1 Peer Pressure

2 Peer Pressure: Knowing the Enemy  Definition: “Social pressure by members of one’s peer group to take a certain action, adopt certain values, or otherwise conform in order to be accepted.”

3 Peer Pressure: Knowing the Enemy  Tactics: Intimidate, bandwagon, entice with popularity, ridicule, etc.  Youth  Violence, gangs, etc.  Disrespectful to adults, vulgarity  Dating, dancing, promiscuity, sex  Alcohol, drugs, smoking  Friendships

4 Peer Pressure: Knowing the Enemy  Tactics:  Adults  Dishonesty  Immorality  Do not believe & obey the gospel  Live selfishly

5 Peer Pressure: Knowing the Enemy  Tactics:  Christians  Exposed to the same pressures  Doctrinal, moral & social

6 Peer Pressure: Bible Warnings  Prohibited in OT law, Exo. 23:2  Be wise & avoid, Prov. 1:10-15  Turn away from it, Prov. 4:14-15  Know the power of influence, 1 Cor. 15:33-34  Choose your associates wisely, Psa. 1:1-2

7 Peer Pressure: Bible Examples  Noah, Gen. 6:5-9, 22; 7:1  Aaron, Exo. 32:1,  Joshua & Caleb, Num. 13:26-14:10  Rulers of the Jews, Jno. 12:42-43  Peter, Matt. 26:69-75  Jesus, Matt. 26:56

8 Peer Pressure: Dare to be Different…Dare to be Right!  Courage & conviction of faith, Josh. 24:14-15; Rom. 12:1-2; Eph. 6:10-13  Set & keep godly priorities, Matt. 6:33; 1 Pet. 4:14-16 (Acts 5:29)  The cost of being a Christian:  Heaven’s viewpoint: Death of Son of God  Earth’s viewpoint: Self-denial (Matt. 16: 24-26; Phil. 3:4-8)

9 Peer Pressure: Solution?  Desire God’s approval more than man’s approval, Gal. 1:10; 1 Ths. 4:1  Do not be afraid of what others will think, say or do, Matt. 10:28 (32-33)  Do not be ashamed of Jesus, Mk. 8:38