Study Guide: Steps to Christ
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INTRODUCTION
Steps to Christ is one of
the most spiritual, Christ-centered books written by Ellen G. White. The first
copy was completed and made ready for publication in 1891 and was presented
to a group of ministers and teachers at an educational convention. That it might
be widely sold in bookstores, Fleming H. Revell, a popular publishing house,
printed the first edition. Publishing rights were purchased by the church in
1892. Since that time Steps to Christ has been translated into more languages
than any other book from Ellen White's pen, a total of 120 (as of May 1985).
Its origin is somewhat different
from The Great Controversy. It was not based on certain specific visions.
Beginning in 1890, Ellen White prepared this new book, setting forth simply
and clearly the steps to be taken by sinners in coming to Jesus. The book also
met an appeal for smaller books that might be used by evangelists in reaching
the people. During the first year, seven editions were printed.
We are sure that the author's original
purpose will be fulfilled once again as Steps to Christ is studied by
a large sector of the church with the aid of a Study Guide. This will especially
be an excellent opportunity to reach out to new members with this highly commended
devotional book.
The Ellen G. White Estate
Silverf Spring, MD.
LESSON ONE
PAGES 9-36
"God's Love for Man"
1. What two important sources testify
of God's love? What does each say to us? (9, 10)
2. Even though transgression of God's
law has brought woe and death, what might we learn from the curse? (9, 10)
3. How has Satan tried to misrepresent
God to sinners? (10, 11)
4. When Jesus came to live among
men, how did He represent God? (11)
5. Jesus' work was to "preach the
__________________ to the poor, heal the __________________, preach __________________
to the captives, recovering of __________________ to the blind, to set at __________________
them that are bruised." (11)
6. Why did Jesus take man's nature?
(12)
7. Why do you think little children
were attracted to Jesus? (12)
8. Describe how Jesus corrected or
rebuked sin. (12)
9. For what reason did Jesus become
a "Man of Sorrows"? (13)
10. What really broke the heart of
the Son of God? (13)
11. How are God's love for man and
the sacrifice provided really connected? (13)
12. Why was Jesus the only possible
sacrifice for sin? (14)
13. Beyond His sacrifice for sinners,
how has Jesus connected Himself to the human race? (14)
14. What has Christ done for us beyond
the pardon of sins? (15)
"The Sinner's Need of Christ"
15. How has sin affected man's mind?
(17)
16. Describe the condition of the
unrenewed heart. (17)
17. What would heaven be like to
an unrepentant sinner? (17, 18)
18. Why are education, culture, the
exercise of the will, human effort, not adequate to bring a person to holiness?
(18)
19. True or False. To develop the
good that exists in man by nature is all that is necessary to be saved. (18,
19)
20. Why is it not enough to know
about God? Give Scripture support for your answer. (19)
21. What does the ladder in Jacob's
dream represent? (20)
Note also the New Testament application.
22. Make a list of the agencies enlisted
in man's behalf to save him. (21)
23. What means does God use to warn
us against the service of Satan? (21, 22)
"Repentance"
24. Define repentance. (23)
25. What was wrong with the repentance
of Esau and Judas? (23, 24)
26. When the heart is opened to God's
Spirit, how is the sinner affected? (24)
27. When David repented, what several
things did he pray for? (25)
28. Which comes first--repentance
or coming to Jesus? (26)
29. Finish the sentence--"We can
no more repent ________________________________________________________." (26)
30. Is it possible to become ashamed
of sin without a knowledge of Christ? Be prepared to discuss your answer. (27)
31. What will happen to the sinner
who does not resist the love of Christ? (27)
32. Thought question: Have I found
in Christ the answer to my craving for something I do not have? If not, why
not? (28)
33. What happens when the light from
Christ shines into our souls? Discuss the experience of Daniel and Paul. (28,
29)
34. "God does not regard all sins
as of equal magnitude; there are degrees of guilt in His estimation, as well
as in that of man." What does this mean? Prepare to discuss. (30, 31).
