Start lesson:

Hook (should take 15 minutes):
Blind man's bluff

Well if any of you really haven't been in a chalet with 10 others and only a deck of cards where no one wants to sleep and everyone's ready to spout nonsense, then here's how it goes:

Aim:
To be the wield the highest valued* card.

Introduction:
Blind man's bluff (also called Indian poker, or squaw poker or Indian head) is a version of poker that is unconventional in that each person sees the cards of all players except his own. Keep the groups small, reasons would be explained later.

Procedure:
Firstly a deck of cards is thoroughly shuffled. Next, a card would be drawn by a player while not looking at it and placing the underside against the forehead. The rest would comment on his or her card and since the goal is to wield the highest valued card, discouragement in the form of a bluff or double bluff should be applied to influence the player's decision. The player who is wielding the card can choose to either hold on to the card or dispose of it for another. This is repeated until the player has decided on a card to hold on to. This should be repeated until everyone has obtained a card. Once this is done, everyone should reveal their cards for comparison, where the players have their first chance to see their own card. The “winner”** would be the one with the card with the highest value.

Discussion:
As most of you guys probably already know, this game is about peer pressure and the christian perspectives of peer pressure. The main idea to get across this game is for them to realize that this game is an allegory for the basics of the structure of peer pressure in society. Get them to notice whether there is someone who is more influential than others and try to recall what made that person so influential, their speech patterns or what set them apart. This gives you an indication of what kind of people they would trust. At the same time, ask them if they have at one point just decided to ignore everything around them and. left it to a gut feeling or luck, which would also give you an indication of their choices under pressure

Conclusion:
This exercise should successfully introduce you to your student's manner of choice under pressure, and should give you a good example to compare to when going through the lesson

Start with lesson proper:
Opening prayer and sharing (5 mins)

Focus of lesson:
Holding barriers against peer pressure without alienating oneself.


Read Romans 12:1-2

Qn1) What does it mean to offer our body as “living sacrifices”? (verse 1)

What is a sacrifice? In the context of the old testament, a sacrifice means to kill a newborn sheep/animal so that it can atone for the sins of the people or serve as an act of worship to God. However, what Paul is saying is that all these are not necessary anymore (because of Jesus death on the cross). What God wants is for us to give/submit our lives totally to him and for us to seek and follow his will.

Qn2) Why should we not conform any longer to the pattern of this world?/Why should we not yield to negative influences around us? – it’s a cool thing to be able to do whatever we want to do! (verse 2)

The answer to this question can be found in verse 2 itself. “Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

The way we can know God’s will for us is by honouring and obeying him, and the only way we can do that is by refusing to be influenced by societal pressures/negative peer pressure. As we replace our old way of thinking (worldly values etc.) and adopt an entirely new perspective – from God’s point of view – we will begin to recognize God’s will more and more.

God may not dictate the details of our lives (such as what to eat, what colour clothes to wear), but he will give us spiritual principles for everyday decisions. Knowing God’s will results from doing his will as revealed in Scripture. (For example, to love one another, to spread the gospel, to not conform to the negative influences of this world) Hence the way to learn what is God’s will for us is to 1) study the scripture 2) act on what we have learnt from the scripture and 3) to continually seek a closer relationship with God each day. We would definitely not be carrying out these 3 things when we choose to cave in to peer pressure and do what “seems cool” or what our friends/the world wants us to do.

Read 1 Peter 2:11-12

Qn3) why are we called aliens and strangers to this world?

Many of those to whom Peter wrote were living far from their homeland. Peter uses their experience to picture how believers live on a temporary basis in the world – whose values are very different from those of a Christian. The Christian’s homeland is heaven (Heb. 11:13). Thus in whatever we do here on earth we should remember the eternal consequences of our actions/behavior/decisions.

Qn4) How do sinful desires war against our soul?

Our sinful desires lead us in committing acts that displeases God. Hence in this way it is like a constant/perpetual war and battle for us. We have to be equipped for battle (by knowing God’s word) so that we would be triumphant in this war that is raging within our soul.

Qn5) How do we then abstain from our sinful desires but yet reach out to our non-believer friends?

As mentioned in V12, we are to live such good lives among the non-believers such that they can see our good deeds and know that the God- centred life we are leading is wonderful, great and AWESOME! Hence we not only not conform to the ways of the world (as mentioned previously in 1 Corinthians) but we can go a step further – by leading godly lives in obedience to God! In speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

Qn6:

Ask the kids: What was the one major concept that was covered last week?
Kids (hopefully eventually): That we love the sinner and hate the sin

Next, tell the kids that the concept of loving the sinner and hating the sin when applied to peer pressure, on how we should never be affected by their influence to sin but still maintain a bond with them in order to bring them to god.

Finally, pose them the question: Do you think there are situations where you think it is practically unavoidable that you would fall into sin. (kids: ya...probably...). You: So what should you do in these situations?

Suggested answers: Firstly, pray to god for courage and wisdom and also learn more about him through the bible. Pray to god for the courage not to only be able to reach out to them but to be able to resist temptation when the time comes, and ask god for wisdom to understand what is pleasing to him and how to deal with such characters. Reinforce your stability in Christ through the bible and then take a leap of faith to be a living example, a living sacrifice.

Qn7:

This question is here in order to hit the nail on the head on why they should set an example of a christian life.
Start with: Read verse 12 again. Then ask the what the bible means by pagans. Settle for the short answer “
It refers to non Christians.” If they are interested, explain in further detail.
Follow up the question with: “so what does it mean by glorifying god on the day that he sees us.” Again it is alright to settle for the short answer: “It means that they have became Christians.” In further detail, it simply refers to the non Christians accepting Christ before they die.


Now it would be good time to get everyone to share what practical steps they could take to be an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity in their relationships with their peers. For the guys, it could be the frequent spewing of vulgarities when together with their friends, thus we could challenge them to not conform to their group norms but instead be the one that takes a stand to not use vulgarities. Or maybe it would be gossiping/bullying some other classmate. The point is to try to challenge our sec 1’s to take that stand for God and to be that living example and living worship to God in their everyday pursuits


Conclusion:

Get your kids to turn to 1 Peter 2:11-12:
Dear friends I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul

After reading this, recap on what was discussed during the lesson. Firstly, recall the concept of loving the sinner and hating the sin and recall how it applies to peer pressure, and how knowing you're vulnerable to such pressures is a strength which tells you when to avoid them completely

Next, clarify any doubts they have and get them to have someone they have in mind who is heavily affected by peer pressure.

Closing prayer.