Teacher’s Guide

Steps to Jesus

A Workbook

I wrote this workbook for use in an academy religion class for students from non-

Christian countries who are studying in the US. I’ve chosen Steps to Jesus because the

language has been simplified from Steps to Christ while retaining the same power as

the original. This book is probably best for students at a low-intermediate language level

and up.

This is a very brief guide, including some ideas that have worked for me as I’ve taught

this book to my non-Christian students. If you do not have experience teaching non-

American, non-Christian students, I have listed several books in Appendix A which

discuss some of the issues to keep in mind as you’re teaching (some of them are

related to ESL/EFL issues, as teaching English and teaching the Bible often overlap in a

Christian setting). The most important thing to keep in mind is that you want your

students to understand the concepts enough that they can make an informed choice

about believing in Christianity. We always need to remember that God is the one who

changes hearts—we are there to help our students begin to understand how this is

possible.

I have tried to incorporate Christian music thematically throughout the book. If you find

some music or poems that you think work better, please feel free to substitute. I can

also see the benefit of incorporating some more creative work at various places, but I

have not done so yet. Please view this guide as a starting place, not as a perfectly-

formed, unchangeable program guide!

I have made the assumption that students will not have a knowledge of the background

Bible stories, so there are chapters in which I recommend teaching the story or text

before reading the chapter itself.

I have tried to strike a balance between language and content learning in this workbook.

I’ve tried to choose vocabulary that will give students a background in the language

Christians often use. I have also tried to include in this guide some of the similes and

metaphors used in the later chapters of the book. If this is being taught to students

currently in school (secondary or tertiary), the literary terms are likely ones they’ve

learned in school. If this is being taught to adults who are not currently studying or who

have not studied high school or higher levels in English, these literary terms can be

included or not, as you see fit.

I have also made the assumption that the students have had at least some introduction

to the Bible and the story of salvation. If your students are lacking this, please see

Appendix B for suggestions of additional sources.

The answers for the true/false, multiple choice, and matching questions are given by

chapter below. The answers for the puzzles, as well as a list of all vocabulary used in

the lessons, are in Appendix C.

If you wish to contact me, my email address is michelle.candy@miloacademy.org.

Chapter 1

God’s Love for Man

Songs: Jesus Loves Me; Oh, How I Love Jesus, The Love of God; Children of God (by

Third Day—available on Youtube); If That isn’t Love; Who am I?

You’ll probably want to review the freedom of choice that God has given man (or pre-

teach, if your students have no Bible knowledge at all).

You may want to have a copy of Exodus 33:12-23 and Isaiah 53 in an easy-to-read

version (I use NLT or CEV).

You may also want to read the story of Jonah, since it’s briefly referenced.

Answer Key:

Section C: 1F, 2T, 3T, 4F, 5F, 6F, 7F, 8T

Section D: 1A, 2B, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A

Section E: 1D, 2D, 3B, 4A, 5E

Chapter 2

The Sinner’s Need of Christ

Songs: Forever (by Third Day—available on Youtube); Amazing Grace

Story to preteach: A profile of Jacob

(http://christianity.about.com/od/oldtestamentpeople/a/Jacob-In-The-Bible.htm is a good

basic one), story of Jacob’s Ladder.

Answer Key:

Section C: 1T, 2F, 3F, 4F, 5T

Section D: 1A, 2B, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6A

Section E: 1C, 2B, 3D, 4A

Chapter 3

Repentance

Songs: Hold Me Jesus (Rich Mullins—available on Youtube)

Story to preteach: David and Bathsheba (2 Sam: 11, 12) along with Ps. 51

There are others as well, depending on how much time you want to devote to this:

Daniel, Paul, Jacob and Esau, Pharaoh, the Prodigal Son.

A difficult concept is on page 23, third paragraph, in which God gives people a desire for

something they don’t have. You may need to spend extra time on this paragraph.

Answer Key:

Section C: 1T, 2F, 3T, 4T, 5T, 6F

Section D: 1A, 2A, 3B, 4A, 5B, 6A

Section E: 1B, 2D, 3A, 4G, 5F, 6C, 7E

Chapter 4

Confession

Song: Rock of Ages

Story to preteach: Parable of the lost son (Luke 15:11-32). Remind them of the story of

Adam and Eve.

Point of confusion: faults vs. sins (page 33).

