The Rectangle eventually plays host to an election party where the status quo is challenged regarding the grip the liquor interests hold over the area. Many important events in the story take place in the poorer neighborhoods closest to the town of Raymond, nicknamed the Rectangle Raymond’s townspeople join forces with traveling evangelists to host revival meetings in an attempt to reach out to the poor in the community. Rachel Winslow turns down a chance to be in the opera to stay in the town of Raymond and use her gifts to serve God, Virginia Page determines to use her enormous inheritance to fund various business ventures, Edward Norman reforms the local newspaper, and Rollin Page turns over a new leaf and attempts to reach out to all his former friends. A small group stay after the service to meet together and work out a plan for this endeavor.

Maxwell’s own home, Henry Maxwell steps into the pulpit and issues a challenge to his flock: Pledge to live for a year asking a single question, “What Would Jesus Do?”įrom this moment the lives of many within the congregation are changed forever. The following Sunday, after Jack dies in Rev. He challenges all those present to honestly reflect on whether they are living up to the ideals of their professed faith. The man, Jack Manning, enters the First Church of Raymond and takes the floor in the midst of the sermon. Maxwell is interrupted the following Sunday by the same man. It is not the last time that he will see the man, however, as Rev. He is interrupted by a stranger looking for work, and while the reverend is kind, he turns the man away. In His Steps opens in the study of Reverend Henry Maxwell as he attempts to compose his regular Sunday sermon. This study guide references the 2012 Kindle Edition reprint by Baker Publishing Group. Maxwell, and the town of Raymond is forever transformed by the love and sacrifice offered by the Christian disciples inspired by grace. Each character’s life is radically changed by the challenge issued by Rev.

The novel traces the inner lives and relationships of many who take the pledge, from the precocious young Rachel Winslow to the wealthy heiress Virginia, to the worldly newspaper editor Edward Norman, to the minister of a notable Chicago parish, Dr. Maxwell challenges his congregation to ask themselves “What Would Jesus Do?” for an entire year and act only as they believe Jesus would have them act. Narrated from the perspective of an omniscient, third-person narrator, the novel follows the lives of Reverend Henry Maxwell and the members of his congregation in the town of Raymond.

In his steps by charles m sheldon