Back to the Basics of Sponsorship

Suggested Big Book Passages for Taking a Newcomer through the Twelve Steps.

If you are working as a guide, or advisor ( sponsor ), you may wish to print this page and keep it folded and handy in your Big Book.

Introduction
Who are we? pg xiii: 5 (1) and pg xiv: 0 (1-6)
What do we have to offer? pg 17: 3 (1-6)

Surrender (Steps 1, 2 and 3)
Step 1
Physical symptoms: pg. xxx: 5 (1-3, 5-8); pg. 44: 1 (4-7)
Mental symptoms: pg. xxviii: 4 (1-6) and xxix: 0 (1-9); pg 23:1(3-10) and pg 23:2(1-9); pg 30:1(4-10)
Psychic change: pg. xxix: 1 (1-7)
Unmanageability: pg. 52: 2 (3-8)
Loneliness: pg. 151: 2 (1-10)
First Step question: pg. 30:2 (1-3)
Step 2
Lack of Power: pg. 45: 1 (1-4), 2 (1-3)
Where do we find the Power? pg. 55: 2 (1-7), pg. 55: 3 (5-7)
Look within: pg 55: 4 (3-4)
What if the newcomer doesn’t believe? pg. 46: 1 (3-8)
Second Step question: pg 47: 2 (1-3)
Step 3
A life run on self-will: pg. 60: 4 (1-8)
Selfishness blocks us from God’s will: pg. 62: 1 (1-8) and pg. 62: 2: (1-8)
A life guided by the vision of God’s will: pg. 62: 3 (1-4, 6-8) and pg. 63: (1-4)
Third Step prayer: pg. 63:2 (2-8)
Dr. Bob's Third step prayer HERE

Sharing (Steps 4, 5, 6 and 7)
Step 4
Explanation: pg. 63: 4 (1-2), pg. 64: 0 (1-5) and pg 64: 1 (1-7)
Sponsor does the writing: pg. 13: 3 (1-4)
What do we inventory?
Resentments: pg. 64: 3 (1-2, 6-9)
We overcome our resentments with forgiveness: pg. 66: 4 (1-2), pg. 67: 0 (1- 8), and pg. 67: 1 (1-2)
Fears: pg. 68: 1 (1-3)
We overcome our fears with faith: pg. 68: 2 (1-4) and pg. 68: 3 (4-10)
Harms: pg: 69: 1 (1-6)
We overcome our harms with amends: pg. 69: 3 (2-4)
Step 5
We share our inventory: pg 72: 2 (4-10)
With whom? pg. 73: 4 (1), pg. 74: 0 (1-9), pg. 74: 1 (1-4)
This Step may be temporarily postponed: pg. 74: 2 (2-6)
How do we take this Step? pg. 75:1 (1-4)
Step 6
Explanation: pg. 76: 1 (1-7)
Sixth Step question: pg. 76: 1 (3-5)
Step 7
Seventh Step prayer: pg. 76: 2 (1-7)

Amends (Steps 8 and 9)
Step 8
Explanation: pg. 76: 3 (2-5)
Step 9
Explanation: pg. 76: 3 (6-11)
Specific amends:
People we dislike: pg. 77: 1 (9-14)
Creditors: pg. 78: 2 (1-12)
Where other people are involved: pg. 79: 2 (1-3) and 80: 1 (1-5)
People who cannot be seen: pg. 83: 3 (1-5)

Maintenance (Steps 10, 11 and 12)
Step 10
Explanation: pg. 84: 2 (1-8)
Tenth Step process: pg. 84: 2 (8-14)
Tenth Step question: pg. 84: 2 (2-3)
Step 11
Explanation of two-way prayer: pg. 85: 3 (1-2) and 86:0 (1-4)
When we retire: pg. 86: 1 (1-9
Upon awakening: pg: 86: 2 (1-5)
How does God communicate with us? pg. 86: 3 (1-6)
How did God communicate with Bill W.? pg 14: 2.(1-8)
Practice, practice, practice: pg. 87: 0 (1-9)
Throughout the day: pg. 87: 3 (1-3), 88: 0 (1-7), 1 (1)
Step 12
Explanation: pg. 89: 1 (1-7) and 2 (1-7)
Twelfth Step question: pg. 89: 1 (5)
Close
Program summary: pg. 164: 2 (1-10), pg. 164: 3 (1-6), and 164: 4 (1)
There is a solution: pg. 25: 1 (1-12) and pg. 25: 2 (1-9)
More on 12th step working with others