Answer Key:

Section C: 1F, 2T, 3F

Section D: 1A, 2B, 3B, 4A, 5B, 6A, 7B, 8A, 9B, 10A

Chapter 5

Consecration

Songs: Hound of Heaven (by Michael Card; available on Spotify); This is how it feels to

be free (by Philips, Craig, and Dean)

Question to ask before reading: What do you think it means to “give yourself to God”?

Discuss willpower, yield, humility, pride. There is often confusion with the word Pride

being used as a negative word.

Answer Key:

Section C: 1T, 2T, 3T, 4F, 5T

Section D: 1A, 2B, 3A, 4B, 5A

Section E: 1C, 2A, 3D, 4B

Chapter 6

Faith and Acceptance

Song: That’s What Faith Must Be (Michael Card; available on Spotify)

Review Prodigal Son

Make sure students understand the meaning of the word Ransom.

Difficult point to understand: “Be as One;” “live in union with Christ.” Discuss these in

class.

Answer Key:

Section C: 1F, 2T, 3F, 4F, 5T

Section D: 1A, 2B, 3B, 4A

Section E: 1C, 2A, 3B

Chapter 7

The Test of Discipleship

Song: Sing your Praise to the Lord (by Rich Mullins; available on Youtube)

At this point in the book, the following chart may be useful:

http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/teachings.html

This chart may cause a great deal of discussion and dissention, but it will help to

refocus students on real life issues.

Questions to along with the chart: Are these still relevant, or were they only for Jesus’

time? If they are relevant, why? If not, why not?

Answer Key:

Section C: 1F, 2T, 3T, 4F

Section D: 1A, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5A, 6B

Section E: 1G, 2I, 3A, 4H, 5B, 6C, 7F, 8D, 9E

Chapter 8

Growing Up Into Christ

Song: My One Thing (Rich Mullins; available on Youtube)

Preteach: John 15:1-7 (I am the vine, you are the branches)

Similes and metaphors: page 66

They will blossom like flowers

[They will be] fruitful like a vineyard.

He is the eternal light

He is a sun and a shield

He is like rain in a dry land

He is the living water and bread of God

Page 67: metaphor of the flower and the sun.

Metaphor of vine and branches

Page 71: metaphor: When Christ became a human being, he tied the people of the

world to himself by a tie of love.

Answer Key:

Section C: 1F, 2T, 3T, 4F, 5F

Section D: 1A, 2B, 3B, 4B, 5A, 6B

Section E: 1D, 2A, 3F, 4B, 5C, 6E

Chapter 9

The Work and the Life

Songs: Give me your eyes (by Brandon Heath; available on Youtube); Go Light Your

World (by Chris Rice or Kathy Troccoli; available on Youtube)

The story of Philip when he called Nathaniel to be a disciple is included in the chapter.

Answer Key:

Section C: 1T, 2F, 3T

Section D: 1B, 2B, 3A, 4B, 5A

Section E: 1G, 2A, 3E, 4D, 5C, 6B, 7F

Chapter 10

A Knowledge of God

Songs: Calling out your name (Rich Mullins; available on Youtube); God of Wonders

and Agnus Dei (by Third Day; available on Youtube)

A possible discussion question, especially depending on where your students are from

and where your class is located, could be, is it easier to see God in the city or in the

country? This chapter begins with a focus on nature, and the question can help them

think about differences.

Answer Key:

Section C: 1T, 2F, 3T

Section D: 1A, 2B, 3A, 4B

Section E: 1B, 2E, 3C, 4A, 5D

Chapter 11

The Privilege of Prayer

Song: Let Us Pray (Steven Curtis Chapman; available on Youtube)

Preteach: Nehemiah and/or Enoch.

Idiom: Take Him at his word (p. 95)

Metaphor, page 94: God has a great storehouse of blessings, and prayer is the key in

the hand of faith that unlocks heaven’s storehouse.

Simile p 98: Silent prayers rise to God like smoke from sweet incense.

Possible activity: Make a photo collage of images of prayer and what you think it means.

Answer Key:

Section C: 1T, 2F, 3T, 4T

Section D: 1B, 2A, 3A, 4B, 5A

Chapter 12

What to Do with Doubt

Song: The Poem of your Life (by Michael Card; available on Youtube). This song is an

extended metaphor containing other metaphors inside it. Worthy of study on its own.

Preteach (if you have time): Elijah and/or Abraham. Teaching either one of these men

will be quite an expenditure of time, because of the need to show both faith and doubt.

