Going Beyond Addictions

Beyond Addictions is a 14-session course that approaches the problems of addiction on a Biblical, Christ-centered basis. The course has been taught to sixteen groups of men since September 2002. More than 200 men have completed the course during that time.

We invite you to download the audio and text portions of the course for use in churches, small groups or homes. All Beyond Addictions materials are copyrighted and should not be used in ways inconsistent with US Copyright law.

What is Beyond Addictions about?
In John 10:10, Jesus says that He came that we might have LIFE and have it more abundantly. It was not in God’s original plan for man to be in bondage to addictions nor did Jesus come in order for us to continue to struggle with them. He came to set us free from them. The sacrificial death and resurrected life of Jesus Christ makes it possible for us to go beyond addictions to live the abundant life that He has in mind for us.

Read the following course introduction to get a sense of the approach that we take in the course. If you like, you may download the course content for your personal use.

Course Introduction: Beginning at the Beginning

This is a discipleship course for followers of Jesus who have struggled with additive thinking.
The focus of this course is Christ (period). We will get to know Him through the power of His Word as revealed to us by His Holy Spirit. The more we are separated unto Jesus, the less likely we are to be drawn away by addictions. As we draw closer to the Lord, we will also see how to overcome addictions and go beyond them to the abundant life that Christ promises in John 10:10.

Good News!!! God has a plan for your life!!!

According to Ephesians 2:10, we are the workmanship of Christ, we are created in Him to do good works which He prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. In other words, He has a plan.

A great part of the frustration that we have experienced may, in fact, be a result of not walking in the plan that God has prepared. Isaiah 53:6 describes the problem when it says, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his way …”.

So, what is the solution? How can we find His plan? And how will this enable us to win the battle against addiction??? Over the next fourteen weeks, the answers to these questions will become clear.

God is thinking about you.
In Jeremiah 29:11, God says, ‘For I know the thoughts I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you an expected end’. Another translation of “an expected end” is “a hope and a future”. Need hope for your future? God gives it.

Compared to what the world teaches, scripture is radical.
As we look directly into God’s Word you will find that it isn’t just a little different from what the world teaches, it is radically different. For example, the Bible teaches:
• Forgiveness for our sins, not condemnation for them (John 3:16-17).
• Forgiveness of others, not vengeance (Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:20)
• Christ-esteem and others esteem over self-esteem (Philippians 2:1-8)
• Eternal transformation from the inside out rather than conforming to the pattern of this world (Romans 12:1-2)
• That we can find ourselves only by losing ourselves (Matthew 10:39)

That is just a sample. During the coming weeks, make the effort to think eternally, not temporally. (Romans 8:18)

Questions and points to ponder …
• Have I ever regretted an act of obedience to God? Have I ever regretted an act of disobedience?
• Am I preoccupied with God or with me today?
• Why am I here? (There is a hint in Romans 8:29.)
• What is God’s will? The answer to this question may be much more important than trying to find God’s will for my life.

As we getting rolling, think about these things …
Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things have passed away; behold all things are become new.

II Corinthians 5:17

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11

According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

II Peter 1:3

And let us not be weary in well doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Galatians 6:9

You can download Adobe PDF files of the course outline and each session by clicking on the icons below. You may need to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the PDF files.

Session	Topic	Notes	Audio
	Introduction
	Course Outline		(none)
Week 1	Transforming the Way We Think.
Week 2	How Did We Descend into Addiction?
Week 3	Addiction As Idolatry
Week 4	Other Biblical Views of Addiction
Week 5	Getting to Know the God We Worship
Week 6	The Sufficiency of Christ And Addictive Behavior
Week 7	Your New Identity in Christ
Week 8	Making the Change		(none)
Week 9	Applying God’s Wisdom in Areas Related to Addictions
Week 10	Applying God’s Wisdom II
Week 11	Building Walls to Protect Us from Addictive Thinking
Week 12	Building Walls II
Week 13	Building Walls III
Week 14	Putting it to Work		(none)
	Foundational Scriptures		(none)
	Bibliography		(none)

Use the Beyond Addictions Course to disciple others.
You are free to download the audio and text lessons for use in Bible Study groups or for your personal use. Please email us and let us know how you are using the materials.