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Charles Monroe Sheldon
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In His Steps Paperback – September 8, 2016

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,453 ratings
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In His Steps is a classic of religious fiction about preacher Henry Maxwell, who asks his congregation to consider "What would Jesus do?" before taking any action for a year.

This simple request produces marked results in the small mid-western town. Formerly silent and passive members of the congregation become emboldened to enthusiastically speak truth and become frank about various situations they face, while confronting what they view as inadequate or wrong in the locality.

Owing to his experience living in and observing individuals throughout late 19th century America, Charles Sheldon created a reasonably accurate vignette of the USA and its people. The setting and characterization helped readers relate easily to the tale and the wrongs which - through conversion - are confronted by various characters. The novel duly became a famous bestseller.

Today, In His Steps is credited for introducing the phrase 'What would Jesus do?' to a much wider audience. Although variations of the rhetorical question had appeared in English and other languages for centuries, it was the colossal popularity of this book that embedded it as a household saying.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    140 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    September 8, 2016
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.32 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    1537547240
  6. ISBN-13
    978-1537547244
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (September 8, 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 140 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1537547240
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1537547244
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.32 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 2,453 ratings

About the author

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Charles Monroe Sheldon

Charles Monroe Sheldon

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
2,453 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

LR321
5.0 out of 5 stars What a story!
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2024
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This is a wonderful book that I couldn’t put down! Such a powerful message! Asking yourself “what would Jesus do?”, before making a decision. The book shows how this one question effected so many lives. Brilliant!
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Texas rn
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this book!
Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2024
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This book is well worth reading and rereading! It is a classic. It will move your soul. Enjoy this book!
One person found this helpful
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Craig T. Owens
5.0 out of 5 stars A timeless classic which EVERY Christian should read
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2014
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I first read In His Steps by Rev. Charles Sheldon when I was a teenager. I loved the book then, but I was absolutely fascinated by it while I was re-reading it this time!

In His Steps is the story of a pastor named Henry Maxwell, who lives and pastors in the town of Raymond, New York. The story was originally delivered chapter by chapter by Rev. Sheldon to his Sunday evening congregation during the summer of 1896. As each chapter was presented, the attendance grew and grew until the church building was packed to standing room only.

The whole premise of the book is a simple one: what would happen if each one of us were to live our lives moment to moment by one simple question—what would Jesus do? The story is told through the lives of Henry Maxwell and others in his congregation, as they come to grips with just what this means for them. At the end of the book, the “What would Jesus do” movement has spread, and Pastor Maxwell is asked to speak at a prominent church in Chicago. He concludes his message with this thought—

“Suppose that ‘What would Jesus do?’ were the motto, not only of the churches but of the businessmen, the politicians, the newspapers, the working men, the society people. How long would it take, under such a standard of conduct, to revolutionize the world? What is the trouble with the world? It is suffering from selfishness. No one ever lived who had succeeded in overcoming selfishness like Jesus. If men followed Him, regardless of results, the world would at once begin to enjoy a new life.”

In His Steps is a powerful book! Simple to read, yet challenging to apply. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants to be more of a disciple of Jesus Christ. “What would Jesus do?” shouldn’t be just a clever question, but a way of life!
10 people found this helpful
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Mindo'ermatter
4.0 out of 5 stars For Its Time, An Influential Novel!
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2020
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Written in 1896, this fictional work is based on Congregational minister's, Charles Sheldon's weekly church discussion groups, where one of the 31 chapters was read each week and then discussed. The focus was participants to ask themselves, "What would Jesus Do?" and then explore what changes that decision might require and then how to choose the best way to follow that self-imposed guidance.

When these chapters were published in serialized form and then as a completed novel, the copyright was mishandled, putting it into the public domain with many publishers creating their own versions. Millions of copies were sold or distributed, so in 1935, the author published his own "authorized" version that added short supplemental material at the end of each chapter, summarizing the chapter's final implications. This book version does not include these additional comments, although the accompanying Audible narration does. I enjoyed comparing the two different endings, noting how the author's added comments changed the ambiguity of the original chapter ending to one with more defined somewhat preachy content. As a reader, I found the original text more interesting because I was included in the experience of deciding how I might have reacted. Unfortunately for me, the supplemental endings took away a personal interpretation by narrowing the story with a more moralizing tone. I preferred the original uncertain chapter endings.

More recent versions available have revised wording and dated elements, with several including introductory comments with many consolidating the original 31 chapters to 24, while some editions added to, revised, or deleted minor sections, without substantially changing the story.

