Lesson

The Way, the Truth, and the Life Sunday School Lesson for Kids

A free Way, the Truth, and the Life Sunday school lesson (John 14:1–6) in four age levels, preschool to preteen, with a game, Bible story and take-home.

Preschool–Grade 6

The Way, the Truth, and the Life Sunday School Lesson for Kids

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Free to print and copy for your church, classroom, VBS and home. Please don't resell or re-post our files; link to the page instead.

Ages: Preschool (3–5), Early Elementary (K–2), Upper Elementary (3–5), Preteen (5–6)
Time: 20–60 minutes (depends on the age level)
Scripture: John 14:1–6
Bible story: The Way, the Truth, and the Life

What you need

A Bible (mark John 14:1 and John 14:6)
Bibles for the kids to look up verses (3rd grade and up)
Masking tape to make a winding "road" on the floor (preschool and kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A chair and a blanket or sheet to be a "house" at the end of the road (preschool and kindergarten to 2nd grade)
6 paper strips, a marker and tape (memory verse game, kindergarten to 2nd grade)
A small paper house drawing to hide, a whiteboard or large paper and a marker (3rd grade and up)
Paper and pencils (preteens)
Printed take-home sheets, one per child
Printed Way, the Truth, and the Life word search and crayons for early finishers

This free Way, the Truth, and the Life Sunday school lesson teaches kids that Jesus is the only way to God, so their hearts don't have to be troubled. On His last night with His disciples, Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled" (John 14:1). When Thomas asked, "how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:5–6). It comes in four age levels, each a separate printable teacher lesson, plus one take-home sheet for families. Everything is in the order you teach it.

Choose your age level

Preschool (ages 3–5), 20–30 minutes, 2 pages: a follow-me walk along a tape road, a short story with hand motions and repeat-after-me lines, three simple questions, a shortened memory verse ("I am the way, the truth, and the life") with motions, and a drawing activity.
Kindergarten to 2nd grade, 45 minutes, 3 pages: the Find the Way game on a tape road, the story in simple words, five recall questions with answers, the Road Verse memory game with six paper strips, and a Follow the Way game.
3rd to 5th grade, 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: a Directions, Please game, kids look up verses in their own Bibles during a fuller story (the last night, "whither goest thou?", "many mansions," "I will come again," Thomas's question), five thinking questions and three recall questions, and a Bible look-up race.
Preteens (ages 11–12), 45–60 minutes, 3 pages: students read John 13:33–14:6 out loud themselves, then talk about Peter's failure and Jesus' comfort, Thomas's honest question, and why the way is a Person. Six discussion questions, a journal page, and two memory verses (John 14:6 and Acts 4:12).

Lesson at a glance

Bible passage: John 14:1–6
Main point: Jesus is the only way to God. I can trust Him, so my heart does not have to be troubled.
Memory verse: John 14:6 (KJV), with Acts 4:12 added for preteens
Ages: preschool to preteen, in four versions

Lesson outline (the same in every version)

Opening game: a short game about finding the way.
Bible story: Jesus' last night with His disciples (John 13:1, 13:33), "Let not your heart be troubled" (14:1), "In my Father's house are many mansions" (14:2), "I will come again" (14:3), Thomas's question, "how can we know the way?" (14:5), and Jesus' answer, "I am the way, the truth, and the life" (14:6). Every fact has its verse reference so you can check it.
Questions to ask: with answers, at the right level for each age.
Memory verse: a game or motion to help kids learn John 14:6.
What this means for us: trust Jesus when you're troubled, Jesus is the only way, the gospel (Acts 2:38), and a challenge for the week.
Activity: the word search, crossword, maze, worksheet, the Way, the Truth, and the Life craft, a follow-the-leader game, a Bible look-up race or a journal page, depending on the age.
Prayer.

Tips for teaching John 14:6

Read John 14:6 straight from your Bible. Thomas asked for directions, and Jesus answered with Himself: "I am the way."
Let kids see that Thomas's honest question was a good thing. Jesus answered it.
Kids who are worried about something (or have lost someone) need John 14:1 most. Each lesson has a short, kind note for that.
Short on time? Do the story, three questions and the memory verse. That is a solid 25-minute lesson.

Frequently asked questions

How long does this lesson on John 14:6 take?

It depends on the age level. The preschool lesson takes 20 to 30 minutes, the kindergarten to 2nd grade lesson about 45 minutes, and the 3rd to 5th grade and preteen lessons 45 to 60 minutes. For a short class, do the story, three questions and the memory verse.

What does "I am the way, the truth, and the life" mean for kids?

Thomas asked Jesus, "how can we know the way?" Jesus did not give him a map. He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:5–6). Jesus Himself is the way to God, everything He says is true, and He gives life.

Who asked Jesus "how can we know the way?"

Thomas, one of the twelve disciples (Matthew 10:3). He said, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?" (John 14:5). Whither means where.

What age is this lesson for?

All ages from preschool to preteen. The lesson comes in four separate teacher PDFs: preschool (ages 3 to 5), kindergarten to 2nd grade, 3rd to 5th grade, and preteens (ages 11 to 12), plus a take-home sheet for families.