Invite Week
Reminder: Club time is designed to last 25-30 min. If your Club has less time, adapt the EPIC Guide to best fit what your Club specifically needs. Use the Holy Spirit’s guidance to discern what is best to cover during the time you have.
Resources Needed: Response Cards
Verses to have ready: Ephesians 2:8-9.
Tip: Remind your speaker for the week to leave 5 minutes at the end of Club for Response Time. This is a special moment for students to respond to the Gospel message they heard during Club.
(Remember to follow up with any students, especially those who accepted Christ for the first time!)
It is always helpful to have an experienced Student Leader or Campus Coach talk through and look over a Speaker’s Story before sharing. This helps make sure the Speaker is prepared and confident – and sharing the right things. What are the right things? 1. Bringing glory to Jesus rather than emphasizing sin. 2. Emphasizing the grace we have in Jesus rather than following religion and rules.
Key Takeaway: The Gospel teaches us that salvation isn’t about what we can do to earn God’s favor (“Do”), but about what Jesus has already done for us on the cross (“Done”). By accepting His finished work, we can experience true freedom, peace, and purpose, resting in God’s grace rather than striving to prove ourselves.
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 welcome any new students and connect them 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.
HOST | STARTUP – 2 MINUTES
Welcome: Welcome to First Priority! We are so glad that you have chosen to join us today! Our focus this month has been centered around “Our response to what God has done for us.” Today is INVITE Week!
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! We pray for our speaker today ______ as they share their story. We pray that our hearts would be open to hearing how much you love each one of us. In Jesus name, Amen.
Game – Optional (if time allows): Optional (if you have time): Feel free to select a game that fits your needs best! Click here to see the list of games available.
MEMORY VERSE: Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”
STUDENT SHARES THEIR STORY | 5-10 MINUTES
SPEAKER | GOSPEL PRESENTATION – 5 MINUTES
Do Vs. Done:
I want to share with you a powerful message about the difference between “Do” and “Done” when it comes to the Gospel. We live in a world that constantly tells us we have to do certain things to be accepted or to achieve success. But what if I told you there’s a different way, a way that brings true freedom? Let’s explore the “Do vs Done” concept and discover how it relates to our lives.
The Problem of “Do”:
In our society, we’re often pressured to perform, to do things in order to be accepted or find meaning. We strive to achieve good grades, succeed in sports, or meet certain expectations set by others. However, this constant striving can be exhausting and can leave us feeling empty, like we’re never enough. It’s like we’re stuck on a hamster wheel, always trying to do more.
Romans 3:23 (NIV) – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
The Good News of “Done”:
Thankfully, there’s good news! The Gospel offers us a completely different perspective—a perspective of grace and freedom. It’s not about what we do, but what has already been done for us. You see, God loves us so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to live a perfect life and then die on the Cross for our sins. Jesus accomplished something extraordinary, something we could never do on our own. He said, “It is finished”. He completed the work of salvation.
John 19:30 (NIV) – “When he had received the drink, Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
Embracing Jesus’ Finished Work:
The question is, how do we respond to what Jesus has done? We need to understand that we can’t earn salvation through our own efforts. No matter how hard we try, we will always fall short.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”
The amazing truth is that Jesus offers us salvation as a free gift. All we need to do is accept it. We don’t have to strive to earn God’s love because Jesus has already done everything necessary to bridge the gap between us and God.
Resting in God’s Grace:
When we grasp this truth and put our faith in Jesus, we can experience true freedom and rest in God’s grace. We don’t have to constantly try to prove ourselves or meet the world’s expectations. Instead, we can find peace, knowing that our worth and acceptance come from what Jesus has done, not from our own performance.
(intro to response time)
Living in Response:
Although our salvation is not based on our works, it does have an impact on how we live. When we truly understand and embrace what Jesus has done for us, it transforms our hearts and leads us to live lives of gratitude and love. We’re motivated not by a need to earn God’s favor, but by a desire to honor Him and share His love with others.
So, remember that life is not about what you can do to earn acceptance or love. It’s about what Jesus has already done for you. Embrace His finished work on the cross, and you’ll find freedom, peace, and a purpose that goes beyond anything you could ever achieve on your own. Let go of the burden of “Do” and embrace the grace of “Done.” Jesus invites you to experience a life of true freedom in Him. If you want to accept His invitation, I urge you to pray this prayer with me.
Prayer:
Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and I need your forgiveness. I believe you paid the price for my sins on the Cross and rose to give me Eternal Life. I ask you to come into my heart, forgive me, and transform me. I give my life to you and trust you to guide me. Thank you for your grace and mercy. In your name, I pray. Amen.
RESPONSE TIME | 5 MINUTES
Before we leave today, our Student Leaders are going to pass out Response Cards for you to fill out. If you related to or felt moved today, please take a moment to fill out a Response Card. As you will see on the cards there are 5 boxes asking about your response to today’s Club.
The first box ‘Today I trusted in Jesus for the first time.’ This is if you made the decision to follow Christ and put Him first in your life for the first time.
The second box ‘Today I reaffirmed my faith in Jesus.’ This is if maybe you made the decision to follow Christ in the past, but have fallen short and got caught up in sin for a while and you want to recommit your life to Christ.
The third box ‘I would like more information about the Gospel.’ This is to let us know that you would like to dive deeper into the Gospel of Christ and the calling that the Lord has for your life. We would love to connect with each of you on this level.
The fourth box ‘I have already trusted in Jesus before today.” This is maybe for those of you who are already walking with Christ and have made the decision to follow Him wholeheartedly. If this is you, we still want to connect with you and walk alongside you. We hope that you continue to come to Club and join this Faith Community as we connect with each other through the Gospel.
The last box is for anyone who is not interested in what you heard today in Club. If this is you, we want to encourage you and let you know that no matter your beliefs or place in life, you are still welcome and wanted here. We love having each and every one of you. There is space here for everyone no matter where you are on your walk with Christ, even if you may not be walking with Christ yet.
As you finish filling out your card, we want to thank each of you for joining us today and we cannot wait to connect with you and see you next week! Let’s take a moment to pray together and then we will discuss any announcements…
Let’s close in prayer.
Closing Prayer suggestion: Heavenly Father, we give you praise for bringing us together and for the work you have done in our lives. If any heart was stirred today, let them not hesitate to seek you. And Lord, we ask that you bring those who need to hear of your love and grace to join us next time, that they too may be transformed. Amen.
HOST | ANNOUNCEMENTS – 1 MINUTE
(This is the place for the Club to make any announcements for the upcoming week and or month)
If today was your first time with us and you’re wondering what First Priority is all about, don’t miss Connect Week next week. It’s a great way to explore what God has for you, get connected, and experience community.
Leader Notes: Remember to file the report on this week’s Club numbers!
This is a great spot to add Student Leaders to your team and give responsibilities to them. It is also the place to check on the upcoming school schedule for days off or breaks (your Faculty Sponsor is a great resource for this).
FOLLOW UP: Collect all Response Cards and sort them before leaving the room after Club. Follow-up is key and can be urgent for a new believer. If there is no time for the team to sort them, have a Student Leader take them and sort them within the next few hours (Do not do this during class time when you should be working or paying attention!). Send the name of each person who made a decision to the person who brought them or another friend so they can follow up appropriately. Make a plan to review and pray over them with your Campus Coach and Adult Leaders. Plan to connect soon with any students who had questions or made a decision – you want them to know that they are important to you.
See the Follow-Up Guide on www.firstpriority.club/resources for more details.
Prepare for CONNECT Week: Who will be responsible for the areas listed in the First Priority Club app (or the planning guide at the beginning of this month?
