OUR RESPONSE TO WHAT GOD HAS DONE FOR US

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 “Our response to what God has done for us.” Today is PREPARE Week where we will be preparing to share our stories and the Gospel of Jesus with others. To begin, we will tackle the question “Will I Follow Jesus?”

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: Ephesians 2:8-9(NIV) – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Student Testimony – Optional: Consider the Student Leadership team going first to set the tone for the rest of the Club.

Let’s spend some time preparing to do our part to reach our campus for Christ. We’ve been working through a tool called “My Faith Story” which helps us tell our story of when Jesus changed our lives. Today, we are going to talk about how to add the Gospel story.

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.

When we share our story of how God has saved and transformed us, we always need to share how God can do the same for others. This means we should always share the story of the Gospel when we have a chance to share our testimony.

Today, let’s focus on when, in our story, we should add the story of the Gospel.

For many, the simplest place in their story to share the Gospel is during the second part…the moment Jesus became real to them. While describing the time when they understood the Gospel, they share the Good News.

It would go something like this (Using The FOUR): “It was during a VBS when I was 10 that I learned that God loved me and wanted a relationship with me. I then realized that I had sinned and was separated from Him. But, the teacher told me about Jesus dying on the cross to rescue me! That’s when I accepted His free gift and found forgiveness and new life.”

You may find that the Gospel fits better in a different part of your story.

Remember, your Story is powerful because it’s about a powerful God and the Good News that He brings. Take some time to pray and think through where the Gospel fits best in your story. 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 dig into God’s Word and read a verse from the book of Mark.

Mark 8:34 (NIV) – “Then he called the crowd to him along with His disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.”

As students, you stand at the threshold of countless choices and decisions that will shape your future. Among them, the most important decision you’ll ever make is whether or not you will follow Jesus. This decision holds eternal significance and will impact every aspect of your life. Today, let us explore this question: Will I follow Jesus?

Jesus, the Son of God, extends an invitation to each one of us to follow Him. He doesn’t force anyone to follow Him, but rather, He lovingly invites us into a relationship with Him. It’s a personal decision that requires a sincere commitment and sacrifice. When we accept Jesus’ invitation, we embark on a journey of faith, transformation, and eternal hope. However, this decision also comes with challenges, as following Jesus requires us to prioritize Him above all else.

Counting the Cost:
Following Jesus involves a conscious decision to deny ourselves and prioritize His Will above our own desires. It requires self-surrender and the willingness to let go of anything that may hinder our relationship with Him. Are you ready to count the cost of following Jesus and surrendering your life to Him?

Embracing the Cross:
Taking up our Cross means embracing the challenges and difficulties that come with following Jesus. It means being willing to endure persecution, ridicule, and rejection for His sake. Are you ready to embrace the Cross and stand firm in your faith, even in the face of adversity?

Walking in Obedience:
Following Jesus is not a one-time decision but a daily commitment to walk in obedience to His teachings. It means seeking His guidance in every decision and aligning our lives with His Word. Are you willing to submit your plans, dreams, and ambitions to Jesus and allow Him to lead you?

The decision to follow Jesus is a life-altering choice that has the power to transform your life, both now and for eternity. As you ponder the question, “Will I follow Jesus?”, remember that He is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Following Jesus may not always be easy, but it is the most rewarding and fulfilling path you can take.

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 are some specific things in your life that may hinder you from fully following Jesus?
2. How can you overcome those obstacles?
3. Reflect on a time when you faced challenges or opposition for your faith. How did you respond, and what lessons did you learn from that experience?
4. In what practical ways can you seek to align your plans and dreams with God’s Will as you follow Jesus?

Invite Cards: Have Student Leaders pass out Invite Cards to students.

Before we leave the 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: Heavenly Father, thank you for the chance to meet and grow closer to you. Help us to step out in faith this week, boldly sharing your love with those who need it most. We lift up our friends and family who don’t yet know you and ask that you draw them to yourself. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Homework: Keep writing your Faith Story using the Faith Story Sheet. We will continue to come back to this sheet all year to help each of us figure out what God has done in our lives – both when we first came to Jesus and when we have walked through the hard moments of life. We all have lots of stories of God moving in our lives, we just don’t remember them well because we haven’t written them down yet. This is the start of writing down our stories and allowing God to use them. If a story comes to mind, begin writing and talk to the Club leadership about being one of the first ones to share at next month’s PREPARE week.

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 this as an opportunity to recruit new leaders!

Club Coach Tip: PREPARE Week next month will offer an option for up to two students to share their Faith Stories. As students write their testimonies using the Faith Story sheet, identify those who may want to share and help them prepare outside of the Club.