A.A.
History Study Meetings
2005
by Dick B.
You
may want to call yours "The James
Club" or "The Big Book/Bible
Roots Group"
Studying the History, Bible Roots,
Big Book, and Twelve Steps
How you and your A.A. and 12-Step
friends can meet freely to study,
learn, compare, and discuss our basic
roots and text
Abstract
This is for individuals
who believe in, want to investigate,
or wish to learn and understand the
basic Bible verses and Biblical ideas
studied by A.A. pioneers. And compare
and contrast them with the teachings
of A.A. s mentors and with the basic
ideas and principles that were incorporated
into A.A. s Big Book and Twelve Steps.
Many AAs and 12-Step groups have written
me asking where and how they can begin
"Big Book/Bible Study" meetings
and groups. Here we tell you where
such seekers if they want to follow
the footsteps of our founders should
focus and read as a group in the Bible
and the Big Book. We suggest reviewing
the sources that propelled the basics
into the A.A. Fellowship. We give
you specific places read, which we
believe which will help every member,
leader, facilitator, group, speaker,
or student. We show what the founders
read and did and what you can do to
understand better the of "spiritual"
recovery program in the Big Book and
Twelve Steps. If you are asking about
recovery and cure, use this guide.
Discover right now where you should
start, what you what you should read,
and how you and your friends or group
will benefit by learning the specific
resources adopted and used in pioneer
A.A.
Parts
of the Good Book A.A. old-timers considered
"absolutely essential"
"Dr. Bob,
noting that there were no Twelve Steps
at the time and that our stories didn't
amount to anything to speak of, later
said they were convinced that the
answer to their problems was in the
Good Book. To some of us older ones,
the parts that we found absolutely
essential were the Sermon on the Mount,
the 13th chapter of First Corinthians,
and the Book of James, he said."
See DR.BOB and the Good Oldtimers.
NY: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services,
Inc., 1980, p. 96.
"Members of Alcoholics Anonymous
begin the day with a prayer for strength
and a short period of Bible reading.
They find the basic messages they
need in the Sermon on the Mount, in
Corinthians and the Book of James"
(quoted in an Akron, Ohio, A.A. pamphlet
of the 1940 s published by the Friday
Forum Luncheon Club of the Akron A.A.
Groups; and see Dick B. Cured. HI:
Paradise Research Publications, Inc.,
2003, p. 4)
Why this
guide is needed
In the last fifteen
years, A.A. members and a great many
recovery groups have shown a long
overdue and certainly promising interest
in early A.A. s beginnings. The trend
can easily be recognized in the growing
number of books, articles, websites,
forums, conferences, and groups which
have made 12-Step history a sole or
major priority.
But the new historical zeitgeist has
yet to reach and motivate recovery
professionals, 12-Step groups or individuals,
or their meetings to a flourishing
application to the spiritual program
that marked early A.A. cures.
The following are among the reasons
for the obvious hole and lack of information:
(1) Unfamiliarity with, or lack of
access to, informative, accurate,
comprehensive historical materials.
(2) Preoccupation with this or that
dynamic that promotes a particular
medical, psychological, religious,
therapeutic, treatment or rehab program
approach. (3) Prejudice against mention
of religious matters above a whisper.
(4) Inordinate concern over who, what
ideas, and what literature should
be excluded from recovery talk and
meetings. (5) A present and recognizable
tendency to place universalism, "treatment,"
stereotyped practices, and profitable
book sales above those things which
originally produced such remarkable
cures among seemingly helpless and
hopeless, "medically incurable"
alcoholics and addicts. (6) A zeal
for medical, psychological, and government
grants that pushes to the side the
primary purpose of A.A. to reach out
to, and help newcomers. (7) Absence
of informed, effective teachers and
facilitators. (8) A tendency to argue
about, and suppress any writing or
talk that conflicts with present-day
views. Phrased differently, claiming
that history, God, and religion endanger
the "simple" detritus being
hurled into the scene today replacing
tried and true early A.A. components
such as the Bible, Christian literature,
the teachings of Rev. Sam Shoemaker,
Oxford Group literature and principles
(9) Outright rejection of the historically
significant observations journal of
Anne Ripley Smith, Dr. Bob s wife,
accompanied by omission of pioneer
emphasis on Quiet Time with its Bible
study, prayers, seeking of guidance,
use of devotionals, and religious
literature that enhanced an understanding
of the "spiritual."
