Through history, politics, and Scripture, we explore how the collapse of human power and the cries of a restless people prepared the way for the coming of the true King.

Local Invitation

🌟 Celebrate Recovery at Peters Creek Baptist Church📍 6300 Library Road, South Park, PA🗓 Fridays at 7 PM

Also gathering Mondays at 7 PM at Crossroads Ministries in Finleyville.

➡️ Not local? Find a group near you at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠crlocator.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

💝 Support the ministry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠pcbc.church/give⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ → Select Celebrate Recovery

🎧 About the Audio:This episode was shaped with the help of NotebookLM’s AI Audio Overview feature—a tool that distills the key themes from long-form content like our companion book. The structure may be AI-assisted, but the storytelling, insight, and prayer behind every word remain deeply human.

Resources & Next Steps

• Join Us In Person: Fridays at 7 PM at Peters Creek Baptist Church, 6300 Library Road, South Park, PA.

• Find a Group Near You: Visit ⁠crlocator.com⁠ to connect with a Celebrate Recovery in your area.

Through history, politics, and Scripture, we explore how the collapse of human power and the cries of a restless people prepared the way for the coming of the true King.

Local Invitation

🌟 Celebrate Recovery at Peters Creek Baptist Church📍 6300 Library Road, South Park, PA🗓 Fridays at 7 PM

Also gathering Mondays at 7 PM at Crossroads Ministries in Finleyville.

➡️ Not local? Find a group near you at ⁠⁠⁠⁠crlocator.com⁠⁠⁠⁠.

💝 Support the ministry: ⁠⁠⁠⁠pcbc.church/give⁠⁠⁠⁠ → Select Celebrate Recovery

🎧 About the Audio:This episode was shaped with the help of NotebookLM’s AI Audio Overview feature—a tool that distills the key themes from long-form content like our companion book. The structure may be AI-assisted, but the storytelling, insight, and prayer behind every word remain deeply human.

Welcome to Celebrate Recovery at Peters Creek Baptist Church! In this episode, Craig— a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with alcoholism and people-pleasing—shares how Psalm 146 speaks directly into the journey of recovery.

This message explores the link between denial and anxiety, and how both can drain our energy, distort our reality, and keep us stuck. But the psalm reminds us of a deeper truth:

• The Lord upholds the oppressed.

• The Lord gives food to the hungry.

• The Lord sets prisoners free.

• The Lord opens blind eyes.

• The Lord lifts up the bowed down.

Through personal stories, practical steps, and Scripture, Craig invites us to move from denial into truth, from anxiety into trust, and from fear into freedom.

Key Themes

• Denial and Anxiety: How pretending “I’m fine” actually fuels exhaustion and fear.

• Living in the Present: Positive change only happens now—not in the past or the future.

• Steps Toward Freedom: Admitting powerlessness, trusting Jesus as our Higher Power, and surrendering one moment at a time.

• People-Pleasing & Fear: Learning that love isn’t managing outcomes but walking in truth.

• Practical Tools: The “Here, Lord” prayer, daily bread trust, honest inventory, and celebrating small freedoms.

Takeaways

• Denial drains energy; surrender brings healing.

• Anxiety thrives in isolation but withers in community.

• Jesus meets us in the present moment with freedom, peace, and love.

• Transformation begins with small, honest steps toward God.

Resources & Next Steps

• Join Us In Person: Fridays at 7 PM at Peters Creek Baptist Church, 6300 Library Road, South Park, PA.

• Find a Group Near You: Visit crlocator.com to connect with a Celebrate Recovery in your area.

• Scripture to Remember: “The Lord sets prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down.” (Psalm 146:7–8)

You don’t have to walk this path alone. There’s a seat for you here.

Through history, politics, and Scripture, we explore how the collapse of human power and the cries of a restless people prepared the way for the coming of the true King.

Local Invitation

🌟 Celebrate Recovery at Peters Creek Baptist Church📍 6300 Library Road, South Park, PA🗓 Fridays at 7 PM

Also gathering Mondays at 7 PM at Crossroads Ministries in Finleyville.

➡️ Not local? Find a group near you at ⁠⁠⁠crlocator.com⁠⁠⁠.

💝 Support the ministry: ⁠⁠⁠pcbc.church/give⁠⁠⁠ → Select Celebrate Recovery

🎧 About the Audio:This episode was shaped with the help of NotebookLM’s AI Audio Overview feature—a tool that distills the key themes from long-form content like our companion book. The structure may be AI-assisted, but the storytelling, insight, and prayer behind every word remain deeply human.

I want you to imagine for a moment what your life could look like if you stopped hiding. Imagine waking up without the weight of shame pressing down on you. Imagine having honest conversations where you don’t have to pretend. Imagine being able to feel sadness or anger or fear without being overwhelmed by it, because you know God is with you in it. Imagine living with a sense of lightness, of peace, of joy. That’s not a fantasy. That’s what Jesus offers.

Through history, politics, and Scripture, we explore how the collapse of human power and the cries of a restless people prepared the way for the coming of the true King.

Local Invitation

🌟 Celebrate Recovery at Peters Creek Baptist Church📍 6300 Library Road, South Park, PA🗓 Fridays at 7 PM

Also gathering Mondays at 7 PM at Crossroads Ministries in Finleyville.

