How to Use Tracing the Footsteps of Jesus
While this series is excellent for personal or family devotions, it was designed to be used in Small Group Bible Studies and Evangelistic programs. Here are suggestions on how to effectively use this powerful resource personally and evangelistically.
Let’s explore a volume (DVD or Streaming) and see how it interacts with the printed study guide.
Each Volume has seven episodes (see example on the left). When you choose an episode, four options will appear (example on the right). “Play this Episode” will take you directly to the video. “Welcome Menu” will display a pleasant graphic that will remain on the screen until you press “Enter” to play the video (see example below).
The “Welcome Menu” is a nice touch for a small group, church, or public meeting. At the conclusion of the video episode, the menu to the right will appear with the default option “Enter Study Guide.” Choosing this option will take you into the “Digital Study Guide” which parallels the printed study guide. Let’s explore how this would work in a small group Bible study.
This sentence mirrors the printed study guide. In your meeting, read the sentence, pausing at the blank to allow the participants to say the answer. After they say the answer, activate the enter or skip chapter button and the answer will appear above the blank (example on the right). This allows the Review of the episode to be interactive and the participants so see how to spell the words.
Features of the Printed Study Guide
Each Volume parallels one of the four Video Volumes with 7 episodes.
The beautifully designed study guides transform this series from an inspiring television program, to a powerful evangelistic tool for sharing Jesus with your family and friends. The guides are designed in an easy-to-use, interactive fill-in-the-blank style that is ideal for group discussion.
Participants will cherish the printed guides as a memento of their spiritual journey in the footsteps of Jesus. To view the study guide for Volume I click here. Here are the details on how to effectively use the study guides.
Whether you have a small group in a home or a large group in a public space, the principles are the same.
- Give each participant a study guide.
- Watch the episode.
- Use the “Digital Study Guide” to review the episode, allowing the participants to fill-in their study guide.
Personal Application Questions
Although the study guides are primarily a review of the material presented in the video, they also include Personal Application questions that apply the spiritual lessons to our lives in the 21st century.
The Application questions to the right are from episode one. This episode concludes by contrasting the reluctance of Zechariah the priest, who is paid to be holy, and yet questions the Good News brought by the angel Gabriel, with the reaction of the young virgin Mary who accepts the message brought to her by the same angel Gabriel.
Tony’s suggested answers for the Personal Application questions can be found in the Leaders’ Manual, which is explained below.
Exploring the Word on Your Own
Each episode in the printed study guide concludes with a Bible study to allow the participant to dig deeper into the theme presented. As the name implies, it is designed for the participant to do on their own. When used in a small group or public meeting, encourage the participants to do explore this Bible study before the next meeting.
When you come together for the next meeting, dedicate the first 10 to 15 minutes going over the Bible study and discussing what the participants discovered. This should not be a time of preaching, as much as a time of encouraging participants to share what they discovered in the Word.
Exploring the Word contains rich and diverse Bible studies. Sometimes these are relational Bible studies and sometimes they are doctrinal. Always they are spiritual.
This example from Episode Three digs deeper into the unique birth of Jesus presented in the video. The appeal focused upon John’s use of the Word or logos of God to describe Jesus. Read through the study to discover the richness of this Greek word.
Logos was a very special term in both Jewish and philosophical thinking in John’s day, and this is noted in the Bible study. This is an excellent study for understanding that Jesus is God.
The Leaders’ Manual is a valuable resource, since it provides the key for the Bible study, and additional notes and explanations on the subject. Use the arrows on the image of Exploring the Word on Your Own to to view the Leaders’ Manual for this page. You can toggle these pages back and forth.
Leaders' Preparation
- Watch the video episode and understand how the “Digital Study Guide” to the video episode.
- Fill in your printed study guide and prayerfully think through the Personal Application questions. Write down your ideas for prompting discussion and reflection.
- Look up the verses in Exploring the Word on Your Own, so your understand the Bible study.
- Review the Leaders’ Manual that is based on the printed study guide, since it is an invaluable resource providing rich background information about the lesson. Not only does it provide the answers, it also gives suggestions on how to use the Personal Application Questions and Bible studies!
Now you are equipped to use this series as a seminar in a study or small group setting. You are about to embark on a wonderful journey and we trust that you will be blessed as you use this series for your personal spiritual growth and witnessing to family and friends.
Leaders' Manual
The Leaders’ Manual is a based upon the Study Guides and is a virtual commentary on the series including Tony’s notes and comments. The Manual provides an answer key for the questions, additional background information, theological insights, explanations of locations and pictures in the study guide, and suggestions for using the Personal Application questions. Answers are also provided for Exploring the Word and an explanation of how to use and apply the Bible study.
The Leaders’ Manual also provides helpful suggestions in how to present this material in a small group or Bible study setting. Click on the image of the Leaders’ Manual to view a PDF of the Manual for Volume I.
The $35 manual is included with the DVD set. If there are multiple people leading out in the Seminar, you can order additional manuals by clicking on the button below.
Advertising Resources Available
Contact the Biblical World for more information or to order: info@biblicalworld.org.
Use the tabs below to view the brochure and postcard options.
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