GOD’S WORK ON THE CROSS

Prepare Week

Student Leader Roles:

• Promo – Promote the Club through social media, announcements, and any other outlets the school allows.
• Welcome – Stand at the door and welcome students to the Club as they arrive. Be sure to connect any new students to the Club and leadership so they feel like they have a place.
• Host – Start the Club with the Welcome, Prayer, Game (if applicable), and Memory Verse.
• Speaker – Lead the Club through Tool Time, and Dig In, using the EPIC Guide, and any supporting materials.
• Follow-up – Follow up with new (or newer) students, and students who accepted Christ for the first time or want to know more. This role requires follow-up every week, not just after INVITE Weeks.

Welcome: Welcome to First Priority! We are so glad that you have chosen to join us today! Our focus this month is “God’s work on the Cross” Today is PREPARE Week where we will be preparing to share our stories and the Gospel of Jesus with others. To get started, we want to see what God has to say about how sin acts like a barrier between us and God.

Let’s start today’s Club with prayer.

Opening Prayer: God, thank you for another great week that we get to be here at First Priority! I am thankful for those who are here today and thankful for your love for each of us! Thank you for the privilege of prayer. I pray that we would be found faithful to pray for our friends to know you. Give us the strength to speak out. In Jesus name, Amen.

Game – Optional (if time allows): Feel free to select a game that fits your needs best! Click here to see the list of games available.

MEMORY VERSE: Ephesians 1:7 (NIV) – “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.”

Student Testimony – Optional (if you have 1-2 students who are prepared): Consider the Student Leadership team going first to set the tone for the rest of the Club.

Let’s take a moment to talk about how you can share your Faith Story. It can be very simple! Using the My Faith Story Sheet, it guides you to focus on three parts: your life before Christ, how you encountered Jesus, and your life since knowing Him.

Learning to share your Story: Use the My Faith Story Sheet.

Leader Tip: Have Student Leaders hand out the My Faith Story Sheet .

Start with what life was like without Christ—your struggles or things that you felt were missing. Then, talk about the moment Jesus became real to you—through an event, a person, or a realization. Finally, share how He’s transformed your life—how faith gives you hope and direction now.

Today, let’s dive into the third part of our story: how Jesus has transformed your life.

This is the most exciting part! It’s the part that everyone needs to hear because they need to hear how God can change their story too!

Start by sharing how God changed your life and changed your ‘keyword’. For instance, if your keyword is shame, explain how God has turned your shame into something better.

In Section 4 of the worksheet, you’ll find some suggestions for words to describe you now. Maybe it’s a word that’s the opposite of your keyword, like ‘forgiven’ instead of ‘ashamed’.

In addition, share what God is doing in your life right now. God doesn’t stop changing us soon after we follow Him. He keeps changing us, challenging us, and growing us until the day we die. Sharing what you’re learning from studying the Bible, what God did through you recently, or even what God is calling you to do in the future are great ways to show others that God is faithful and will be with them forever.

Remember, your story is powerful. Take some time to pray and write down the story of how God has changed you and is still changing you. Then, share it with someone here—it might be exactly what they need to hear!

Leader Tip: Give students time to work on and discuss their stories and have Student Leaders help those who may be new to this. Encourage students to practice sharing their stories with a friend in the Club. If time is limited, make sure students finish writing out their stories at home.

1 Peter 2:24 (NIV): “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

Have you ever made a mistake and felt like you let someone down? Maybe you forgot to do something important or said something you shouldn’t have. It doesn’t feel great, right?

The truth is, we all mess up, and sometimes our mistakes can make us feel far from God. But here’s the good news: God loves us so much that He made a way for us to be close to Him again through Jesus and the Cross!

When Jesus died on the Cross, He took the punishment for all the wrong things we’ve done. His love for us is so big that He was willing to give up everything so we could be forgiven. Because of the Cross, we can have a fresh start and be reunited with God.

But maybe you are thinking “Why do we need the Cross?” Sometimes, we might try to be “good enough” on our own. We think if we do enough good things, God will love us more. But the truth is, we will never be perfect—only Jesus is! That’s why He died for us. We don’t have to try to earn His love; we just need to accept the amazing gift of forgiveness He gives us.

Ephesians 2:8 (NIV): “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

Getting closer to God doesn’t mean being perfect—it means spending time with Him and remembering what Jesus did for us. Here are some ways to grow in your relationship with God:

• Talk to God: Prayer isn’t fancy words; it’s just having a conversation with God about anything and everything.
• Read the Bible: God speaks to us through His Word, helping us know Him better.
• Be Around Other Believers: Church, youth group, or Bible study can help you stay encouraged and focused on God.
• Live for Him: Show His love to others by being kind, forgiving, and choosing to do what’s right.

The Cross is the greatest example of love. Jesus gave His life so we could be reunited with God. Because of Him, we can live with joy, knowing we are forgiven and loved. This week, let’s remember the power of the Cross and choose to walk closely with Jesus.

Leader Tip: Break into small groups or talk as a big group. Give 1-2 minutes per question, depending on your time.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think Jesus was willing to die for us?
2. How does knowing that Jesus loves and forgives you change the way you live?
3. How can you show God’s love to others this week?

Invite Cards: Have Student Leaders pass out Invite Cards to students.

Before we leave Club, we’re going to take a moment to fill out the Invite Cards we provided. Make sure to write down all the details clearly so they’re ready to hand out. Once you’re done, use them to invite your friends and classmates to join us next time!

Give students a moment to fill out Invite Cards and ask any questions.

Take 2-3 minutes to allow students to share different prayer requests and pray for the needs of the students.

Spend a few minutes praying for next week. Pray specifically for students’ lives to be forever changed by the Good News of Jesus Christ!

Let’s close in prayer.

Closing prayer suggestion: God, thank you for bringing us together today to encourage one another. As we go about our week, remind us of the mission you’ve given us to be a light in the darkness. We pray for those who don’t know you, that you would reveal your love to them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Homework: Keep writing your Faith Story using the Faith Story Sheet. We have been using this sheet all year, and for some of you, you may be thinking, “What else can I add to my story? I’ve already got it all written out.” But we know that God is constantly moving in our lives, whether we can see it or not. Take a look at your week; maybe you can pinpoint ways the Cross has changed your life this week and write that down. Or share with a friend. You never know who might need to hear it!

Announcement suggestions:

• Share upcoming club events or special activities.
• Remind everyone about upcoming school breaks or schedule changes.

Leader Notes:

• Remember to file the report on this week’s Club numbers!
• Prepare for INVITE Week! Review the leader roles and keep everyone on the same page. Use the as an opportunity to recruit new leaders!

Club Coach Tip: Next month, up to two students will have the option to share their Faith Stories as part of PREPARE Week . Be on the lookout for students who may be interested, and coach them outside of the Club to ensure they feel ready to share.