Start with prayer—
Take the “My Peeps” survey— Give each student a copy of the "My Peeps" Survey and give them a few minutes to answer the questions. (Survey is located at the end of this post)
One of the primary influences on your life will be your peers (friends and other people of your own age, race, or social equal). The temptation to be like those around you is strong. As a result, peer pressure is something that must be addressed. However, not all peer pressure is bad or negative. Depending on whom you choose to have as peers, the pressure may be a positive influence.
On a scale of 1-10 (10 being best), how do you think you do in handling peer pressure?
What would have to change about your life for this score to be higher?
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I Don't Belong Here (Optional)
Have you ever felt like you don't belong, like an alien? Perhaps after moving from a small town to the big city. Or maybe after going from the big city to a small town. For many students, going from grade school to junior high or high school can be an uneasy feeling. Nothing is familiar, everything is new, for a while. But things rub off on you. You adjust and before long, you become like everyone else, acting like they do, blending in. People even pick up accents, or lose them in order to blend in.
Does anyone have a story like this they would be willing to share?
(If not, you may want to share a time when you felt that you didn't belong at first, but after a while ended up blending in.)
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Remember Samson? Delilah pressured him to tell the secret of his strength and because he liked her and also because she was persistent, he caved in and told her. Because of this negative peer pressure, Samson was imprisoned and his eyes poked out.
Daniel and the 3 Hebrew children were pressured to eat the meat at the kings table and also to bow to the king’s idol, however, these men stood up to the negative peer pressure and although one was thrown to the lions and the others into the fiery furnace, all of them came out alive.
Jesus himself was subject to peer pressure. Not only did the religious leaders of his time taunt and tease him about eating and drinking with the sinners and publicans, but he also faced peer pressure In the desert when he was tempted by Satan (possibly in the form of a man) to turn rocks into bread to satisfy his hunger, he was offered wealth and fame if only he would worship someone other than God. However, Jesus did not give in. Thank God he didn’t.
Proverbs 1:10&15—My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not...walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path.
Proverbs 22:24-25–Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go; lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.
Romans 16:17-18–Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
1 Corin. 15:33–Be not deceived, evil communications corrupt good manners. (The word communications here means companionship, communion with, fellowship)
Ephesians 5:6-7--Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
These scriptures all deal with negative peer pressure.
How about some positive peer pressure—
Proverbs 13:20–He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
Although maybe you can’t tell from these scriptures, today we are going to talk about peers and peer pressure. Who are your peers and what exactly is peer pressure? You tell me.
A peer is someone that is either your same age, race or social equal. Peer pressure is when you allow your peer to pressure you into something that you alone would not normally do in order to be accepted by your peer or peer group. There are two different kinds of peer pressure. There is negative peer pressure which is what most people think about when the hear the words “peer pressure” and is the type pinpointed in the scriptures I just read, but there is also positive peer pressure. No matter what kind it is, you will at some point in your life be affected by peer pressure.
Let’s take another test. Do the FRIENDS rub off test. Discuss the results.
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“My Peeps” Survey
Instructions: List the three most influential/favorite people in your life then give a brief answer to the remaining questions beneath each of their names.
Person #1
(Their name here)
1. Why is this person on your list?
2. What is it about them that you like, dislike?
3. Does this person have a negative or positive influence/impact on you, why?
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Person #2
(Their name here)
1. Why is this person on your list?
2. What is it about them that you like, dislike?
3. Does this person have a negative or positive influence/impact on you, why?
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Person #3
(Their name here)
1. Why is this person on your list?
2. What is it about them that you like, dislike?
3. Does this person have a negative or positive influence/impact on you, why?
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