YEA Lesson Library
Which Road?
About This Lesson
This lesson teaches the broad road of sin and disobedience may seem good in the short term, but it is the narrow road of obedience to God’s law which leads to blessings and life.
Scriptures
Deuteronomy 10:12
Deuteronomy 12:28
Deuteronomy 28:1-2
Joshua 24:14-16
Psalm 9:8-10
Proverbs 3:1-4
Proverbs 4:23-26
Matthew 6:31-34
Matthew 7:7-13
Hebrews 11:24-26
Words to Know
COMMITMENT - a pledge, promise or obligation
CURSE - the cause of evil, misfortune or trouble
The Lesson
What if you went to play a softball game and only four on your team showed up? If the other team had all of its players, would you expect to win the game? About 350 years before Christ, something similar happened to one of the greatest generals the world has ever known. He was Alexander the Great.
One day the general, and a small company of soldiers came up to a strongly defended walled city. As Alexander approached, he insisted that he see the king. When the king came out, Alexander demanded that he surrender immediately.
The king looked at Alexander’s small company of soldiers and almost laughed. “Why should I surrender to you?” the king asked. “We far outnumber your army. You are no threat to us!” Perhaps one of the reasons Alexander was such a great general was because being outnumbered didn’t stop him. Alexander told the king that he would show him how he would win the battle. He was very aware that they were standing on a very high cliff. Yet he commanded his army to line up in a single file and start marching. The soldiers obeyed the general’s command and started marching. One soldier marched straight over the cliff and fell several hundred feet on the rocks below. And he died instantly. Then another followed. And another. . .
The king and his soldiers could hardly believe their eyes as they watched these soldier obeying the general’s orders even though it meant a certain death. Then Alexander ordered his company of soldiers to halt and return to his side. It became evident to the king that nothing would stop the final victory of an army of men who were willing to give their lives for their general. The king and his men surrendered right there on the top of that high cliff.
Does Christ expect the same kind of obedience and commitment that Alexander’s soldiers gave him? Is loving and believing Christ enough without obedience? Can we live our lives the way we want to and expect to be in God’s Kingdom? Christ said, “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Christ said that there are two roads. Many people choose the wide gate and broad road and live any way they want. They give no thought to obeying God. They use bad language. They cheat on exams. They go to ball games on Friday night. They are disrespectful to their parents. They skip Sabbath School and church. That road has a lot of freedom and few restraints. Does this sound like the road you want to travel? Wait a minute! Didn’t Christ put a great big CAUTION sign on that road? Where did He say that leads? Is destruction really what you want?
In Deuteronomy 28 God explains what destruction means. He told the Israelites how bad life would be if they did not obey Him. “The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking Him. Some of the bad things that will happen as a result of disobedience are: dis- eases, droughts, defeated by your enemies, boils, tumors, and incurable diseases, unsuccessful in everything you do, taken captive by your enemies and destroyed, etc. Are these the things you want to happen in your life?
God reminds us that there are two roads. The broad road has a wide gate. Many will enter and travel on it. On this road one is plagued with consequences for disobedience.
Few people are willing to travel the narrow road with the small gate. But that is where we find Christ’s great love and abundant blessings. On this road there is discipline, obedience and commitment to Him. God promises “If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God. . .” (Deuteronomy 28:1-2 NIV). Some of the many blessings which follow in this chapter are: blessings in the city and country, family blessings, blessings on your animals and your food, in battle, rain in due season, etc. Do these blessings sound better than the consequence on the broad road? Do you like these things better?
Are you willing to give up things that may seem like fun to receive God’s blessings and protection? Are you as dedicated to obeying Christ’s commands as Alexander’s soldiers were to him? Which road will you take? Are you willing to commit to Christ? “Be careful to obey. . ., so that it may always go well with you and your children after you, because you will be doing what is good and right in the eyes of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 12:28).
Student Prayer
Almighty God and Father,
Thank you for making clear to me the two roads that are set before me. You’ve made it plain that if I go down the broad road I will have many problems. Help me to have the discipline and commitment to follow you down the narrow road which has blessings beyond belief.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Deuteronomy 28:1-2
Monday - Proverbs 3:1-4
Tuesday - Joshua 24:14-16
Wednesday - Hebrews 11:24-26
Thursday - Psalm 9:8-10
Friday - Matthew 6:31-34
Saturday - Proverbs 4:23-26
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Explain that the broad road is easy and attractive.
2. Explain that the narrow road requires discipline, obedience and commitment.
3. Discuss the consequences of following the broad road.
4. Discuss the benefits of following the narrow road.
Topics & Themes
Belief
Blessings
Consequences of Sin
God’s Kingdom
God’s Law
God’s Plan
Holy Conduct
Life
Loving God
Obedience
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students and teacher’s books, attendance and memory verse charts, stickers, butcher’s paper, marker pens, songbook, CD/cassette tape, music player
How to Teach This Lesson
Before class, attach a very large piece of butcher’s paper on the wall and draw two parallel roads on it. Make one road very narrow and the other road very broad. Form groups of three or four. Tell the students that they are to create signs to help us travel safely. They are to draw their signs on the butcher’s paper beside the road where it best fits. Before they start drawing their signs, have each group brainstorm and decide which signs they want to draw. They can draw as many signs as time will permit. However, each group should draw at least one sign to go on each road. After each sign, they are to write a sentence or slogan that tells how this sign expresses a truth about living a Christian life, or how to avoid being led down the wrong road. The signs could be such things as U-Turn to Jesus, Stop sinning, One-Way to Christ, etc.