This specific version I found the most compelling of the many I've read.

Although the story has a timeless value for Christian adherents or scholars, the pre-prohabition anti-alcohol beverage movements of the late 1800s and early 1900s are most obvious to conditions of that time. Additionally, the author's well-known Christian Socialism of collectivism beliefs are clearly evident in storyline advocacy.

This work has value as a creative and nostalgic work about first century Christianity as perceived in the early 20th century. It also suggests how institutionalizing personal religious beliefs and interpretations might be misunderstood and misapplied when taken to unsustainable limits.

Although the book is worthy of discussion and review by interested groups of faith or study, the novel's greatest value is likely best appreciated by individuals of faith. To the nonreligious, the book will likely be seen as naive, unrealistic, and outdated. However, to sincere Christians, the book's simple charm and fictional examples of devotion will be seen as both inspiring and compelling.

The book's primary message challenges "comfortable Christian" whose complacent faith does not translate into meaningful and effective Christian benevolence outside small family or congregational circles. As such, the author's intentions are clearly directed to the hypocrisy in all of us. The book is meant to be provocative and unsettling to readers. For some, it will be annoying, for many a passing read, for others a potentially life changing experience.
39 people found this helpful
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Linda
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn’t put it down
Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
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Wonderful story of how the “What Would Jesus Do” movement
One person found this helpful
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Arthur Kaliisa
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2021
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I was anxious from the moment I started reading the book wondering how a novel written from a Christian perspective would be like - I was not disappointed. Although, the people in the book are fictitious the message is practical all the way.

It is very easy to get bogged down by life's challenges and lose sight of the bigger picture of the one who died that we might be set free. As practitioners in the marketplace, we must not lose sight of His standard and resign to standards that invite us to look the other way when others are in a difficult place.

Indeed, faith through actions is not about how well we articulate the mission and vision of the organizations we serve. It is about how well we live each day with integrity knowing that no action is small in the eyes of the vision bearer.

It is about putting the light out there and letting the world know through action and deed that we subscribe to a higher standard. It is about knowing that it will be difficult to live this standard but living it anyway. As Henry Ford put it " You have got to keep doing and going"

Ours is "a duty to pursue a higher calling of business as an instrument of healing and redemption that looks beyond the simplistic measures of profit to a more holistic view of business" Bauber & Borchers (2020).

I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to improve the way they view life and business in general - a great read and will be for centuries to come!
6 people found this helpful
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Betty Wojtowicz
5.0 out of 5 stars Thought Provoking
Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2023
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Excellent book. It’s a challenge to live more like Jesus. People took a challenge to make decisions based on What Would Jesus Do? Got me thinking - a lot. DAMAGES I willing to do this?
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Top reviews from other countries

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Robert C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Condition is Like new
Reviewed in Canada on December 15, 2023
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Print is really small so the book is thin. Hard time reading with my glasses and my prescription is due this summer and it's almost Christmas so I don't really think it's the glasses. Print is very small. Wife and I read together
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J. Allan-Baker
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2022
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Really enjoyed reading this book.
Lovely little novel about a group of people who attend church on Sunday being challenged to think about whether or not their own day to day life is being lived according to Jesus’ teachings in all areas of their lives. There is no ‘one size fits all’ answer and each character has to make decisions based on the unique circumstances of their lives.
This book started the ‘What would Jesus do?’ movement, which has become rather cliché.
The book brings out the true essence of that question.
The outcomes are different in each character’s life and can’t help but make the reader think about their own life and the impact he or she is making in the world around them
A very gentle read but quite profound.
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David
5.0 out of 5 stars WWJD
Reviewed in Australia on January 20, 2021
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WWJD I never knew where that movement came from, such an interesting way of how we can answer any hat question and how it can impact so many peoples lifes
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Jesse Pulikottil Francis
5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, digestible, practical. It goes a bit ...
Reviewed in India on December 9, 2016
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Simple, digestible, practical. It goes a bit preachy towards the end but conveys the message simple enough for anyone to understand in the story.
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エントレーリ様
5.0 out of 5 stars なんてすごい!!
Reviewed in Japan on June 12, 2006
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勉強のために、この本を買ったんだけど、なんと楽しい!!

主人公のマクスウェルは牧師で、何かをする前に、必ず「イエス様が同じ事をするか？」っと、自分に聞いて、動くって話。

読んでね!!
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