Steps to Jesus

1. Understand the steps to salvation.
2. Read and discuss with an adult four Bible stories on conversion/salvation.
3. Memorise John 3:16, Acts 16:31, and 1 John 1:9.
4. Spend a regular quiet time with Jesus.
5. Make a personal choice to accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord. Discuss your decision with a parent or club teacher. Show your footprint commitment response to your club teacher.

Helps

1. Make these concepts as simple as needed for the child to grasp. The most important concept is that she/he recognize the nature of sin (wrong doing) and its consequences (eternal death), and then ask Jesus to forgive and be his/her Saviour.
   • God is love (1 John 4:8). God loves me very much (Jer. 31:3). God loves everyone (John 3:16).
   • I am a sinner. Everyone does wrong and is a sinner, thus everyone needs salvation because sinners will die forever (Romans 3:23).
   • God sent Jesus to die so I wouldn't have to die forever (John 3:16). Then He rose again as my Saviour (1 Corinthians 5:3, 4). When I receive Jesus, all my sins will be forgiven (Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:7-11, 1 John 2:1, 2).
   • Salvation is a gift God gives me. I must personally ask Jesus to be my Saviour (John 1:12). God hears me when I pray.
   • If I have accepted Jesus, I have become a new person, one who doesn't want to do wrong because I love Jesus and Jesus loves me (John 3:3-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17).
   • I can be sure that I am saved when I have asked Jesus to be my Saviour (John 3:26, Hebrews 13:5). Because I am sinful, I will still make mistakes. But if I confess my sins to Jesus, He will forgive me and remove my guilt completely (Jer. 31:34). God wants me to confess to others who are hurt by my actions (1 John 1:9) and make restitution to them (Luke 19:8), and then totally turn away from sin (John 8:11).
2. These stories would make a great children's church sermon, club devotional, or family worship. Create wonder-inspiring moments for the child to understand God's great interest in his/her salvation.
   • The Ethiopian converted (Acts 8:26-40)
   • Naaman washed clean (2 Kings 5)
   • Jesus loves children (Matt. 19:13-15)
   • The lost coin, sheep, and son (Luke 15)
   • Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10)
   • Jailer converted (Acts 16:21-34)
3. Suggestion: Illustrate the texts on a bookmark for their personal Bible or to give to someone who wants to know more about Jesus.
4. Encourage a planned, regular time with God - it can be with a parent/guardian, during family worship, with the club, or alone. Commitment is key and needs to continue as the child's relationship with God grows.
5. Personal commitment in young children is often spontaneous and publicly shown. However, this award encourages a personal decision made contemplatively at home with parents/guardians. When a home-inspired decision is not possible, a teacher or other caring individual may be the best one to nurture this first step as privately as possible. Warmly welcome the child as the newest member of the family of God, assuring them of God's unfailing love, acceptance, forgiveness, and great care. Recommend an extra project. Encourage the child to further respond in their own way - create a song, poem, painting, drawing, or sculpture, or express themselves through technology. (But never force.)

Resources

• A Child's Steps to Jesus by Linda Porter Carlyle (Pacific Press, 2007)
• How to Help Your Child Really Love Jesus by Donna Habenicht (Review and Herald, 1999)

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