Answer Key:

Section C: 1F, 2T, 3T

Section D: 1D, 2C, 3G, 4A, 5E, 6B, 7H, 8G

Chapter 13

Rejoicing in the Lord

Song: Step by Step (Sometimes by Step) (by Rich Mullins; available on Youtube)

Preteach: Matt. 6:25-34 (birds of the air, lilies of the field)

Simile page 115: All Christ’s children are like letters to the world.

Metaphor: dream on page 117. What do the thorns and flowers symbolize?

Answer Key:

Section C: 1F, 2F, 3F, 4T, 5T

Section D: 1B, 2A, 3A, 4A, 5B, 6A, 7A

Appendix A

Recommended reading

Dickerson, L. (2010). Can you have an effective ESL ministry without using Christian

ESL materials? Article included in the Reach Out with English class notes.

Wheaton College. Article available at: http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/ICCT/pdf/ROWEChrMat.pdf

Dickerson, L. (2010). Three important—and often neglected—keys to an effective ESL

ministry. Article included in the Reach Out with English class notes. Wheaton

College. Article available at: http://www2.wheaton.edu/bgc/ICCT/pdf/ROWE3Keys.pdf

Dormer, J. E. (2011). Teaching English in missions: Effectiveness and integrity.

Pasadena, CA: William Carey Library.

Pierson, C., & Taube, K. (2012). Who lives in your neighborhood? A principled

approach for church-based ESL ministry. Alliance Life, (July). Article available at:

http://www.alliancelife.org/article.php?id=730

Smith, D. I. (2009). Learning from the stranger: Christian faith and cultural diversity.

Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

Wong, M. S., & Canagarajah, S. (Eds.). (2009). Christian and critical English language

educators in dialogue: Pedagogical and ethical dilemmas. New York: Routledge.

Appendix B

Sources and ideas

If your students do not have a basic understanding of the plan of salvation from the

Bible, I might recommend something like “From the Beginning to the End” (FBTE)

(http://www.eslbible.org/) before teaching this book. Note that FBTE has a line in the

last lesson teaching about hell, with a couple of corresponding questions on hell. I have

whited these out.

Another source, if you have an extended period of time, for teaching the overarching

plan of salvation is “Story of a Kingdom” (SOK) (http://beginningwithmoses.org/sok).

Note that SOK is designed for work with college-age international students, so it may be

too difficult for more beginning English learners.

The following article from JAE, “Tips for Better Bible Teaching”

(http://circle.adventist.org/files/jae/en/jae198447011205.pdf) gives very good advice for

asking questions while teaching.

For easy English Bible verses or Bible studies, check out the Easy English website

(http://www.easyenglish.info/). I also use Bible Gateway (http://biblegateway.com), and

for easy-to-read stories and questions on Bible characters, Bible Wise has an easily

searchable site (http://www.biblewise.com/character/index.htm).

Appendix C

Answer Keys for Puzzles

Vocabulary List

for Workbook for Steps to Jesus

Teacher’s Guide: Steps to Jesus

List of vocabulary words for Steps to Jesus Ch 1 Holy Everlasting Compassion Tender (Tenderest) Infinite Proclaim Liberty Oppressed Mercy Sincerity (Insincerity) Advocate Ch 2 Resist Spoil Commandment Infinite Sacrifice Salvation Relation Various Willpower Ch. 3 Righteous Harmony Repent Wrongdoing Betraying Conscience Invitation Exalted

Purity Sincere Troubled Resist Grace Ch 4 Brokenhearted Furious Persecute Earnest Offended Tempted Confession Dulls Moral Humble Ch. 5 Crowning Worship Blessings Proud Yield Habit Submit Ashamed Confidence Ch. 6 Stains Authority Mercy Pity Disciple Spotless Prophet Ch. 7 Eternal Guard against

Redemption Salvation Tremble Faults Love Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Faithfulness Humility Self-control Ch. 8 Born again Union Restful Faults Character Comforter Blossom (V) Unequaled Purity United Selfish Bold Ch. 9 Uplifting Aim Invite Spiritual Influence Angels Sympathy Robe Created Carpenter Laboring Healing

Ch. 10 Simplicity To bear (v) Delight Uplift Consider Pure Strengthen Noble Careless Ch. 11 Boundless Storehouse Influences Incense Sincere Ch. 12 Doubt Proof Ignorant Unstable Mysteries Reasoning Divine Image Ch. 13 Light bearers Mistrust Sorrow Severe Gloomy Coarse Splendid