A NEW Program to Help With Addictions, Compulsions and Bad Habits

I’m excited to share a new opportunity with you. Beginning at the end of this month, we’ll be launching a 12-week pilot program called The Renewed Life. This course is designed to help people who struggle with any kind of addiction, compulsion, or unhealthy habit.

Program Details

The program will run from September 28 through December 20. Each week will focus on one of the 12 Keys to Living a Renewed Life, with daily teaching delivered by email and a weekly video lesson that provides an overview of that week’s key.

These 12 Keys were developed through my work with over 1,500 men who struggled with compulsive sexual behavior over the past 19 years. They form the backbone of the Renewed Man program, which I talk alot about in this email newsletter. As I’ve taught this material in other settings — including a sermon series at Bethel Church — it has become clear that these principles (the 12 Keys) are helpful for anyone dealing with compulsive behaviors of all kinds. And so the program will benefit anyone dealing with one or more of these various struggles:

• food / overeating
• alcohol abuse
• smoking
• pornography use
• out of control use of technology -- video games, social media, etc.
• struggles with out of control emotions, such as anger and anxiety

Why Does This Matter So Much?

If you’ve ever said to yourself, “I’m going to quit,” but then found yourself right back at it, you’re not alone. Substances and technology are being engineered to be more potent and addictive, while stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship struggles push people to lean more and more on unhealthy coping mechanisms.

Jesus pledged that he came into the world that we might have "life, and life to the full" (or "abundant life"). This "life to the full" involves eternal life with Him in heaven after we die, but it also involves a deepening experience of joy, peace, meaning, and love in this life. The current term in vogue would be to call this a "flourishing life." As believers, we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and this new nature is characterized by, among other qualities, power and self-control. 

When we are living out of control in these areas of our lives, it can be really damaging to us. It negatively impacts our experience of all these dimensions -- it robs us of joy, peace, self-confidence, energy, and can of damage our relationships.

The goal of this program is to help us grow in this quality of self control, as applied to this area of struggle in our lives. 

The good news is that there is hope. The Renewed Life program is designed to help you gain freedom, redirect your energy, and build a healthier way of life.

What Will I Get in This Program?

As part of the program, you’ll receive daily teaching — a short article and a simple action step — along with a weekly video teaching session. Because this is a pilot program, we’ll also be asking for your feedback to help improve it before a public launch. Looking ahead, our hope is to build small support groups around this material, but right now you’ll be among the first to experience it personally.

The end of the year can be a difficult season, with holiday busyness and family gatherings bringing both joy and struggle. That makes this an especially valuable time to engage with content like this.

How Much Does It Cost?

Since this is a pilot program, there is no cost to participate. We will, however, invite you to consider making a donation to help spread the program, and we’ll ask for your feedback to strengthen it.

How to Sign Up

Signing up is simple. Just reply to this email and let me know you’d like to participate. If you’re ready to join, you’ll start receiving emails the week before September 28, and the daily content will begin on Sunday, September 28.

Thanks, and I look forward to walking through this journey with you.

-- Mark