Scripture Passages
Overview
Peer pressure is a real and powerful force, and it affects us all—young and old. Teens can easily become an outsider or victim of bullies when they end up on the wrong side of peer pressure. That is not to say it is okay to give in to peer pressure, but rather to admit that it can be hard and painful to stand up for something unpopular. Adults can even be victims of peer pressure sometimes. A mom or dad might find themselves experiencing feelings of inadequacy or even failure if they are in some way less successful or less financially equipped than their friends.
Esther was in a position of authority and the king and his advisers were her peers. She could have easily blended in, and even joined the fight against the Jewish nation. Who knows if she would have ever been found to be a Jew, considering the fact that she was so loved and respected as queen. But she stood up and risked her own life to save God’s people. We will each also have to stand up against peer pressure in the last days before Jesus returns.
Opening Activity: Oreo Illustration
Needed: a package of Oreos
- Take out one Oreo from the package, and explain that we are going to learn about peer pressure from an Oreo. The cream in the middle represents us, the sons and daughters of God.
- Read 1 Corinthians 6:18 , “And, ‘I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.’” The white also represents our status as saved from our sins.
- Read 2 Corinthians 5:21 , “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” White also represents our life as followers of Jesus, the light of the world.
- Read Matthew 5:14-16 , “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” The two side cookies represent the world and its influences.
- Squeeze the Oreo and explain that just because the “world” presses in on the “people of God” it does not change who we are. When people reject us or try to crush us with peer pressure to become like the world, we can stand firm knowing that we belong to God and have been saved by the blood of Jesus.
- Unscrew the Oreo and make note that the underside of the cookie has a small smear of cream that rubs off. Even when peers leave or reject us, a little bit of our good influence as followers of Jesus stays with them. As we stand up for our beliefs, God’s truth will spread to others.
(Source: https://www.meetpenny.com/2018/09/peer-pressure-object-lesson-for-kids/)
Questions
- What are some ways you feel the world pressing in on you?
- How important is fitting in with your peers at this time in your life? Why or why not?
- What are some situations in which you were able to be popular while also being a Christian?
- When was the last time you felt different or rejected because you are a Christian? Explain what that was like.
- Have you seen someone changed for the better because you shared your faith with them? Describe your experience.
Transition
As humans we are all at risk for rejection or discouragement in one way or another. As we live from day-to-day, we can avoid the negative drama of peer pressure by remembering the fact that we are sons and daughters of God. Esther remembered who she was, and made her choice to stand up for her people. Our identity as God’s people should make all the difference in our perspective on life and how we live it. Ultimately, our status as children of our Heavenly Father is what will get us through the last day events when peer pressure will be more fierce than ever before.
Bible Study Guide: Out of the World
Read John 15:19 (NIV).
19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.
Questions
- What are some characteristics that are different between a Christian and a nonbeliever?
- What do you believe it means to be chosen by God?
- Define “the world.” What does it mean to be “chosen out of the world”?
- Have you ever felt hated because you are a Christian? Explain the situation.
- What is good about being chosen by God?
Disconnect from the World
Read Romans 12:1-2 (NIV).
1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.
Read Proverbs 1:10, 15 (NIV).
10 My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them.
15 My son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths . . .
Questions
- What does it mean to be a living sacrifice?
- What are some things that could be considered a “pattern of the world”?
- How can peer pressure be a good thing in some cases?
- Think of a time when you stood up for good and became a victim of a bully. Did others join your side because you stood strong in favor of what was right?
- How can we be transformed by the renewing of our minds?
- Is peer pressure enticing sometimes? How can we resist it?
- How can we avoid setting our “foot on their [sinful people’s] paths”?
God’s Priority
Read Matthew 16:26 (NIV).
26 What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?
Questions
- What does being accepted among your peers mean to you?
- What does it mean to “gain the whole world”?
- What does it mean to “forfeit our soul”?
- How can we keep our soul committed to God?
- We must live and thrive while in this world, but how can we avoid forfeiting our soul?
The Struggle is Real
Read Ephesians 6:12 (NIV).
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Questions
- When we face peer pressure and other problems, what are the unseen things happening that cause the conflict?
- Describe what you think the first part of the great controversy in heaven was like between Christ and Lucifer.
- What is our position in the battle between good and evil?
- What is Jesus’ role in our lives while we wait for Him to return?
- How can we not be overcome by “the powers of this dark world”?
- As we come closer to the second coming of Jesus, what can we expect to see around us? What are we seeing around us? (Pandemic, fires, floods, social and political problems, evil called good, etc.)
- When peer pressure situations come up in your life, how will your response to them help you prepare for persecution that will come in the last days?
- How can we stand strong as Esther did, even if we face the possibility of being killed?
- What do the verses about the last days make you feel? Why?
- Jesus is our Savior, and we have nothing to fear. How can we experience victory over fear while we wait for Jesus to return?
Application
People may reject you, but you are God’s chosen child, and He will never leave you. Even if we lose our life on this earth, Jesus paid the price so we can live eternally. Stand up for God’s truth, even in the face of persecution, because we know God has won the victory!
Consider applying what you learned in the following ways:
- Make a poster that illustrates what standing up to peer pressure looks like to you.
- Write an encouraging note to a friend who you watched stand up to peer pressure or a bully at school, letting them know you are on their side.
