Teaching seminar on Peer Pressure

About “Peer pressure”
1 Tim 6:6-11 peer pressure is a hook in this
generation that builds, motivates, helps, pulls
down, depresses & destroys lives today.
However, it is a tool (if redefined) that can bring
out the best from every single life.

At every point in life, we belong to one peer group
or the other.

But, is peer pressure of any effect?
 Or perhaps a good solution!
 How about it?
 How do I manage it?
 How do I in the face of silly pressure guide
myself?
 Is there help at all?
These among other shall be dealt with as we
move on.

Who is a peer? A peer may refer to people who are in
such respect as age, education or social class.
What is Pressure? Pressure is the ratio of force over an
area,
a
subject
or
anything
which
its force is distributed or channeled.
What is Peer Pressure? Peer pressure can also be said
to be an influence that a peer group, observer or
individual exerts that encourage others to change their
attitude, values or behaviour to conform to group
norms. Proverbs 13:20

Peer pressure hitherto has been a sociological force
of compulsion on people from time immemorial.

It is a phenomenon which has brought about good
and bad consequences and has shaped the world
around us.
It can be said that every action taken by an
individual has been influenced in one way or the
other by peer pressure.

In shining more light on the concept of Peer Pressure
we shall employ the use of the following words;
 Compulsion
 Influence
 Persuasion

Compulsion: This is a situation where by an
individual is compelled to act or behave in a certain
way either by force or willingly

Influence: The online dictionary defines influence as
the capacity or power of persons or things to be a
compelling force on or produce effects on the
actions, behaviour, opinions, etc., of others
Persuasion: Is the ability to change or sway an
individual from doing what he normally would have
done to conforming with what you want him or her
to do. This could be by, influence, or compulsion

Causes of “Peer pressure”
 Wanting to get along or fit into a group and
wanting to compete Rom 8:5
 Covetousness 1 Tim 6:10
 Lust
 Friends and association 1Kings 12:8, 2 Cor 6:14
 Fear of loneliness
 Poverty
 Rejection
 Pride

Ways in which “Peer pressure” shows up
It is important to note that Peer pressure can
produce both negative and positive outcomes
(Proverbs 27:17; Proverbs 11:14; Proverbs 15:22;
Proverbs 19:20-21; Proverbs 12:15; Heb 3:13;
Proverbs 18:24), although often times it works
negatively than positively (Romans 12:2)

Some examples of positive peer pressure;
 Pressure to follow school or activity group rules
 Pressure to respect the property of others
 Pressure to not drink and drive
 Pressure not to smoke because of the health danger
 Pressure to join a service group

 Pressure to get into college/university

Some examples of negative peer pressure;
 Pressure to experiment with drugs or drink alcohol
 Pressure to smoke
 Pressure to vandalize public or private property
 Pressure to steal
 Pressure to have a physical confrontation with
another person
 Pressure to have sex before marriage

Others ways in which “Peer pressure” shows up
 Pressure to dress in a certain way
 Pressure to get involved in particular activities
 Pressure to listen to particular music

 Pressure on who to date or go out with
 Pressure of trying to be part of the 'happening'

people
 Pressure in academic performance

Pressure to act in a certain way can be:
 Direct, e.g. someone telling you what you should

be doing
 Indirect, e.g. it’s not always obvious, but a group

might have certain habits or do certain activities
together. When you are with a certain group of
people, you might be tempted to do what they do
 Self-motivation, e.g. putting pressure on yourself

to fit in with your friendship group

Giving-in to “Peer Pressure”
Up Bringing: Some parents are doing a wonderful job as
regards training their children and providing all their
needs. But sometimes it is not too good to give your
children whatever they request for, because it could lead
to peer pressure.
If parents give their children everything they request for
to make them happy, any day they do not meet up with
their children's request, it could lead them to give in to
peer pressure. There is a need to discipline children and
that is why the bible says that, parents should train a
child in a way they should go and when they grow
up, they will not depart from it. Proverb 22:6

Evil Communication: It is obvious that evil
communication corrupts good manners; this is one
of the reasons why people give-in to peer pressure.
For example imagine a young boy finds himself in
the midst of some friends and his friends decide to
accommodate him because he does not have a place
to stay.

But if his friends are into a wrong kind of business
(internet fraud i.e. yahoo yahoo) they can initiate
him in that business and the young boy can become
an online thief.
The boy has given in to peer pressure because of the
bad friends he stayed with, without knowing the
type of business they were into he was lured by
them. 1Corinthians 15:33

Bad Advice: It is quiet clear in the world today that
bad advice leads to destruction and it is one of the
ways in which one can give-in to peer pressure. Bad
advice from friends and colleagues have caused the
downfall of many people today.
For example, a friend could advise one to go to
wrong places because of money. One could also feel
that his/her peers appear more successful and it
takes the grace of GOD not to go to such evil places.

Lust Of The Eyes and Greed: Lust has as its focus
pleasing oneself, and it often leads to unwholesome
actions to fulfill one's desires with no regard to the
consequences.
Lust is about possession and greed. Lust of the eyes
is one of the ways in which peer pressure can
overtake one. Also not being content with what one
has can cause one to give in to peer pressure. (spirit
of wanting) Mark 4:18-19.

