Peer Pressure

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Morality module in 6th grade is to identify a few of the ways in which we may be conformed to this world and learn ways to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We conform to this world when we follow others. We are transformed by the renewing of our minds when we take a stand for what we know is right.

MEMORY VERSE

Memory Verse: "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." (Romans 12:2)

See Alternate Verses in the Holy Scripture section below.

INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 7 Minutes

Please review the previous week's lesson.

Materials Needed: Dominos & duct tape or glue

Before class begins, setup 2 lines or circles of dominos. The first line should be set up in the standard way so that each of the dominos will fall in order. The second line should be set up in the exact same manner with one change. Brace the last domino in the sequence with glue, tape, or some other stabilizer so that it will not fall. Be sure to test the dominos before service to make sure that the domino will not fall.

Say: I have some dominos set up. Peer pressure is a lot like these dominos. If I push this first domino, the pressure of it falling will cause the next domino to fall. Then, each domino in the line falls like the one before. It looks something like this. (Set off the first line of dominos).

When you face peer pressure, take a stand for what you know is right. You will have a choice to be like one of these dominos and just go with the flow, or you can stand up for what is right. How do you know what is right? We can know what is right by studying God's Word and applying it to our lives.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

KEY VERSES

• "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." - Proverbs 27:17
• "Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." - Proverbs 13:20
• "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.' - 1 Corinthians 15:33

CONTENT (Key Points) - 20 Minutes

Today we are going to talk about peer pressure.

Ask: Does anyone know what 'peer pressure' is? Answer: A feeling that you have to do the same things as people your age in order for them to like or respect you.

Ask: Has anyone felt peer pressure before? What are some examples of peer pressure?

Peer pressure is very powerful. We all want to fit in and be a part of a group. Sometimes this means that we do things we don't normally do, just to fit in.

When you face peer pressure, take a stand for what you know is right. You will have a choice to be like one of these dominos and just go with the flow, or you can stand up for what is right. How do you know what is right? We can know what is right by studying God's Word and applying it to our lives.

You can be pressured in a lot of ways at school. You can be pressured to look a certain way or act a certain way that really goes against what God's Word teaches us. In those situations, how will you stand up to the pressure?

In the Old Testament, there is a great example of how to stand against peer pressure. We're going to look back at a story that we discussed recently about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

(Students should already be familiar with this story, but it is recommended to re-read it to emphasize key points. If needed, clarify that in this lesson, the points covered are different than those in the Old Testament Module.)

Recall the story in the Book of Daniel: King Nebuchadnezzar built a golden image that was 90 feet high and 9 feet wide. This thing was massive. Imagine 15 men standing on one another's shoulder, that's about equal to the height of the golden image.

Listen to what King Nebuchadnezzar did next. Ask a student to read Daniel 3:4--7 (pasted below)

4 Then the herald loudly proclaimed, "Nations and peoples of every language, this is what you are commanded to do: 5 As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. 6 Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace."

7 Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the nations and peoples of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

When the horn blew, all the people would bow down to this gold statue; all the people except Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. They refused to bow down to the idol like everyone else. Why do you think they refused to bow down to the idol?

Take responses from students.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew in their hearts what was right and wrong. They understood God's commands, and they wanted to be obedient to Him. This meant that they had to take a stand to be different than everyone else even though there might be consequences.

• What's one way we can understand God's commands now? Answer: study the Holy Bible
• What are some consequences that we might have for "not conforming to this world" Take answers from students.

When Nebuchadnezzar learned that the boys refused to bow down, he was furious. He demanded that they bow down or be thrown into the fiery furnace.

The boys told Nebuchadnezzar:

"O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up. " (Daniel 3:16b-18)

As a result, you recall that Nebuchadnezzar threw the boys into the furnace but they never burned.

Listen to the response of King Nebuchadnezzar. Ask a student to read Daniel 3:28--30 (pasted below)

28 Then Nebuchadnezzar said, "Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants They trusted in Him and defied the king's command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. 29 Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way." 30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego made a choice to stand against the pressure. While their peers were bowing down to the golden image, they chose to be faithful and obedient to God. Even when it cost them, they stood firm and did what was right.

In your school, you will be tempted by peer pressure. It may be a temptation to wear certain clothes in order to fit in with the "popular" crowd. It may be pressure to say something hurtful or make fun of others, even as a "joke."

It may be a temptation just to fade into the background and never let anyone know about your faith in God. When negative peer pressure comes, you will have to make a choice. A choice to go with the flow or to take a stand for what is right.

Remember what happened with the dominos at the beginning of class? They all fell, one after the other, under the pressure. But what if one of them was able to stay standing?

What if one of them was able to withstand the pressure and hold firm in an upright position. What do you think would happen? Maybe something like this...(Set off the second line of dominos)

Even when all the dominos were falling and there was a ton of pressure, this domino stood firm. It had a lot of help to stand because it was anchored to the foundation. Our foundation is God's Word. (Connect this back to last week's lesson of spending time with God through reading His Word). It shows us what is wrong and what is right so that we can be prepared to take a stand when pressure comes.

When you face peer pressure, take a stand for what you know is right.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

• How is peer pressure like the dominoes falling over?
• What does the last taped piece represent?
• What are some things your classmates do that everyone follows?
• What are the qualities of your friends? Are their characteristics ones that you would want to emulate?
• Why do you think it is easier to go along with what everyone else is doing?
• What's dangerous about following the crowd?
• What can you take a stand for this week?
• How will our lives be different from what God intended if we give in to peer pressure?
• What can we do to withstand peer pressure?
• When we have an action plan, we're more likely to do something difficult because we just have to follow the guide. What action plan can we come up with when we are faced with the opportunity to "conform" to peer pressure?

LIFE APPLICATION - 5 Minutes

It can feel scary to take a stand against others. We sometimes think that others might make fun of us and not want to be our friends anymore if we disagree with them. But what is the benefit of standing up for what you believe in?

• Answer: It helps you set boundaries, which builds your self-confidence and self-respect, and boosts self-esteem. It also helps you stay out of trouble.

Instead of seeing it as losing a friend, what gain can we find?

• Answer: It helps you find and make friends who share your values.

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Distribute dominoes to the students and have them work together to set up the dominoes in a creative pattern. Next, the group leader picks a volunteer, who faces their back toward the group and closes their eyes. At the same time, the other players tape one of the dominoes in the pattern to the table/floor. The idea is to make the tape unnoticeable. When complete, the volunteer has three guesses to find out which piece is taped. Next, tip over the dominoes and watch as they fall and stop by the piece taped to the floor. Or, instead, you can create a competition and have everyone set up their own unique pattern of dominos, asking them to make sure that their last domino is anchored down. When you yell, "Go," everyone knocks over their first piece and whoever's row of dominos falls over without tipping the last domino can win a compliment from the servants. Score the students on creativity of pattern and on their last piece being anchored as they are all unique beings meant to be anchored to the Word of the Lord.

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Before the student's leave, hand each of them a sheet of paper and ask them to write down a real life peer pressure scenario that has occurred to them or someone they know and fold the sheet of paper. Take all the papers from the students and mix them up. Have each child pick a scenario blindly.

One of the best ways to uphold your own boundary (i.e. saying no when someone asks you to follow the crowd) is to have a plan of how to escape the situation beforehand so that you don't have to problem-solve on the spot. Not having a plan can be attributed to many people's fall. Pick a folded paper and, this week, role play the peer pressure scenario that you pick with a family member so you can have a plan of what to say/do should said scenario actually occur.

Briefly review what students' come up with at the start of next class.