"I Am the Way" (Upper Elementary) - Children's Sermons from Sermons4Ki...

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There was a time when a person going on a trip wouldn't think of beginning their journey without a road map. (Hold up the map for the children to see.) The map was very helpful to the traveler in finding the way to where they were going. Today we seldom ever use a road map. Do you know why? Most of us who own a car also have a GPS in our car. (Hold up the GPS.) How does the GPS work? When you are ready to go somewhere, you type in the address where you want to go and the GPS connects to a satellite up above the earth and computes the path to your destination. As soon as you start driving, a map appears on the screen and a voice from the GPS gives you turn by turn directions. "Turn right on Main Street in one mile, turn right in one half mile, turn right in 150 feet, turn right." What happens if you miss your turn? The GPS says, "Recalculating" and immediately computes a new route to get you back on the right path to your destination.

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Think about this for a moment - have you ever been in a car when the GPS stopped working or gave wrong directions? How did that feel? Maybe you felt confused, worried, or even a little scared about getting lost. Now imagine trying to navigate through life's big decisions without any guidance at all. Should I tell the truth even when it might get me in trouble? How should I treat someone who's been mean to me? What does it mean to really follow God?

When we are trying to follow Jesus in our daily life, it would be nice to have a GPS to lead us in the right direction, wouldn't it? It would be nice to have something to keep us on the right path and keep us from getting lost...something that would help us get back on the right track when we made a wrong decision. But here's something amazing - we actually DO have that kind of guidance system!

That is the way Jesus' disciples must have felt when Jesus told them that he was going to leave them. Imagine being one of Jesus' closest friends and hearing Him say He was leaving! Jesus said to them, "I am going to prepare a place for you and when everything is ready, I will come and get you so that you will always be with me. You know the way to where I am going."

One of the disciples whose name was Thomas answered Jesus, "No, we don't, Lord. We don't even know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Thomas was being honest about his confusion - and that's okay! Sometimes when we don't understand something about God or faith, it's perfectly fine to ask questions. God wants us to seek understanding.

Jesus answered him with one of the most important statements in all of Scripture: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." Let's break this down. When Jesus says "I am the way," He means He's not just showing us a path - He IS the path. When He says "I am the truth," He means everything He teaches us is completely reliable and trustworthy. When He says "I am the life," He means real, eternal life comes through Him.

Another disciple named Philip joined in, "Lord, show us the Father and we will be satisfied." Philip wanted proof he could see with his eyes, just like we sometimes do.

"Philip," Jesus answered, "Have you been with me all this time and you still don't know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show you the Father? Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Anyone who believes in me will do the same things I have done." Jesus was explaining that He and God the Father are so closely connected that knowing Jesus means knowing God.

That was all the disciples needed to know to get them on the right path to the Father. But what about us today?

So, how do you and I find our way to the place where Jesus has gone to be with the Father? We have not seen Jesus face-to-face as Thomas and Philip had, but we have something incredible - we can follow the teachings that He has given to us in the Bible, God's Holy Word. Think of the Bible as the most advanced GPS system ever created. It doesn't just give us turn-by-turn directions for one trip - it gives us wisdom for every situation we'll face in life.

But here's what makes following Jesus different from following a GPS: Jesus doesn't just give us directions from the outside. When we believe in Him, He actually comes to live in our hearts through the Holy Spirit. It's like having the ultimate guide living inside us, helping us make good choices every single day. When we mess up and take a wrong turn, Jesus doesn't just say "recalculating" - He offers forgiveness and helps us learn from our mistakes.

Let's think about some real situations: When a friend asks you to cheat on a test, when someone is being bullied at school, when you're tempted to lie to your parents, or when you're deciding how to spend your time and money - in all these moments, Jesus wants to guide you. The Bible gives us principles, and the Holy Spirit helps us apply them to our specific situations.

Here's a challenge for this week: When you face a tough decision, try asking yourself, "What would Jesus want me to do?" Then look for the answer in God's Word and listen for the Holy Spirit's guidance in your heart. Remember, Jesus said those who believe in Him will do the same things He did - showing love, kindness, forgiveness, and truth to everyone around us.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Son to provide the way to eternal life. Thank you for your Holy Word which will keep us on the right path in our journey through life. Help us to trust in Jesus not just as our Savior, but as our daily guide. Give us courage to follow Him even when it's difficult, and wisdom to understand your truth. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.