THE CONVERSATION

Purpose: Students encounter Jesus through the Gospel Message.

Preparation:

• Sign up for the FP App and/or text updates.
• Be ready to help students counsel and plug them into a church.
• *Allow time at the end for Seniors to share how First Priority has impacted them.

Supplies:

• QR Code for FP App and/or text updates
• Response Cards, Pens & Follow-up Form
• Next Steps Cards & Bibles

RANDOM QUESTION

[All Adults] What is your favorite part of First Priority?

GET CONNECTED

[Mentor] Before we get started, grab your phone and scan the QR code to sign up for the First Priority App and/or text updates. We will be using this to communicate with you over the summer. Let’s welcome our student host for today! [insert name]

WELCOME & OPEN PRAYER

[Host] Hey everyone! I’m so glad you’re here today, especially for our last First Priority club of the school year. Whether this is your first time or you’ve been coming all year, you’re part of something that matters. We’ve spent the year learning how to live out our faith and share the hope of Jesus with the people around us. And today [insert name] will share about the heart of it all, the Gospel. Let’s start with prayer and ask God to speak to each of us. Let’s pray.

Sample prayer: God, thank You for bringing us together today. As [insert name] talks about who You are and what You’ve done for us, open our hearts. Help us understand how much You love us, and what it means to know You. Let this not just be another mee!ng, but a moment that sticks with us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

GOSPEL MESSAGE

[Speaker] Over the last few weeks, we’ve been talking a lot about what it looks like to reach the world around us by sharing our faith stories, being a light in a dark world, and telling people the Good News about Jesus. Some of you may be here today because a friend invited you and that’s because we care about the people God’s placed in our lives.

All year we’ve talked about being intentional with our conversations, especially when it comes to the Gospel. And since this is our last club meeting of the school year, I want to share that message one more time, because where we spend eternity matters.

Let me ask you something. How many of you have heard the verse John 3:16 before? (Pause and let students respond, maybe someone will quote it.) Let’s look at what it says in John chapter 3 verses 16 through 18. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

That’s how much God loves us. He gave His one and only Son, Jesus, so that none of us would have to live, let alone spend forever, separated from Him. God didn’t send Jesus to shame us or call us out. He sent Him to save us. Jesus came to make things right, to offer hope, and to give every single one of us the chance to believe and be changed.

But here’s the reality: a lot of us have been living in the dark. We’ve been choosing our own way, chasing whatever feels good in the moment, instead of living how God created us to. That’s what separates us from God. The Bible calls it sin. And that’s a problem because no matter how good we try to be, we can’t fix that separation on our own.

But it’s not too late to change directions. That’s the beauty of the Gospel. All we need to do is believe. Believe that God sent Jesus to take on the punishment for our sin. Believe that He died the death we deserved. Believe that He didn’t stay dead, that He rose again three days later, proving that death isn’t the end for those who follow Him.

So then, what do we do with that belief? The Bible answers that in Romans chapter 10 verses 9 and 10. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.” It’s not about having the perfect words or being religious. It’s about calling out to God and trusting Him with your whole heart. It’s personal. It’s real.

So today, as we close out this school year, I want you to walk away knowing this: You’ve heard the truth, and you’ve been invited into a relationship with Jesus. He came for you. He knows your name. And He’s waiting for your “yes.”

I want to ask everyone to bow your head and close your eyes. Just take a quiet moment between you and God. No distractions, no pressure. If today you realize that you want to begin a relationship with Jesus, to trust Him and follow Him, you can talk to God right now. I’m going to lead you in a prayer to help with the words but just know it’s not a perfect prayer that saves you. It’s the heart behind it that God sees and responds to.

Repeat after me (pause after each line):

God, thank You for loving me — and making a way for me — to have a relationship with You. — I confess that I am a sinner. — I believe that Jesus had to die on the cross — in my place — and that He rose from the dead — so that I could have a relationship with You. — I choose to trust and follow Jesus — as Lord of my life today. — Amen.

If you prayed that and meant it, that’s the most important decision you’ll ever make. We want to celebrate with you and help you take your next steps in following Jesus.

RESPONSE TIME

[Speaker] Take a moment to think about the decision you just made. You’ll get a response card now. (Have FOLLOW-UP TEAM pass out Response Cards.) At the top of the card fill out your name, grade, who invited you, and what church you go to. Here’s what the My Response Today means:

• If you just said YES to Jesus, check that top box. We want to celebrate with you.
• If you’re not sure yet, that’s okay, check the “not interested” box.
• If you already follow Jesus, check that box and tell us when you made that decision.
• Don’t have a church or a Bible? Mark those boxes and we will help you with that.

Take a minute to fill out the card and then raise it in the air when you’re done so someone can come grab it.

(FOLLOW-UP TEAM: While collecting cards, if you see that a student checked the top box, follow up with them right away and give them a NEXT STEPS card. Also, if they want to get plugged into a church, take a moment to find out who invited them and see what church you can plug them into. If they checked that they need a Bible, have them available.)

(Make sure you give the cards to the club mentor so that they can put the information on the Follow-up Form.)

*(If there is time before the challenge and prayer, give your Seniors time to share about the impact First Priority has had on them.)

(Have student host come back up to give the CHALLENGE and PRAY.)

CHALLENGE & PRAY

[Host] For all of us, whether today was the beginning of your journey or just another step forward, here’s the challenge: Don’t keep this to yourself! The world around us needs Jesus, and God wants to use us to share Him. Let’s go into the summer looking for ways to have real conversations, love people well, and live boldly for Christ. Let’s pray!

Sample prayer: God, thank You for every student here and for the truth we’ve heard today. For those who said “yes” to You, give them courage and community. For those still figuring it out, keep speaking to their hearts. Help all of us live with purpose, not fear, and make the most of every chance we have to show Your love. In Jesus’ name, amen.

GAME TIME – Optional

[Host & Mentor] (See the Game Time tab for options.)