When the allotted time is up, debrief by asking:
How did you feel about the obedience and commitment that Alexander the Great’s soldiers had for him? What impact did this have on the king’s army? They surrendered because they knew they didn’t stand a chance of winning when these soldiers were so dedicated and committed to their king.
Does Christ expect the same kind of obedience and commitment from you that Alexander ’s soldiers gave him?
What things can you do to show the same kind of obedience and commitment to Christ that Alexander’s soldiers gave him?
Who would like to describe what the “broad road” looks like for a teen- ager today? This road would have many things on it that look exciting and fun to do. They would include such things as using drugs, smoking, drinking, sex outside of marriage – maybe even with many different partners, doing anything you would like on the Sabbath, listening to rap music, using bad language, etc. How many of these things have bad consequences that go with them? All of them.
Can we live our lives like those on the broad road do and expect to be in God’s Kingdom? Why or why not? What are the consequences for traveling down the broad road? Ask one of the students, who reads well to read Deuteronomy 28:15-45 aloud. What are the bad things included in these verses that follow disobedience? They are disease, droughts, defeated by your enemies, boils, tumors, and incurable diseases, such as AIDS and cancer, unsuccessful in everything you do, (being a real looser) taken captive by your enemies and destroyed, etc. Would you like for these things to happen to you? Why or why not?
What does the Bible tell us about which of the two roads is easier or more difficult? What kind of life style is required to travel down the narrow road? An obedient, committed life style is required.
What are the rewards for walking down the narrow road and living a committed Christian life? God promises that He will be with us, bless us and give us eternal life with Him in His Kingdom. Keep in mind that being a Christian doesn’t mean blessings with no suffering.
Have one of the students read Mark12:28-31.What do you think these verses say about God’s rules? How would you compare these rules with the road signs we just made? What are some ways that you can obey the rules laid out in the Scripture this week? (Let each student give one way that they can obey the rules.)
Teacher-Directed Activity
The activity is a part of How to Teach This Lesson.
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
In your Bible notebook, compare your memory verse with the verses in Micah 6:6-8. Use your Bible and Bible tools to find similar verses. Write them in your Bible notebook. Why do you think there are so many different verses in the Bible that are the same or similar? Share your thoughts with your class or family.
Where in the World?
Consider your answer to the last question under Discussion Tips in YEA Lesson 2, Which road will you take on your journey through life? In your Bible notebook draw a timeline showing the roads you currently plan to follow through your life. For example, write today’s date and what you are doing now. This would be your road and journey; school and work might be included. As you continue your timeline, ages and specific dates are not as important as which road is included in your journey. Is God included in your journey? Share and discuss your timeline with your family.
They Did What Back Then?
Use your Bible tools and Bible to locate verses that will encourage you to seek God in your choice between the two roads: broad and narrow. Proverbs is a good place to begin. Write the verses in your Bible notebook. Decide to memorize at least one each month through the next calendar year.
Making It Mine
If you had a choice between taking a million dollars today or a penny doubled every day for a month, which would you take? Get a calculator and work out the amount you would have if you doubled the amount every day for a month, starting with the penny.
Our lives as Christians are similar to doubling the penny. To people around us, we are giving up the good life by worshiping a God we can’t even see. From their perspective, we don’t get to watch R-rated movies. We don’t get to drink alcohol and do drugs at parties that our parents don’t even allow us to attend. We miss out on all the fun stuff with our friends on the Sabbath. But the people who feel this way are the same ones who would choose the million dollars instead of the penny. They are focusing on themselves and the here and now.
We, as followers who love the Father and Jesus Christ, know that choosing the penny is a wiser choice. We know that God’s laws make our lives in the here and now work better. But more than that, they lead us to God—the One who grants eternal life through faith in His Son. Whatever “fun” we give up in this life is meaningless compared to what God has in store for those who love Him.
Read 2 Corinthians 4:17; Luke 9:23-26; 1 John 2:17. Write your reaction to these verses (and this topic) in your Bible notebook.
Worldview Collision
A biblical worldview says to set your heart on things above (Colossians 3:2), to look to God’s Kingdom (Matthew 6:19-21), to realize the reward for serving your God may not come in your lifetime (Hebrews 11:13-16, 39-40). Other worldviews urge you to satisfy yourself today. Take what you want. Eat, drink, and be merry! Do what makes you feel happy right now.
Does this mean that God doesn’t want you to be happy today? Not at all. But true happiness doesn’t come in serving yourself, giving yourself everything you want, putting yourself first (1 Timothy 6:17).
Contrast Philippians 3:19 with Philippians 3:20. What is the difference in attitude, focus, and consequence for these two views?
Song
“I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” is on page 60 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Have the students form a circle and join hands. Ask one of the students to lead in prayer asking that each student will obediently walk down the narrow road and willingly commit their lives to Christ.
Printable Pages
