The Way – DNOW / Retreat Study

WHAT WE WANT STUDENTS TO LEARN: Jesus is not one of many ways to God. He is the only Way.

SCRIPTURE: John 14:1-7, 11:25-27, Acts 9:2, 24:14, 1 Peter 2:9-10

SESSION SNAPSHOT: We live in a culture of seemingly endless options—what to eat, wear, stream, or believe. We are encouraged to “Do whatever makes you happy” or “Believe whatever works for you.” But instead of these mantras bringing a sense of clarity or satisfaction, these messages often leave us more confused. With so many voices and choices, students are left searching for identity, faith, and purpose, but they are still coming up empty. The reality is that absolute truth is not elusive—it’s knowable! Absolute truth isn’t a concept. It’s a person. In this first session, students will discover that Jesus doesn’t offer yet another option among the many—He is the only way to know God, the only way to eternal life, and the only way to discover true peace in a world full of noise.

WHAT WE WANT STUDENTS TO LEARN: They must choose which way they want to go: the wide, comfortable way that leads to destruction or the narrow, challenging way that leads to life.

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 7:13-14, Acts 19:23, Psalm 16:11, Luke 13:24

SESSION SNAPSHOT: Every road leads somewhere, and choosing one direction always means leaving another behind. When it comes to our relationship with Jesus, the same is true. The path that leads to Him is narrow, often difficult, and rarely popular—but it leads to life. The path that leads to the world is wide, easy to follow, and full of empty promises. In this session, students will be confronted with the reality that they are walking in one of two directions. They will be challenged to decide: continue down the wide path that leads to destruction or turn and follow the narrow path that leads to life in Jesus.

WHAT WE WANT STUDENTS TO LEARN: To recognize things in their lives that can block the ability to walk in The Way.

SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 12:1-2, Proverbs 4:25-27, Galatians 5:7-8

SESSION SNAPSHOT: Obstacles don’t just get in our way and cause an inconvenience; they can completely block progress in any journey. These blockages are real and dangerous, whether it’s sin that clings too tightly, distractions that pull our focus, or lies that alter our perspective. It may be challenging, but we need to identify what’s blocking our path along The Way and turn our eyes back to Jesus. This session will help students recognize that we all need rescue, renewal, and Jesus to walk in The Way.

WHAT WE WANT STUDENTS TO LEARN: To be in a relationship with God means to imitate Christ by walking in His Light.

SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 5:1-21, John 14:15-17, Galatians 5:16-17, Hebrews 10:24-25

SESSION SNAPSHOT: Have you ever noticed how people walk through life? Whether it’s someone striding with confidence or moving with their head down in discouragement, how we walk often reveals something about who we are. The same is true for our walk with Jesus. In this session, students will explore that walking in love, light, and wisdom is what walking in The Way of Jesus looks like. They’ll be reminded that this journey is not meant to be walked alone because God has given us His Spirit to guide us and His people to walk beside us. This final session calls students to a daily, intentional walk that reflects Who they belong to with the help of the Spirit and other believers.