Supplies Needed:

Signs for the icebreaker (North, South, East, West)
Bible or handouts with John 14:1-4 on them
Paper and pens or pencil

Note to the Teacher

Directions aren’t always as simple as reading a map or a list of instructions on an assignment. Jesus gave directions to the disciples at the Last Supper. The disciples’ hearts were troubled, and they were desperately grasping for reassurance and understanding of what was about to happen. This week, we explore the directions Jesus left his disciples and how they apply to our lives today.

Icebreaker: What Which Way!? (10 min.)

Supplies:

Labels for four corners of the room: North, South, East, West.

Students start in the center of the room. Begin the game by calling out a silly challenge that includes an action and the direction to do that action. For example, “Run east and spin three times” or “Run south and freeze facing east!” Do a few practice rounds until students feel comfortable with how the game works. Once everyone seems comfortable with the game, explain that after each direction, the last student to correctly complete the action in the correct direction will call the next challenge.

Read Scripture (5 min.)

Supplies:

Bibles

Today, our scripture takes place during Jesus’s big “goodbye” to his disciples, his friends. It wasn’t in front of a big crowd; it was a conversation with friends. Jesus reassures his disciples and ensures they understand the directions for continuing this ministry.

Read John 14:1-14.

Discussion (10 min.)

What does it mean to teenagers today for your “hearts to be troubled?”
Why do you think Thomas asked, “How can we know the way?
How is the idea of a “way” different from rules or laws?
What do you think Jesus means by “I am the way”?
What does it mean to you to “know Jesus” beyond facts?
What is a “work of Jesus” that you and your peers can do?
What would help you to do this “work of Jesus,” especially when your heart is troubled?
What causes hearts to be troubled in your friend groups, schools, and communities?

Activity (30 min.)

Supplies:

Paper and pens or pencils

In today’s reading, Jesus says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Sometimes that is easier said than done! It would be helpful to have a toolkit, perhaps a first-aid kit, when our hearts feel troubled.

Divide the students into groups of three to five people and invite them to imagine a toolkit they can “build” with five items that will help them when they feel their “hearts are troubled” (such as scripture, music, friends, prayers, etc.). Encourage teams to include, as one of their five items, a prayer they will write together, based on the reading from John 14. If there is time, have students share the toolkits with the whole group!

For today’s closing, pray over the students, “May the Spirit remind you that you are not alone; help Jesus’ story stay rooted in you.” Or invite a student to pray the group’s written prayer over the class.