There are two types of people in this world: those who are great with directions and those who are not. Regardless of which category you fall under, we all know the importance of knowing the way to get to our desired destination, whether we’ve memorized the way to get there or the GPS guides us, showing us the way to get there. Of infinitely more importance than any earthly destination we desire to go to, the destination we most need to get to is an eternity with God one day. Jesus told us the way during His earthly ministry, telling His disciples in John 14:6, “I am the way.”
How is your sense of direction? Explain!
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1. Name some of the false “ways” the world looks to to earn or achieve salvation and eternal life with God forever.
2. Read John 14:1-6. What kind of answer do you think the disciples expected after Thomas asked, “How can we know the way?” Is Jesus’ answer different than what you think they expected? Why or why not?
John 14:1-6
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4And you know the way to where I am going.”No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
3. What did Jesus reveal about Himself by His answer to Thomas’ question, “How can we know the way?”
4. Read 1st Corinthians 15:12-19. Why was Jesus’ resurrection essential for Him to be “the way?”
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and you are still guilty of your sins. 18In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
1. Is there anything distracting you and tempting you to veer from the path leading toward Christ, the way? What is it?
2. How does truly believing the words of Jesus in John 14:1-6 impact the way we live our day-to-day lives?
3. When it comes to pointing others around you to Christ, the way, what is one area you would like to focus on growing in?
When it comes to following the way of Jesus, what step can you take to let go of anything tempting you to veer off course? Share that step with your group. When everyone has shared, pray together. Ask God to help each one of you as you set out to stay focused on Him and the paths that He is leading you towards. Throughout the week, check in with each other. Ask each other how it is going when it comes to letting go of the things tempting you to veer off course from the way Christ is leading you.
As we have seen in our Bible study so far, Jesus said in John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” This declaration was also an invitation from Jesus to follow Him, trust Him, and live fully. For the next few minutes, we will dive into each step of this invitation from Jesus, based on three of His teachings during His earthly ministry.
Because Jesus is “the way,” it makes perfect sense that His first invitation to His disciples was, “Follow Me” (Matthew 4:19). Indeed, because Jesus Himself is the way, it is our calling today too, as His followers, to follow Him. Following Him in every area of our lives will always lead us in the direction we want to go.
1. Read John 12:23-26.
John 12:23-26
23Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
2. Think about what it means to be a follower. What is involved in committing to follow someone?
3. Specifically, what is involved in following Jesus?
4. Describe the example Jesus set here on this earth. What is one way you can commit to following His example?
Jesus’ declaration “I am…the truth” is incredibly profound. You see, He not only speaks the truth, but He Himself is truth. Because He is the truth, everything He says and does is true. We can trust Him with everything, including our plans, our hopes, and our very lives.
1. Read John 12:44-50.
John 12:44-50
44Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”
2. Why did Jesus call the crowd (and us) to trust Him?
3. How does trusting Jesus impact our lives, both for now and eternity.
4. What is an area of your life where you need to trust Him? How can you take a step of faith this week to trust Him in that area?
Jesus’ declaration that He is “the life” carries significant meaning for all who believe in Him. In a world seeking for joy, purpose, and meaning, Jesus offers true life, not just here on earth, but for eternity. All who place their faith in Him get to live full, rich, and satisfying lives both now and in eternity with Him one day.
1. Read John 4:7-14 and John 10:10.
John 4:7-14
Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” 8He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. 9The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” 10Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” 11“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? 12And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” 13Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
John 10:10
The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
2. What did Jesus teach the Samaritan woman about the water He offers?
3. What do you think a “rich and satisfying life” looks like for followers of Christ, and how is it different than what the world offers?
4. How have you personally experienced the “rich and satisfying” life that Jesus offers in your own life?
Which of Jesus’ invitations in John 14:6 do you particularly need to focus on right now: following Him, the way, trusting Him, or living fully? Share that area with your group, along with one step you can take to focus on Jesus' invitation as you go through this next week.
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