Please leave site feedback using this form.
Where Christ Heals Us of Our
HURTS, HANGUPS, & HABITS
The purpose of Celebrate Recovery (CR) is to help you celebrate God’s healing power in your life through the 8 Recovery Principles found in the Scripture and the Christ-Centered 12 Steps as you become willing to accept God’s grace in solving your problems.
We are a safe place, a refuge a place of belonging, a place to care for others and be cared for, where respect is given to each member, where confidentiality is highly regarded, a place to learn, to grow, and to become strong again, where you can take off your emotional mask, a place for healthy challenges and healthy risks, a possible turning point in your life.
We are NOT a place of selfish control, therapy, a place for secrets, a place to look for dating relationships, a place to rescue or be rescued by others, a place of perfection, a long-term commitment, a place to judge others, or a quick fix.
What to Expect
Who is CR for?
A HURT is an emotional reaction to another person’s behavior or to a disturbing situation. Examples include:
Abandonment
Abuse (physical, sexual, emotional)
Adultery
Codependency
Death of Loved One
Divorce
Grief
Family Dysfunction
Loss of Relationship
Rejection
A HABIT is an addiction to someone or something.
Examples include:
Alcohol
Drugs
Food
Gambling
Sex
Shopping
Smoking
Pornography
Workaholism
A HANG-UP is a negative mental attitude that is used to cope with adversity.
Examples include:
Anger/Rage
Anxiety
Depression
Fear
Grief
Guilt
Insecurity
People Pleasing
Perfectionism
Sadness
Shame
Unforgiveness
Celebrate Recovery is for anyone struggling with life. If you have ever been hurt emotionally or physically, if you have ever had a hang-up in life, or if you’re struggling with an addictive habit, then this ministry is for you.
The Twelve Steps And Their Biblical Comparisons
We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. (Romans 7:18)We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. (Philippians 2:13)We made a decision to turn our wills and our lives over to the care of God.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God ~ this is your spiritual act of worship. (Romans 12:1)We made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord. (Lamentations 3:40)We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. (James 5:16)We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up. (James 4:10)We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
Do to others as you would have them do to you. (Luke 6:31)We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. (Matthew 5:23-24)We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! (1 Corinthians 10:12)We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and power to carry that out.
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. (Colossians 3:16)Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
Realize I’m not God: I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and my life is unmanageable. (Step 1)
“Happy are those who know they are spiritually poor.” Matthew 5:3Earnestly 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.” Mathew 5:4Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control. (Step3)
“Happy are the meek.” Matthew 5:5Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust. (Steps 4 & 5)
“Happy are the pure in heart.” Matthew 5:8Voluntarily submit to every change God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. (Steps 6 & 7)
“Happy are those whose greatest desire is to do what God requires.”
Matthew 5:6Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others, except when to do so would harm them or others. (Steps 8 & 9)
“Happy are the merciful.” “Happy are the peacemakers.” Matthew 5:7, 9Reserve a daily 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 & 11)
Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and by my words. (Step 12)
“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God
requires.” Matthew 5:10
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
–Reinhold Niebuhr
Resources
The entry point for Celebrate Recovery is to come to Monday Night starting at 6pm. We will have you go to a Newcomer group your first meeting after the worship service. This will give you a feel for what to expect in the small groups. All you have to do is show up and we will walk you thru everything.
You are not required to attend all three components of Monday night (meal, worship service, and open sharing), but we do recommend that you make it a priority. It beats a night out on the town! You will leave charged and refreshed through the fellowship and spiritual healing that come in the context of the Monday night experiences. That being said, we know that life happens and simply ask you to attend what is applicable and convenient for you.
Celebrate Recovery does not charge for this ministry. Workbooks are utilized in the Step Studies and are available at the Information Table on Monday evenings. Prices for these materials range from $5 – $20.
Absolutely, yes! Celebrate Recovery maintains strict confidentiality. This promotes an atmosphere of trust and enables recovery. We have a saying that is repeated in every Large Group meeting: WHO you see here. WHAT you hear here. WHEN you leave here. STAYS HERE. Hear! Hear!
We are diligent about confidentiality and anonymity. The guidelines/rules protect all of us from judgment and being “fixed.” In a “safe place” you can take off your “mask” and be real and honest without fear. You are 100% in control of when and how much you participate.
In physical health, recovery refers to the process of moving from illness to wellness. Our hurts, habits and hang-ups are like an illness and using the tools of Celebrate Recovery we begin to move toward wholeness. Some might say from bondage to freedom in Christ. Others might say from self-reliance to faith in Christ.
The chips are simple, round plastic coins that are designed to give each person an opportunity to mark their individual recovery. If you don’t have an addiction that can be marked by sobriety easily, then we suggest you mark your journey from the day you pick up the blue chip, which is the first chip marking surrender in your life.