I have received thousands of communications
by letter, phone, fax, and email from
people wanting to know where and how
to begin and continue their education
about our history, the Bible, and
the relationship of each to the program
as it exists today. The writers almost
as often ask about the success rates
(75% to 93%) in early A.A. and the
success rate in today s A.A. (1% to
5%). Most inquirers lack an effective
guide usually none at all. Many lack
a solid cadre for group study. Most
can find no willing leadership. Almost
all forget that early A.A. and just
about every continuing A.A. group
today sprang from very humble beginnings
involving as few as two or three members
in search of relief from the curse
of alcoholism. People who were not
experts, who were not afraid to learn
from medicine and religion, who sought
God s help, and abstained from liquor
and temptation while relief was on
the way.
On
the other hand, those of us in direct
touch with religious, medical, and
scholarly inquisitors, as well as
thousands of still-suffering alcoholics
and addicts, know that there is a
loud thundering today for facts. Facts
about early A.A., its roots, and its
astonishing pioneer success rate.
Facts explaining what the pioneers
meant when they said they were cured.
Facts explaining how and whether individual
religious convictions can be squared
with an ever-growing secular trend
and secularist intrusions into the
recovery groups as well.
This capsule will briefly present
tools, sources of tools, experiences,
hindrances, and specific ideas about
how to organize a study meeting or
group, how to conduct its meetings,
how to use resources that will form
the basis for education and instruction,
and how a leader, facilitator, chairperson,
or individual can move out at once.
Begin with
the Bible itself
I can offer no
better place to begin than with the
Good Book itself. Dr. Bob s wife wrote
in the journal she shared with early
AAs:
Of
course the Bible ought to be the main
Source Book of all. No day ought to
pass without reading it (See Dick
B., Anne Smith s Journal, 1933-1939,
3rd ed. HI: Paradise Research Publications,
Inc., 1998, p. 82).
Dr. Bob said that old timers believed
the answer to their problems was in
the Bible, which he and they called
the Good Book. He also stated emphatically
that A.A. took its basic ideas from
their study and effort in the Bible.
From the outset keep your objectives
simple.
Begin where the pioneers began. Begin
where both Dr. Bob and Anne began.
Make sure your studies will be grounded
on the Bible. Obtain a copy of the
King James Version of the Bible. Bring
it to the meeting, and keep it in
front of you and in front of every
person studying with you. This means,
of course, that every student should
own and bring, or be provided by your
group with, the Bible. Don t leave
home without it!
Stick with the King James Version,
whatever your preference, because
King James is what the pioneers used.
You will relate better to their thinking
and practice if you use it.
Previously we have quoted: Dr. Bob
s statements that three parts of the
Bible were considered "absolutely
essential" in the early program
the Book of James, the Sermon on the
Mount (Matthew 5 to 7), and 1 Corinthians
13. Anne Smith read to Dr. Bob and
Bill every day in the summer of 1935.
Bill Wilson pointed out that Anne
frequently read from the Book of James,
which Bill said was "our favorite."
So your first study should be in the
Book of James
James
As Bill Wilson
himself said: Anne Smith read to Dr.
Bob and Bill every day in the summer
of 1935 when Bill was living with
the Smiths in Akron. She frequently
read from the Book of James, which
Bill said was "our favorite."
Snippets from James can still easily
be spotted in the Big Book. For example:
(1) "Father of lights" (James
1:17). (2) "Thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself" (James 2:8).
