Stepping Into Power: A Christian Walk Through the 12 Steps

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What Is Stepping Into Power?

Stepping Into Power is a Christian recovery roadmap designed to help individuals, Sponsors, Recovery Partners (RPs), families, and church leaders better understand and work through the 12 Steps of AA through a Christian, biblical lens, as they are defined in The Dunamis Effect.

Importantly, this is not a rehab program or treatment center.

In contrast, it is a Christian teaching and discussion resource meant to walk alongside the recovery process—not replace it.

In simple terms:

Each month, we take a focused deep dive into one of the Twelve Steps.


What to Expect Each Month

Each step in the Stepping Into Power series includes:

  • A short teaching video
  • A blog post explaining the step and its Christian foundation
  • Downloadable chapters from The Dunamis Effect
  • Reflection questions to support honest conversation and application

These Christian recovery resources are designed to help people:

  • Understand what each step is asking of them
  • Identify the emotional and spiritual issues behind addictive behaviors
  • Have meaningful conversations with their Sponsor or Recovery Partner (RP)

As a result, Stepping Into Power serves as a practical tool for:

  • Individuals actively working the 12 Steps
  • Sponsors assisting a sponsee through step work
  • Recovery Partners walking alongside someone in recovery
  • Family members and church leaders seeking a foundational understanding of the 12 Steps

This series is intentionally created for a broad audience, including:

  • Christians in recovery
    Working the 12 Steps with Jesus Christ as their Higher Power
  • Sponsors and Recovery Partners (RPs)
    Using a clear Christian framework to guide step discussions
  • Family members and loved ones
    Learning what the 12 Steps are designed to do—and why they matter
  • Pastors and church leaders
    Gaining clarity around how recovery works so they can better support those walking through it

When recovery language becomes familiar, support becomes more effective.


The 12 Steps Are About More Than Substances

Although the 12 Steps originated in Alcoholics Anonymous, it may be a surprise that they apply to most addictive behaviors in addition to substances.

At their core, the 12 Steps address the human condition—our attempts to manage pain, fear, and brokenness apart from God.


Why a Christian Lens Matters in Recovery

When the 12 Steps are worked with Jesus Christ as our Higher Power, recovery becomes more than behavior change.

Working the steps through a Christian lens often leads to:

  • Deeper emotional healing at the root
  • Greater honesty, humility, and freedom
  • Long-term sobriety grounded in identity—not willpower

By inviting Christ into the step process, people begin to explore why addictive behaviors took root—not just how to stop them.

A Note on Christians and AA

Many Christians wrestle with questions about Alcoholics Anonymous, the use of “higher power” language, and whether the 12 Steps align with Christian belief.

These questions deserve thoughtful, historically grounded answers.

👉 We explore this topic in depth here:
Christians and AA: Faith, History, and the 12 Steps

Join Us as We Step Forward—Together

Up next: Step One – Surrender


Explore the series further: