Congratulations on making one of the most rewarding choices of your life! Your decision to lead the Celebrate Recovery program affords you the matchless experience of seeing broken people transformed by the power of Christ. As a leader, you are about to make a difference in the most direct way possible – helping others discover hope and change they had thought was beyond their reach. Your own life, too, will never be the same as you see your investment of time and care returned in ways you’ve never imagined.
This leader’s guide contains testimonies, a 90-day strategy, and gives you everything you need to facilitate the life-changing Celebrate Recovery lessons. We’ve done our best to simplify your job. The clear, easy-to-follow format minimizes your preparation time and virtually walks you through each meeting. Besides the ability to follow basic instructions, a willing heart is all you need to successfully conduct this proven, life-changing program. Plus, learn about the all new, revolutionary step study The Journey Continues with four new participant’s guides to deepen each person’s recovery journey.
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. (Step 1)
“Happy are those who know that they are spiritually poor.”
Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him and that He has the power to help me recover. (Step 2)
“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. (Step 3)
“Happy are the meek.”
Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust. (Steps 4 and 5)
“Happy are the pure in heart.”
Voluntarily submit to any and all changes God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. (Steps 6 and 7)
“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 when possible, except when to do so would harm them or others. (Steps 8 and 9)
“Happy are the merciful.” “Happy are the peacemakers”
Reserve a time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will. (Steps 10 and 11)
Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and my words. (Step 12)
“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.”
John Baker is the founder of Celebrate Recovery®, a ministry started at Saddleback Church in 1991. John also served as the Pastor of Saddleback Church’s Signature Ministries and was a nationally known speaker and trainer in helping churches start Celebrate Recovery ministries. John’s writing accomplishments include Celebrate Recovery’s The Journey Begins Curriculum, Life’s Healing Choices, the NIV Celebrate Recovery Study Bible (general editor), and Your First Step to Celebrate Recovery. He also is the coauthor of The Celebrate Recovery Devotional and, with his son Johnny, the coauthor of Celebrate Recovery’s The Journey Continues curriculum. John is survived by his wife Cheryl, the cofounder of Celebrate Recovery, and was married for more than five decades.