(3) "Faith without works is dead"
(James 2:20). (4) And the "confess
your faults" language in James
5:16.
A.A.
History Study Meetings, A.A. History,
Alcoholics Anonymous History
Therefore, we strongly suggest that
you start your meetings in the Book
of James. It is simple, easy to understand,
and a clear mirror of what the pioneers
saw in the Bible.
First,
pursue all chapters and every verse
in the Book of James. Spend more than
one meeting on this book if you wish.
Follow our suggestions; and you can
later apply those suggestions to your
studies of the Sermon on the Mount
and 1 Corinthians 13
As
we wrote, Anne Smith read to Dr. Bob
and Bill every day in the summer of
1935. She frequently read from the
Book of James, which Bill said was
"our favorite." DR. BOB
and the Good Oldtimers reports the
following thoughts and remarks of
Bill:
"For the next three months, I
lived with these two wonderful people,"
Bill said. "I shall always believe
they gave me more than I ever brought
them." Each morning, there was
a devotion, he recalled. After a long
silence, in which they awaited inspiration
and guidance, Anne would read from
the Bible. "James was our favorite,"
he said, "Reading from her chair
in the corner, she would softly conclude,
Faith without works is dead ,"
This was a favorite quotation of Anne
s, much as the Book of James was a
favorite with early A.A. s so much
so that "The James Club"
was favored by some as a name for
the Fellowship." (See DR. BOB,
supra, p.71).
Second,
study all the verses in the Book of
James
I've usually suggested
to men I sponsor that the way to eat
an elephant is one bite at a time.
Don t try to read the entire Bible
before beginning. Don t even focus
on the Gospels, Acts, or the church
epistles. Just one chunk of reading
at a time.
Open every meeting with prayer and
ask all present to pray specifically
that God guide and bless the reading
and illuminate your understanding
of it.
Take your Bibles. Open them to the
Book of James. Don t start until everyone
has found the correct page. Appoint
one person to read the Book of James
out loud while others silently read
along in their Bibles as the speaker
reads it aloud.
Eyes on the page! Don t try to read
all the chapters of James at one session
unless the flow is smooth and within
your time limits. No questions. No
teaching. No discussion. Just a reading
of the Book of James. your leader
should read aloud, all or as much
as you like, of the Book of James.
Others silently read along with the
speaker.
Before proceeding further, you and
your leader might want to read the
same material more than once. Don
t hesitate to do just that.
[Note: When you have completed all
segments of your study of James, including
the instructions in the following
paragraphs, you are then ready and
able to do the same thing with the
Sermon on the Mount, and then with
1 Corinthians 13]. We continue with
your instructions as to James.
Third,
study the part of my title When Early
AAs Were Cured and Why that reviews
and explains the verses in James you
have just read. Compare each relevant
segment in my title with the part
or parts you have just read in James.
I have reviewed
the Book of James, verse by verse,
thoroughly in several of my titles.
But I believe the best and most recent
analysis is in my title When Early
AAs Were Cured and Why (Kihei, HI:
Paradise Research Publications, 2003).
Your greatest benefit will come if
each student has a copy of that resource.
Appoint one person to read the explanatory
resource out loud just as was done
with the Bible itself. To begin, turn
to pages 51-52 of my title When Early
AAs Were Cured and Why. At the first
James session, your leader should
read my commentary aloud, beginning
at page 51. He or she should continue
reading until he or she has read as
much of the relevant commentary as
deals with what the leader covered
in the reading from James. Other students
should silently follow the reading
in their own copy of the resource.
No questions. No teaching. No discussion.
Not yet!
The reason for keeping audience silence
during any reading by the leader is
that questions and discussion often
divert attention from the speaker,
from the content being read, and from
the audience s concentration on the
intended focus. Also, answers and
explanations may often come in the
very next sentence or chapter that
is to be read. Moreover, opinions,
criticisms, and questions by a student
will seldom bless either the seeker
or the speaker or the others in the
meeting.
