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11.4 Small Group Lesson | Elementary

Riddle RangersJesus is the Way, Truth and Life

Scripture marked “NIV” is taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of Biblica. Scripture marked “NIrV” is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version ™, Copyright ©1995, 1996, 1998 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. All scripture references are taken from NIrV unless otherwise stated.

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BIG IDEA: Jesus is the one true God and following Him is the only way to eternal life.

BIBLE BASIS: John 14:5–14

KEY VERSE: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NIrV)

15–25 minutes

7–15 minutes

30–40 minutes

7–15 minutes


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LEADER DEVOTIONALImagine for a moment that you’re in an unfamiliar room with no windows and a dozen other

people (only some of whom you know) when the fire alarm begins to blare its warning and smoke begins to fill the space. You know the situation is dire and the only way to survive is to make a quick exit through the right door. Unfortunately, there are almost as many doors in the room as there are people. And although you know with certainty which door leads to safety, few people seem to agree with you or with each other, for that matter. Some people say it’s a different door. Some people say that all the doors lead to safety. There’s one thing for sure, though—there’s not much time and the decision is life or death. Would you speak up as people start for other doors? Would you be so bold as to yell, “I know the way, follow me”? You probably would. So would I.

The Bible says that the world is in a very similar situation. When Adam and Eve sinned, it’s like the world caught fire. And although there are many people who purport that their religious beliefs lead to safety, there’s only one door—one way—that truly leads to salvation. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (NIV)

Unfortunately, this “one way” belief has become increasingly unpopular within our culture. Christians are sometimes accused of being small-minded for thinking there’s only one way to salvation and that our way is it. And so, as people start for other “doors,” we think to say something, but then we bite our tongue. We don’t want to be seen as insensitive. Or small minded. Or pushy.

As Christians, by the grace of God, we know the Way. The Way is not just a direction, it’s a person—it’s Jesus. As difficult as it can be sometimes, God has put us where we are so that we can shout to a dying world in a dire situation, “I know the Way—follow me!”

David RauschMooblio President


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SMALL GROUP SKILL BUILDING

Connecting with Parents during Pick-up Time

The Titanic was pretty cool, but the best ship is a partnership. (Worst opening line ever!) When children’s ministry volunteers and parents work together, it makes for a powerful partnership that has twice the impact as when they work separately. Here are a few ways that you can reach out to the parents of the kids in your group and make a connection.

Require the parents to come all the way to your small group before releasing their kid. Connecting with the parents requires you to have contact with them and you can’t do that if they beckon their kids from across the room. If this differs from your normal pick-up protocol, talk to your leaders about making a change.

Choose one or two parents to connect with during pick-up time. If you throw a dozen balls in the air and try to catch them all, you probably won’t catch any. It’s kind of the same with parents. (Note: do not throw parents in the air.) If you try to connect with all of the parents, you’ll most likely drop the ball. Instead, choose one or two parents every week to make a significant connection with.

Share something positive about their kid. Parents love hearing positive reports about their kids! Better yet, do it in front of the kid and watch his face light up.

Ask the parents if there’s any way you can pray for them. This is a great way to find out what’s going on in the life of their family and to support and encourage them. Show them that you’re truly committed to supporting them by follow up with them in the coming weeks.



RIDDLE RANGERS CONNECT QUESTIONSSay: Today is our last day of the “Riddle Rangers.” How have you done at solving the riddles so far? (Allow kids to answer.) We’ve got a couple more riddles to work on today, but let’s do a little warm up first. See if you can solve this riddle:

Riddle: How many apples grow on a tree? (Answer: All apples grow on a tree.)

Question: Do any of you know some other good riddles?

Question: If you were one of the Riddle Rangers, where in the world would you want to travel? Why?

ADDITIONAL TIME ACTIVITY—THUMBS UP, THUMBS DOWNSimply ask the kids in your group to share one good thing that happened this week (thumbs up) and one not-so-good thing (thumbs down). This is a great way for your group to share celebrations and struggles with one another.

