Stepping Stones

This work is designed to be adaptable and practical in Christian ministry to include your personal study time, Christian education settings, and worship services and Christians of all ages can grow from it.

Purpose ~ Design ~ Aim

• The purpose of this work is to stress the undeniable truth that “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Tim. 3:16-17). Stepping Stones, as a celebration of my labor in the Word of God, is intended to lead the reader to understand and appreciate God’s unconditional love for His children, as I have come to know it and embrace it. I have experienced the joy of God’s faithfulness and I trust God to do just what His Word says He will do. I have learned the power of prayer and praise and have felt the “breeze” from the windows of Heaven that God opened on my behalf. His Word has strengthened me in times of distress and comforted me in times of sorrow, and I pray that through this work, you will come to know Him and be thoroughly convinced that God is real and worthy of all praise and adoration.

• The design of this work follows the pattern I found extremely helpful as I pursued God. Knowing God requires a working knowledge of the Bible, and yet the Bible is so expansive that we can never truly know all that it holds. Prayerfully, my experiences coupled with your effort and desire to know God and experience Him for yourself, will increase your faith, build your confidence, and embolden you to be a greater witness and do the greater works.

• The aim of this book is to stir the conscience of the believer to become motivated to read and study the Bible more often and more intently. We can be encouraged by the words of Isa. 34:16: that seeking out the truths of the Bible makes us confident that everything written in it will be accomplished. Nothing will be left unfulfilled because the Bible is the inspired Word of God from the mouth of God Himself. I pray that every believer will develop a “listening ear” that will result in depth of understanding of how to please the heart of our heavenly Father and prepare for His eminent return.

Every Christian, desiring intimacy with God, will find this work significantly beneficial in realizing that desire. Your life will be fuller and richer as you “grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:18).

Ways to Benefit from This Work

• As A Ready Reference

Christians often find themselves unexpectedly in need of a passage of scripture to provide spiritual remarks or insight, or to give words of encouragement. This book is a ready reference offering topics supported by scripture for such occasions. Use the Table of Topics or the Categorized

Table of Topics to locate a particular topic quickly.

• Specific Topic

Use the Table of Topics for an alphabetical listing of the material included in this book. Each topic has scripture supported content suitable for devotionals, for a discussion group, a short talk, etc. For personal study, the subject matter is designed to “tickle” your interest and cause you to want to go deeper.

• Building a Core Curriculum

This work will assist you in building an age appropriate core curriculum for a variety of uses such as home study for your members who are unable to attend services, outreach ministries, and youth and young adult sessions. As a Sunday School superintendent or teacher, you may desire to develop a core curriculum for assessing the biblical knowledge and competency of your students.

As a Teaching Tool

• This work can be used to supplement Sunday School literature as many of its topics can be taught parallel to the subject of the weekly Sunday School lesson.
• This work will prove sufficient as Vacation Bible School literature, allowing a level of fl exibility that many standard V.B.S. materials do not offer.
• A Question and Answer Study Guide for Bible bowls or other quizzes is quickly and easily compiled from the content of this work.

For New Converts

New converts are often skeptical about approaching the Bible. This work offers a categorized listing of topics useful in lessening any anxiety toward reading and studying the Bible. Simply refer them to the Categorized Table of Topics, guide them in choosing a topic, and encourage them to embrace the Bible as the blessing it is.

Teacher/Leader Development Tool

Pastors and superintendents, who incorporate the use of this work into their training and development programs, as the effective Bible resource tool that it is, could significantly improve their chances of getting members involved in the teaching and leadership ministries of the church.