1. How to Conduct an Addiction Intervention
Mark E. Shaw, D.Min.

2. Introduction
Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.

3. I. Biblical Examples of Interventions
The FIRST intervention occurred in Genesis 3:9-12.
Jethro intervened to help Moses in Exodus 18:13-27.
Matthew 18:15-18 calls a brother to intervene with a sinning brother gently to restore his relationship with Christ.

4. I. Biblical Examples of Interventions
Paul intervenes for Onesimus with Philemon (book of Philemon).
Paul publicly confronted Peter in Galatians 2:11.

5. II. What is an Intervention?
To intervene literally means to come between disputing people (or groups), to intercede or mediate
Add “a call to repentance and/or faith in Christ for the purpose of glorifying god by allowing him to grant grace and peace into a person’s life” (Shaw, 2018)
Dictionary.com. Definition of Intervene.
Accessed July 28, 2018.

6. II. What is an Intervention?
Calling a sinner to repent should always be gentle. Galatians 6:1-3
God grants repentance. Rom. 2:4
Dictionary.com. Definition of Intervene.
Accessed July 28, 2018.

7. II. What is an Intervention?
Everyone needs to grow in the area of faith in Christ, or greater DEPENDENCE upon Him.
We glorify God when we represent Him as ambassadors of His grace, and initiate PEACE, a fruit of the Spirit. 2 Cor. 5:20-21, Gal. 5:22-23

8. II. What is an Intervention?
Peace is a primary goal of Matthew 18, interventionists, and/or biblical counselors because all are called to be peace-makers. Matt. 5:9
Cover the matter in prayer.

9. II. What is an Intervention?
A desired outcome of the intervention is to ELICIT a genuine response whether that is one of repentance or rejection. Either response brings CLARITY.

10. III. How to Conduct an Addiction Intervention*
Where, when, and who attends
Who speaks and what is said (with sample letter)
Heart preparation
The meeting
The results
*Thanks to Dr. Rick Thomas of Mt. Carmel Ministries for his work in this area.
We will be covering these points in this workshop. I want to thank Dr. Rick Thomas of Mt. Carmel Ministries for much of his work in this area. Some of these concepts I learned years ago in workshops he taught on this and other addictions topics.

11. Where, When, and Who Attends?
You decide who needs to be present at the intervention by interviewing close family.
Smaller groups - more cohesive and less threatening; don’t want addict to shut down

12. Who Speaks and What is Said?
Plan who will speak and they write out a script (see sample letter). Preview it ahead of time and give feedback and suggestions.
Instruct families to write their confrontation using the four elements in 2 Timothy 3:16-17: You will notice each element in this abbreviated sample letter.
Excerpt taken and adapted from my book, Divine Intervention: Hope and Help for Families of Addicts (FOCUS Publishing, 2007) SAMPLE “INTERVENTION” LETTER from Appendix C, pp

13. Sample intervention letter and details found in Appendix C

14. Sample Letter
E. Do not make the letter too long. F. Timeline, clear expectations, consequences of non-cooperation. G. End the letter with a question to ask for a commitment. Gaining a commitment in writing is best and represented by a signature.

15. Heart Preparation
Pray together, discuss goals, clarify motives for the intervention, cultivate a unity of purpose, decide who will speak and in what order, and determine the day, time, and location.
Talk with the family and friends prior in order to prepare hearts for the intervention and response of the addict.

16. I. Talk with the family and friends prior in order to prepare hearts for the intervention and response of the addict.
1. Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.

17. I. Talk with the family and friends prior in order to prepare hearts for the intervention and response of the addict.
2. Humble attitude and a proper heart motivation. Phil. 2: It takes two humble parties who want to please God to reconcile a matter.

18. The Meeting
J. Start with prayer, each speaker confessing his/her own sin and asking for forgiveness.
1. Humility is the atmosphere desired here.
2. Asking for forgiveness does not excuse or justify the addict’s behaviors.

19. The Meeting
K. You, the biblical counselor, should lead the meeting. Establish an atmosphere of love. L. The meeting does not have to last very long. Long meetings are emotionally-draining.

20. The Results CLARITY is desired from the RESPONSE of the addict.
If willing to repent, a new, safe environment should happen immediately. Residential program or disciple-maker’s home: prepare in advance for this next step.
If unwilling to repent, consequences need to be clear. Family members have two choices, and both require faith in Christ.

21. The Results
2. If unwilling to repent, consequences need to be clear. Family members have two choices, and both require faith in Christ.
Continue to work with the addict in the home even if the addict is unrepentant-- demonstrating the love, grace, mercy, and truth of God. But it must be done by faith and not motivated by fear (Heb. 11:6).
Or follow Proverbs 22:10 by faith in God: Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease. Again, this choice must be done by faith and not motivated by fear (Heb. 11:6).

22. The Results
If the addict is asked to move out, then be sure the addict knows that he/she is making this choice based upon unwillingness and disobedience. It is his/her choice to make, not yours. You are simply drawing a line in the sand (Eph. 5:11).
Place the appropriate amount of responsibility upon him/her so that you are not allowing him to think like a victim of circumstances but as a culpable person making choices.

23. IV. Summary
Interventions are often dreaded. It is hard to call people to repentance, knowing you are a sinner, too.
You are called to love sacrificially.
Seeds will be planted that may yield a fruitful crop down the road (see Luke 15:11-32). There is always hope in Christ. (Rom. 15:14)
Parts of this workshop were excerpted from a two-part blog series I wrote for the Biblical Counseling Coalition called “How to Do a Biblical Intervention: Part 1: Preparation to Intervene” and “How to Do a Biblical Intervention Part 2: A Sample Intervention Letter.”
Shaw, Mark. The Biblical Counseling Coalition. March 26, 2014 and March 27, 2014.
biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/2014/03/26/how-to-do-a-biblical-intervention-part-1-preparation-to-intervene/ and
biblicalcounselingcoalition.org/2014/03/27/how-to-do-a-biblical-intervention-part-2-a-sample-intervention-letter/.
Accessed July 13, 2018.