THE RIDDLE RANGERS ADVENTUREDirections: There will be two times during the Large Group program that kids will be asked to turn to their group to solve a riddle. Zack and Jada (a.k.a. the “Riddle Rangers”) will send a copy of the riddle from “Mystery Island.” Keep the riddles out of sight until they’ve been “sent.” This will help to preserve the illusion that the riddles are actually coming from the Riddle Rangers. When directed, give each kid in your group a copy of the appropriate riddle along with a pen or pencil. Unless you choose to work together as a group, remind the kids to refrain from shouting out the answer as soon as they solve it so that other kids have the opportunity to solve it for themselves.

For Younger Kids: Each riddle has a version that is geared toward younger children. Nevertheless, many of the riddles are letter- and word-based. Begin by reading the riddle to your group along with the instructions from Zack or Jada. If you have kids in your group who are still learning to read, you may want to work as a group on some of the riddles. Be prepared to assist the kids as needed. You may want to point the kids in the right direction, give them hints, and sometimes show them the answer. As the leader, you can determine the level of help to give your group.



STORY QUESTIONSDirections: During the Large Group program, kids will be asked to turn briefly to their small group and answer the following questions:

For Younger Kids:1. Why do you think heaven is such a special place?2. What do you think it means to follow Jesus?

For Older Kids:1. What does this story teach you about Jesus?2. What do you think Jesus meant by saying, “No one comes to the Father except through me”?

THE A-MAZE-ING RACE (Application Activity)Set up: Print one copy of the “A-maze-ing Mazes” for each kid. Note: there are 2 different age-appropriate versions for younger and older kids.

Say: Today we learned that Jesus is the way, truth, and life. In the Bible, Jesus said that, “No one can come to the Father except through me.” We’re going to play a game right now that will help us understand what that means.

Directions: Give each kid in your group a copy of the “A-maze-ing Mazes” along with a pen or pencil. Each copy includes 3 mazes. Tell the kids that when you say “go,” they’ll have to begin working on the first maze. After 8 seconds, yell “switch” and have the kids quickly pass their maze to the kid on their right (counterclockwise). They will then have to pick up where the previous kid left off. Continue yelling “switch” every 8 seconds until someone has completed the maze. Upon completion, the victor will have to jump up and do an “a-maze-ing” dance. Repeat this activity for the remaining 2 mazes. When finished, ask the following questions:

Question: How many ways were there to reach the end? (Answer: Only one. Every other way led to a dead end.)

Question: Jesus said, “No one can come to the Father except through me.” How were these mazes kind of like that verse? (Answer: There is only one way to reach heaven and that’s through Jesus.)

Directions: Tell the kids in your group when and how you became a Christian. Try to keep it around a few minutes and use age-appropriate details.

Question: Have you ever prayed the “ABC” prayer before? In other words, have you ever decided to follow Jesus? When did you do it? How did it happen?



WHO NOSE THE BIBLE? (Bible Memorization Activity)Directions: Place the 8 Bible verse cards in the middle of your group. Give the kids in your group a moment to line the cards up in the right order. Once they’re in order, carefully read the verse aloud with your group several times so they can begin to memorize it. Today’s Bible verse says:

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

When ready, flip the cards over so that they’re facing down and mix them up. Spread them out. Place a small dab of petroleum jelly on each of the kid’s noses. (Allergy Alert: Be sure no one is allergic to petroleum jelly.) When you say “go,” have the kids race to press their nose onto the back of one card and pick it up so that only the other kids can see it. When every kid has picked up a card, they’ll have to quickly help each other stand in the right order so that the verse reads from beginning to end. Time the kids to see how long it takes them. When finished have the kids recite the verse aloud. Place the cards face down and mix them up on the floor again and repeat the activity.

Note: If you have more than 8 kids in your group, have kids take turns. If you have fewer than 8 kids, place the beginning of the verse in order while the kids pick up a card from the end of the verse. For younger kids, allow them to pick up the card with their nose, but the leader can be the one to quickly line them up in order.

Question: What do you think that verse means?

SHOW ME PRAYERS (Group Prayer Activity)Directions: Ask the kids in your group to think of something that they need prayer for. Choose someone to share first, but instead of sharing their request aloud, ask them to show their prayer request as a charade. Allow the other kids to guess the prayer request. When the group has guessed successfully, allow them to verbally share specifics of their request. If a kid doesn’t want to perform the request as a charade, has trouble performing the request, or if the group has trouble guessing, allow them to share their request verbally. As kids share, write their request down. When finished, open the group in prayer. Allow anyone who would like to pray aloud to do so.


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