Even our parents fall into the temptation of lust of the
eyes, they want to have the latest thing in town to
show-off to their peers or friends 1Timothy 6:9.
Because of lust of the eyes many people have gone
astray, many have been killed, poisoned and many have
been in a condition that they are regretting now.
Lust of the eyes is one of the major reasons why people
give in to peer pressure, I pray may God help us to
overcome every temptation in Jesus name Amen. 2
Timothy 2:22.

Greed has led people into destruction and regret in
life today. Our lord Jesus warns us against all type of
greed, (covetousness) Luke 12:15-20
Because of the greed of Eli's sons they took the best
part of the sacrifices which eventually disqualified
them from the priesthood. 1 Samuel 2:29, Hosea 4:8,
Eph 4:19 and 1 Timothy 3:3-8
It should be noted here that greed is defined as a
pagan way of life.

Evils of “Peer Pressure”
We come across peer pressure a lot in the bible, from
Genesis where Adam was influenced into eating the
fruit from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil.
Eve also being manipulated into eating the fruit by the
devil and all the way through to Revelation, where it
records the road of damnation is wide.

This is due to the fact that people are ready to
conform to this world and everything in it.

However we have been told in Romans 12:2 “And be
not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove
what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will
of God”.
The negative impact of peer pressure are vast and
they ultimately and surely lead to death. These
include:
 Disconnection from God

Other negative impact include
 Decisions would be solely made by man rather than

through reliance on Jesus
 Hell and the Lake of Fire
 Sin (Violation of GOD's laws and breaking the
covenant we have with GOD)
 It leads to a life of shame and reproach
 It reduces ones' blessing 1Kings 12:16

Other negative impact contd.
 It makes one to loose his/her self-worth (Jonadab

& Absalom)
 It brings one under the control of the devil
 It may result in death James 1:15
 It causes sorrow and regret – the prodigal son
Luke15:11-32, 1Tim 6:10
 It may lead to destruction Proverbs 13:20

We shall also be using examples of promising
men, women and nations who were led out of God's
embrace because of peer pressure.
Aaron: (Exodus 32:22-24) And Aaron said, “Let not
the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the
people, that they are set on evil. For they said to
me, ‘Make us gods who shall go before us. As for this
Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land
of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.’

So I said to them, ‘Let any who has gold take it off.’
So they gave it to me, and I threw it into the fire, and
out came this calf.”
Aaron was a mighty man of Valour in God's
household, but even with all this grace he still fell to
the pressure of the people. Which ultimately led to
the untimely death of the people who worshiped the
Golden Calf.

The 10 Spies who came back with evil reports of the
Promise Land: Numbers 13 & 14, The evil report
which the 10 spies brought back, not only changed
the minds of the Israelites from what God had
already told, it also made them doubt God's
faithfulness.
And we also can see what their end was. God in
Numbers 14:23 vowed not to let them see the
Promised land. Peer pressure and conformity to it
would lead you out of God's promises in your life.

Samson: (Judges 16), Samson was highly blessed by
the Lord, however he succumbed to the temptation of
the lust of his eyes and fell into the hands of
Delilah, who pressured him into giving her secret to
his might. He was shamed and not only that he also
paid with his life.
The prodigal son lost everything he had because he
had bad friends and was reckless with his inheritance.
His friends left him when he lost everything. But he
was able to finally reconnect with his father who
welcomed him with open arms. Luke15:11-32

What the bible says about “Peer Pressure”
2 Corinthians 6:14-17 “Be ye not unequally yoked together with
unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with
unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
[15] And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he
that believeth with an infidel?
[16] And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye
are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in
them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be
my people.
[17] Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye
separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing ; and I
will receive you”

Possible solutions to the negative aspect of Peer
pressure
 A close intimacy with God, Seek God’s counsel

rather than friends’ counsel. Proverbs 2:4-7.
 Let the Word of God be your standard, evaluate
every desire with the word of God, study and
memorise the word of God. Phil 4:8
 Look unto JESUS Heb 2:18
 Prayer & fasting.

Possible solutions to the negative aspect of Peer
pressure contd.
 Counseling especially the counsel of the elders –

Rehoboam rejected the elders advice and regretted
Proverbs 1, Proverbs 20:18, Proverbs 16:25,
Heb13:17, Rom 13:1
 Strong determination
 Faith
 Patience – there is time for everything Eccl 3
 Separation, be not conformed to the worldly system,
do not be unequally yoked Rom12:2-3. l Cor 6:14-17

In Conclusion do not allow yourself to be pressured by
others, put your eyes on Jesus the Author and finisher of
our faith.

Do not join mobs with intent on doing evil. When on the
witness stand, do not be swayed in your testimony by
the mood of the majority present.
Job said in Job 28:28 “And unto man he said, Behold, the
fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil
is understanding”
Galatians 1:10 “For am I now seeking the approval of
man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were
still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of
Christ”

Teaching seminar on Peer Pressure

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Teaching seminar on Peer Pressure