Lesson 7 - Sponsors and Accountability

Principle 4: Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.

Happy are the pure in heart. Matthew 5:8a (TEV)

Step 4: We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
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There is no acrostic for Sponsor but tonight we will look at five things:
i. Why do I need a sponsor / AP (Accountability Partner)?
ii. What are the qualities of a Sponsor?
iii. What does a Sponsor do?
iv. How do I find a Sponsor / AP?
v. What is the difference between a sponsor & an AP?

1 - Having a Sponsor / AP is __________________________.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. But is someone is alone…, there is no one to help him… Two men can resist an attack that would defeat one man alone.”

As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17

2 - Sponsor or AP is a ____________________ of your recovery.

3 - Having a Sponsor or AP is the ________________________________.

In recovery we are looking for life change. Leaving behind the old patterns and behaviours. A sponsor confronts in love and helps us keep moving forward.

Ecclesiastes 7:5 “It is better to be criticized by a wise man than to be praised by a fool!”

4 - What are the ________________ of a sponsor?

“Though good advice lies deep within a counselor’s heart, the wise man will draw it out.” Proverbs 20:5

- Does his/her walk match the “talk”?
- Does he/she have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ?
- Does she/he express the desire to help others on the road to recovery?
- Does he/she show compassion, care, & hope?
- Is he/she a good listener?
- Is she/he strong enough to confront your denial or procrastination?
- Does he/she offer constructive good suggestions?
- Is She/he able to share her/his own struggles with others?

5 - What is the _________________ of a sponsor?

- They can be there for you to discuss issues in detail that are too personal or would take too much time to discuss in a meeting.
- They are available in a time of crisis or at threat of relapse.
- They can serve as a Sounding Board by providing an objective point of view.
- They are there to encourage you to work the principles at your own speed.
- They attempt to MODEL the lifestyle that results from working the 8 principles.
- A Sponsor can resign OR be fired ! It is NOT a lifetime position.

6 - How do I ____________________________________

- MUST be same sex as you
- Can you relate to this person’s own story?
- Fellowship w/them first – get to know them a little before finalizing.
- If you ask someone and they say “NO” do NOT take it personally.
- Pray & ask God to lead you to the sponsor and/or AP

Start forming your accountability teams/partners tonight if you haven’t done so yet. Do it in your Open share groups tonight.

Answers:
1 - Biblical
2 - Key part
3 - Best guard against relapse
4 - Qualities
5 - Role
6 - Find a sponsor or AP

Prayer for Serenity

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;

Trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

Sponsor - Share Group Questions

1) When things get tough do you feel like quitting? Do you have a cycle of giving up?

2) Do you have people in your life that you can talk to and be honest about the struggles you face?

3) What difference do you see between a sponsor and accountability partner.

4) Are you building friendships with people in the recovery community?

5) Share a victory or a win that you have had this week in any area of your life or recovery.

Encouragement: Take a moment tonight and get a phone number or contact info with someone from your share group.