This document discusses the importance of community for spiritual growth and recovery from addiction. It makes the following key points: 1) The Bible shows that God intends for people to live in community, as seen in the examples of God living with others, Jesus and his disciples, and the early church. 2) Community helps guard against isolation and is important for life change and overcoming sin. However, the ultimate goal of community is to help people grow closer to Christ. 3) The document provides examples of questions for self-reflection about spiritual growth both individually and within a community context to help support recovery and holding each other accountable.

1. Dr. Jay
BurnsThe Prodigal Ministry
Dallas, Texas

2. Community in
Recovery

3. Biblical call to Community
 God himself lives in eternal community (Gen 1:26)
 Jesus gave us an example of living in community
through his relationship with the twelve disciples
 Early church believers continued this example of
community (Acts 2:42)
 Life change in christ happens best in the context
of relationships (hebrews 10:24, 25)
 Community guards against isolation (prov 18:1)

4. Biblical call to Community
 “I have my own deal with God”
 “that’s between me and God”
 Genesis 2:18 It is not good for the man to be
alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.
 59 One anothers
 Love
 Instruct
 Teach
 Correct
 Encourage
 Serve
 Etc…

5. Community in Recovery
• Our father in heaven…
• We admitted we were powerless over our
addiction - that our lives had become
unmanageable

6. What is the
Goal of Community ?

7. Community , authenticity, and accountability
is not the goal. It is simply a mechanism and
tool to help us grow more Christlike.
They are means for each of us to achieve the
Goal of being a more fully devoted follower
of Christ.
That is the goal

8. Questions ?
• How did you do this year… this week…today… in
regard to:
– dying to self ?
– serving others ?
– Evangelism ?
– Producing fruit?
– Maintaining joy in all circumstances?
– Spiritual disciplines
– Overcoming recurring sin
– Giving up control to God

9. Recovery Questions ?
• How did you do this year… this week…today… in
regard to:
– Setting boundaries?
– Enforcing consequences?
– Trusting your child to God?
– Laying your Isaac down?
– Not enabling and rescuing?
– Not living in fear?
– Having joy and glorifying God in the midst of your
prodigal chaos?

10. Ask Yourself…
• Community ?
– I Thess 5:14 And we urge you, brothers, warn
those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the
weak, be patients with everyone
• Isolation ?

11. Solutions
• Believer / Holy spirit
• Word / truth
• Prayer
• Community

12. “Those who hold to the biblical doctrines of the
work of Christ as the basis of acceptance tend
also to take the Bible’s instructions concerning
righteous living more seriously. Those who
have created a system of their own tend to
water down what is required in the practice of
their faith. They also tend to create standards of
behavior that fit their own lifestyles; standards
that they know they can meet without the need
of supernatural assistance. The outcome is a
way of life that is characterized by ignorance
and conceit.”
William Wilberforce 1797

13. Behavior is driven by core beliefs…
George Barna 2006

14. Ephesians 4:14-15
14 Then we will no longer be infants,
tossed back and forth by the waves, and
blown here and there by every wind of
teaching and by the cunning and
craftiness of men in their deceitful
scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the
truth in love, we will in all things grow
up into him who is the Head, that is,
Christ.

15. Lack of Community : Isolation
• Example : DAVID
2 Samuel 11:1
In the spring, at the time when kings go off
to war, David sent Joab out with the King’s
men and the whole Israelite army.

16. Biblical Community
Phil 2:3-4
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
but with humility of mind regard one another as
more important than yourselves; do not merely
look out for your own personal interests, but
also for the interests of others.
1 Cor 10:24
Let no one seek his own good, but that of his
neighbor.

17. “Self deception is one of the great enemies of
practical faith. That is why it is often helpful to
have relationships with other Christians who
can give you an accurate appraisal of the true
state of your life…are you after the wrong
thing? Because it is so easy to get caught in
self deception, check this with a few close
friends. If you are unwilling to do this, it should
be a signal that something is wrong…when you
become aware of this, begin to distrust yourself”
William Wilberforce 1797

21. Lessons I have learned…
• Put God first
– lead by God’s word ( II Timothy 3:16)
• Lead wife well and be on same page (Eph 5:22-25)
• Be willing to let community speak truth into your
kids and your parenting (ouch!) (Proverbs 27:6)
• Don’t forget the goal : your Purpose (Eph5:1)
– Walking with God
– Responsible adults

22. Lessons I have learned…
• Tools to Implement Goals
– Building Responsibility
• Define boundaries
– Greatest word to define boundaries ?
– Protect, define Biblical principles
• Enforce consequences (Proverbs 29;15,17,19,21 Prov 19:18,19)
– Be consistent
• Matt 5:37
– Love unconditionally, trust must be earned
• You don’t have to be “fair”
• And finally the greatest lesson I have learned…

23. God loves me !
Psalms 119:71

25. Core Values
• Jesus is our Lord and Savior
• All teaching is based on Biblical Truth
• Our purpose in life is to glorify God
• Scriptural guidance in best applied in the
context of community
• Our goal is transformation, not just
information

26. Prodigal Format
• Newcomer meeting (one week-hope)
• Open group (5 weeks – core values)
• Work groups (indefinite)
– Allow cross talk !
• 24 week curriculum
• Prodigal is “safe, but not comfortable”

27. Vision Statement
To bring hope and peace to those in the midst
of prodigal chaos, through the application of
God’s truths and the message of Jesus Christ,
so that they may glorify God in all
circumstances.

28. Final Thought and Question
What does a win look like ?