At the heart of this series is a desire to be somewhere "farther" than where you are now. And the teenage years are all about reaching certain milestones - middle school, high school, driver's license, prom, graduation, college. Growing up isn't easy, and we can probably all think of some adults who still need to grow up. But growing is a big desire of God's. He wants to see us become more than who we usually settle for - not in the worldly sense of accomplishment, but growing in our relationship with Him, growing our character and even growing in the way we relate to ourselves and the world around us.
Based on our discussion last Sunday night, most of you are struggling with attaining a "Big Faith" because of peer pressure. What is it about peer pressure that makes being an open Christian so difficult for you?
Some of the things you mentioned that could help you this week to begin to "grow up" your faith were praying, being nice to people, being a leader, reading your Bible, and listening to Christian music. Have any of you done any of these over the week? If so, share what you did and how you felt afterwards. If not, what happened? Was it more peer pressure? Did you just forget?
Here are a few Bible verses that deal with peer pressure:
Passage Matthew 4:1-10: 1 -3 Next Jesus was taken into the wild by the Spirit for the Test. The Devil was ready to give it. Jesus prepared for the Test by fasting forty days and forty nights. That left him, of course, in a state of extreme hunger, which the Devil took advantage of in the first test: "Since you are God's Son, speak the word that will turn these stones into loaves of bread."
4Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth."
5 -6For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, "Since you are God's Son, jump." The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: "He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone."
7Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: "Don't you dare test the Lord your God."
8 -9For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth's kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, "They're yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they're yours."
10Jesus' refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan!" He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness."
Passage Matthew 16:23:
23But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."
Passage 2 Peter 2:9:
9So God knows how to rescue the godly from evil trials. And he knows how to hold the feet of the wicked to the fire until Judgment Day.
Passage 1 Corinthians 10:13: 13No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.
What do you think of those verses? Do they encourage you at all?
Hope you all are having a great week... Can't wait to see you this Sunday night! : )
4Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: "It takes more than bread to stay alive. It takes a steady stream of words from God's mouth."
5 -6For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, "Since you are God's Son, jump." The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: "He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won't so much as stub your toe on a stone."
7Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: "Don't you dare test the Lord your God."
8 -9For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth's kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, "They're yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they're yours."
10Jesus' refusal was curt: "Beat it, Satan!" He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: "Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness."
Passage Matthew 16:23:
23But Jesus didn't swerve. "Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works."
Passage 2 Peter 2:9:
9So God knows how to rescue the godly from evil trials. And he knows how to hold the feet of the wicked to the fire until Judgment Day.
Passage 1 Corinthians 10:13: 13No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.
What do you think of those verses? Do they encourage you at all?
Hope you all are having a great week... Can't wait to see you this Sunday night! : )
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