(18 Minutes)
Ask: So the big question is SO WHAT? What does it mean that God has given us glimpses of his Kingdom in our lives on earth? How can these seeds of heaven help us share God’s love with our friends and strangers? (Let students think about this for just a moment.)

Say: God’s Kingdom is radically different from the world’s kingdom. These seeds on earth can be seen in many different ways. It can look a lot like a family welcoming foster children into their home or when we offer forgiveness to someone who has wronged us. They’re also seen every time you observe someone acting with strength and courage toward injustice, pain, or a challenging situation, and you wonder how they could get through that situation.

Say: When you encourage someone in pain or step in to transform a situation full of anger or despair, you are planting seeds of heaven. When you share Jesus’ words, you water the seeds of heaven with truth and hope. When you live a resurrected life in the middle of the darkness of this world, you shine the light of Jesus on those around you. Listen to how Paul, a follower of Jesus, described it.

Read Scripture: We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people-the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world-just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God’s grace. (Colossians 1:3-6)

Say: If you have ever planted a seed, you know that there is a time where you don’t see anything.

It is only after a period of time that the fruit of the seed is obvious. Do not be confused or lose hope; every single thing you do for the Lord will produce fruit. It is our job to plant the seeds, but, even then, we may not see the results that come from the growth. You may pray for a friend about something happening in their life, but you may not be the one who sees the answer to their prayer. God will use what you are doing now, with your energy, your words, your actions, and your time, to produce a harvest beyond your wildest dreams.

Ask: What are some examples of times when you have wanted to give up when your answers or results were delayed? What keeps you hopeful? (Take a few moments for students to share.)

Say: Just as a farmer trusts that the seed will grow to unimagined heights, you can trust that every seed you plant will bear eternal fruit. As we have discussed, these seeds can be shown in many ways through our words, actions and the choices we make. As we are beginning to start the wrap up of the school year, we want to make sure that we are never backing down from a chance to plant seeds.

Before we end today, let’s talk about a tool that we have used often this school year that helps us plant the seed of truth in our friends and those around us. The Four is a tool you all may be familiar with, but if this is your first time, lets walk through it together.

When we refer to The Four, we are talking about four symbols that represent the Gospel story, the hope and promise of Jesus Christ and our eternal life with God through Him.

The first symbol (the heart) emphasizes God’s love and plan for our lives. We learned about God’s plan for us and His creation.

The second symbol (the division sign) emphasizes the sin that separates us from God and His perfect plan.

The third symbol (the cross) represents what saves us from this sin. God sent his son Jesus to die on a cross so that we can accept Him in our hearts and join in full communion with God again.

The last symbol (the question mark) emphasizes the importance of accepting this gift of salvation. These four symbols are a template for us to use when planting the seed in our friends, peers and those we encounter. It is so easy to be afraid of accidentally saying the wrong thing, or not knowing what to say at all. That is why in First Priority, we prioritize being prepared and ready to spread the Gospel any time, and any place.

Take a few minutes to practice sharing the Gospel using this tool with a friend. Don’t just think about what we have talked about today but reflect on the lessons from the last 9 months. How can we use what we have talked about, along with this tool, to help plant the seed in those around us?

Think about your own journey with Jesus; think about the seeds that other people have planted in you that are only now starting to take root and grow. Aren’t you grateful for their faith and patience?

Say: As you look at these final days of school and then the weeks of summer break, who in your world can you encourage with God’s love? Schedule a time with another believer who is struggling so that you can pray with them and listen with compassion to what they are going through. You may not have all the answers to their struggles, but you will show them the love of God simply by your presence, your words, and your actions.

Decide now how you are going to tend the seeds that have been planted in your own life during the new rhythms of summer. It is amazing what you will be able to see when you are on the lookout for seeds of heaven in your everyday life! The main point of today is to remember that as we live the resurrected life on earth, displaying the seeds of God’s Kingdom, we will show the world what God’s Kingdom looks like.

Closing: Pass out prayer cards to each student. Remind students to write names of friends they would like to pray for on their prayer cards and spend some time praying for them before they leave today. End your time together with prayer.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Take a minute to announce the upcoming meeting date and anything else members of the club need to know to be ready for the next meeting or event.