Greater Way

WELCOME

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

Every athlete makes mistakes, and no one is perfect. But when you try to take control and do things in your own way, it can create a whole lot of problems. Thankfully, there is a greater way that will lead you to the ultimate solution.

WARM-UP

MIXED UP

In this game, one person will receive simple directions from three different people simultaneously, each one shouting out a different set of directions (see the list below). The person playing has to decipher what the direction givers are saying and then decide which directions to follow.

[Directions: touch toes, spin around, run in place, do jumping jacks, crawl, skip, do knee lifts, dance moves, or punching bag motion.]

Q: What was it like trying to follow different directions simultaneously?

Q: What did you do when you weren’t sure which way to follow?

Q: Have you ever had different people tell you different ways to play your sport? How did you handle that?

WORKOUT

WRONG WAY

During the 1929 Rose Bowl, Roy Riegels, an All-American center for the University of California, grabbed a fumble on defense and headed towards Georgia Tech’s goal line. But when the opposing players tried tackling him, he turned around and started running the wrong way!

Riegels thought he was going the right way and intended to score a touchdown. Instead, he ended up at Cal’s one-yard line before his teammates could stop him.

Just like Riegels, you might find yourself trying to make the right play but doing the wrong thing because you’ve tried to do things on your own.

Q: What are some mistakes you’ve made as a competitor because you went about things the wrong way or tried to do things on your own?

Q: How did doing things the wrong way affect your relationship with your team, coach, or family?

PREPARING THE WAY

As John the Baptist was preaching about Jesus, the religious leaders had many questions. They wanted to know who he was, what he was doing, and why he was doing it. John replied:

“I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord – just as Isaiah the prophet said.” — John 1:23

The religious leaders didn’t understand what “the way of the Lord” meant. They thought if they performed certain rituals and followed certain rules, then it was the right way to know God. They didn’t understand that there was a greater way—a way that would lead to real truth and real life.

The apostle Paul reinforced this truth in one of his letters to a young Christian from Greece.

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” — 1 Timothy 2:5

Q: Why do you think the religious leaders’ way didn’t help them know God?

Q: Why do you think many people today don’t believe that Jesus is the only way to truly know God?

WRAP-UP

GREATER WAY

It’s great news knowing that we have a greater way through His Son, Jesus Christ!

Here are three key points to help you remember this truth:

1. Your way. Trying to figure things out on your own will lead to confusion and frustration.

“There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way to death.” —Proverbs 14:12

2. The world’s way. Trying to follow the world’s way will lead us away from God and ultimately to destruction. But God’s way will lead us to life.

“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.” — Matthew 7:13–14

3. God’s way. Following God’s way through a personal relationship with Jesus is the only way that leads to truth and life.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23

OVERTIME

Take some time with a teammate during the huddle or on your own to memorize today’s main verse in John 14:6. Be prepared to share that verse at the next huddle meeting.

If you want to learn more about following the greater way into a relationship with God, talk to your group leader or another FCA staff member about making that life-changing decision today. You can go through "The Four."