The way home
Family worship guide · theme: I am · the way, the truth and the life · ages 4–14 · 20 min
Opening
Treasure hunt: before worship, hide a small prize (a chocolate, a sweet note) in one of the rooms. Give the kids confusing, contradictory clues (turn left, no, right, now go back...) and let them wander for a bit. Then an adult says: now just follow me, and leads them straight to the treasure. Ask: what's better, a hard map or someone who knows the way and goes with you?
Reading
Set the scene: it is the Last Supper; Jesus has just washed the disciples' feet and told them He was going where they could not go (13:33 and 36). They are frightened. An adult reads verses 1 to 4 in a calm voice, like someone giving comfort. Someone plays Thomas and reads the question in verse 5 with a completely puzzled face. Everyone reads Jesus' answer in verse 6 together.
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. 2In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” 6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Teaching
It was the last night before the cross. Jesus had announced that He would be betrayed and that He was going where the disciples could not go. Their hearts were troubled. Jesus begins by comforting them: in the Father's house there are many rooms, like a big family home where there is always room for one more. He is going to prepare the place and will come back to get them.
Thomas is honest: “We do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus' answer is not a map; it is a person: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” He does not say He shows the way, but that He is the way; He does not say He teaches truths, but that He is the truth; He does not say He gives life, but that He is the life. Yes, that is exclusive: there is only one way. But it is a way open to everyone, because it goes through the cross, where Jesus opened the door home for those who could not get there on their own. And questions like Thomas's are welcome: it was an honest doubt that drew from Jesus one of the clearest sentences in the whole Gospel.
Conversation
For little ones
- Who did Jesus go to prepare a place for?
- When we get lost, what's better: staying alone or holding the hand of someone who knows the way?
For kids
- Thomas asked a question because he didn't understand. Do you have a question about Jesus or about heaven? You can ask it now!
- Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life. Which of those three words do you need most today? Why?
For teens
- Lots of people think it's intolerant to say Jesus is the only way. How can you answer respectfully, without arrogance? Does the fact that this way goes through the cross change the conversation?
- Thomas didn't pretend to understand. What doubt about faith are you carrying that you haven't had the courage to say out loud yet?
For adults
- What has been troubling my heart lately? What would it look like to hand it over to Jesus, trusting that He prepares the place and comes back?
- In our home, are the kids' doubts received the way Jesus received Thomas's, with patience and truth, or with scolding and hurry?
Activity
Trail to the Father's house: with masking tape, string or cushions, make a trail on the floor that ends at a little house drawn on a sheet of paper. Place three signs along the way: Way, Truth and Life. Each person walks the trail and, at each sign, says one thing Jesus does for us. The little ones can go with their eyes closed, led by an adult's hand.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, You are the way, the truth and the life. When our hearts are troubled, remind us that You are preparing a place for us and that You will come back. Today I hand over to You [each person names a worry]. Give us courage to ask questions and faith to follow You step by step, all the way to the Father's house. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Blessing
Romans 15:13
During the week
Family walk: take a walk together during the week (around the block, in a square, in a park) and, along the way, each person tells about a time they felt lost and how they found help. At the end, pray for those who don't know the way yet. At home, set up a Thomas question box: anyone can drop in a question about faith, and the family looks for the answer together in the Bible.