Addictions: Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel

Adult Sunday School Class
Winter/Spring, 2004

"Addictions: Finding Hope in the Power of the Gospel"
by Edward T. Welch

This will be a class designed to help those struggling with addictions as well as a class for those helping those they love who struggle. We will destroy the myth that addiction is a disease and sin is a sickness. The hopeless cycle presented by many is "sickness, recovery, and relapse"—it will be replaced with the biblical view of "sin, salvation, and sanctification." Though the focus will primarily be on two prototypical addictions (drugs and alcohol), there will be great crossover to other habitual sins that are not easy to cast off (are there any that are?). When it comes down to it, will we worship ourselves and our own desires, or will we worship the true God? May it be the latter.

Syllabus

February 1: Introduction and Chapter 1: "Practical Theology"
February 8: Chapter 2: "Sin, Sickness, or Both?" (Part 1)
February 15: Chapter 2: "Sin, Sickness, or Both?" (Part 2)
February 22: Chapter 3: "New Ways of Seeing"
February 29: Chapter 4: "The Descent of Addiction"
March 7: Chapter 5: "Speaking the Truth in Love" (Part 1)
March 14: Chapter 5: "Speaking the Truth in Love" (Part 2)
March 21: Chapter 6: "Respecting, Listening, and Inviting" (Part 1)
March 28: Chapter 6: "Respecting, Listening, and Inviting" (Part 2)
April 4: Chapter 7: "Knowing the Lord"
April 11: No class (Easter)
April 18: Chapter 8: "Fearing the Lord"
April 25: Chapter 9: "Turning from Lies"
May 2: Chapter 10: "Saying 'No'" (Part 1)
May 9: No class (Mother’s Day)
May 16: Chapter 10: "Saying 'No'" (Part 2)
May 23: Chapter 11: "Staying Violent"
May 30: Chapter 12: "Being Part of the Body"
June 6: Conclusion: "Where Two or Three Are Gathered"