THE LOVE OF GOD

Equip 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 Cub with the Welcome, Prayer, Game (if applicable), and Memory Verse.
• Speaker – Lead the Cub 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 going to be centered around “The Love of God.” What are things that we love today? Today is EQUIP Week where we want to equip and encourage you on how to better share your faith with your friends.

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! Prepare our hearts now to hear your Word. 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: 1 John 4:19 (NIV) – “We love because he first loved us.”

Supplies: The FOUR materials. (bracelets, cards, slides, etc)

Today, we are going to be talking about the first part of the Gospel Tool called The FOUR. When sharing the Gospel, you can use The FOUR to help guide your conversation and ensure that you are correctly and fully sharing the Gospel message. If this tool is new to you, feel free to ask one of the Student Leaders to help explain it in depth! Let’s go ahead and dive into learning about the Heart of God and why His love for us is so important!

The Heart: God Loves Us
God totally loves you! His love is boundless and unconditional. The love of God has shown itself through Jesus Christ. This loving God can be experienced, He is real and He wants nothing more than for you to experience His love personally and to discover the purpose of your life in your relationship with Him.

Let’s read a few verses about the love of God.

1 John 4:16(NIV) – “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”

Psalm 16:11(NIV) – “you make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Leader Tip: Break into small groups or have a large group discussion based on Club size. Give students 1-2 minutes per question based on Club time.

Discussion Questions:

1. God’s love is unconditional, what does that mean?
2. How comforting is it to know that God loves us even when we make mistakes?
3. Demonstrating God’s love can be tough, what is a different way this week, that you and your Club can express God’s love to your school campus?

To dive in, let’s read some scripture about the sacrificial love of God.

1 John 3:16(NIV) – ”This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”

Let’s take a moment to reflect on the sacrificial nature of God’s love and its significance in our lives. It’s easy for us to think of love as an emotion or a feeling, but God’s love goes beyond that. It is an active, selfless love that is willing to give up everything for the sake of others. The greatest example of this sacrificial love is found in Jesus Christ.

When Jesus came to earth, He didn’t just teach and perform miracles; He demonstrated God’s sacrificial love in the most profound way possible. He gave His life on the cross to take the punishment for our sins. Through this sacrifice, He showed how deep God’s love is and how far He was willing to go to bring us back into a relationship with Him.

As students, it’s important for us to understand the implications of God’s sacrificial love. Firstly, it reminds us of our immense value and worth in God’s eyes. Despite our flaws and mistakes, God loves us enough to sacrifice His Son for our sake. This truth should give us confidence and assurance in our identity as children of God.

Secondly, God’s sacrificial love challenges us to love others sacrificially as well. In our daily interactions with classmates, teachers, and even strangers, we have the opportunity to demonstrate God’s love through acts of kindness, forgiveness, and selflessness. It may mean sacrificing our time, resources, or personal desires for the benefit of others. By doing so, we become living testimonies of God’s love in action.

Lastly, understanding God’s sacrificial love can bring us comfort and hope during difficult times. As students, we face various challenges—academic pressures, personal struggles, and uncertainties about the future. In those moments, we can find comfort in knowing that God’s love for us is unwavering and sacrificial. He is with us, guiding and supporting us through every situation.

Let us take a moment now to reflect on the sacrificial love of God. Consider the incredible sacrifice Jesus made on the Cross for our sake. As you go about your day, remember that you are deeply loved by the Creator of the universe, and let His sacrificial love inspire and transform you.

Leader Tip: Break into small groups or have large group discussions based on club size. Give students 1-2 minutes per question based on club time.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does understanding God’s sacrificial love for us impact our daily lives as students?
2. In what ways can we reflect God’s sacrificial love in our relationships with others, both inside and outside of school?
3. How can we find strength and encouragement in knowing that God’s love for us is sacrificial, especially during challenging times in our academic journey?

Have Student Leaders pass out Prayer Cards.

Let’s end our time today by praying for our friends and loved ones who might not yet know Christ. Think of a few peers, write their names down, and keep them in your prayers this week.

Give them time to fill out Prayer Cards.

Allow 2-3 minutes for students to share prayer requests and pray for one another.

Closing prayer suggestion: Lord Jesus, thank you for this time of fellowship and learning.

Let’s pause for a moment of silence to pray for those we know who don’t yet have a relationship with you. (Pause for silent prayer.)

We pray for those in our lives who have not yet experienced the joy of knowing you. Please draw them closer to you and give us the courage to share your Gospel with them. In Jesus name, Amen.

PREPARE Week is next week! If you’ve been working on your Faith Story and feel ready to share, talk to a Club Leader about being one of two people to speak. Your story can be a short 2-3 minute micro story or a longer testimony—either way, we’ll help you every step of the way.

Announcement suggestions:

• This is the place for the Club to make any announcements for the upcoming week and or month. 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).

Leader Notes:

• Remember to file the report on this week’s Club numbers!
• Prepare for PREPARE Week by reviewing the planning guide at the beginning of this month.

Leader Tip: Use the First Priority Club app to keep leader roles organized so you can reference this list on the go!