Key Verse

Matthew 7:13-14

Additional Verses

Proverbs 16:25; John 14:6; John 10:9

Materials Needed

• Map
• Photo of trail blazes

Object Lesson

What are some important things to take with you on a hike? (allow for answers).

Yes, those are all important things! But I think the most important thing to take is a map. Why is a map important (allow for answers)?

A map helps you to know where you are going and more importantly how you will get back to your bus or car, right? Have you ever been in the woods and then suddenly it seems like the trail disappears? Maybe the woods get really thick and the grass and bushes are really tall and the path in front of you isn’t as clean anymore. What then?

Well, there is another thing that is very useful to help you stay on the trail. Does anyone know what it is? (allow answers).

It’s called a trail blaze and it looks like this (show photo).

Trail blazes are painted marks on trees or rocks that lead you down the correct trail. If you follow the blazes you will always be on the trail and not in the middle of the woods somewhere. The blazes will often show you if the trail turns right or left. And if you were lost in the woods, you could follow the blazes until you came to a road and could get help.

The Bible tells us about a very important path that we should stay on. It’s the path that leads to Heaven. Let’s read Matthew 7:13-14 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway (or path) to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road (path) is difficult, and only a few ever find it. This verse tells us that we should choose the path that leads to Heaven.

That means following Jesus at all times. It also says that the path to Hell is a wide path because there are a lot of people going down that path. They are choosing not to follow Jesus. They might be choosing to follow other gods or maybe they’ve just decided not to believe. But they are going the wrong way.

When you think about all of the people around you, are they mostly following Jesus or not following Jesus? (allow for answers).

Following Jesus is not always the easy way and that’s why this verse says the narrow road is “difficult.” Sometimes it’s hard to follow Jesus when all of our friends don’t want to. But by loving them and telling them about Jesus we can lead them down the right path too.

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