- Journal about peer pressure and strategies you can use to resist conforming to popular things that go against your beliefs.
- Post quotes or memes on your social media that illustrate your beliefs or stand up for a good cause.
- Give a testimony at church or using social media that shares . . .
- How you were able to stand up for something you believe in
- A situation where you chose not to conform to peer pressure
- Write a letter to God expressing your thoughts, feelings, and hopes about the last day events that will happen before He returns.
- Commit to reading your Bible for a certain amount of time (15 minutes, 30 minutes, 1 hour, etc.) every day this week.
Scripture Passages
LEADER’S NOTE
For a Relational Bible Study (RBS) you’ll want to get into the Scripture passage and encourage the youth to imagine participating in the story while it’s happening. Then you will be able to better apply it to your own situation today.
You will need to ask God for the Holy Spirit to be present as your small group discusses the questions (no more than 3-6 people in a group is recommended). Start with the opening question. It is a personal question and the answer is unique for each individual. There is no right answer and nobody is an expert here, so don’t be surprised when you hear different responses. You are depending on the Holy Spirit to be present and to speak through your group. Say what God prompts you to say, and listen to what others share.
Take turns reading the chapter out loud. Follow that with giving the students some time to individually mark their responses to the questions (a PDF version of the handout is available as a download). This gives each person a starting point for responding when you start to share as a group. Next, begin the discussion by asking the students to share what they marked and why on each question as you work your way through. Feel free to take more time on some questions than others as discussion warrants.
Encourage each person in the group to apply what is discussed to their personal lives and to share with the group what they believe God wants them to do. Then ask them to pray that God will help each of them to follow through in doing so. Remind them to expect that God will show them ways to live out the message of this passage in the coming week, and that they are free to ask others in the group to help hold them accountable.
DOWNLOAD ONE OR ALL THE HANDOUTS PROVIDED HERE, DEPENDING ON WHICH YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO USE AFTER READING THE FOLLOWING LESSON OVERVIEW.
Overview
Most people hear the story of Esther in its entirety; not in two parts. Last week we studied the first four chapters of Esther. While these were intriguing, they certainly didn’t tell the whole story. This week we have “The Rest of the Story” with the remaining six chapters, including details at the end that often aren’t covered when telling the story.
When you read the Bible story for yourself, you’re likely to find familiar portions, but also bits and pieces that might surprise you. Covering all these chapters in just one RBS might be too much. Instead, we’ll provide you with several RBSs for these chapters. You can choose one or two of them for your Youth Sabbath School. You could give different studies to different individuals or different small groups. Or you could use some of the extra ones for Sabbath afternoon or an online Bible study during the week.
There are five different chapter worksheets from which you can choose. After going through whichever chapter worksheets you have decided to use in your class, close in the usual way for an RBS with a summary and a real-life application.
Summary
Your summary will depend on which chapter worksheet you selected. Come up with your own summary or look toward the end of the study questions for a wrap-up. One consistent theme is the unexpected twists and turns in the story. It’s a roller coaster with tragedy and triumph. Timing often seems critical.
It appears that human action is vital, and then it seems that human action makes no difference whatsoever. Either there is a tremendous amount of “luck,” or the hand of God overrules the evil actions of man. Ironically, the word “God” does not appear anywhere in the book of Esther (it’s one of only two books in the Bible that doesn’t specify “God”), and yet God’s actions can be found throughout the book.
Application
The application for the participants in your Youth Sabbath School class will depend on which chapter(s) you studied in Esther 5-10. Come up with your own (note the questions toward the end of each RBS), or draw from or adapt one of the options below.
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ACTING ON PRAYERS
- Esther had people fasting and praying for her before she went uninvited to the king.
- What have people prayed about for you?
- Have you asked people to pray for you? If not, then ask! And then act.
- Put up a handmade sign that says, “God’s people never act without praying, and they never pray without acting.”
- And just like Esther, and be sure you pray as well. And then act!
- LET GO BEFORE YOU SPEAK UP
- This is the opposite of what wicked Haman did. His animosity and animus against Mordecai escalated to the point of his building a gallows to hang Mordecai, plus offering to pay for the eradication of an entire ethnic group.
- Instead of allowing festering evil to rule you, do the opposite of what Haman did, even if your issues are small in comparison.
- Take any animosity you have toward another person, and instead of stewing on it or spreading gossip or escalating with your supporters, turn the issue over to God. That’s right, let God handle the situation for you.
- You will move on with your life instead of being stuck in a downward spiral that could consume you.
- Pray it through with God. Write it on a piece of paper and tear it up once you’ve handed it over to God. Then move on to the next application option.
- CELEBRATE
- The Jews had seven festivals each year. They added Purim, for obvious reasons.
- How many religious festivals do you have at your church?
- How many do you have in your family?
- Start with your reason for celebrating. It could be your salvation, your spiritual birthday (date of your baptism), identifying particular blessings from God, or thanksgiving/gratitude for God’s interventions on your behalf (in your life in unique ways just as Esther and Mordecai had divine interventions). It could be a celebration because of victories in your life, including victories over sin or over whatever has plagued you in the past.
- Once you have your purpose, use some creativity to have a celebration in this time of pandemic.
Mental Health Series for Teens
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