At your first small group bible study meeting, have an informal session where you get to know each other and then ask each person what topic they would like to learn more about. I have provided a link in a couple of places on this page for your convenience, so you can get to the search page. If you are new and unfamiliar with the big book bb many of us change the words alcohol to food, alcoholic to compulsive overeater. The big book, alcoholics anonymous some groups discuss one chapter from the big book each week. Smf56 suggested topics for discussion meetings alcoholics. Zip file 534 k self extracting word document 584 k download ms word document 1. Hosting a class for newcomers is a great way to help them. Whatever our protestations, are not most of us concerned with ourselves, our resentments, or our selfpity. For example, the real problem of the chronic alcoholic is the insidious insanity that leads. Groups have repeatedly tried other activities, and they have always failed. Readings from as bill sees it can inspire sharing on discussion topics. Eventually the group chose to keep the question and answer book study format, but to use a modern hybrid 12step book instead of the big book.
So, to all the present and past members of this group goes thanks for their interest and participation. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the mouth of that old timer over in the corner. To be able to start on this step, the previous three steps must of course have been completed, so before starting check with your sponsor, spiritual advisor, counselor, etc. Download pamphlets and handouts to use in big book group sessions our workbook companion to alcoholics anonymous 12 steps of recovery from alcoholism and addiction is called steps by the big book. All references to the topics will be found in the first 164 pages of the book, alcoholics anonymous. During any such meeting to study the aa big book, you would expect to encounter a wide variety of viewpoints on the portions under consideration. Each day in our big book study group a leader will take you through a section of the alcoholics anonymous big book. The big book step study bbss format, based upon an aa meeting format originated in hyannis, mass. His is the fourth edition of the book alcoholics anonymous. The purpose of this study guide is to enable the student to better understand the information the authors of the book, alcoholics anonymous, intended to impart to each of us based on their experience and knowledge of alcoholism and their program of recovery. The individual sections of this study guide material reflect ideas, emotions and attitudes you might hear from the. A taping of that presentation was made and called the big book study. How to start a new member class for church our everyday life. This desire gave birth to the primary purpose group of alcoholics anonymous of dallas, texas, in january, 1988.
The whytehouse is, i hope, a way to find that special phrase or saying etc. If this is the case at your church, you may want to consider starting a new members class. The primary purpose of this site is to carry the message contained within the big book of alcoholics anonymous. The big book study our chief responsibility to the newcomer is an adequate presentation of the program home. The terms spiritual experience and spiritual awakening are used many times in this book which, upon careful reading, shows that the personality change sufficient to bring about recovery from alcoholism has manifested itself among us in many different forms. Upon achieving step one the admission of powerlessness and step two agreeing that there is, in fact, a higher power, step three goes beyond words to actions. Some of you perusing this website wont have much of an idea what. The purpose of this study guide is to enable the student to better understand the information the authors of the book, alcoholics anonymous, intended to impart to each of us based on their experience and knowledge of alcoholism and. Usually you are dealing with the mind, but in the context of the big book, you are dealing with the body. Later on it is revealed that the common solution to alcoholism is a vital spiritual experience. Two study guides for the big book of alcoholics anonymous the first study guide has a summary of each book and then hundreds of follow up questions to answer and add sobriety notes. With a feature packed big book reader, search tool, sobriety calculator, notes, aa contacts database and more, the 12 steps aa companion experience is unmatched.
Thats why we talk about kids from k12, and topics from across the curriculum. We, of alcoholics anonymous, are more than one hundred men and women who have recovered from a seemingly hopeless state of mind and body. A key assumption of the book is that the truly big and valuable ideas in education apply to all learners. Those events that once made me feel ashamed and disgraced now allow me to share with others. We provide this study guide based on personal experience to help those following aas 12 steps as outlined in the original big book, alcoholics anonymous aa.
Browse the next available or search for the right one for you. Ideas in big book alcoholics anonymous, 12 steps and 12. The first edition appeared in april 1939, and in the following sixteen years, more than 300,000 copies went into circulation. Though our decision was a vital and crucial step, it could have little permanent effect unless at once followed by a stren uous effort to face, and to be rid of, the things in our selves which had been blocking us.
