Reviewing the Only Way Home
Month 5: What About Other Religions? · Family Worship
Today's Scripture
Read together: John 14:1-6
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in Me as well. 2 In 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? 3 And 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. 4 You 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?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
Memory Verse
“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”— John 14:6 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Judges 19-21
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 149 of 365 — the dark final chapters of Judges, where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes." A reminder of why we need the one true way.)The Heart of It
We've spent a whole month asking a big, brave question. What about all the other religions in the world? So tonight we worship by remembering what we found. Jesus' disciples were worried about being left behind. So Jesus comforted them with a promise. He was going to prepare a place for them. And He would come back to take them home (). Then Thomas asked the question every honest heart asks. "How can we know the way?" Jesus didn't give a map. He didn't give a list of rules. He said, "I am the way." Not a way. The way. The road home to God is not a what. It's a Who.
This isn't unkind or proud. It's the kindest news there is. Imagine a child lost in a huge city. Telling her the one street that leads home isn't mean. It's love. Every other religion says something like this: "Do enough good things, and maybe you'll earn your way to God." Only Jesus says, "You could never earn it. So I came to bring you home Myself." Other teachers died and stayed dead. Jesus died and rose. That's why we can say it with confidence and with gentleness. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. As we close this month, let's worship the One who didn't just point to the road. He became the road for us.
Around the Table
Jesus said, "I am the way." That means Jesus Himself is the road that takes us home to God!
Let's do it: Make a "road" with your hands and walk your fingers along it while saying, "Jesus is the way!"
Other religions usually say, "Try hard and earn it." Jesus says, "I already did it. Come to Me." How is that different, and why is it good news?
Let's talk: What's one thing you learned this month about why Jesus is different from every other path?
Jesus said "the" way, not "a" way. Truth always rules out its opposite. So if Jesus really rose from the dead, the claims that go against Him can't all be true too.
Let's go deeper: How can you hold firmly to "Jesus is the only way" and still be truly kind to a friend who believes something else?
💬 Conversation Starter
Say a new kid moved in next door and got lost trying to find your house. Would it be mean to tell them the one correct street? How is telling people about Jesus a little like that?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
When someone says, "It doesn't matter what you believe, as long as you're sincere": You can kindly answer, "I can be totally sincere and still be wrong. I could sincerely drink from the wrong bottle and still get hurt. What matters most isn't how strongly I believe. What matters is whether it's true. And Jesus backed up His claim by rising from the dead." Always say it "with gentleness and respect" (). Use a gentle voice and confident truth.
For Dad · Go Deeper
The exclusivity of Christ feels offensive to our culture. But pause on why it's actually mercy. If there were many ways to God, then Jesus' cross was needless cruelty. The Father would have let His Son suffer for nothing. There is only one way because the problem was so deep. Our sin ran so deep that only God Himself, in the flesh, could fix it (). Teach your children that "narrow" is not the same as "stingy." The gate is narrow, but the invitation is for all. "Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely" (). Christ died for everyone. The door is one, but it stands wide open to anybody who will walk through it. Lead your home to hold this truth the way Jesus did. Be unbending on the road, and tender toward the lost.
Draws on: Sean McDowell & Jonathan Morrow, Is God Just a Human Invention?
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that You didn't leave us lost. You sent Jesus to be the way home. Help our family stand firm on the truth. And help us share it with kind, loving hearts. Make us brave and gentle at the same time. In Jesus' name, amen."
Jesus isn't one road among many. He is the way Home, and the door stands open for anyone who will come.