How
to work the Second Step.
1. Read:
Big Book, “How It Works” (pp 58-60)
2. Read:
Big Book, “We Agnostics” (pp 44-57)
3. In
Step One admitted (Notes: Part F # 3) that your alcoholic behavior or lifestyle
was insane, dysfunctional or seriously flawed. Your task in this chapter of the
Big Book is now to complete Step Two. (pg. 47)
4. Step
Two, as outlined in “How It Works” (pg. 59) contains four parts:
a. We
came to believe (a process)
b. In
a power greater than ourselves (whatever that Power might be or however
it might be defined)
c. That
could (a process)
d. Restore
us to sanity (the need for which we have already
conceded)
5. Chapter
4 “We Agnostics” (pp 44-47) has as its focus the search for a Higher Power. In fact,
we are told that this search is indeed the chief purpose of the Big Book
itself. (pg.
45)
6. Topics/Questions
a. Did
my code of morals or my philosophy of life keep me sober? (pp 44-45)
b. Why
is lack of power the central dilemma of addiction? (pg. 45)
c. What
is the solution to this dilemma? (pg. 45)
d.
Do you have your own concept of
god? (pp
46-47) - The greatest obstacle to completion of Step Two is the failure
to develop your own concept of a Higher Power, (if necessary, reread Bill’s
Story@ (pp
9-13)
e. What
are some of the benefits of a belief in a Higher Power? (pp 50-53)
f. Why
does Bill state (pg. 53) that we have to decide that God is everything or else God
is nothing?
g. What
is the role of faith in your life? (pp 53-55)
h. Do
you believe that if God is sought, God will reveal Himself/Herself/Itself to
us? (pg.
57)
7. Three
questions in closing:
a. Do
you believe that you can restore yourself to sanity?
b. Do
you believe that a Power greater than yourself can restore you to sanity?
c. What
is your answer to the question on page 48, paragraph #2?
8. You
have now completed Step Two. Continue on to Step Three.
9. You
might like to read or reread - as a bridge between Step Two and Step Three -
Appendix II “Spiritual Experience.” (pp 569-570)