In His Steps Reading Comprehension
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In His Steps Reading Comprehension
A question that changes a congregation
In His Steps is an 1896 novel by American minister Charles M. Sheldon. Its story begins in the town of Raymond, where Reverend Henry Maxwell and his congregation encounter a homeless man. The man says that he has been unable to find work and asks why Christians who speak about following Jesus do so little to help people in need. His challenge unsettles the congregation. Maxwell proposes a difficult experiment: for one year, church members will try not to do anything without first asking, “What would Jesus do?” They agree that the question should guide their choices, even when an answer might cost them comfort, money, or success. The pledge is not presented as an easy rule with one simple answer. Members must think carefully about what their beliefs require in everyday situations. Different characters face different tests. Rachel Winslow, a talented singer, considers whether her career should serve more than her own ambitions. Newspaper editor Edward Norman must decide what kind of stories his paper should publish. Other members confront choices involving business, family, and their responsibilities to neighbors. Their decisions bring disagreement and personal sacrifice, but they also prompt people around them to think about their own actions. The novel follows the consequences of trying to put faith into practice. Its central idea is that beliefs matter most when they shape ordinary decisions—not just words spoken in church. The story invites readers to consider how a guiding question can influence a whole community, while recognizing that people may struggle to act consistently.
Check your understanding
Use the passage to answer Questions 1–5.
- Whether the church should close for a year
- Whether Christians are doing enough to help people in need
- Whether the town should elect a new minister
- Whether the newspaper should stop publishing
- Henry Maxwell
- Rachel Winslow
- Edward Norman
- The homeless man
Think beyond the details
Use evidence from the passage for Questions 6–10.
- A choice about how to use her talent and what to value
- A choice about which newspaper to edit
- A choice about becoming the town minister
- A choice about whether the pledge lasts one month
3 printable pages
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