35. Why should we not wait to make
ourselves better before coming to Christ? (31)
36. How would you answer the person
who suggests that God is too good to destroy sinners? (31, 32)
37. What answer would you give to
someone who says, "I am as good as professed Christians?" (32)
38. What are the dangers of procrastination
in forsaking sin? (37, 38)
39. How will neglect or rejection
of the grace of Christ affect the sinner? (33, 34)
40. What encouragement is offered
to those who are tempted to despair regarding their sins? (35, 36)
LESSON TWO
PAGES 37-56
"Confession"
1. According to Proverbs 28:13, we
must not only confess our sins, but we are to __________________ them.
(37)
2. Why are pilgrimages and penances
not useful for sinners? (37)
3. It is suggested we should confess
sins to God and faults to one another. What does this mean? (37)
4. What is the first condition of
acceptance with God? (37, 38)
5. Finish the following sentence:
"The only reason why we do not have remission of sins that are past is __________________________________________________."
(38)
6. Confession: How should it be done?
How should it not be done? (38)
7. Why should confession be specific,
acknowledging particular sins? (38)
8. Discuss the example of Israel's
sin and why specific confession had to be made. (38, 39)
9. After confession of sin, what
two additional steps must be taken? Discuss Scripture illustrations.
(39)
10. Why is it necessary for the sinner
to yield to the Holy Spirit in order to correct character defects? (40)
11. How did the sin of Adam and Eve
affect their sense of responsibility for their actions? (40)
12. By contrast, what will true repentance
lead the sinner to do? (40, 41) Discuss some Bible illustrations.
"Consecration"
13. Review the Scripture descriptions
of our natural condition as sinners. (43)
14. What is the greatest battle to
be fought? (43)
15. Summarize:
A. Satan's representation of God's
government: (43)
B. God's government as it really
is:
16. Why does God not force our submission?
(43, 44)
17. List some of the idols that might
keep us from God. (44)
18. What kind of religion is suggested
as "worth nothing"? (44)
19. Rather than asking how little
we must give to God, what should be our aim? (45)
20. What answer can be given to those
who think it is too great a sacrifice to yield all to Christ? (45)
21. What do we give up when we give
"all"? (46)
22. Discuss the statement: "God does
not require us to give up anything that it is for our best interest to retain."
(46)
23. Does God ask His children to
save all joy and happiness for the future? How do you think the Christian can
be at peace even in adversity? (46, 47)
24. How do you understand the exercise
of the power of choice, or the will? (47)
25. What is the difference between
desires for goodness and choosing to be a Christian? (47, 48)
"Faith and Acceptance"
26. How is the natural condition
of the guilty sinner described? (49)
27. What are some of the ways we
cannot have peace of soul? (49)
28. In what way only can peace be
obtained? (49)
29. What steps should be taken after
we have confessed sin? (49, 50)
30. Why should we believe that our
sins are forgiven? (50) Illustrate from the ministry of Jesus.
31. Why was the paralytic able to
walk? (50, 51) Make the application of this experience to your situation as
a sinner.
32. How is it possible for us to
stand before God's law without shame or remorse? (51)
33. Why is it impossible for us to
come to God on probation to prove ourselves? (52)
34. Why do thousands fail in their
Christian experience? (52)
35. From what suspicion should we
be free? Why? (52, 53)
36. How should the repentant sinner
respond to Satan's efforts to steal his assurances of acceptance by God? (53)
37. How does Jeremiah add to the
lesson of our heavenly Father's love as portrayed in the parable of the prodigal
son? (54)
38. What comparison between God's
love and human love for a child does Isaiah give? (54)
39. As we draw near to God with __________________
and __________________, He will draw near to us with __________________ and
__________________. (55)
LESSON THREE
PAGES 57-84
"The Test of Discipleship"
1. TRUE OR FALSE. In order to tell
whether or not he is truly converted, a person should be able to trace the circumstances
and time of his conversion. (57)
2. How may it be known that the Spirit
of God is working in a person's life? (57)
3. By what is the character not
revealed? By what, then, is it revealed? (57, 58)
4. What things may produce
only an outward correctness of deportment? (58)
5. What are the inner evidences that
we are Christ's? (58)
6. When we become new creatures in
Christ, what happens to our priorities, tastes, and character? (58)
7. There is no genuine repentance
unless there is _______________________________. (59)
8. What is the attitude of the true
Christian toward duty or sacrifice? (59)
9. Make a list of seven results
in the life when love is the principle of action. (59)
10. Against what two errors
do new Christians need especially to guard against? (59, 60)
11. How do you think we can avoid
either error? (59, 60)
12. What is the true sign of discipleship?
(60)
13. How do you understand these statements:
"We do not earn salvation by our obedience." "Obedience is the fruit of faith."
