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EQUIP WEEK 3

Live Differently

HAPPENING THIS MONTH: Thanksgiving!

  • If you are planning to do a Thanksgiving party, make sure you plan well.
  • This month is designed to be done in November, or leading into Thanksgiving. Go through it before you start and decide if you are going to skip Equip,Prepare, or Connect if you only have 3 weeks beforeThanksgiving. Do not skip Invite Week! Also, look atDecember and decide how many weeks of club you can hold. Put an Invite Week Christmas Party on the calendar.

START UP:

Welcome:

  • Say: Welcome to First Priority! (Be sure to welcome guests) We are so glad that you have chosen to join us today! Our focus this month is going to be centered around “Thanksgiving.”
  • Say: What are some of the things you are thankful for in your life?
  • Say: Today is Equip Week. Today, we want to equip and encourage you to on how to better share your faith with your friends.

Opening Prayer:

  • Say: God, thank you for another great week that we get to be here at our First Priority club! I am thankful for those that 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:

DIG IN:

Live Differently
Read: Matthew 5:21-48
  • Right in the middle of His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called for His followers to act totally different from the rest of the world. He calls them to act in ways that contradict the natural tendencies of our human nature.
  • Today let’s look at Jesus’ revolutionary ideas:
    • Be the one to initiate in reconciling a broken relationship (v.21–26).
    • Do not even think about committing sin.Intentionally avoid all sinful situations (v.27–30).
    • Do not go back on your word. If you make a commitment, then keep it (v.33–37).
    • Go above and beyond what people expect from you. Don’t settle for mediocrity when helping others(v.38–42).
    • Love your enemies. Do good to those who persecute you and pray for those who intentionally hurt you (v.43–48).
  • Jesus asks us to live completely opposite to that which is normal or comfortable for us. This is undoubtedly a very difficult lifestyle, but it is exactly what will attract the attention of a lost world. Let’s blow some minds for Christ’s sake by putting these truths into practice

Pruitt, Shane.Who’s Your One? 30 Day Devotional for Students. North American Mission Board.

Questions:

  • What are ways many Christians still look like the world around them today?
  • What can we do to make a change in how we look different than the rest of the world?
  • God wants us to be different, but not just different by the way we dress or the color of our hair. He wants us to be different by the way we live, act, and speak!
  • What are ways we can show our friends that we are different for Christ today?
  • What can our club do to impact our campus in a positive way?

TOOL TIME:

Supplies:

  • Bracelets
  • Posters
  • Bibles

The Cross: Jesus Gave Everything for me.

  • Our sin 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
  • 1 Peter 3:18

Questions:

  • Why would God pay our debt?
  • How did God demonstrate his love for you and me?
  • After three days, what did Jesus do that sets him apart from all others who claim to have been God?

Prayer Time:

  • Take 2 – 3 minutes to allow students to give different prayer requests and pray for the needs of the students.
  • Ask students to pray for their friends that don’t knowChrist

Announcements:

  • Say: 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)

PREPARE WEEK 3

Focus on What Matters

START UP:

Welcome:

  • Say: Welcome to First Priority! (Be sure to welcome guests) We are so glad that you have chosen to join us today! Our focus this month is “Thanksgiving.” Today is prepare week! Today, we want to see what God has to say about prayer. Specifically, the privilege of praying for others.

Opening Prayer:

  • Say: God, thank you for another great week that we get to be here at our First Priority club! I am thankful for those that 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:

DIG IN:

Focus on What Matters
Read: Matthew 6:19-24

  • What would you do if I offered you a piece of candy, then I opened the wrapper, took out the candy and gave you the empty wrapper, while keeping the candy for myself? Even though the wrapper is really attractive and colorful, you would most likely say in a frustrated tone, “Hey! Thanks for nothing, man!”
  • Jesus teaches us a valuable lesson here in Matthew6:19–24. He tells us plainly that God wants what is on the inside as well. Many people spend their whole lives trying to make their wrappers as attractive and colorful as possible, while neglecting to focus on what really matters—our soul. The American Dream is a trap of investing your entire life into striving after the best house, the best car, the best clothes, the best-looking spouse, etc.
  • How sad the day will be for someone to appear in front of God trying to present Him with an empty wrapper. Put your time, energies, and devotion into what is on the inside. Realize that your “wrapper” stays here while your soul and spirit goes on!

Pruitt, Shane. Who’s Your One? 30 Day Devotional for Students. North American Mission Board.

Questions:

  • What do we tend to focus on the most in our lives?
  • Who we are on the inside really matters, what can we do this week to improve on our insides?
    • Our character
    • Our integrity

TOOL TIME:

Let’s spend some time preparing to do our part to reach our campus for Christ.

Learning to share your story:

Sharing your story outline

  1. What was your life like before you encountered Jesus?
  2. When and where did you first encounter Jesus?
  3. When did you pray the prayer of salvation and start following Jesus?
  4. Where do you attend church? Talk about your youth group and how it has impacted your life.
  5. When were you baptized?
  6. How has your life been different since you started following Jesus?
  7. Close with what you want others to know. This is a good place to share your favorite scripture and challenge others to follow HIM.
  8. Share the Gospel message using the four.

