Christ the Ruler

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the truth and the way to heaven with God the Father.

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


John 8:31-32 Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free.”


John 7:16-17 Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”


John 3:5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.

• "Six inch"” ruler provided with this activity. (click here to print out)
• Cardboard
• Glue or tape, scissors
• 1 or more real rulers
• Pen or pencil, paper


Option: You can purchase real 6 inch ruler for each participant. Write “Jesus” on the back and let each person keep one when they complete the activity.

Words that are written in bold are when you, the parent, are speaking. Feel free to use your own words.

In Advance: Glue or tape cardboard to the back of the 6” ruler templates provided with this activity. Cut out a ruler for each participant.

A.  ACTIVITY: (Give each participant a piece of paper, a pencil and the ruler provided with this activity.) I am going to give you directions to draw an image on your piece of paper. Be careful to follow the directions exactly.

1. Draw a triangle with three sides. Make each side is six inches long.

2. Draw a square with 2 inch sides inside the triangle.

3. Draw a cross inside the square using a 2 inch vertical line and 1 inch horizontal line.

Double check your work and make sure you followed the directions correctly.

Does your triangle have three sides each six inches long? Is there a 2 inch square inside the triangle? Is there a 2 inch vertical and 1 inch horizontal cross inside the square?

B. I know you all did your best and you think you drew the image correctly but your drawing is wrong. If you followed the directions correctly, how could you be wrong? Listen to answers.

Pull out the correct ruler and measure their images. Then compare the correct ruler with their rulers. Your image is wrong because the ruler you used had the wrong measurements.

C. There are many different religions in the world. Can you name some of the different religions? Christianity. Islam. Buddhism. Hinduism. Taoism. All these religions claim to be the truth. Listen to what Jesus says in the Bible. Ask someone to read John 14:6. Jesus says He is the only way to heaven but other religions do not believe Jesus is the only way to heaven. Can both Christianity and these other religions be true? If Christianity is true then the others are wrong. If Islam or the others are true, then Christianity is wrong.

How can you really know Jesus is the Son of God and Christianity is true? Invite someone to read John 8:31-32. Jesus says if we follow his teachings (serving, honesty, giving, caring) then we will know what is true.

The word “lemon” is used to describe a car that breaks down all the time and does not run well. If you go to a car dealer to buy a car they will not say, “That used car you want is a lemon.” Instead, they will tell you all kinds of good things about the car: it runs great; has never had any problems; etc. But, if you buy the car, within a few weeks you’ll have mechanical problems and you’ll know it is a “lemon.” Did the car dealer tell you the truth about the car? No. How do you know? You’ve experienced the car having mechanical problems.

Jesus is saying that if we live like a Christian and follow his teachings then we will know if what he says is true. We will know if living like Jesus brings peace, assurance and blessing.

Ask someone to read John 7:16-17. Do what God teaches us to do in the Bible. Then Jesus says we will know in our hearts if he is the Son of God or a false god.

Just like we drew the wrong images because we used the wrong ruler, other religions make wrong claims because they are based on false gods, not the one true God.

Christ tells us what to do,
He confirms what is true.