Diane Avenue Church of Christ

Diane Avenue Church of Christ “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” Romans 12:10NIV

BIBLE CLASS Peer Pressure - Part Two

Peer Pressure Good Morning – Synopsis Part One We need to understand and resist the power of Satan One thing we must not do is be overconfident! When we walk by faith we learn to direct our need for acceptance to God Peer Pressure is a tool of Satan We also get caught up in what the world says is important

Peer Pressure Peer pressure isn't something that can be inflicted on you only by your friends, but by your family, your co-workers, your acquaintances, your boss, your clients, your generation, the status quo of society even can influence you by what's expected by them. Out of these groups, however, your peers are the ones most likely to put pressure on you to conform to their way of thinking or doing things.

Peer Pressure Peer Pressure is a very interesting component of ones life. We all will experience it . 1 Cor. 15:33-34 - 33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character. 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God —I say this to your shame.

Peer Pressure Think about what happened to the person commonly referred to as "The Prodigal Son." You will notice from that story that he had a great time as long as he had money and could pay for his friends. When his money ran out, all he had left was to eat with the hogs. His friends forsook him. Luke 15:11-32

Peer Pressure Misery and sin love company – Proverbs 4:14-16 14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.16 For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.

Peer Pressure Eph. 6:1-4 - Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Father’s, do not exasperate (frustrate) your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Peer Pressure Peer Pressure Moving toward Christ Christians - Self or Love ones Rejection, acceptance, influences, ridicule, etc Hurdles or obstacles Satan, the influencer

Peer Pressure Proverbs 1:8-10 – 8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 9 They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck. 10 My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.

Peer Pressure Conforming to the pattern World (leave behind) Transformed by Renewing our Minds Trusting God – (move towards)

Peer Pressure A short case study

Peer Pressure “Imagine, if you will, that you are a young adult/teen on your way to a house party (2012). When they get there it is crowded, but you find a spot with a few friends from your church. Some of them who regularly attend Sunday school on some who do not. There were five of them 1 guy 4 girls. They were approached by one of the “cool” guys at their school and he said “hey let go outside it way to crowded in here. They say okay sure (actually they felt good about being included).

Peer Pressure Anyway while outside Mr. Cool lights up some weed. Because of their Christian education at home/church most were familiar with (Romans 14:13). The first person declines it, the second person takes a full “hit” the third person say’s just a tiny bit and the fourth and fifth person accepts small amounts as well.

Peer Pressure Romans 14:13 (NIV) 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. The word obstacle is something that causes one to fall into sin.

Peer Pressure Questions • What are they dynamics of this situation?• Why did the some take only a very small portion? • Who do you think was the first person to be influenced by peer pressure? Explain your answer. . Why do you think only one refused ?

Peer Pressure In the Book of Matthew chp. 13, Jesus tells a parable about a sower who went out to sow Some seeds fell on the wayside, some on stony places, some among the thorns, some on good ground. Well whether old or young as Christians at some point you tasted some good ground. The question is what did you do with it?

Peer Pressure People react to the gospel in different ways. It can have a two-sided effect. How? 2 Corinthians 2:15-16 NIV 15 For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.16 To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task? The Gospel produces two different effects. To some the Gospel is the sunshine of light, God’s best gift to mankind. Yet to others “aroma that brings death”

Peer Pressure But we are not to blame the gospel for this; it is not the fault of God’s truth; it is the fault of those who do not receive it. It is the “ savour of life unto life” to everyone that listens to its sound with a heart that is open to its reception. It is only “death unto death” to the man who hates the truth, despises it, scoffs at it, and tries to oppose its progress.

Peer Pressure The weapons Satan uses to influence us

Peer Pressure We are all influenced by peer pressure. Sometimes we are influenced to do things that are good, and sometimes the choices are both all right. Other times, though, we may be pressured into doing something that we really don’t want to do, or that we consider to be wrong.