We cover this topic extensively whenever you join a step study group. However, in short, an accountability partner is anyone you trust who is on the road with you in life. This person will be one for you to call and check-up with periodically. They can be trusted to point you to truth, to encourage your attendance to meetings, and walk with you on the road to recovery.
A sponsor is an accountability partner who has completed the recovery process. Ideally, you want the sponsor to have recovery in issues similar to your own, so they can relate to you and your journey. All accountability partners and sponsors are to be your same gender.
The Step Study takes place on another night other than Mondays. They often meet on Wednesday nights at the church to take advantage of the available child care, but they can also meet on other days.
Celebrate Recovery uses the Twelve Steps and its related Scripture as the biblical model for living your life. A Step Study is a personal journey through each of these steps in a confidential group led by a facilitator who has completed a study. We use Celebrate Recovery’s four participants books.
When you finish the study, you will have worked your hurts, habits, and hang-ups through each step. A Step Study is a long-term commitment to the members of the group. It will typically take 12 months to complete the study.
After completing the Step Study, we hope you will join with us as we minister to others dealing with their hurts, habits and hang-ups. We do have guidelines for the groups that are strictly followed.
In the Open Share Groups, absolutely not . . . until you are ready. You can pass anytime you wish and for as long as it takes for you to become comfortable. In the Step Studies everyone is required to share as the questions are answered.
You are welcome to come when you can for worship, large group and issue groups. However, if you join a Step Study, you are expected to come each week until you complete it. As with any endeavor, the more effort you put into Celebrate Recovery, the more benefit you will gain.
No, you do not have to be a member of North Boulevard. Celebrate Recovery is a ministry for anyone who is interested in a Christ-centered recovery program that will enable them to recover from life’s hurts, hang-ups, habits and addictions. Anyone from the local community is welcome to attend.
Yes! Celebrate Recovery at North Boulevard is one of many chapters of the ministry. You can find chapters near you at https://locator.crgroups.info/ If there are not any in your area, please contact your CR State Representative or Regional Director to find out what other options might be available for you. You can locate them by using the same search tool.
John Baker started Celebrate Recovery with the main purpose of being able to talk about Jesus Christ as his Higher Power.
FAQ
Weekly Monday Night Meetings
Fellowship Meal | 6:00-6:45 pm
We use this time to eat together and get caught up with what’s happening in each other’s lives.
Meals are $2 for adults and $1 for children
Newcomers eat FREE!
Large Group Meeting | 7:00-8:00 pm
This is our general meeting where all male and female participants gather for a time of worship, followed either by a testimony or a lesson The purpose of this meeting is to help you move towards significant life-change through the love, grace, and power of Jesus Christ.
It is a totally relaxed, non-threatening environment where you can come and see what recovery is all about!
Open Share Groups | 8:00-9:00 pm
After the large group meeting, participants break off into gender specific small groups organized by similar recovery issues.
The leader of each group facilitates the use of our Small Group Guidelines, ensuring the group remains a safe, non-judgmental, and confidential place to share life’s struggles and victories. Sharing is completely optional.
Weekly Step Study Group
Step Study Groups meet for 1.5-2 hours every week at a different time of the week than our Monday night meetings. These are gender-specific groups with a high level of accountability and mandatory attendance.
At the group meetings, there will be a lesson followed by discussion questions for the group to answer. It is here that the true healing takes place and lives are changed through Jesus Christ. Sharing is required at these meetings in order for healing to take place.
For the Kids
Infant – Kindergarten | Childcare
Childcare is offered during our regular Monday night meetings. Qualified and welcoming caregivers lead your younger children in activities, crafts, and a Bible lesson while you are attending Large Group and Open Share meetings (6:45-9:00 pm).
Ages 6-11 | Celebration Place
Celebration Place is a children's program developed by the founders of Celebrate Recovery. The curriculum is based on the 8 Principles of Recovery found in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10) and is presented using kid-friendly methods and terms to ensure a safe environment. Celebration Place meets every Monday night from 7:00-9:00 pm.
Interested in Joining CR?
Life's Healing Choices – Free Online Class
We've recorded a 13-lesson course on the 8 Healing Choices of CR for those who want to learn more about joining Celebrate Recovery.
Download the class notes that go with each lesson and complete them at your own pace. (We recommend doing one lesson per week).
Recommended Class Materials
-
Life’s Healing Choices book by John Baker and Rick Warren
-
Binder to store your notes
-
Willingness to follow along and complete homework assignments
Visit the Official CR Website
Learn More About Celebrate Recovery
-
Find other chapters of CR around the US
-
Sign up for the Training Conference
-
Register for the Leader's Summit
-
Purchase CR books, apparel, and more