(61)
14. How is presumption or false faith
defined? (61)
15. What is the condition of eternal
life? (62)
16. In your own words, summarize
how "Christ has made a way of escape for us." (62)
17. Contrast the "belief that is
wholly distinct from faith" with belief that is combined with faith. (63)
18. The closer we come to Jesus,
the more faulty we will appear. Rather than causing discouragement, of what
is this an evidence? (64, 65)
19. What should a sense of our sinfulness
drive us to do? (65)
20. Give two illustrations
from nature used in the Bible to describe birth as children of God. (67)
21. How is Christian growth
illustrated from nature? (67)
22. In what way does nature illustrate
there should be no care or anxiety in Christian growth? (68)
23. How is a continued Christian
growth assured? (69)
24. What should be the very first
work of the day? (70)
25. How shall we "plan" each day?
(70)
26. How do you understand the following
statement: "A life in Christ is a life of restfulness"? (70)
27. "It is by __________________
Him, __________________ Him, __________________ wholly upon Him, that you are
to be transformed into His __________________." (71)
28. What will be the experience of
those who rest most fully upon Christ? (71)
29. To what subjects will Satan seek
to divert our attention? (71)
30. How only may the tie of love
between Christ and humanity be broken? (72)
31. John, the disciple, was not naturally
loving. How did he become so? (73)
32. What lessons might we learn from
the disciples' experience after Jesus returned to heaven? (74, 75)
"The Work and the Life"
33. What lessons are to be learned
from the ministry of angels? (77)
34. How will love to Jesus be manifested
in our actions? (77, 78)
35. What was the "one great object"
of Christ's life on earth? (78)
36. What will be seen as the result
of the grace of Christ in our lives? (78, 79)
37. How will the effort to bless
others react on us? (79)
38. Why did God not permit the preaching
of the gospel by angels? (79)
39. List some of the benefits to
us of working for others. (80)
40. How only will we grow in grace?
(80, 81)
41. What might we learn from Jesus'
early years as a carpenter? (81, 82)
42. What important lesson is suggested
regarding use of talents in the parable? (82, 83)
LESSON FOUR
PAGES 85-104
"A Knowledge of God"
1. In what four ways does
God speak to us today? (85 and 87)
2. Why is nature one of the Saviour's
most effective ways of teaching us? (85)
3. Make a list of some of the most
important lessons we can learn from nature. (85-87)
4. Why does the Christian have an
advantage over the poet or the naturalist when studying nature? (87)
5. What special lessons are to be
learned from a study of the Bible characters? (87, 88)
6. How can we "eat the flesh and
drink the blood" of Christ? (88)
7. What will be the science and song
of the redeemed throughout the ages? (88)
8. What will be the positive advantage
of study of this subject even now? (89)
9. "The more our __________________
are upon Christ, the more we shall __________________ of Him to others and __________________
Him to the world?" (89)
10. What will be the positive result
of our study and meditation on Scripture? (89, 90)
11. What suggestions are offered
as to methods of study of the Scriptures? (90, 91)
12. What should precede Bible study?
Why? (91)
13. What superhuman help is promised
in our study of the Bible? (91)
14. Who is the only effectual teacher
of divine truth? (91)
"The Privilege of Prayer"
15. Notice the repetition of four
ways God speaks to us. (93)
16. Communion with God is two-way.
What is our part? (93)
17. Finish the sentence: "Prayer
is _________________________________________________________________." (93)
18. What purposes are suggested for
prayer? (93)
19. List several reasons Jesus prayed
often while on earth. (93, 94)
20. What happens to those who neglect
prayer? (94)
21. Prayer is called the __________________
in the hand of faith. Write out the complete sentence. (94, 95)
22. Four conditions of answered
prayer are given. List them. (95-97)
23. How does God sometimes answer
our prayers when we ask for something that would not be a blessing? (96)
24. How is presumption defined in
connection with prayer? (96)
25. Under what circumstance only
can we expect mercy and blessing from God when we pray? (97)
26. What do you think the Bible means
when it says we are to be "instant in prayer"? See Romans 12:12. (97)
27. What kind of prayer is "the life
of the soul"? (98) Why?
