THEME: THE
WORD WILL BE
TEXT: JOHN 14:1-14
MEMORY VERSE: Jesus answered, “I am the
way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” — John 14:6
(NIV)
LESSON AIMS: After participating in this lesson, each
student will be able to:
1.
Paraphrase Jesus’
reaction to the disciples’ concern.
2.
Discuss the
significance of Jesus’ claim to be “the way and the truth and the life” in
light of a postmodern worldview.
3.
Write a note to someone
who needs the comfort provided in Jesus’ words from John 14.
INTRODUCTION
Do you ever stop and ask for directions?
Many of us won’t do this because it hurts our pride. Sometimes we may be
hesitant because we don’t trust the source of help. More than once I‘ve
followed directions only to end up more lost than before. Once while travelling
from Lagos, Nigeria to a city upcountry, I asked a taxi driver (who didn’t
speak English) to give me direction, and I ended up miles away from my desired
destination.
In some cultures, people believe they should
always be helpful to strangers, and so they will offer directions even when
they have no idea where you’re going. Accepting directions obviously requires a
high level of trust that your helper knows what he or she is talking about.
Modern GPS systems are reliable, but not foolproof.
If good directions to a
store or restaurant are important, then knowing the right way to God is
critical! Many different faith systems and philosophies claim to set us on the
correct path. But how do we know which one is right when they contradict each
other?
[Please
note that you are free to reproduce this lesson for your Sunday school classes.
The talk points (in red prints) are to help your
discussions.]
A. PROMISED PLACE –
John 14:1-4
1. What things tend to trouble you the
most? How does belief in God and Jesus help you in these areas? (Spiritual issues; Nonspiritual issues.)
2. What impact does Jesus’ promise have
on you? (In terms of your Christian witness; In terms
of the smaller things of daily living; In terms of the larger things of life
choices.)
B. PROMISED WAY –
John 14:5-11
1. In
the current culture, which of the three affirmations about Jesus gives
unbelievers the most difficulty? Why? (Jesus as the way;
Jesus as the truth; Jesus as the life.)
2. What
allows you to “know” Jesus most meaningfully? How do your experiences in this
regard compare and contrast with others in the class? (Scripture
reading; Fellowship with other Christians; Kingdom service; Prayer; Sermons and
lessons)
C. PROMISED WORK
– John 14:12-14
1. How
will you go about doing the “greater things” that Jesus predicted and promised?
(While participating in the local ministries of your
church; While supporting the ministry of a missionary; While performing a ministry
of your own.)
2. What
allows you to “know” Jesus most meaningfully? How do your experiences in this
regard compare and contrast with others in the class? (Scripture
reading; Fellowship with other Christians; Kingdom service; Prayer; Sermons and
lessons)
CONCLUSION
For me, the expression, “There’s more than
one way to get there” holds true most of the time. As a carpenter, I learned to
look for ways around obstacles to completing a task. This wise saying was based
on the fact that there are very few places that can be reached by only one
path—there’s normally more than one road.
According to the Gospel of John, however,
this principle doesn’t apply to God: there is only one way to get to him, and
that way is Jesus. While many religions claim to lead us to God, Christ says
that he himself is “the way and the truth and the life”—the only way,
truth, and life. Jesus is the way to God. Jesus is the way that God empowers us
to witness to the world. There is only one way.
PRAYER
O God, we never could have found you without
Jesus. Please send us your power through him so that we can glorify your name
as he did. In Jesus’ name, amen.
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER
Jesus is our source of
truth and life.
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