Dick B. Livermore Talk
Big Book/Good Book Study Group
Cornerstone Fellowship-Livermore Campus, California
Outline of the Workshop Conference on Thursday,
March 29, 2012
1. Theme
·
To
show how much more the 12-Step Fellowship can offer when it learns what
Dr. Bob meant when he said: “I didn’t
write the 12 Steps . . . The basic ideas came from our study of the Bible.”
·
Dr.
Bob repeatedly said: (1) Study the Bible; (2) Cultivate the habit of prayer.
·
“Old-School”
Akron A.A. emphasized belief in God; coming to Him through His Son Jesus
Christ; having a Father to rely on; what He expects; rewards He gives;
·
Love—keeping
His commandments; asking Him for help; bringing others on board.
·
An
alcoholic who is restless . . . seeks booze. That search disappears and is
replaced with peace, purpose, love, service, and reward.
Three Topics and Questions by Dominic
2.
What did Akron and Cleveland do in the 1940’s to produce 75% and 93% success
rates? Sources:
The Co-Founders
of Alcoholics Anonymous pamphlet (P-53);
Four AA of Akron pamphlets
DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers
The Four Absolutes
Member stories; e.g., Duke
·
Qualify
and hospitalize—visits, stories, Dr. Bob, Bible reading, surrender
·
Meetings:
Prayer, Bible, lead talks, member comments, James 5:16, Quiet Time devotionals,
unfettered reading, and frequent religious and social visiting
·
AA
of Akron pamphlets: Dr. Bob reported and managed after Big Book of 1939
·
Clarence
S. added Big Book, 12 Steps, Four Absolutes, Bible, and “most of the old
program,” sponsorship, and rotating leaders
·
The
real program (Ken): Amos, 16 Practices, three Bible segments, and church
3.
Parallels between “old-school” A.A. and First Century Christianity
·
The
Apostles were in close fellowship with God and His Son Jesus Christ (1 John 1),
and accomplished miracles
·
A.A.
Christian predecessors (YMCA, S.A., missions, evangelists, and C.E.) utilized
many First Century approaches
·
Names
of those who recognized the parallels: five Rockefellers, Bob, Bill, and Lois
·
Book
of Acts descriptions (Ken)
·
Akron
fellowships practiced these principles and Cleveland expanded them. The AA of
Akron pamphlets were speaking of the techniques, the miraculous actions. They
used simple biblical quotations from Jesus, Peter, Paul, James, and John.
·
The
AA of Akron pamphlets spoke of the Steps as rules, and the Big Book called them
a “design for living.”
·
The
underlying parallel meant seeking and establishing a relationship with God, and
becoming one of His children.
4
The impact of the Bible on the Big Book and the 12 Steps
·
From
the Bible, AAs studied and quoted the Book of James, Jesus’ Sermon on the
Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13; the Ten Commandments; the two great commandments
(loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself), Acts, the Gospels, and the
many prayers in the Big Book and the 12 Steps.
·
Dick
B. specifics: The Good Book and the Big Book, the Good Book- Big Book
Guidebook, The James , New Light on Alcoholism, and Twelve Steps for You.
·
Specific
quotes in the Big Book: “God,” biblical words describing Him (Creator, etc.),
love thy neighbor, faith without works, thy will be done
·
The
Sermon on the Mount: underlying spiritual philosophy of A.A., thy will be done
permeates the Big Book, the “Golden Rule” ideas can be seen
·
The
Book of James: specific language, additional ideas, the “James Club,” and A.A.
language about “works.”
·
1
Corinthians 13: The many elements of love are spelled out in the Big Book and
in the AA of Akron pamphlets and in Dr. Bob’s statement about “love and
service.”
·
Shoemaker—“Bible
Christian” and “cofounder of A.A.”: Teacher of 10 of the 12 Steps and basing
Step ideas on James, the Sermon on the Mount, 1 Corinthians 13, and other
biblical quotes.
5.
Today: There is still emphasis on finding or rediscovering God; growing in
understanding and obedience; and talk about him in biblical terms.
·
We
have many Conference-approved books that support this approach and statement
·
There
are at least two important benefits flowing from a knowledge of the early
biblical practices, and the parallels between them, A.A.’s Christian
predecessors, and “old-school” A.A.
·
For
Christians and others who believe in God, this background can keep them away
from the 1939 compromise and moving toward a relationship with the Creator
through His Son Jesus Christ
·
It
enables Christians and others who believe in God to act with authority in
rejecting the “Higher Power,” “God as we understood Him,” “you don’t need to
believe in anything,” “spiritual, but not religious” opinions and “wisdom of
the rooms.”
The Ensuing Question and Answer Portion
Along with our new workshop and topic
theme, there was a one-half hour period where members of the audience posed
questions, comments, and suggestions which were fielded by Dick B. and his son
Ken B.
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