In His Steps

A congregation in an unremarkable American town takes a pledge: before making any decision, each member will ask what Jesus would do in the same situation. The people who keep that promise find that their own lives begin to change, and the effects spread outward into the community around them. The novel was first published in 1896 and has since found a new readership among modern Christians, who return to it as a call to live out faith in every part of daily life.

The story is set in the fictional town of Raymond and follows its pastor, Henry Maxwell, whose sermon sets the pledge in motion. Around him, a cast of churchgoers, professionals and ordinary townspeople each face choices about work, money, status and loyalty, and each must decide what following Christ actually requires of them.

The book is aimed at adult readers, especially those interested in Christian fiction and the link between belief and conduct. It presents its message through characters' experiences rather than through doctrine, showing how faith can shape decisions across all areas of life.