28. How did Enoch walk with God?
(98, 99) What might we do to walk with God?
29. How might we live as in the atmosphere
of heaven? (99)
30. If we keep close to God, what
will happen when unexpected trials come? (99, 100)
31. Review the many things God welcomes
us to bring to His attention in prayer. (100)
32. How close are the relations between
God and each soul? (100)
33. What can take away the subject
matter and incentive for prayer? (101)
34. When we neglect association with
others in Christian fellowship, how does it affect our Christian experience?
(101)
35. When we do associate in
Christian fellowship, how is our Christian experience affected? (101, 102)
36. What would happen in our Christian
experience if we thought and talked more of Christ? (102)
37. In addition to asking and receiving,
what else should our prayers include? (103)
38. In what spirit should we work
for the glory of God? (103)
39. What should be the theme of our
most joyful emotion? (103, 104)
LESSON FIVE
PAGES 105-126
"What to Do With Doubt"
1. What problem especially troubles
those who are young in the Christian life? (105)
2. What three facts about
God are established by reasonable testimony? (105)
3. Why do you think God has not removed
the possibility of doubt? (105)
4. Finish the sentence: "Our faith
must rest upon ______________________________________________________________."
(105)
What do you believe this means?
5. How much of God's purposes can
we understand? (106)
6. Rather than to doubt, what should
the great mysteries of the Bible cause us to do? (106, 107)
7. Explain how Bible truth is adapted
to all classes (107)
8. How should the believer react
to the fact that there are mysteries in the Bible that cannot be understood?
(108)
9. How do skeptics and infidels react
to not being able to understand everything in the Bible? (108)
10. Why are there popular theories
and doctrines that are supposed to come from the Bible, but do not? (108, 109)
11. Why is it that created beings
will never have a full understanding of God and His works? (109)
12. How only can we understand God's
Word? (109)
13. Finish the sentence: "God desires
man to exercise his _______________________________________________________."
(109)
14. How is it possible to read the
Bible in a way that may cause injury? (110)
15. What is the real cause of doubt
and skepticism in most cases? (111)
16. How only can we arrive at truth
in the study of the Bible? (111)
17. In what way may we receive greater
light and understanding? (111)
18. What place does experience have
in building our confidence in God's Word? (111)
19. When only may we be confident
that we will have answers to all which has perplexed us? (113)
"Rejoicing in the Lord"
20. What is meant? "In every one
of His children, Jesus sends a letter to the world." (115)
21. How might we delight Satan? (116)
22. What false idea of the religious
life does Satan try to present? (116)
23. Review the lessons of Ellen White's
dream of a garden with thorns and flowers. (116, 117)
24 . Contrast the effects of reviewing
past experiences that have been happy and those that have been disappointing.
(117)
25. Consider the parallels drawn
between a complaining child and our complaints about our heavenly Father. (118)
26. What double harm is done
by talking about doubts? (119)
27. How may we unconsciously influence
others for good or bad? (120)
28. Describe the life and character
of Christ. (120)
29. Wherever Christ went, what did
He carry with Him? (120)
30. Summarize how we should imitate
Christ. (120, 121)
31. What will make it impossible
for us to love others? (121) How may we learn to love others?
32. What do you think it means to
"borrow trouble"? (121, 122)
33. Finish this sentence. "We should
not allow the perplexities __________________________________________________________________."
(122)
34. What two suggestions are
made for dealing with business difficulties? (122)
35. In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount,
what lessons in trust in God were learned from the birds? (123)
36. In the same sermon, what lessons
did Christ give from the lilies? (124)
37. What are the characteristics
of happiness sought from selfish motives? (124)
38. How is the service of God contrasted?
(124)
39. What are the "monumental pillars"
we are urged to remember? (125)
40. What assurance do we have regarding
trials? (125)
41. Review the happy rewards of heaven.
(125, 126)
Study Guide Index