The Curriculum
Following is an outline of The Biblical Provisions for Addiction curriculum taught in the Provision House Breaking the Chains Seminar. There is no attempt in this course of study to address medical, psychological, or sociological dimensions of addiction, including theories about both causes and consequences.This is an approach to addictions from a theological perspective.
The curriculum consists of dynamic experience in the following areas:
1. Student Advisor or Group Leader
Each student is strongly urged to enlist the help of an advisor whose primary purpose is to encourage you throughout the seminar. While this role may be filled by a group leader [if the seminar is being taken in a group setting], we recommend an individual advisor for each student. This will ensure adequate time for frequent discussion and support during the seminar and continued availability of the advisor following your successful completion of the seminar.
The advisor should be someone you know well, trust to keep your issue(s) confidential, not a relative, and of the same gender. Your advisor is urged to download the free Student Advisors Manual from the Provision House website. It contains many very helpful suggestions for ensuring your success. Advisors should not assume they already know how best to help you, particularly those who have never experienced what you have. In our live seminars, students who did not have an advisor experienced only about a 30% success rate.
2. DVD’s
There is a DVD corresponding to each session. The DVD is to be watched before completing any other activity in this seminar.
3. Scripture Memory
There is at least one memory verse or passage to be memorized for each session. Other verses or passages may be assigned at the discretion of the student advisor or group leader.
4. Quizzes
Each session in the workbook contains a quiz. Each quiz is simply the principles from the session but in the form of questions plus the memory verse(s). The quiz is to be taken after viewing the DVD and attaining proficiency of the principles in the workbook. While the quiz may be studied in advance, the quiz should be taken “closed book”. Mastery of the principles should be demonstrated through quiz performance before proceeding to the next session. Evaluation of your quiz and session proficiency should be conducted by your advisor or group leader.
5. Exercises
Each session in the workbook contains an Exercise section. It is recommended to complete the exercises before taking the quiz. While the quizzes are designed to reinforce retention of the material, the exercises are designed to prompt deep and serious reflection on your relationship with God.
6. Church Attendance
You are required to attend church as least weekly, but preferably as often as possible. If mid-week services or classes are offered, it is strongly suggested you attend.
7. Road Map
Your workbook includes a Road Map for maintaining your Freedom. This tool is designed to assist you and your advisor or group leader in resolving any remaining personal issues that resulted from the addictive behavior. Any other tool which accomplishes the same goal can be used as long as it is understood that unresolved personal issues, such as financial or relational damage, can sabotage your freedom if not effectively and successfully dealt with.
Session 1
What is Addiction?
The enslaving and controlling effects of sin
How you define addiction determines the approach you will take in helping someone. This emphatically biblical approach represents an exposition of relevant scriptures resulting in the inevitable conclusion that addiction is a spiritual stronghold within which sin predominates. A brief survey of the numerous competing definitions of addiction is covered. The more like Christ we are, the more power we have over temptation and sin. Hence, Christlikeness is the goal for every student. Proverbs 5:22, John 8:34, Romans 6:12/16, 8:29, 2 Peter 2:19.
Session 2
Freedom from Addiction
Believers are free from sin
This session is primarily an explication of the Romans 6 theology that the believer is free from the controlling power of sin. The nature and effects of sin are covered. Students learn that they are not powerless over their habitual sin. Rather, it is sin that has been made powerless over them (Romans 6:6). This passage demonstrates that it is well within the ability of the believer to stop any addictive behavior. This teaching is prerequisite to breaking free from addiction. Students who apprehend this truth are well on their way to true and lasting freedom from addiction. John 8:32, Romans 6:1-8:2, Galatians 5:1, 13.
Session 3
The Thought Life
Change occurs by the renewing of the mind
Do you want to change? Do you want to change biblically? If so, what is the biblical prescription for change? The biblical prescription for change is the renewing of the mind, but how is that accomplished? Further, what does it mean to take a thought captive and how is that done? These topics and others are answered in this session. A great deal of attention is given to this critical area of study. The Think-Feel-Act progression is explained. Romans 12:2, 13:14, 2 Corinthians 2:11, 10:3-5, Ephesians 4:27, 1 Chronicles 21:1, Acts 5:1-5, 1 Kings 22:21-22, Philippians 4:8, Colossians 3:2.
Session 4
How to Defeat Temptation
What exactly is "The Way of Escape"?
Behind all sin lies temptation. Many fail in their battle against sin because they attempt to eradicate the sin rather than respond biblically to the temptation. Some Christians are looking for a way to avoid or "escape" temptation. Others are attempting to resist it. Neither of these responses is the biblical teaching on how to deal with temptation. This session is a deep and thorough discussion of temptation, its characteristics, and the biblical instruction for responding to it. 1 Corinthians 10:13, James 1:2-4, 14-15, and other scriptures.
Session 5
Walking by the Spirit
What does it mean and how to do it
There is a difference between breaking free and remaining free from addiction. Walking by the Spirit is the key to remaining free from addiction. It is not as much a spiritual state to be strived for as it is a type of activity to be engaged in. Scripture clearly teaches that freedom is to be acted upon in order to ensure continuing spiritual formation. The focus of maintaining our freedom is not to pour all our energy into resisting temptation. Rather, we are to be spending our time engaged in activities that are conducive to spiritual growth. How we occupy our time determines if we will live in freedom. Galatians 5:16, Titus 2:14, Ephesians 5:15-18, 1 Peter 2:16.
Session 6
Sanctification & Serving
Service-an essential component in sanctification
The single biggest reason that Christians relapse is because they dry up spiritually. But actively serving God precludes a stale and impotent Christian life. Sanctification is incomplete without the essential component of service. None of us become what God created us to be without doing what He created us to do. We are created and saved to serve. Unless and until you discover and live out what it is that God put you here for, you will never find purpose, meaning, and fulfillment in life--you will always be frustrated. Galatians 5:13, John 15:1-17, Romans 6:19, Ephesians 4:11-16, Proverbs 11:25, James 2:22.
Miscellaneous Videos & Resources
Provision House will be producing DVD's and other resources related to subjects that affect everyone. While some of the material in these resources will draw upon the principles taught in the Breaking the Chains Seminar, they will not be directly related to addictions. You can anticipate many completely new subjects to be addressed and taught by Paul in this series.
Available 2012
