in your brokenness – because God loves you, and the Bible has a plan for your healing.

Things to Remember

• Start and end each group with prayer, because God is the one who heals. Talk with him and be intimate with him putting your trust in his Spirit to work in lives.
• This week, talk about Mentors and begin collecting participants’ mentors’ names, emails and phone numbers.
• Review the Group Discussion Guidelines at the beginning, and emphasize the heart and purpose behind them.
• Don’t get into the rut of just answering questions. Set the tone for this being a group discussion where everyone participates.
  • Give people opportunity to express what is on their heart. They may need to confess a sin or relapse, or to give praise from the week.
  • You can always start each discussion with the question from Day 6 or a focus question from one of the daily lessons.
  • Feel free to ask follow-up questions when someone shares to better understand what God is doing in the lives of individuals.
  • As a leader you are free to ask participants to answer particular questions or to call on a participant to share.
  • Be gentle and kind when you do call on someone because you are still establishing trust.
• Be encouraging about any progress you see and about completing Step 1.
• Check on how they are doing with the daily curriculum as some are still developing the habit of connecting with God each day.

Group Agenda

Attendance

• Take attendance as participants arrive.

Begin the Group

• Welcome everyone and open with prayer.
• If you haven’t already, co-leader shares 5-minute recovery mini testimony. You can do this either at beginning or at the end of the meeting.
• Share the purpose and expectation of each person having a Mentor.
  • A mentor is an important part of your recovery journey. Inviting others into your recovery will help you process what God is teaching you and get continued encouragement during the week.
  • Refer to the mentor description in Appendix D.
    • Explain what a mentor is, where to find them, expectations, and that mentor training is available.
    • Aim to find mentor by the time you finish Step 2.
    • Ask for the mentor’s name and contact information once they identify one.
      • Email the mentor the information about the training and the curriculum.
      • The mentor can contact the leaders anytime if any questions.
    • If you haven’t already, hand out the mentor letter and description in your leader folder, which the participant can use to invite the mentor to be a part of their recovery process.

Group Discussion

• Remind the group of the Group Discussion Guidelines and the purpose behind them: to build trust, to honestly share and to learn to listen without fixing others.
• Give an overview of Step 1, ADMIT.
  • Asking the group to turn to the first page of the Step 1, and for someone to read out loud Step 1 and Foundation 1 (Romans 7:18).
  • Share the Key Theme of this week - Realize your need for help.
  • This week helps us remember to:
    • There is hope; God created you for a purpose.
    • Commit for today. Wellness, faithfulness, sobriety, joy and intimacy with the Lord happens one day at a time. Sometimes even one moment at a time.
  • Focus the discussion on Day 6 review questions or choose a specific lesson’s questions. Some possibilities include:
    • Day 1, Q5: What desires have led you down a path of sin toward death?
    • Day 3, Q1: What in this world have you looked to for meaning and purpose apart from God?

Encouragement for Participants

• Congratulations on completing Step 1! Point out any progress you’ve seen in the first couple of weeks.
• How well they are doing in keeping up with curriculum? Have they established a regular time and place to do their re:generation lesson?
• Encourage the group to get others involved in their recovery. Often, isolation fuels our addictions and sinful patterns.
  • Encourage them to initiate with one another to build relationships within the group. Have they called someone in their group to check-in and pray for them?
• Is someone willing to quote the Foundation 1 verse – Romans 7:18?

End the Group

• If you didn’t share your story at the beginning, continue to build trust through the co-leader sharing his or her story during the last 5 minutes.
• End with prayer and prayer cards.

Debrief the group time with your co-leader/coach and decide on who will facilitate next time.

Encouragement for the Leaders

• Begin to think about how to form Recovery Partner groups for your participants.
  • You can see what natural connections exist from Community Groups or relationships from Groundwork form or you may need to consider assigning them.
  • These groups will provide accountability to encourage each other, help one another when stuck, and provide connection outside of the group.
  • They are going to need one another to point each other to Christ throughout the steps.
• God has prepared this group for you in advance. This group is not accidental.
  
• “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
• Don’t lead by your own strength – you’ll wear out. Let God minister to and through you.
• Continue to live out the principles of recovery in your own life. Confess any sin and prayer needs to your co-leader. Honesty and truth builds trust.
• Be praying for each other and the group members.
• Thank you for faithfully serving the Lord’s people and being willing to walk in the path that God has prepared!
• As co-leaders, decide which one of you will send the mentors an introduction email.
  • Once you collect Mentor names, emails and phone numbers, send an introduction email with both of your names, thanking them for being willing to play the mentor role, and encouraging them to attend the next mentor training.( See the Leader to Mentor Communication document)
  • As you complete each book (i.e., Steps 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12), send the mentors an email letting them know what you have finished and what you are about to start.
  • This opens communication between you and the mentors, in case they have questions or concerns for you, or you need to get in touch with them.