OroNaz
Every Sunday morning we gather together for worship, teaching and prayer, connecting with God and loving each other. Join us today as we gather and lean into what God is doing in and through us.
SERMON:
SERENITY SUNDAY
Pastor Dale Marsh
CATALOG OF ADDICTIVE AGENTS:
1. Alcohol or drugs
2. Work
3. Money
4. Control
5. Food
6. Sexual
7. Approval dependency
8. Rescuing paterns
9. Dependency on toxic relationships
10. Physical illness
11. Exercise
12. Cosmetics/Clothes
13. Academic Pursuits
14. Religiosity
15. Perfectionism
16. Cleaning
17. Organizing
18. Materialsm
19. Social Media
AA Twelve Steps
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fealess moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admited to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so woud injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
The AA Promises
If we are painstaking about this phase of our development,we will be amazed before we are half way through. We are going to know a new freedom and a new happiness. We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it. We will comprehend the word serenity and we will know peace. No matter how far down the scale we have gone, we will see how our experience can benefit others. That feeling of uselessness and self-pity will disappear. We will lose interest in selfish things and gain interest in our fellows. Self-seeking will slip away. Our whole attitude and outlook upon life will change. Fear of people and of economic insecurity will leave us.
We will intuitively know how to handle situations which used to baffle us.We will suddenly realize that God is doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
Are these extravagant promises?
We think not. They are being fulfilled among us-sometimes quickly,
sometimes slowly. They will always materialize if we work for them.
1. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol-that our lives had become unmanageable.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
Romans 7:18-19
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
23 Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” 24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Mark 9:23-24
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Ephesians 2:8
4. Made a searching and fealess moral inventory of ourselves.
3 For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For each one shall bear his own load.
Galatians 6:3-5
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
James 5:16
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
I Peter 1:13-16
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings
19 Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,
Acts 3:19
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34-35
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so woud injure them or others.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God.
Matthew 5:9
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong prompltly admitted it.
38 Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
Mark 14:38
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:6-9
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled.
Mark 5:18-20
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