Remember that your meetings have a
plan to be followed. Stick to it.
There is no record that Bill Wilson
cross examined Anne Smith before,
during, or after she read from her
Bible or from her journal. To the
contrary, Bill said to T. Henry and
Clarace Williams: I learned a great
deal from you people, from the Smiths
themselves, and from Henrietta [Seiberling].
I hadn't looked in the Bible up to
this time, at all. You see, I had
the experience [conversion experience
at Towns Hospital] first and then
this rushing around to help drunks
and nothing happened (See Dick B.
The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous,
p. 64).
Bill and Bob just listened to Anne
s reading and comments, and learned.
Discussions certainly were held between
Bill and Bob for hours over many days,
but not when a reading by Anne was
in progress.
In your meetings, first comes the
opening prayer, then the reading from
James, then the reading from When
Early AAs Were Cured and Why, then
the use of any suggested collateral
literature, and finally audience participation.
Fourth,
consider reading collateral literature
Devotionals:
As you complete study of each Bible
segment and my commentary on it, you
might gain greater understanding or
mental challenge by checking out the
devotionals pioneers daily used to
enhance their spiritual growth on
that particular subject. For example,
you could go through The Runner s
Bible, look for its comments on the
James verses you have read. Then silently
read those Runner s comments while
the leader reads them aloud.
You may even wish to do the
same thing with at least four other
devotionals that were pioneer favorites:
(1) The Upper Room by Nora Smith Holm.
(2) My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald
Chambers. (3) Daily Strength for Daily
Needs by Mary W. Tileston. (4) Victorious
Living by E. Stanley Jones.
All five devotionals were owned, used,
recommended, and circulated by Dr.
Bob. Several are mentioned in later
A.A. "Conference Approved"
publications. Commentaries:
There are several important commentaries
on two of the three "essential"
Bible segments that Dr. Bob read and
recommended. These pertain to the
Sermon on the Mount and 1 Corinthians
13. Bit we haven t found any for the
Book of James. There is, however,
a further relevant collateral area
you can pursue.
Shoemaker s titles:
If you wish to see how many basic
ideas from James influenced our founders
and their mentors, you will find many
specific references to James in the
books written by Rev. Sam Shoemaker,
Jr.
Other Literature:
To sum up the collateral reading possibilities,
you could use, and profit from reading,
DR. BOB and the Good Old-timers; Sam
Shoemaker s Realizing Religion; and
my titles New Light on Alcoholism:
God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A. and The
Oxford Group and Alcoholics Anonymous
Fifth, open the meeting to relevant
audience participation. Let individual
students participate by presenting
any desired discussion, comments,
or questions about the James verses,
or about the portions of my commentary
they have just read, or about suggested
collateral literature. Audience participation
does often have its place. It may
help build mutual interest, friendships,
and the feeling of belonging. It may,
at the proper time, permit someone
to let off steam. It may raise similar
questions others have in mind. But
it will probably be a rare moment
if significant points are raised or
answered. The leader should keep the
participation short. Those who do
present questions or comments should
share with humility, patience, and
tolerance. All should keep criticism,
verbal reproofs, and lofty pronouncements
to a minimum.
Three more suggestions:
(1) Pray before you speak whether
you are the leader or a member of
the audience. (2) Keep difficult and
extended questions for presentation
or discussion until the meeting concludes.
(3) You may even find it helpful to
seek another source or religious authority
for possible explanations.
As Bill Wilson wrote in his
Big Book:
There are many helpful books also.
Suggestions about these may be obtained
from one s priest, minister, or rabbi.
Be quick to see where religious people
are right. Make use of what they offer
(Alcoholics Anonymous, 4th ed., p,
87)
AAs are seldom experts in either religion
or medicine, and those present know
it. Early AAs had good literature
and good teachers to help and instruct
them. They had Biblical books by the
hundreds. They also had excellent
teachers like Rev. Sam Shoemaker,
Anne Smith, Henrietta Seiberling,
and T. Henry Williams.
