Hamburger Series. I am the WAY, the TRUTH and the LIFE

Scripture: for teacher background:  John 14:1-14

 (The tomato layer of the hamburger)

Making contact:

If possible have pictures of road signs and see if the children know what they mean. 

Maybe use a Learner’s license book or get some cardboard and paint some. 

You can also print signs on the computer. If you are making the “License” booklet (see later) you can point to those pictures.

If you don’t have pictures, just discuss the road signs.

Make sure you discuss what a One Way sign is and see if the children understand it.

 Exploration:

For quite a while Jesus had been telling His disciples that He had to go away. He told them that He was going to die. 

They couldn’t really understand what He meant.

 At the last supper He told them again that they wouldn’t see Him for a while. 

He told them not to be worried and upset but to believe in Him and to believe in God and that He was going to prepare a place for them in His Father’s house where there were many rooms. He would then come back and get them so that they could be there with Him.

He said that they knew the way that leads there.

Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know where you are going, so how can we know the way to get there?

Jesus replied:” I am the Way, the Truth and the Life; no one goes to the Father except by Me.”

Application

 Now, if you needed to get to a place and you hadn’t been before, what is the best way of finding it? The best is if someone comes and fetches you and goes with you. That is so easy.

That’s how it is with Jesus. He doesn’t just say – there is heaven, now find your own way there, or give us just a map or a mobile phone with Google Maps on it.

Actually we do have a map – the Bible is our map!

 But Jesus comes and lives in our hearts and as we walk with Him everyday He is showing us how to live and how to die and when we die we will go to heaven.

Jesus is the Way. Follow Him.

This is a lifestyle. It’s not just church on a Sunday. 

This is how to live. If you live with Jesus, He is the way to God the Father.

Pray in His name – the prayers go to God the Father because they are in Jesus’ name. 

Remember also, that the lifestyle includes walking in love. God loves everybody so we must love everybody too.

Everything depends on Jesus and if we believe in Him.

Listen to His voice – the Shepherd’s voice! Eat His bread – read the Bible. Believe in Him and even if you die you will live with Him. 

HE IS THE ANSWER to everything.

Challenge to Mission

Sometimes you see a sign that says INFORMATION or ENQUIRIES. When you are lost you go there and find help.

Maybe you can be like that place for your friends and family. When they ask questions like: “What happens when I die?” – tell them about Jesus. 

When they ask directions through life – tell them that Jesus is the way.

If you are sure about Jesus, others will ask you because they can see that you believe and that you have the answers.

 Just tell them what you believe.

“ Jesus is the way. Follow Him.”

If you make “license” books for the children they can use these to witness. They can show the road signs and how Jesus is the Way. 

They can read the verses in the booklet to the person. They can also make up their own original road signs that show how to follow Jesus e.g. read the Bible.

 Consolidation

 Worksheet and/or little license book. This is a little booklet with road signs and Scripture verses. It is on 2 A 4 sheets back to back.

 Cut these in half and put them in the right order. Staple them. Check the page numbers.

Memory Verse

“I AM THE WAY, AND THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through Me."

John 14:6 

MAKE BOOKLET:

Page 1:

Page 2: