SIN

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 “SIN”. Today is PREPARE Week where we will be preparing to share our stories and the Gospel of Jesus with others. Before diving into our stories, we want to see how we can restore our connection with 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): Choose a game, video, or icebreaker. Select one that fits your group’s needs best! Click here to see the list of games available.

MEMORY VERSE: Proverbs 14:12 (NIV) – “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death.”

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. Testimonies can be life-changing (both for the speaker and listener) and that is why we are here.

Let’s spend some time preparing to do our part to reach our campus for Christ.

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

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

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.

Start with what life was like without Christ—your struggles or things that felt 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 kick things off by exploring the first part: What life was like without Jesus?

At the top of the page, you’ll see a list of suggested words that can serve as your ‘keyword’ to describe your life before you met Jesus. you might find one that perfectly fits, or you might not see one that describes you at all. If not, don’t worry! you can pick a different word. Remember, it doesn’t have to be super dramatic or negative. It could even be a simple phrase like ‘churchgoer’ or ‘good person’. The idea is to find a word or phrase that accurately describes you before you met Jesus.

Now, let’s move on to Section 2 on the worksheet, where you’ll be asked to ‘set up the background’. This is where you can start explaining how the word or phrase you chose relates to you. For instance, if you picked the word ‘rejected’, describe how you felt rejected, who rejected you, and what you tried to do to feel accepted.

Remember, your Story is powerful. Take some time to pray, choose a keyword, and then write down how it once described 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.

Let’s read a verse from the book of Romans.

Romans 5:8 (NIV) – “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Students, today we reflect on the profound impact sin has on our relationship with God. It is crucial to understand that our actions can create a separation between us and our Creator. However, the good news is that God has provided a way for us to be reconciled with Him through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ. Let us explore this truth through illustration and Scripture.

Illustration:
Imagine a majestic eagle soaring high in the sky, representing our connection with God. Its wings represent our obedience, love, and trust in Him. However, sin acts as a weight that ties strings to the eagle’s wings. The more we sin, the heavier the strings become, weighing us down and limiting our ability to fly freely in His presence. We find ourselves grounded, unable to experience the fullness of God’s love and guidance.

Romans 3:23 (NIV) – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

This verse reminds us that every one of us has fallen short of God’s perfect standard due to our sinful nature. Our transgressions create a chasm between us and the One who loves us unconditionally. However, God, in His infinite mercy, provided a way for us to bridge that gap and restore our connection with Him.

Romans 5:8 (NIV) – “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

In this passage, we see the incredible love of God manifested in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Despite our sinful state, He willingly gave His life to pay the price for our sins. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, the heavy strings that bound us to sin are severed, allowing us to once again soar in God’s presence.

As students seeking to grow in our faith, it is essential to recognize the impact of sin on our relationship with God. We must also embrace the hope found in Christ’s sacrifice, which restores our connection with the Father. By reflecting on the illustration of the eagle and pondering the Scriptures, we are reminded of God’s boundless love and the freedom He offers through redemption.

Remember, God eagerly awaits our return, ready to mend what is broken and grant us forgiveness. Let us respond to His love by turning away from sin, seeking His presence, and embracing the abundant life He has prepared for us. May our hearts be filled with gratitude as we journey towards a deeper connection with our Heavenly Father.

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. Reflect on a time when you felt the weight of sin separating you from God. How did it impact your relationship with Him?
2. As we prepare to share our story about how God has forgiven our sins through Jesus Christ, do you think people at our school realize that their sin is separating them from God?
3. How have you been actively pursuing a deeper relationship with God and how do you think that affects the students here on this campus?

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: Father, thank you for the opportunity to gather together and grow in our understanding of you. Give us boldness this week to share your love with those around us. We pray for those who don’t know you yet, that they would experience the hope and joy only you can provide. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Homework: Keep writing your Faith Story using the Faith Story Sheet. This sheet is meant to be a tool to get you started. We encourage you to practice telling your story to a friend or maybe a Student Leader.

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: Looking ahead to next month’s PREPARE Week , there will be an option for two students to share their testimonies. As students work on their stories with the Faith Story sheet, identify those who may want to participate and coach them outside of the Club.