This Week at Celebrate Recovery - Christ Church Nashville

WELCOME TO

May 15, 2026

Thank you for joining us this evening. We're so glad you're here!

We know it wasn't easy to walk through those doors tonight. That took real courage, and we want you to know: you belong here. Keep coming back. As we often say in Celebrate Recovery, "It works if you work it, and you're worth it!"

Recovery isn't easy, and it isn't a quick fix — but it is worth it. The person you're becoming is already grateful you showed up tonight. Along this journey, you will find genuine healing and lasting freedom through Jesus. Keep your eyes on Him, keep doing the work, and trust the process.

You've already taken the hardest step. We're honored to walk the rest of it with you.

Verse of the Month

"Everything is possible for one who believes."

-Mark 9:23

Celebrate Recovery 8 Principles

1. Realize I’m not God. I admit that I am powerless to control my tendency to do the wrong thing and that my life is unmanageable. (Step 1)

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” -Matthew 5:3 NIV

2. Earnestly believe that God exists, that I matter to Him and that He has the power to help me recover. (Step 2)

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” -Matthew 5:4 NIV

3. Consciously choose to commit all my life and will to Christ’s care and control. (Step 3)

“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.” -Matthew 5:5 NIV

4. Openly examine and confess my hurts, hang-ups and habits to myself, to God, and to someone I trust. (Steps 4 and 5)

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” -Matthew 5:8 NIV

5. Voluntarily submit to any and all changes God wants to make in my life and humbly ask Him to remove my character defects. (Steps 6 and 7)

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” -Matthew 5:6 NIV

6. Evaluate all my relationships. Offer forgiveness to those who have hurt me and make amends for harm I’ve done to others when possible, except when to do so would harm them or others. (Steps 8 and 9)

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” -Matthew 5:7 NIV
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” -Matthew 5:9 NIV

7. Reserve a daily time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will. (Steps 10 and 11)

8. Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and my words. (Step 12)

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” -Matthew 5:10 NIV

Celebrate Recovery 12 Steps

1. We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors, that our lives had become unmanageable.

“For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” -Romans 7:18 NIV

2. We came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” -Philippians 2:13 NIV

3. We made a decision to turn our lives and our wills over to the care of God.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship.” -Romans 12:1 NIV

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 NIV

5. We admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” -James 5:16 NIV

6. We were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” -James 4:10 NIV

7. We humbly asked Him to remove all our shortcomings.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” -1 John 1:9 NIV

8. We made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” -Luke 6:31 NIV

9. We made direct amends to such people whenever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.” -Matthew 5:23-24 NIV

10. We continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it.

“So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!” -1 Corinthians 10:12 NIV

11. We sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God, praying only for knowledge of His will for us, and power to carry that out.

“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly.” -Colossians 3:16 NIV

12. Having had a spiritual experience as the result of these steps, we try to carry this message to others and practice these principles in all our affairs.

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” -Galatians 6:1 NIV

The Serenity Prayer

God,
grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Announcements + Reminders

Virtual Mental Wellness Support Group (1)

Beginning this Sunday, May 17, join licensed counselor Beckie Kareck for a FREE 12-week online support group designed to help you grow in mental wellness within a safe, compassionate, and Christ-centered community. Using the Living Grace workbook from Mental Health Grace Alliance, this group offers practical tools and meaningful conversations that integrate faith and evidence-based mental health practices.

We’re excited to partner with SHIELD 50+, a community for Christian singles ages 50 and up who are looking to build meaningful connections and grow in fellowship. This group meets monthly on the 4th Sunday at 4:45PM in Martha Scott Hall and also offers additional events and outings throughout the month.

If you’re 50+ and single and looking for community, this is a great opportunity to get connected.

To learn more about this group and see all of their activities, visit their Facebook page through the link below.

SHIELD 50+ Facebook Group

If joining Celebrate Recovery on Friday nights has started something in you — a spark of hope, a sense of belonging, a feeling that maybe things really can be different — Sunday mornings are a great next step.

We gather every Sunday at 10:30am to worship together, hear from God's Word, and encourage one another on the journey. It's the same welcoming community you already know, the same grace that meets you right where you are, and the same reminder that you were never meant to do this alone.

We'd love to see you in the Sanctuary this Sunday morning!

Learn more about Christ Church

Have more questions?

Our team would love to connect with you in person tonight - look for someone with a leader nametag! You can also reach out to Pastor Matthew during the week: