Weekly Scripture

Weekly Scripture - 1 Corinthians 10:13 (The New Living Translation)
"But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can't stand up against it. When you are tempted, He will show you a way out so you will not give in to it.

The Question: How do we deal with peer pressure?

As we look at the above scripture, we must consider that all peer pressure is a form of temptation whether positive or negative in substance. Teenagers today are being bombarded with constant temptation from every angle possible. Your lives are being pounded daily, whether in school, at home, listening to music, watching television, or surfing the web. Your responsibility as a teenager is to clearly define what is right and what is wrong so that you have a line drawn clearly in the sand. You need clearly defined boundaries so that you know when to say, No! As christians, God has commanded you to walk your talk, not just talk about your faith. When we face peer pressure, we need you remember that we are not alone, and that Christ is right there to help you through it.

The most difficult part of this is the reality of life. We (your youth pastor and parents) cannot be with you all the time. Therefore, we must trust you to make the right decisions. You can only make the right decision if you know what is right and what is wrong. If I seem to be repeating myself, I am. I want you to understand how vital your role is in the responsibility for your decisions.

You must spend quality time with your parents no matter what your age, because they are the most powerful influence on you. Whether you like it or not, this is vital for all of you. If your parents are not Christians, then you need to find Christian adults who can help develop your Christian walk.

We must also remember that you make your own decisions, and we must put our trust in your ability to make the right choice. Our responsibility is to pray day and night for God's power to fill you and to guard you against the temptation you will face.

The Challenge:

Spend some time with your parents or youth pastor, discussing the weekly scripture verse so you may be better prepared to handle the peer pressure you face. Be sure to continually pray for yourself that God will make clear to you the way out He promises to provide.