THE PAYMENT FOR OUR SIN

Invite 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 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.

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 “The Payment for our Sin.” 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: 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!”

Today, I want to share with you the incredible invitation that Jesus extends to each and every one of us. Just as Jesus invited ordinary people to follow Him during His earthly ministry, He is still extending that invitation to us today. Let’s explore this invitation and discover the life-changing journey that awaits us.

Matthew 4:18-22(NIV) – “18 One day as Jesus was walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers—Simon, also called Peter, and Andrew—throwing a net into the water, for they fished for a living. 19 Jesus called out to them, “Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 20 And they left their nets at once and followed him. 21 A little farther up the shore he saw two other brothers, James and John, sitting in a boat with their father, Zebedee, repairing their nets. And he called them to come, too. 22 They immediately followed him, leaving the boat and their father behind.”

Illustration:
Imagine a sunny day by the Sea of Galilee, where four ordinary fishermen are going about their daily tasks. They are Simon, Andrew, James, and John. They have been fishing for years, mending nets, and casting them into the water, hoping for a good catch. Little did they know that their lives were about to change forever.

One day, as they were busy with their work, a man appeared on the shoreline. It was Jesus, the Son of God. He looked into the eyes of Simon and Andrew and said, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Without hesitation, they dropped their nets and left everything behind to follow Him.

Jesus didn’t stop there. He walked a little farther and found James and John with their father, Zebedee. Jesus called out to them, and just like Simon and Andrew, they left their boat, their nets, and even their father to follow Him.

Rejection:
What an extraordinary moment that must have been! These four fishermen received an invitation that would change the trajectory of their lives forever. They encountered Jesus, and in an instant, they left behind their familiar routines, their comfort zones, and everything they knew to embark on a life-altering adventure with Him.

Jesus’ invitation was not just about leaving their physical possessions; it was an invitation to leave behind their old way of life and embrace a new purpose. Jesus called them to be fishers of men, to share the Good News of God’s love, forgiveness, and salvation with others.

Application:
Just as Jesus called Simon, Andrew, James, and John, He calls each one of us today. He invites us to follow Him, to leave behind the things that hinder us, and to embrace a life of purpose and meaning. Jesus wants to transform us and use us to make a difference in this world.

Will you respond to His invitation today? Will you choose to follow Jesus, surrender your life to Him, and allow Him to guide your steps? It may require stepping out of your comfort zone and leaving behind certain habits or influences, but the journey with Jesus is infinitely worthwhile.

Matthew 16:24 (NIV) “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

Conclusion:
The invitation to follow Jesus is extended to you today. Don’t let this moment pass you by. Jesus is calling you to a life of purpose, joy, and eternal significance. Will you respond? Take that step of faith, leave behind your old way of life, and embark on an extraordinary journey with Jesus. He is waiting for you.

If you are ready to make a commitment to follow Jesus, pray this prayer with me.

Prayer:
Jesus, I come before you acknowledging my sins and my need for your forgiveness. I believe in your sacrifice on the Cross and your Resurrection. I choose to surrender my life to you today. Come into my heart, cleanse me, and make me new. Lead me on your path, and thank you for your love. In your name, I pray. Amen.

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 are in awe of your Grace and the ways you have moved in our lives. If anyone here felt their heart stir with longing for you, help them to take the next step toward you. And for those who missed this time but need to hear your truth, bring them to us in the future so they, too, may be blessed. In Jesus’ name, Amen

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

If today was your first time, we hope you felt welcomed! Join us next week for Connect Week to experience what First Priority is all about, build community, and discover more of what God has for you.

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 them responsibilities. 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. 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. 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?