Today most groups would probably refuse
admission to the likes of these proctors.
And that is a sorry fact, though probably
quite true. Suggest to people in your
study meetings that they might want
and need to invite outsiders to help
in understanding the verses in James.
But you had better place your shield
in front of you, and expect an onslaught.
The days when the likes of Father
Ed Dowling and Rev. Sam Shoemaker
were invited or even permitted to
speak to AAs in meetings or conferences
are, sad to say, all but at an end.
It's hard enough to conduct a history
conference without naive objections
and hindrances.
It s much harder to stimulate learning
about the Bible and its relevance
to the Big Book if you attempt to
do so inside A.A. meetings. Such an
objective involves different and substantial
challenges. There are wolves in the
woods who don t like God, Jesus Christ,
the Bible, religion, or church. They
frequently turn a deaf ear to those
subjects. Few members of this howling
pack know anything about our history.
Yet such bleeding deacons, though
frequently outspoken, bold, and insulting,
do not control or speak for A.A.,
its groups, or its meetings. But they
try. In that vein, there are ongoing
efforts today to remove the Lord s
Prayer from meetings; to ban all kinds
of literature such as Fox s The Sermon
on the Mount; to silence members who
share about them; and to promote their
views in A.A. conferences. Many times
I've even heard obstructive remarks
from those who oppose Big Book study
conferences. And they are wrong!
The James materials can be taught
and learned. You are not in your meeting
to lead, opine, or share, but rather
to learn. Feel free to ask what you
wish, state what you wish, and discuss
what you wish. But when controversy
arises, it is probably futile to promote
your viewpoint in the meeting. In
this respect, I'm reminded of the
idea: "A man convinced against
his will is of the same opinion still."
Keep your controversial statements
to yourself and present the point
later to someone you think has the
answers. This discussion portion of
a meeting follows the completion of
reading from the Bible as well as
the completion of reading from When
Early AAs Were Cured and Why. Then
it's open season.
Participants may have questions. They
may have observations. They may have
stories they want to share. And they
may even be loaded with opinions.
Hopefully they have already begun
to see the relevance of James to Big
Book or Twelve Step material. In fact,
they can and should discover, from
what has been read, the actual number
of quotes and ideas from James that
have still been printed and retained
in the latest editions of A.A.'s Big
Book. Participants should be encouraged
to make observations about those facts.
Such comments would be useful and
would help underline what has been
covered in the readings, Let all students
raise questions, make observations,
and give commentaries.
This portion of the meeting should
be moderated by the leader, should
proceed much as any A.A. discussion
meeting proceeds. Audience comments
should not be regarded as teaching
or doctrine. Opinions can certainly
be expressed. But definitive answers
should be found through prayer, further
reading of the Bible, further collateral
literature, or from a knowledgeable
priest, minister, or rabbi.
The more the questions the more the
questioners may themselves see they
need to do, and profit from, their
personal reading, independent of the
meetings.
Close your meeting with the Lord s
Prayer just as the pioneers closed
theirs.
Jesus Sermon
on the Mount
The Sermon on
the Mount meeting or meetings should
proceed in the same manner as the
meeting or meetings on the Book of
James. The same five approaches should
be involved: (1) Pursuing the entire
Sermon. (2) Reading every verse in
it from Matthew 5 to 7. (3) Reading
from When Early AAs Were Cured and
Why. (4) Reading suggested collateral
literature. (5) Opening the meeting
for discussion.
Bill W. and Dr. Bob each said many
times that the Sermon on the Mount
contained the underlying philosophy
of Alcoholics Anonymous.
From what I have read in Alcoholics
Anonymous literature, I suggest that
Bill and Bob may have been referring
to the entire Sermon, but more probably
had in mind specifically the philosophy
of the "Golden Rule" in
Matthew 7:12: "Therefore, all
things whatsoever ye would that men
should do to you, do ye even so to
them: for this is the law and the
prophets, They may have thought of
these other possibilities: (1) Matthew
6:10 "Thy kingdom come. Thy will
be done in earth, as it is in heaven."
