Freedom from Hurtful Behaviors: What the Bible Teaches about Liberation and Renewal
by Rev. Dr. Charles Knippel, CPH, 2002.
Sample of the first 13 pages: Look inside
Also by Dr. Knippel:
When Addictions Threaten. CPH, 2000. Sample: Look inside
The Twelve Steps: The Church’s Challenge and Opportunity. CPH, 1994. (out of print, but occasionally available used)
CLR Documents
Meeting Format
Sample Handout
Are We Powerless?
Rev. Fred Lindemann’s review of the propers for Trinity 19. This provides a beautiful example of how well the propers can serve as subject matter for recovery meetings.
Assistance With Self-Examination (Steps 4 and 5)
Beichtspiegel, a “confessional mirror” for self-examination according to the Ten Commandments.
The Small Catechism: The Table of Duties. “Certain passages of Scripture for various holy orders and positions, admonishing them about their duties and responsibilities.”
The Small Catechism: The Ten Commandments. “As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household.”
The Large Catechism: Part 1, The Ten Commandments. Luther’s longer expositions of each of the Ten Commandments.
The Small Catechism: How Christians should be taught to confess.
Additional Book Recommendations
Loftus, Matthew. Resisting Therapy Culture: The Dangers of Pop Psychology and How the Church Can Respond. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, August 18, 2026. (Note especially chapter 10, “Addiction: Desire and Disease”)
Lembke, Anna, M.D. Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence. New York: Dutton, 2021.
Deutschlander, Daniel M. The Theology of The Cross: Reflections on His Cross and Ours. Northwestern Publishing House, 2008.
Frankl, Viktor E. Man’s Search for Meaning. Beacon Press, 2006 edition (published in German in 1946 as Ein Psycholog erlebt das Konzentrationslager).
Dissertation
Galen, Gary. “An Exploration of A.A.’s Twelve Step Spirituality for the Purpose of Communicating a Right Understanding of Law and Gospel to Recovering Lutheran Alcoholics.” D.Min. dissertation, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, 1992.
Articles
Farias, Miguel. “Meditation And Mindfulness Have a Dark Side We Don’t Often Talk About.” Science Alert, The Conversation, September 17, 2025.
Knippel, Charles T., “Could You Be Addicted?” August, 2003 issue of The Lutheran Witness.
Video
Recovery Friendly Churches. 24 minute interview of Rev. Philip Merten, a chaplain in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) who works in addiction ministries.
