Encounter Recovery Ministries

We need not wonder, as if some strange thing has happened, as to why the churches in the West are in the present woeful state. The New Testament is crystal clear that the ministry of the Spirit belongs to each one of the members of the body of Christ. But that ministry has been usurped by a false system of clerics who substitute themselves for the ministry of the Spirit. Here is more on what you must do in your lifetime to recover the New Tesament model for the church.

It is time to hear and obey the voice of the Spirit regarding the nature, character and function of the body of Christ, the church. It is not as if the Spirit inspired text is not clear on this issue, and the implications for disobedience are grave. For 1700 years, human tradition has quenched the Spirit and it is time we repent, for judgment truly begins in the house of God.

This is a follow up to the recent talk entitled, "The Worst Condition of All." In this lesson we learn how authentic, Spirit-birthed union with Christ is the BEST condition of all. We learn that condition is evidenced by our desire to grow in his likeness and thus purifying ourselves from anything that is opposed to his life in our character and conduct.

What is the very worst condition any human being can be in? It is to think you are something you are not. The absolute worse condition one can be in is to be missing something that is essential for life in the now and in the hereafter, and yet, think you possess it. In this brief exhortation we discover the nature of this condition and the horrific state it brings, and what must be done to remedy it.

The tragic fact of the spirituality prescribed within Twelve Step programs and treatment centers today is it is powerless. It can bring about genuine recovery let alone regenration and union with Christ. Equally true, is the lack of gospel in the churches today as well. These are perious times. You must be prepared to to pray and pursue others like yourself who want to call upon the Lord and recover and support each other in becoming like Jesus. Meet in your homes, meet anywhere you can, but find fellowship with those who are not ashamed of the gospel.

As if addiction recovery does not have enough pitfalls along the path, trying to find genuine fellowship is yet another. Still, we need each other. In this talk, we learn about what a healthy fellowship looks like and what a sick, powerless fellowship also looks like so we can avoid it.

The path out of the dark forest of addiction begins with two crtiical truths: 1) A genuine acceptance of the precise nature of the problem, and 2) the precise nature of the solution. In this talk we are reminded of both. And we are also reminded, that any deviance from one or the other or both only perpretuate the self-delusion of addiction and the human condition. So where do we turn? Not man-made, man-centered religiosity. Not churchianity. Instead, we turn to the power of God as revealed in the Person and finished work of Jesus and the continuing ministry of the Spirit within the fellowship of likeminded believers.

This is an introduction to a new series of talks intended to bring real answers to real alcoholic and addicts. In this first talk, we learn that life is hellish in active addiction and even worse when we are not using--something radical is necessary or only jail, insanity or death awaits.

Tradition is a yoke that is hard to break. It takes courage to open your Bible, read it in context, employ the cross references, and then follow the text where it leads you, even if that means you realize your church tradition is in error. In this brief exhortation, you will find affirmation and support for such courage. Afterall, it is the Lord Jesus Christ whom we serve, not our church tradition.

This is an audible review of the study notes from our recent "Acts 2:42" gathering. We discovered that our new personal narrative is derived from Christ's incarnation narrative: A fitting study during the Christmas season!

Do you know that you are living out a narrative, a story, a framework by which you make choices regarding God, yourself, and those around you? In this new series we are going to examine how the gospel moves us from the old to the new narrative and transforms us into the image of Jesus.

This is a summary of the series, "The Whole Counsel of God." Here we discover the simplicity and purity of the gospel and are reminded of the scope of God's gracious provision in His Son.

There is value in social connection. We all need to feel we belong. But when we stay in a corrupt church "because our friends are there" we are placing felt needs above your devotion to Christ, and created an idol.

In part three of the series "Recovering the Whole Counsel of God" we continue to define and apply what is meant by this term: The whole counsel of God, and why it is so very important to your spiritual, mental, and relational health.

This is part two of a vital series on recovering the whole counsel of God, meaning the work of Christ and the ministry of the Spirit in appropriating that work in you. In this lesson we learn about renewing our fellowship with and relying upon the Holy Spirit, alone.

This lesson is a reminder that the finished work of Christ, and the work of the Spirit in appropriating that work, are inseparable. Now, this is important because most modern preaching does not include the good news of how the Spirit appropriates Christ into your life, and is therefore not gospel preaching.

Do you realize you are under a divine imperative to minister to your brothers and sisters in Christ? Christ has graced each member of His body with at least one spiritual gift. And this He has done so that you are a now vital contributor to the life and edification of the body of Christ. Don't let the clergy-driven system rob you of this high calling.

It goes without saying that the health of our church fellowship effects or own spiritual and mental health. On the other hand, most Christians are sick and spiritually anemic but refuse to recognize it is because of the sick church they attend. In order to recover, they must come out of that church, and churches like it.

The sermon emphasizes cultivating a prayer life modeled after Jesus, moving beyond lofty words to a genuine relationship with God as Father. It highlights the importance of communal prayer, recognizing that our connection with the divine is inextricably linked to our interpersonal relationships and mutual edification within the body of Christ. The Lord's Prayer serves as a guide, urging believers to prioritize God's name, kingdom, and will above personal requests, while also underscoring the necessity of forgiveness and release from resentment as essential components of a mature and intimate prayer life.

This sermon is a plea to view Christian wholeness and maturity as an imperative. The redemption that God has accomplished for us in Christ is to be worked out in our fellowship so that we become more and more like Jesus and walk as children of light. But we must first escape the traditions and doctrines of men that would keep us broken, confused, and immature.