For two more ways to learn to share your story and God’s story, go to: https://firstpriority.club/website_cacb1588/storytraining

Prepare for Invite Week:

Who will be responsible for these areas:

  • Pizza/Donut Order
  • Welcome/Opening Prayer
  • Game
  • Guest Speaker
  • Guest Speaker guidelines

Prayer Time – PREPARE:

  • 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!
Prayer Cards:
  • Use the Prayer Cards that were provided for the club.
Invite Cards:
  • Use the Invite Cards that were provided for the club.
  • Make sure to fill them out.

Announcements:

  • 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).

INVITE WEEK 3

Gospel Presentation

The Four: God Loves / Sin Separates / Jesus Died / Relationship with God is life’s answer

START UP:

Welcome:

  • Say: Welcome to First Priority! (Be sure to welcome guests). We are so glad that you have chosen to join us today! Our focus this month has been centered around “Thanksgiving”. Today is Invite Week!

Opening Prayer:

  • Say: God, thank you for another great week that we get to be here at our First Priority club! We pray for our speaker today (use their name) 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:

DIG IN:

Gospel Presentation:

Here is a YouTube video to illustrate to you the steps to share the gospel this week, not necessarily to show at club. The Bridge Illustration: https://youtu.be/SeuosiXiUqw

  • Step 1
    • I want to share a simple drawing with you today!
  • Step 2
    • Draw two lines horizontally, making two columns.Write God on the right side line and draw a little stick figure on the left. I space about 2 or 3 inches between them.
  • Step 3
    • Explain about the separation between the person and God.
    • Most times when I share this illustration, the personI’m speaking with is well aware of the Separation —that’s why they are looking for God to start with.
    • You can draw two vertical lines from the inside of the horizontal lines to show a cliff of separation.
    • A good verse to share here is Romans 3:23, and I might write the word sin or separation at the bottom of the gap.Another might be Hebrews 9:27 about the coming judgment for our sin.
  • Step 4
    • Explain that people try to reach God through all sorts of means: drugs, philosophy, good deeds. I ask the person I’m talking with to share with me what things they have tried to do to reach God.
  • Step 5
    • Draw a cross that closes the gap while sharing how Christ died for us. A good scripture would be Romans 5:8. That gift is free, sharing fromEphesians 2:8-9. We can believe and receive (John 1.12). This is showing God’s solution to the problem of our separation
  • Step 6
    • Ask, “Where would you put yourself on this drawing?”
    • That helps me to discern where that person is spiritually, and helps to suggest the next part of the conversation. Perhaps there is something to debate, discuss, or an objection to resolve. Perhaps a person wants more time to consider what is being heard.

TOOL TIME:

  • Response card
  • Clear invitation and opportunity to respond to the gospel message
  • Invite students to come back next week to Connect week.
  • EAT PIZZA / DOUGHNUTS

Announcements:

  • 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).

CONNECT WEEK 3

Tell Your Story

START UP:

Welcome:

  • Say: Welcome to First Priority! (Be sure to welcome guests) We are so glad that you have chosen to join us today! Our focus this month has been “Thanksgiving.”Today is Connect Week and we are so excited to share with you the many ways to connect with God through the local church.

Opening Prayer:

  • Say: God, thank you for another great week that we get to be here at our First Priority! I am so thankful for those that committed their lives to follow Jesus last week. I am also thankful for the local church. Thank you, God, that you have placed people in groups that love you and that will help each other walk faithfully. In Jesus name, Amen.

Game:

DIG IN:

Tell Your Story
Read: Matthew 7:1-12

  • Read the scripture (or have someone in the club read) to start. You may share Shane (our author’s) story, just let the audience know that as you begin. Feel free to add your story to this devotion. Be as authentic as you feel comfortable with so that you do not fall into the religious side that the lesson is leading us away from.
  • Before I was truly saved, I was a very religious person. That sounds kind of weird, doesn’t it? Can you be religious and not be born again? Of course, you can! I went to church, read my Bible every once in a while and was a leader in my church youth group. I would get drunk with friends on Saturday night and teach Sunday school the next morning with a hangover. There was no way I could have an effect on leading my lost friends to Jesus when I acted no differently than they did. I later found out that I truly didn’t know Him for myself.
  • In the beginning of Matthew 7, Jesus issues a challenge to those who are trying to lead in spiritual matters. He asks, “How are you going to teach someone in righteousness or lead them to God when you are just as lost as they are?” He then teaches us that we must have a right relationship with Him, and we are to lead others by example.
  • I am now saved, serve with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and have opportunities to preach and share the gospel all over the nation. One thing I have learned is that I cannot expect anything from others if my own relationship with Christ is not in order. I also won’t have an effect on the spiritually lost if my life is not distinctly different from their lives. Basically, you can’t give away something that you don’t have yourself. Do you personally know Jesus?

Pruitt, Shane. Who’s Your One? 30 Day Devotional for Students. North American Mission Board.

Questions:

  • All of us have a life before Christ. What is one of the major differences in your life, now that you have a relationship with him?
  • How has coming to know Christ changed your life for the better?

TOOL TIME:

Prayer Time – CONNECT:

  • Take 2-3 minutes to allow students to give different prayer requests and pray for the needs of the students. Spend a few minutes praying for local churches.

Connection:

Christ:

  • Anyone want to share their connection to Christ story? (How they came to a relationship with Christ.)

Club:

  • Who can we connect to club this next week?

Church:

  • Ask students what churches they go to?
  • Why do they go to their church?
  • What do they love about their church?
    – Mentor share about their church!

Announcements:

  • 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).
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