(2) Matthew 7:21 "Not every one
that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven:
but he that doeth the will of my Father
which is in heaven." (3) Matthew
5:43-44: Ye have heard that it hath
been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor,
and hate thine enemy. But I say unto
you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that
hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute
you." Taken together, aforementioned
verses emphasize ideas that have become
pillars in A.A. doing for others what
you would like to have done for you;
turning to God to see what He would
have you do; loving your neighbor
and even your enemies, and recognizing
that God wants us to do His will as
expressed primarily in His Word.
In your reading, you will soon discover
a host of verses and ideas from the
Sermon that became part of the fabric
of A.A. For example, reconciling with
your enemy; making restitution to
those you have hurt; the Lord s Prayer;
"first things first" as
expressed in Matthew 6:25-33; "easy
does it" as expressed in Matthew
6:24; inventorying and removing your
own faults before you endeavor to
have another s removed.
Begin the Sermon on the Mount meeting
or meetings with prayer.
First,
pursue all chapters and every verse
in Matthew Chapters 5 through 7 inclusive.
Follow our suggestions.
There is scarcely
a verse in the Sermon that did not
influence early A.A. actions, steps,
and language. Thus, while James was
the "favorite," the Sermon
presented the greatest and broadest
group of challenges. It spelled out
most of the key aspects of a Christian
way of life.
Second, study every verse in Matthew:
5, 6, and 7. The verses in those three
chapters contain every word of the
Sermon itself. Following the same
guide that was used as to James: Silently
read, and have your leader read aloud
every Chapter and every verse from
the beginning of Matthew 5 to the
end of Matthew 7.
Third, study the part of my title
When Early AAs Were Cured and Why
that reviews and explains the verses
in Matthew 5 to 7 you have just read.
Compare each relevant segment of my
title with the part or parts you have
just read in the Sermon.
Fourth, consider reading collateral
literature
Again the possibilities are similar
to those discussed in conjunction
with James.
Devotionals: You may choose to look
into the five devotionals early AAs
used and gain more understanding from
the discussion of the verses you have
read.
Commentaries: Unlike the situation
with James, there are a host of writings
on the Sermon on the Mount. In fact,
it is often discussed in many of the
books early AAs read for spiritual
growth. But the following were studied
extensively by Dr. Bob and some of
the pioneers: (1) Studies in the Sermon
on the Mount by Oswald Chambers. (2)
My Utmost for His Highest by Glenn
Clark. (3) The Sermon on the Mount
by Emmet Fox. (4) The Christ of the
Mount by E. Stanley Jones.
Other Relevant Titles: There certainly
are other books that early AAs read
and which contained references to,
or studies of, various parts of the
Sermon. You may want to locate them
through two of my titles: (1) Dr.
Bob and His Library. (2) The Books
Early AAs Read for Spiritual Growth,
7th ed.
Fifth, open the meeting to relevant
audience participation. Let individual
students participate by presenting
any desired discussion, comments,
or questions about the Sermon verses,
the portions of my commentary they
have just read, or collateral literature
they have considered.
Close the Sermon meetings with the
Lord s Prayer just as the pioneers
did.
The Thirteenth
Chapter of 1 Corinthians
This widely read
chapter in Corinthians has provided
fodder for many a sermon on "love."
There is scarcely an A.A. root source
that doesn't make reference to this
chapter. Drummond of Edinburgh University
in Scotland. The professor delivered
his address on Love in many places,
including Africa; but its fame in
America seemed to spring from his
presentation in 1887 at a Northfield
Conference. Drummond authored a number
of popular books such as Natural Law
in the Spiritual World, The Ideal
Life, and the Ascent of Man. And when
Dr. Bob s daughter Sue Smith Windows
first opened her attic to the view
of others, I discovered there that
Dr. Bob had owned and read all the
Drummond books. They were voluminous.
