A.A. Study Groups

Christian Recovery with Dick B.

Dick B.

© 2010 Anonymous. All rights reserved

More and more AAs, 12 Step members, recovery pastors, clergy, counselors, and treatment leaders are phoning or emailing me each day about study groups. Sometimes they simply want to know how to start an A.A. history study group. Sometimes a Big Book-Bible study group. Sometimes a Christian recovery group based on the Big Book or the Twelve Steps and the Bible. Sometimes they want to adopt and copy, as far as possible, the idea of a James Club—the original name the Akron AAs favored for their Society because the Book of James was their favorite book to study in the Bible.

The idea is gaining popularity. For several years now, James Clubs have popped up around the United States—Maine, Connecticut, New York, Tennessee, and California. Many more Big Book-Bible study groups have been organized and are being conducted. I have been especially encouraged recently by the Big Book and Bible study work going on in the Rock Recovery Ministry of the Rock Church in San Diego, the Lifelines meetings of The Crossing Church in Costa Mesa, the Turning Point meetings of the Cornerstone Fellowship-Livermore Campus in Livermore, and in the development stages at the Church of the Nazarene in Oroville. In addition, the various CityTeam missions have been doing this sort of thing for several years.

I don’t like to try to tell a group of AAs, or pastors, or churches, or Christian treatment programs how to proceed. Each has its own thoughts, experiences, and capabilities. But it seems that strong individuals in each of these settings do best when they secure approval and dive in—asking only for some examples, ideas, and guidance.

Helpful Guide Books by Dick B.

Here are some of my books that I suggest you check out if you are pursuing study groups:

·         By the Power of God: A Guide to Early A.A. Groups & Forming Similar Groups Today

·         The Good Book-Big Book Guidebook: How to Include the Creator’s Impact on Early A.A. in Recovery Programs Today

·         The James Club and The Original A.A. Program’s Absolute Essentials

·         When Early AAs Were Cured and Why

Descriptive and purchasing information about all four of the books above may be found here: http://www.dickb.com/titles.shtml.

I especially encourage you to purchase our just-released, third edition of:

Dick B. and Ken B., The Dick B. Christian Recovery Guide, 3^rd ed. (2010)

You may find the table of contents and purchasing information for that book in the center column of the front page of the www.DickB.com web site. (Just look for the “Get up to Speed!” subheading.)

My Articles on Study Groups and Other Key Early A.A. History Topics

I have written many articles on study groups and key topics for such groups. You may find many of those articles here: http://www.DickB.com/articles.shtml

Please don’t hesitate to phone (808) 874 4876 or email DickB@DickB.com or write to me at: Dick B., PO Box 837, Kihei, HI 96753-0837 to discuss questions, suggestions, or other resources.