Peer Pressure The most powerful weapon Satan has is the tongue. (Jas. 3:5) - 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

Peer Pressure Many fear the consequences that comes when you do not line up. a. How many are made fun of ? b. How many have heard gossip when another leaves the room? c. As a child I took part in some unmerciful actions. (Ex. Teasing, Overweight, Bullying Others)

Peer Pressure Let’s look at some Biblical examples of Peer Pressure. John the Baptist beheaded – Mark 6:17-29 Jesus tempted in the wilderness – Matt. 4:4-11 Peter denies Jesus Christ – Matt. 26: 69-75 Peter and Racism – Gal. 2: 11-13 The Fall – Eve Genesis 3: 1-6 Noah – Genesis chp. 6 & 7 Pontius Pilate - Matt. 27:24-26

Peer Pressure Faith

Peer Pressure Don’t let peer pressure keep you from pleasing God. Jesus chose the approval of God over the approval of man. 1 Peter 2:4-5 - 4 As you come to him, the living Stone —rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual houseto be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Peer Pressure How knowing Jesus Christ can make a difference! Peer pressure can rob us of our joy in Christ. 2 Cor . 6:1-2 - 6 As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Peer Pressure God's word tells us that the last thing we should be trying to do is fit in with this world. Have faith in the truth God’s word - Ephesians 4:17-18 NIV reads, 17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

Peer Pressure The danger of Christians using Satan’s tools In the church

Peer Pressure A. When we use world pressure; we have in our hearts become carnal. 1. Satan has always had his churches that profess Christ but push worldly standards. (Col 2:18) 18 Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind.

Peer Pressure 2. This is why apostasy will occur again and again. (2 Tim 4:3-4) - 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Peer Pressure Our tongues and actions will reveal our hearts. (Lk. 6:45) 45 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

Peer Pressure What type of person are you? 1. Are you a critic that wants to help or one who looks down on others? 2. Do you have certain ones who you associate with and exclude others? The world uses cliques as a way of punishing and getting others to line-up.. 3. Are you in the fellowship of the proud, miserable, mighty, knowledgeable.?

Peer Pressure Areas where we are tempted to pressure. 1. Clothing and riches. (Jas 2:1-4) 2. Race Relations. (Gal 2:11-13) 3. Social graces and speech. 4. Teaching style and presentation. (1 Cor. 2:4; 2 Cor. 10:10 Paul’s defense of his ministry) 5. In differences of opinion. (Rom 15:1-2; 14:3)

Peer Pressure Before you accepted Christ into your life, you were just like everybody else. You were a Gentile. But now that you've been adopted into God's family, God says you should no longer live with those old values. As believers, we are not to be just like everybody else.

Peer Pressure Psalm 1 1 Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in seasonand whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.

Peer Pressure How to defeat peer pressure

Peer Pressure A. Choose to be transformed. (Rom 12:2 renewing your mind) 1. Do you really have a love for Bible Study? 2. A good warning sign is how we treat Bible Classes and Sunday Worship. B. Let God be the source of the praise you seek. (Heb 11:6; 2 Cor. 5:9-10) C. Understand the things that really matter! (1 Cor. 1:26-29)

Peer Pressure In conclusion There are going to be times when you have to make a choice. Are you going to choose your peers or what God would have you do? Are you going to choose what the world says is important or what God's Word tells you is important?

Peer Pressure And guess what? In the end when you die and face God alone, will any of your peers matter then? No matter what clothes you wear or how much money you have or how much respect you get in your neighborhood, none of that is going to be able to help on Judgment Day.

Peer Pressure if you recognize just what Christ did for you by dying on the cross and taking the punishment that you deserved, why don't you show it by following Him. Live your life in such a way that shows that Jesus is the only one you care about fitting in with and impressing.

Peer Pressure The Bible tells us that it is more important for us to care what God thinks than what other people think Acts 5:29 (NIV) 29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! Before any and every decision, we should ask ourselves, "In doing this, am I pleasing God or man?"

Diane Avenue Church of Christ