➡️ Not local? Find a group near you at ⁠⁠crlocator.com⁠⁠.

💝 Support the ministry: ⁠⁠pcbc.church/give⁠⁠ → Select Celebrate Recovery

🎧 About the Audio:This episode was shaped with the help of NotebookLM’s AI Audio Overview feature—a tool that distills the key themes from long-form content like our companion book. The structure may be AI-assisted, but the storytelling, insight, and prayer behind every word remain deeply human.

Celebrate Recovery: Principle One — Admit Powerlessness

Host: Craig — a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with alcoholism and approval seeking

Series: Celebrate Recovery | Principle 1

Celebrate Recovery — Peters Creek Baptist Church

Fridays — Worship 7:00–8:00 PM · Open Share 8:10–9:00 PM

6300 Library Road, South Park, PA 15129

Not local? Find a group: crlocator.com

Support the ministry: pcbc.church/give → “Celebrate Recovery”

Resources Mentioned

• Life’s Healing Choices (suggested read)

• Principle 1 starter prayer & journal page (available on request)

Disclaimer

Celebrate Recovery is Christ-centered and complements, not replaces, professional care. If you’re in crisis, call your local emergency number or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.).

Follow & Share: If this helped you take a first step, follow, rate, and share the episode with someone who needs hope tonight.

Through history, politics, and Scripture, we explore how the collapse of human power and the cries of a restless people prepared the way for the coming of the true King.

Local Invitation

🌟 Celebrate Recovery at Peters Creek Baptist Church📍 6300 Library Road, South Park, PA🗓 Fridays at 7 PM

Also gathering Mondays at 7 PM at Crossroads Ministries in Finleyville.

➡️ Not local? Find a group near you at ⁠crlocator.com⁠.

💝 Support the ministry: ⁠pcbc.church/give⁠ → Select Celebrate Recovery

🎧 About the Audio:This episode was shaped with the help of NotebookLM’s AI Audio Overview feature—a tool that distills the key themes from long-form content like our companion book. The structure may be AI-assisted, but the storytelling, insight, and prayer behind every word remain deeply human.

Celebrate Recovery: Principle One — Admit Powerlessness

Host: Craig — a grateful believer in Jesus Christ who struggles with alcoholism and approval seeking
Series: Celebrate Recovery | Principle 1

Episode Description

Tonight we begin where real freedom starts: “I am not God.” Craig walks through Celebrate Recovery’s Principle One and Step One—why admitting powerlessness isn’t failure but the doorway to grace. We name the two gatekeepers at the start of recovery (past failures and fear of change), expose denial, and invite you into Christ-centered community where healing takes root.

Key Scriptures & Step

• Matthew 5:3 — Blessed are the poor in spirit

• Romans 7:18 — Desire to do good, but can’t carry it out

• Hebrews 12:1–2 — Throw off what hinders; run with perseverance

• Philippians 3:13–14 — Forgetting what’s behind; pressing on

• Isaiah 43:18 — Do not dwell on the past

• 2 Timothy 1:7 — God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear

• 2 Corinthians 12:9 — Power made perfect in weakness

• John 8:32 — Truth sets you free

• 2 Corinthians 5:17 — New creation in Christ

• Proverbs 24:16 — The righteous rise again

• James 5:16 — Confess and pray to be healed

• Romans 12:2 — Be transformed by renewing your mind

• Step One (12 Steps): We admitted we were powerless over our addictions and compulsive behaviors—that our lives had become unmanageable.

What We Cover

• Why surrender ≠ failure (it’s the start of strength)

• The two questions that stall recovery:

  1. Will I let past failures stop me?

  2. Am I afraid to change—and why?

• Three anchors that keep us stuck: resentment, guilt, grief—and how forgiveness, grace, and truth loosen their grip

• Breaking denial and letting the light in

• Why community is non-negotiable (James 5:16)

• The practical picture of surrender: stop “controlling the ocean” and let the Savior carry you

Reflection Prompts (Save for Group)

1. Where do you see unmanageability right now?

2. Which weighs more—guilt over the past or fear of the future?

3. What single truth do you need to bring from secrecy into the light this week?

4. Name two people for confession and prayer.

5. One-line surrender: “Jesus, I’m not God. I surrender ______ to You.”

Action Steps

• Admit: I’m powerless; my life is unmanageable.

• Ask: God, help me tell the truth.

• Act: Show up—don’t do this alone

Join Us (Pittsburgh Area)

Celebrate Recovery — Peters Creek Baptist Church
Fridays — Worship 7:00–8:00 PM · Open Share 8:10–9:00 PM
6300 Library Road, South Park, PA 15129

Not local? Find a group: crlocator.com
Support the ministry: pcbc.church/give → “Celebrate Recovery”

Resources Mentioned

• Life’s Healing Choices (suggested read)

• Principle 1 starter prayer & journal page (available on request)

Disclaimer

Celebrate Recovery is Christ-centered and complements, not replaces, professional care. If you’re in crisis, call your local emergency number or the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (U.S.).

Follow & Share: If this helped you take a first step, follow, rate, and share the episode with someone who needs hope tonight.