📝 Worksheet 2.4: Biblical Foundations for Christ-Centered Recovery

Purpose of This Worksheet

This worksheet helps you apply the biblical foundations of Christ-centered addiction recovery. Topic 2 focused on God’s story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration, and explored the themes of sin, bondage, grace, repentance, renewal, and whole-person recovery.

This worksheet is not designed to make you a counselor, therapist, addiction treatment provider, sponsor, or recovery program director. It is designed to help you think like an Addiction Recovery Chaplain—with Scripture-rooted hope, dignity, role clarity, consent-based spiritual care, and referral-aware wisdom. This follows the course template’s emphasis on Christ-centered recovery, wise boundaries, whole-person care, and restored community.

Part 1: Key Concept Review

Write a short answer for each question.

1. What does Creation teach us about people in recovery?

2. What does the Fall teach us about addiction, shame, secrecy, and brokenness?

3. What does Redemption teach us about Jesus Christ and recovery hope?

4. What does Restoration teach us about the long-term recovery journey?

5. Why should addiction not be reduced only to sin?

6. Why should addiction not be treated as if sin and responsibility do not matter?

7. What is the difference between shame and conviction?

8. What is the difference between repentance and self-hatred?

9. Why does the body matter in whole-person recovery?

10. Why is biblical hope stronger than a quick religious phrase?

Part 2: Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration

Complete each section with a ministry phrase you could use in a real conversation.

Creation — Dignity

A person says, “I am just an addict. That is all I will ever be.”

Write a response that reflects the biblical truth of creation.

Fall — Honesty

A person says, “I do not want to talk about what happened. It is easier to hide it.”

Write a response that reflects the biblical truth about sin, shame, and hiding.

Redemption — Mercy

A person says, “I think God is done with me.”

Write a response that reflects the mercy of Christ.

Restoration — Next Faithful Step

A person says, “I want everything fixed now. I already said I was sorry.”

Write a response that reflects patient restoration.

Part 3: Shame or Conviction?

Mark each statement as Shame or Conviction.

Part 4: Sin, Bondage, Grace, and Repentance

For each scenario, write a response that holds together truth and mercy.

Scenario 1: Sin and Responsibility

A person says, “I lied to my family again, but I do not want anyone making me feel guilty.”

Write a response that names responsibility without shame.

Scenario 2: Bondage and Support

A person says, “I hate this, but I keep going back. I feel trapped.”

Write a response that takes bondage seriously and points toward support.

Scenario 3: Grace and Truth

A person says, “If God forgives me, then everyone else should just move on.”

Write a response that honors grace but does not minimize consequences.

Scenario 4: Repentance and Next Steps

A person says, “I told God I was sorry. What else do I need to do?”

Write a response that explains repentance as a change of direction.

Part 5: Scripture With Consent

In Addiction Recovery Chaplaincy, Scripture should be shared with wisdom and consent. Practice asking permission before sharing Scripture.

Practice Prompt 1

A person says, “I feel condemned.”

Write a consent-based response before sharing Romans 8:1.

Practice Prompt 2

A person says, “I do not think God hears me anymore.”

Write a consent-based response before sharing Psalm 34:18.

Practice Prompt 3

A person says, “I keep hiding because I am ashamed.”

Write a consent-based response before sharing 1 John 1:9 or James 5:16.

Part 6: Boundary Check Scenarios

For each situation, mark the wisest response.

1. A person says, “God forgave me, so my wife should trust me again now.”

☐ Explain that forgiveness and rebuilt trust are related but not identical.
☐ Agree that Christian spouses must remove all boundaries immediately.
☐ Tell the person that their wife is spiritually immature if she still feels hurt.
☐ Avoid the topic because marriage trust is outside all chaplain concern.

Why?

2. A person says, “I relapsed again. I am not telling my sponsor because I already prayed.”

☐ Encourage prayer and also encourage contact with proper recovery support.
☐ Agree that prayer replaces the need for accountability.
☐ Tell them they are not a real Christian if they relapsed after praying.
☐ Promise secrecy so they will continue trusting you.

Why?

3. A person begins sharing painful details from the past in a public church hallway.

☐ Gently protect dignity and suggest a safer, appropriate setting for deeper conversation.
☐ Encourage them to keep sharing because public confession always brings healing.
☐ Ask for more details so you can understand everything before responding.
☐ Tell nearby people to listen because the story may help the whole church.

Why?

4. A person says, “I feel dirty, and I think God is done with me.”

☐ Listen, reject shame, speak Christ-centered hope, and offer Scripture or prayer with consent.
☐ Correct them quickly and tell them to stop talking negatively about themselves.
☐ Say their feelings prove they have not really accepted forgiveness.
☐ Tell them their past no longer matters and they should stop thinking about it.

Why?

5. A person says, “I might use tonight, but I do not want anyone else involved.”

☐ Ask safety questions and encourage immediate connection to proper support.
☐ Respect their privacy and avoid involving anyone because they asked you not to.
☐ Give them a long Bible study and trust that information will be enough.
☐ Tell them relapse would prove they are not serious about recovery.

Why?

Part 7: Local Church Application

Think about your church, Soul Center, ministry, or community setting.

1. How can your ministry setting better reflect Creation dignity toward people in recovery?

2. How can your ministry setting tell the truth about the Fall without becoming shame-based?

3. How can your ministry setting point people to Redemption in Christ without offering shallow answers?

4. How can your ministry setting support Restoration through accountability, discipleship, recovery support, and referral wisdom?

5. What recovery-related language should your church or ministry avoid?

6. What recovery-aware language should your church or ministry practice?

Part 8: Calling and Readiness Reflection

Complete the following statements.

1. One biblical truth I need to remember when serving people in recovery is:

2. One shallow phrase I should avoid using is:

3. One Scripture I could share with consent is:

4. One boundary I need to keep clear when offering biblical hope is:

5. One way I can encourage accountability without shame is:

6. One way I can help people take the next faithful step is:

Part 9: Prayer and Commitment

Read the following commitments. Mark the ones you are willing to make as you continue this course.

☐ I will see people in recovery as image-bearers of God.
☐ I will remember that people are more than their addiction, relapse, or past harm.
☐ I will tell the truth about sin and harm without using shame.
☐ I will speak grace without minimizing responsibility.
☐ I will distinguish repentance from self-hatred.
☐ I will distinguish forgiveness from instantly rebuilt trust.
☐ I will offer Scripture with consent.
☐ I will offer prayer by permission.
☐ I will encourage accountability without trying to control outcomes.
☐ I will refer when needs exceed my chaplain role.
☐ I will point people toward Christ, community, and the next faithful step.

My Personal Commitment

Write a short commitment prayer or statement.

Closing Formation Prayer

Lord Jesus,

You are full of grace and truth.

Teach me to serve people in recovery through Your story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. Help me honor their dignity as image-bearers. Help me tell the truth about sin, shame, bondage, and brokenness without cruelty. Help me speak mercy without minimizing harm.

Give me wisdom to distinguish shame from conviction, repentance from self-hatred, forgiveness from rebuilt trust, and hope from quick religious answers.

Teach me to offer Scripture with consent and prayer by permission. Keep me clear about my role. Help me refer when needs exceed my care.

Make me a faithful presence of biblical hope.

Amen.