This The Way, The Truth, and The Life lesson plan emphasizes the importance of trusting in Jesus as the source of guidance, truth, and fulfillment in life. By studying John 14:1-12, Catholic youth will understand that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, and they will learn how to deepen their trust in Him.
Materials for Trust in Jesus Lesson Plan
- Bibles
- Whiteboard and markers
- Handout with John 14:1-12
Opening Activity for The Way, The Truth, and The Life Lesson Plan
Exploring the Way, the Truth, and the Life
This simple activity creates a sense of community and allows the group to see how their own interpretations of these words relate to their faith.
- Gather the group and welcome them to the lesson.
- Begin by asking the group how they define the words “way,” “truth,” and “life.”
- Write their definitions on the whiteboard and lead a discussion on how these definitions relate to their faith.
- What do these concepts mean in the context of our Catholic faith?
- How do we see these concepts reflected in the life and teachings of Jesus?
- In what ways do these concepts shape our understanding of what it means to be a Catholic?
- How can we apply these concepts to our daily lives?
- Explain that in today’s lesson, we will be studying a passage from the Gospel of John that explores these concepts further.
Scripture Reading for Trust in Jesus Lesson Plan
We come together today to explore a powerful passage from the Gospel of John. In this passage, Jesus speaks to his disciples about the importance of trust and faith, and offers a powerful message that is just as relevant to us today as it was to his disciples thousands of years ago. We face many challenges and uncertainties in life, but we can take comfort in the fact that we have a savior who loves us unconditionally and is always there to guide us.
As we read this passage , I encourage you to reflect on its meaning and consider how it applies to your own life. What can we learn from Jesus’ words about the importance of trust and faith in our own lives? How can we deepen our relationship with Jesus and allow him to guide us through life’s challenges and uncertainties? Let’s read this passage with open hearts and minds, and see what wisdom and insight it has to offer us.
Read John 14:1-12 – the Gospel for the 5th Sunday of Easter Year A
Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be. Where I am going you know the way.”
Thomas said to him, “Master, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”
Philip said to him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.
Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father.”
Reflection for The Way, The Truth, The Life Lesson Plan
- After the reading, ask the group if there were any words or phrases that stood out to them.
- Write these on the whiteboard.
- Ask the group to share their thoughts on specific words or phrases, to gain insight into their personal connections to the passage and explore different interpretations and perspectives.
In our modern world, characterized by a fast-paced and ever-changing environment, it can be challenging to find a sense of direction and purpose amidst a multitude of daily distractions. As followers of Jesus, we may experience doubts and fears, questioning whether we are on the right path and living up to our full potential. However, this Gospel passage offers reassurance that we are not alone, and that Jesus is a constant guide, promising to prepare a place for us in heaven and leading us through life’s challenges towards a fulfilling and abundant life.
Despite the many uncertainties we face, we can be confident in the guidance and teachings of Jesus, who offers us the way, the truth, and the life. By trusting in him, we can find direction and purpose, and draw inspiration from his words to navigate the challenges of our daily lives. Ultimately, we can find hope in the promise of eternal life, offered by Jesus as a reward for our faith and trust in him.
Discuss these with the group:
- What did Jesus mean when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life”?
- How does this passage help us deepen our trust in Jesus?
- How can we apply this passage to our everyday lives?
Small Group Reflection Questions for Trust in Jesus Lesson Plan
- What specific challenges or struggles do I face in my life that require me to trust in Jesus more fully?
- What practical steps can I take to deepen my relationship with Jesus and cultivate a stronger sense of trust in him?
After a few minutes, ask for volunteers to share their thoughts with the larger group.
Challenge for The Way, The Truth, and The Life Lesson Plan
Commit to spending time each day this week in prayer, reflecting on Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Ask Jesus for guidance and direction in areas of your life where you feel uncertain or need clarity. Trust that Jesus will lead you on the right path.
Prayer for the Trust in Jesus Lesson Plan
Lead the group in a prayer of gratitude for Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
Dear Jesus, Thank you for being our way, our truth, and our life. Help us to trust in you more deeply every day. Show us the areas of our lives where we need to surrender control to you. Help us to follow you with all our hearts, so that we may live the abundant life that you have promised us. Amen.
Resources
More Themes for the The Way, The Truth, and The Life Lesson Plan
- Trust in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life: This theme emphasizes the importance of trusting in Jesus as the source of guidance, truth, and fulfillment in life. It calls on us to acknowledge Jesus as the foundation of our faith and to trust in his teachings and guidance as the way to live a purposeful life.
- Seeking guidance and direction from Jesus in areas where we feel uncertain or need clarity: This theme highlights the importance of seeking guidance from Jesus in our daily lives. It acknowledges that we may face challenges and uncertainties, but encourages us to trust that Jesus will guide us through these challenges towards a fulfilling and purposeful life.
- Surrendering our fears and worries to Jesus, trusting in his guidance and care: n to let go of our anxieties and uncertainties and to trust that Jesus will lead us towards a fulfilling and purposeful life.
- Deepening our relationship with Jesus through prayer, meditation, and reflection on his teachings: This theme highlights the importance of deepening our relationship with Jesus through prayer, meditation, and reflection on his teachings. It encourages us to make these practices a part of our daily lives and to seek greater intimacy with Jesus in our journey of faith.
- Hope and assurance in the promise of eternal life offered by Jesus: This theme emphasizes the hope and assurance that comes from the promise of eternal life offered by Jesus. It acknowledges that we may face challenges and uncertainties in this life, but encourages us to trust in the promise of eternal life as a source of hope and comfort.
- Identifying specific actions or commitments we can make to deepen our faith and trust in Jesus: This theme highlights the importance of taking action to deepen our faith and trust in Jesus. It encourages us to identify specific actions or commitments that we can make in our daily lives to strengthen our relationship with Jesus and to trust in his guidance and care.
Background Material for the Trust in Jesus Lesson Plan
John 14:1-12 is a well-known passage from the Gospel of John. It is part of Jesus’ farewell discourse, in which he prepares his disciples for his imminent departure and offers them comfort and guidance for their future.
The passage begins with Jesus reassuring his disciples, saying “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.” He goes on to say that he is going to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house, and that he will come back to take them with him so that they may be where he is.
The passage then continues with Jesus describing himself as the way, the truth, and the life, and asserting that no one can come to the Father except through him. He encourages his disciples to believe in him and to trust that he will guide them towards the truth and the life.
The Catechism emphasizes the importance of faith in Jesus as the way to eternal life. It states that “Faith is the theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that he has said and revealed to us, and that Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself” (CCC 1814). The passage from John 14 emphasizes the centrality of Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life, and encourages believers to have faith in him as the source of eternal life.
The passage concludes with Jesus promising his disciples that they will do even greater things than he has done, and that they will be able to ask him for anything in his name and he will do it for them. This promise highlights the power and importance of prayer and faith in Jesus. The Catechism also emphasizes the importance of prayer. It states that “Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God” (CCC 2559).
This passage is significant for Catholic theology as it emphasizes the importance of trust and faith in Jesus as the way to eternal life. It encourages believers to look to him for guidance and support in their daily lives. It is a reminder of the love and care that Jesus has for his disciples, and of the importance of trust and faith in our lives as Christians.
Music Suggestions for the Trust in Jesus Lesson Plan
Youth Ministry Lesson Plans and Reflections
Lesson plans are meant to give a framework for introducing information to youth. Most of these also include reflection questions for small group sharing. These help youth think about how to apply what they have learned to their everyday lives.
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