Lesson 8: SPONSOR
Principle #4: Openly examine and confess my faults to myself, to God, and to someone I trust.
Happy are the pure in heart. (Matthew 5:8)
Step #4: 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)
Why do I need a sponsor and/or accountability partner?
· Having a sponsor or accountability partner is biblical.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Proverbs 27:17
· Having a sponsor or accountability partner is a key part of your recovery program.
Ø The first step is maintaining an honest view of reality as you work each step.
Ø The second key element is making your attendance at your recovery group meetings a priority in your schedule.
Ø The third element is maintaining your spiritual program with Jesus Christ through prayer, meditation, and study of His Word.
Ø The last element to a successful program is getting involved in service.
· Having a sponsor and/or accountability partner is the best guard against relapse.
What are the qualities of a sponsor? (Proverbs 20:5)
· Does his walk match his talk? Is he living the eight principles?
· Does he/she have a growing relationship with Jesus Christ?
· Does he/she express the desire to help others on the road to recovery?
· Does he/she show compassion, care, and hope, but not pity?
· Is he a good listener?
· Is she strong enough to confront your denial or procrastination?
· Does he offer suggestions?
· Can she share her own current struggles with others?
What is the role of a sponsor?
· She can be there to discuss issues in detail that are too personal or would take too much time in a meeting.
· He is available in times of crisis or potential relapse.
· She serves as a sounding board by providing an objective point of view.
· He is there to encourage you to work the principles at your own speed.
· Most important, she attempts to model the lifestyle that results from working the eight principles.
· A sponsor can be resign or be fired.
How do I find a sponsor or accountability partner?
· First and foremost, the person MUST be of the same sex as you. NO EXCEPTIONS.
· Can you relate to this person’s story?
· Come to the meetings regularly and/or other events that we might have.
· If you ask someone to be your sponsor and/or accountability partner, and that person says no, do not take it as a personal rejection.
· Most important, ask God to lead you to the sponsor and/or accountability partner of His choosing.
What is the difference between a sponsor and an accountability partner?
· A sponsor is someone who has completed the four Celebrate Recovery participant’s guides and has worked through the eight principles and the 12 steps.
· He/she meets the six requirements discussed earlier in the role of a sponsor.
· An accountability partner is someone you ask to hold you accountable for certain areas of your recovery or issues, such as meeting attendance, journaling, etc.
· The main goal of this relationship is encourage one another.
· You can form an accountability team of three or four.