But the little book that caught my
eye was a copy of Drummond's The Greatest
Thing in the World (London and Glasgow:
Collins Clear-Type Press, n.d.). Drummond
fashioned the title from the last
line of 1 Corinthians 13. Verse thirteen
reads: "And now abideth faith,
hope, charity [love], these three;
but the greatest of these is charity."
And various editions and reprints
of this address have since sold in
the hundreds of thousands. On page
26, Drummond wrote: "The Spectrum
of love has nine ingredients:--Patience,
Kindness, Generosity, Humility, Courtesy,
Unselfishness, Good Temper, Guilelessness,
and Sincerity." A moment s glance
at the language of the verses themselves
and then a glance at Drummond's characterization
of them will call to your mind the
principles of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Dorothy Snyder Murphy, the wife of
pioneer Clarence Snyder at the time,
often worked with drunks. On one occasion,
she tells of this experience with
Dr. Bob and Corinthians: Once when
I was working on a woman in Cleveland,
I called and asked him [Dr. Bob],
"What do I do for somebody who
is going into D.T.'s?" He told
me to give her the medication, and
he said, "When she comes out
of it and she decides she wants to
be a different woman, get her Drummond
s "The Greatest Thing in the
World." Tell her to read it through
every day for 30 days, and she'll
be a different woman" (DR. BOB
and the Good Oldtimers, p. 310).
Now for your studies.
Open the Corinthians meeting with
prayer.
First, pursue all chapters and every
verse in 1 Corinthians 13. Follow
our suggestions.
Fifth, open the meeting to relevant
audience participation. Let individual
students participate by presenting
any desired discussion, comments,
or questions about the Corinthians
verses, or about the portions of my
commentary they have just read, or
about the collateral literature. Use
the same four procedures for study
of Matthew 5 to 7 and 1 Corinthians
13
Suggested
reading to enrich your meetings and
individual studies
As
you complete study of each Bible segment,
you might gain greater understanding
or mental challenge by checking out
the devotionals pioneers used. For
example, you could go through The
Runner s Bible, look for its comments
on the subjects you have read, and
silently read those portions as the
leader reads them aloud. You can do
the same with four other devotional
favorites: (1) The Upper Room by Nora
Smith Holm. (2) My Utmost for His
Highest by Oswald Chambers. (3) Daily
Strength for Daily Needs by Mary W.
Tileston. (4) Victorious Living by
E. Stanley Jones. And all four were
owned, used, recommended, and circulated
by Dr. Bob
There are several important commentaries
on two of the three "essential"
Bible segments Dr. Bob read and recommended.
We haven t found any for the Book
of James.
There were several that explained
Jesus Sermon on the Mount: (1) Studies
in the Sermon on the Mount by Oswald
Chambers. (2) I Will Lift Up Mine
Eyes by Glenn Clark. (3) The Sermon
on the Mount by Emmet Fox. (4) The
Christ of the Mount by E. Stanley
Jones. The all-out favorite discussion
of 1 Corinthians 13 can be found in
The Greatest Thing in the World by
Henry Drummond. Glenn Clark also covered
this "love" chapter in The
Soul's Sincere Desire.
It is no secret today that the greatest
impact on Bill Wilson s Big Book and
Twelve Steps came from the Oxford
Group and from the teachings of its
principal American lieutenant Rev.
Sam Shoemaker. Word after word and
page after page from Bill s writings
came directly from the Oxford Group
and Shoemaker, and Bill said so.
Our job here is to see how much the
Oxford Group and Sam Shoemaker spoke
about the Book of James, the Sermon
on the Mount, and 1 Corinthians 13.
I believe you will be best informed
on these points if you read my two
titles: The Oxford Group and Alcoholics
Anonymous and New Light on Alcoholism:
God, Sam Shoemaker, and A.A.
End of Article Number Three
Copyright
© Dick B.