THE PAYMENT FOR OUR 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 “The Payment for our sin.” Today is PREPARE Week where we will be preparing to share our stories and the Gospel of Jesus with others. Today, we want to see how God wants to reunite with each of us.

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): 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!”

Student Testimony – Optional: If no student is prepared, do not worry! Keep walking through this each month. 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 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 dive into the second part of your story: the moment Jesus became real to you.

This part of your journey covers the time from when you first heard about Jesus to when you decided to give your life to Him and follow Him. It could be the time someone shared Jesus with you, the thoughts you had as you realized He was the answer to your sin, and the details of when you gave your life to Him.

Remember, this part of your story doesn’t need to be some grand, dramatic moment. Many people give their lives to Jesus in simple, everyday situations. It could be in the quiet of your bedroom, with a friend in a coffee shop, at a VBS, or during a church service. What was happening around you isn’t as important as what was happening inside you. you received a new heart and were given a new life! That’s the exciting part!

Remember, your story is powerful. Take some time to pray and write down the story of how you came to know Jesus. 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.

Psalm 42:1-2 (NIV) – “1 As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?”

In our journey through life, we often find ourselves in a state of separation from the Holy Presence of God. Sin, distractions, and the busyness of life can create a chasm between us and the One who created us. Yet, deep within our hearts, there is a yearning, a longing for a reunion with our Holy God. This longing is beautifully expressed in Psalm 42:1-2, where the psalmist compares his desire for God to a deer panting for streams of water.

Imagine a deer wandering through a dry and barren land, desperately seeking water to quench its thirst. The deer’s panting and longing for water become its sole focus, propelling it forward with an unwavering determination. Likewise, our souls are designed to long for God, for His presence and fellowship. Just as the deer’s thirst can only be satisfied by finding a refreshing stream, our souls can only find true satisfaction and fulfillment in the presence of our Holy God.

Our separation from God is not His desire; it is the result of our disobedience and sin. But the Good News is that God loves us deeply and desires to reconcile with us. Through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ, God made a way for us to be reunited with Him. Through faith in Jesus, we can be forgiven, cleansed, and reconciled to our Heavenly Father.

Imagine a lost child who has strayed far from home. After experiencing the emptiness and brokenness that come with separation from their family, they decide to return. As they journey back, filled with hope and longing, their heart pounds with anticipation of the warm embrace and forgiveness that awaits them. Similarly, when we repent and turn to God, confessing our sins, He lovingly embraces us and welcomes us back into His presence. So, let us reflect on our own lives. Are there areas where we have allowed sin and distractions to separate us from God? Have we neglected our time of communion with Him, choosing worldly pursuits over a deep relationship 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. What are some distractions or sins that have been keeping you separated from God?
2. How can you prioritize and nurture your relationship with God amidst the demands of student life?
3. In what practical ways can you express your longing for God and pursue a deeper connection with Him?

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: God, we are so thankful for the gift of meeting together in your name. Help us to walk in your love and truth this week, sharing your goodness with others. We lift up those who don’t yet know you and ask that you open their hearts to your grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Homework: If you struggled to write your story today, I encourage you to take it home and continue to work on it throughout the week. Spend some time in prayer asking God to reveal himself to you and show you how you can be a light to others.

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: Next month’s PREPARE Week will include an option for up to two students to share their Faith Stories. Encourage students to develop their testimonies using the Faith Story sheet, and provide coaching outside of the Club for those interested in sharing.