THE PAYMENT FOR OUR SIN

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 Payment for our Sin.”

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): Feel free to select a game that fits your needs best!  Click here to see the list of games available.

MEMORY VERSE: Philippians 2:8(NIV) – “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!”

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

Today, we are going to be talking about the third part of a Gospel Tool called The FOUR. The FOUR is made up of four symbols that represent each part of the Gospel story and give us a tangible way to explain and share the Gospel with others. 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. Let’s talk through the third icon, the Cross, and discuss what it means to us and why it is important to share with others.

The Cross: Jesus gave everything for me
Our sins and our selfish actions do not stop God from loving us. He even became a human being in Jesus Christ and gave His life for us. He took our place on the cross, bearing all the consequences of sin Himself. Jesus died – but He rose to life again. He offers us peace with God and a personal relationship with Him. Through faith in Jesus, we can experience God’s love daily, discover our purpose, and have eternal life after death.

John 3:16(NIV) – “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

1 Peter 3:18(NIV) – “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.”

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. What does the Cross represent?
2. What is the importance of the Cross?
3. How would you share the message of the Cross with someone who may have never heard it before?

Let’s dig into God’s Word and read a verse from 2nd Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 5:21(NIV) – “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

Today, I want to remind you of the immense love and sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. In order to reconcile us with God, He willingly took upon Himself the weight of our sins and became sin for us. This act of selflessness and mercy demonstrates the depths of His love and the lengths He was willing to go to redeem us.

To fully grasp the significance of Christ becoming sin for us, let me share an illustration with you. Imagine a pristine white garment or cloth, representing the sinless nature of Jesus. Now, imagine taking a brush dipped in black ink and painting it all over that garment. The once pure and spotless garment is now stained and tainted with the ugliness of sin. This is the visual representation of what Christ did for us on the Cross.

In His perfection, Jesus willingly embraced the consequences of our sins. He took upon Himself the guilt, shame, and punishment that we deserved. As He hung on the Cross, bearing the weight of our transgressions and sins, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). In that moment, He experienced separation from the Father, a separation that our sins had caused.

But here’s the incredible truth: Jesus endured all of this so that we might be reconciled to God. He took our sins upon Himself so that we could receive His righteousness and be restored to a right relationship with our Heavenly Father. Through faith in Him, we can stand before God as blameless and righteous, clothed in the righteousness of Christ.

So what does this mean for us as students?

Reflection: Take a moment to reflect on the magnitude of Christ’s sacrifice for you. Consider the weight of your sins and the lengths to which Jesus went to free you from their bondage. How does this impact your understanding of His love for you?

Gratitude: Express gratitude to God for the incredible gift of salvation through Jesus. Thank Him for bearing your sins and making a way for you to be reconciled with Him. How can you show your gratitude practically in your daily life?

Transformation: The knowledge of what Christ has done for us should lead to a transformed life. As a student, how can you live out your faith in light of Christ’s sacrifice? How can you honor Him with your actions, attitudes, and relationships?

Remember, that Christ became sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God. May this truth fuel your faith, deepen your love for Him, and inspire you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

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 that Christ became sin for us impact your view of His love and sacrifice?
2. In what practical ways can you express gratitude to God for the gift of salvation through Jesus?
3. How can you live out your faith and honor Christ’s sacrifice in your daily life as a student?

Leader Tip: Have Student Leaders pass out Prayer Cards.

Before we leave, let’s focus on our friends or peers who may not know the love of Christ. Take a moment to write down their names so you can remember to pray for them during your quiet time 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, we thank you for this time of connection and the opportunity to grow in our Faith.

Take a moment to quietly bring to God the names of friends or family who don’t know Him. (Pause for silent prayer.)

We pray for our friends who don’t yet know you as their Savior. Help us to be faithful in praying for them and to share your love in both word and action. In Jesus name, Amen.

As PREPARE Week approaches, we want to invite you to share your Faith Story! If you’ve been working on yours, connect with a Club leader about being one of two people to speak next week. Whether it’s a short 2-3 minute story or a full 7-minute testimony, we’ll help you prepare and succeed.

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!