Twelve Steps
1. We admitted we were powerless
over our addictions and compulsive behaviours.
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)
| Jesus said
to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my
disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will
know the truth, and the truth will set you free." "But
we are descendants of Abraham," they said. "We
have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean,
`set free'?" Jesus replied, "I assure you that
everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent
member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever…."
John 8:31-35
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2. We came to believe
that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
For it is God who
works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.
(Philippians 2:13)
3. We made a decision
to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God.
Therefore, I urge
you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as
living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual
act of worship. (Romans 12:1)
4. We made a searching
and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Let us examine our
ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD. (Lamentations
3:40)
5. We admitted to God,
to ourselves, and to another human being, the exact nature of
our wrongs.
Therefore confess
your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may
be healed. (James 5:16a)
6. We were entirely
ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Humble yourselves
before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:10)
7. We humbly asked
Him to remove all our shortcomings.
If we confess our
sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and
purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
8. We made a list of
all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to
them all.
Do to others as
you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31)
9. We made direct amends
to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure
them or others.
Therefore, if you
are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your
brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front
of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then
come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)
10. We continued to
take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted
it.
So, if you think
you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (1 Corinthians
10:12)
11. We sought through
prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God,
praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry
that out.
Let the Word of
Christ dwell in you richly. (Colossians 3:16a)
12. Having had a spiritual
experience as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this
message to others, and practice these principles in all our affairs.
Brothers, if someone is caught in
a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch
yourself, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
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