Should you choose to follow this study guide, you will be presented ideas which this author has found. These are suggested topics from the big book of alcoholics anonymous, as a guide to selecting a meeting topic for discussion meetings. An obsession of the mind is an idea so powerful that it overcomes all other ideas to the contrary. It is my hope that you will find this site useful to you and our friends of bill w. Most churches desire to increase their membership bases. The irrationality of alcoholics anonymous the atlantic. One member asked joe and charlie to come to his home group to present a program on the big book. To read a pdf version of the fourth edition of alcoholics anonymous. The big book includes an assertion first made in the second edition, which was published in 1955. Bill closes with a blessing sent to each one of us, who have read this book. Copyright alcoholics anonymous world services, inc. During any such meeting to study the aa big book, you. The big book of alcoholics anonymous is the basic text of.
The big book study our chief responsibility to the. The big book carries the great message of the common solution. Steps by the big book step 10 steps by the big book. A study of the basic text for alcoholics anonymous. I didnt connect with the big book of alcoholics anonymous until over a year. The second edition, published in 1955, reached a total of more than 1,150,500 copies.
Aa big book with questions for discussion emotional. The following are four basic 60minute aa meeting formats. Alcoholics anonymous books at taylor made retreat addiction recovery portland. You will find the big book itself on this page by chapters as well as a link to the latest edition of aabb. In many bbss meetings, only members who have worked the 12 steps according to this structure are permitted to share. A spiritual view beyond the limits of traditional religion by ken w. Download 12 steps companion aa big book and enjoy it on your iphone, ipad, and ipod touch. This created a thirst for an even greater knowledge of the vital information contained in the big book. The 164 and more book, ebook, and web site are all concordances which display passages from the big book alcoholics anonymous, the twelve steps and twelve traditions, and the a. In fact, it is a good idea to keep our mouths shut entirely during their meetings.
It opens the door to the rest of the steps and allows a person to begin the process of selfreflection step four and admitting the nature of ones wrongdoings step five. The big book step study bbss format, based upon an aa meeting format. To this end we ask ourselves two primary questions. It has become a regular shelf item among those who believe in god, understand the importance of the bible. For them, we hope these pages will prove so convincing that no further authentication will be necessary. However, church staff members are typically very busy and can sometimes drop the ball when it comes to helping newcomers feel welcomed. Sorting and rendering passages in the proprietary format of the 164 and more concordance does not in any way imply affiliation with or endorsement by either alcoholics. Aa big book with questions for discussion hi everyone. This book is great for the alcoholic who wants to learn more about the history of the aa big book while following the aa big book.
In the days before the meeting, you could make a list of a variety of topics and present them to the members as ideas for study. We meet together with regularity to study the aa big book together to learn now. We determined from the first part of the big book that we are powerless. Browse the directory of online meetings building an aa.
In hindsight, i had ignored the suggestion in the long form of tradition five. Mental, spiritual and physical disease readings from as bill sees it can inspire sharing on discussion topics. The big book loop is a study group which has as its mission to provide an additional area of recovery and support to coes. We wish to make the 12 steps of alcoholics anonymous part of our lives by collaborating with a power greater than ourselves an inner knowing, our own best and highest nature. One fundamental idea of god, based upon the basic text of aa, see pg 55, is being offered in this study guide. To show other alcoholics precisely how we have recovered is the main purpose of this book. This book shows where the wording has changed from the first edition and has the exact reproduction of the 1938 original manuscript of alcoholics anonymous.
Some groups discuss one chapter from the big book each week. Home read the big book and twelve steps and twelve traditions. My 10 favorite lines from the big book of alcoholics. In 1977, some aa members met in a tulsa, oklahoma hotel room for a discussion on the big book. The reference pages are taken from the 4th edition of the big book of alcoholics anonymous. Other groups read from the big book weekly and discuss each chapter as they go along. Here are a few other things you might consider to make your study group more engaging and productive.