Peer Pressure

Examples of Peer Pressure:

· Eve pressured Adam to eat (Gen. 3)

· Noah’s world was filled with evil (Gen. 6)

· The people at the tower of Babel (Gen. 11)

· Aaron fell to the desires of Israel to make a golden calf (Ex. 32)

· Peter could not resist denying Jesus three times (Mk. 14:66-72)

Warnings and teachings about peer pressure:

· Deut. 6:14; 13:6-8 do not listen to him

· Rom. 12:1,2 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

· 1 Cor. 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals."

· 2 Cor. 6:17 "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you.”

· Eph. 5:11 “And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them”

· 1 Thess. 5:21,22 But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.

Parents Can Lose Influence:

· Intentionally by an immoral lifestyle and a lack of love.

· Unintentionally by a lack of attention to teens or by an inconsistent lifestyle.

· 89% of teens said they would see their friends regardless of what their parents said. Only 9% of 16-year-olds said they’d drop a friendship if their parents insisted.

How Positive Peer Pressure Helps

· Provides acceptance.

· Teaches social skills. They learn stubbornness doesn’t win friends; bragging turns people off; selfishness doesn’t make you popular; grumpy or bitter people attract other grumpy or bitter people; flexibility can build relationships.

· Reinforces beliefs and values. Prov. 27:17 Iron sharpens iron, So one man sharpens another.

· Shapes behavior. Good teenagers encourage others to be good

Encouraging Positive Influence

· Reinforce positive friendships.

· Team up to make a difference.

· Encourage your teenager to be part of a good youth group.