Have you ever been influenced by your friends to do something you knew you probably shouldn’t do? Maybe you skipped a class simply because everyone else was. Perhaps you stayed quiet when you knew you should have stood up for something.

Peer pressure is something each of us deals with at times in our lives. It’s when we change our behavior to match what our friends are doing, even if we don’t agree with it. Sometimes we do it simply so we don’t stand out. Often, peer pressure causes us to go against our values because we don’t want to say no, even when we know we should.

The pull of peer pressure is very strong. And it takes real boldness to stand up and walk away when you know that those actions will cause you to be ridiculed behind your back.

My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them! – Proverbs 1:10 (NLT)

And even though sometimes we give in to peer pressure, saying yes to peer pressure doesn’t make things easier in the long run. Saying yes when you should say no sometimes makes you feel worse than you would have if you had just walked away.

Today’s Truth: A yes to peer pressure today doesn’t mean things will be easier tomorrow.

So if you haven’t, determine that this year you will stand up firm for God. Don’t let your friends influence you to make bad choices. Instead, decide that you will stand up boldly for God even if you’re alone. Don’t give in and go against what you know in your heart is right. Stand up. Stand firm for what is right. Even though you might experience ridicule in the short term, in the long run, you’ll be happy that you chose to stand up for what is right.

Pray: God I ask for your help this year at school. Help me to be bold and say no to peer pressure. I want to be a light for you this year in everything I do. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Go Deeper:

1. Where are you tempted most when it comes to peer pressure?
2. What are some strategies you can use to help you say no when you’re tempted to give in to peer pressure?

I remember being confronted many times in school, and not knowing what to say to the students who asked questions about my faith. I wasn’t really sure what I believed or how to defend my faith. As a result, I was often silent when asked about my faith.

There’s power in understanding what you believe and why you believe it. Then when students come and question your faith, you can respond confidently, and hopefully influence them to love Jesus too.

So spend some time researching why you believe the Christian faith. There are many good resources online where you can find good solid apologetics for the Christian faith. Read them. Understand why you believe what you do about Jesus. If you’re struggling to find something, reach out to your youth pastor, pastor, or church leader and see what they’ve found helpful.

Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. – 1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

Studying Helps You Succeed

When you go to take a test at school, you’re going to do better on it if you have spent time studying for the test. Then when you’re asked the questions on the test, you’re able to answer them confidently. In the same way, if you study what you believe, you’ll feel more confident when your faith is tested by the questions of others.

So if you haven’t, begin studying. Become confident in your faith in Jesus. Know that faith in Jesus is not uninformed, but it’s the most rational natural thing out there. Be prepared to confidently respond when others ask questions about your faith.

Today’s Truth: Knowing what you believe gives you boldness to answer the critics.

Pray: God help me to find good resources to help me defend my faith. I ask you for supernatural opportunities this year to share my faith with others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Things to think about

1. Do you feel confident to defend your faith? Why or why not?
2. What are some ways you can become more confident in defending your faith?

Going back to school is intimidating, especially if you don’t like doing schoolwork. The idea of keeping up with all your assignments can cause anxiety, and cause you to dread the start of school. It’s true, going to school can be stressful, however, it’s good to remember that you’re not going to school each day alone.

God is always there with you. The good news is, He has not left you to figure out school alone. Instead, God wants to help you each day when you walk into that school building.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. – Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

Don’t forget that God wants to help you as you transition back to school. Ask Him for ways to help make studying and schoolwork easier. Seek His wisdom and help with those subjects that are difficult and overwhelming for you. Ask God to bring the things that you’ve studied back to your memory. God is there and wants to help you, you’ve just got to ask Him.

Today’s Truth: Ask God for Help

Remember as you head back to school that you’re not going into the school building alone. You can rely on supernatural help from God. He is there to walk with you in the new school year. So, don’t give in to fear. Each time fear begins to attack your heart, speak truth from God’s word. Remind yourself that even in the most difficult of circumstances, God always comes through for those who trust in Him.

Pray: God thank you for helping me with school this year. I ask you to show me ways to make schoolwork less overwhelming for me. I know that with your help I can do my best at school this year. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Things to discuss and think about.

1. What things are you the most concerned about regarding the upcoming school year?
2. How can you ask God to help you with those things?
3. What is one thing you want to see God do for you this year at school?

You’re probably headed back to school soon if you haven’t already. The journey back into the classroom brings all different kinds of emotions. Some students are excited. Other students dread going back.

Regardless of your feelings about going back to school, let’s talk a little about learning today.

Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. – Proverbs 9:9 (NLT)

Much of your ability to learn centers around you choosing to not give up. Maybe you don’t like the subject you’re studying this year. That makes it hard to WANT to learn. However, even if the subject matter isn’t interesting to you, realize that if you try, you CAN learn something. Even if you hate math, you can learn to develop character just by sticking with it and trying your best.

Throughout the rest of your life, you will always be learning. If you get a job, you’ll constantly be learning how to do that job better. If one day you get married and have kids, you’ll be learning all the time how to be a better parent. For the rest of your life, each day will be filled with learning.

Learning doesn’t stop when you finish school. So determine to not give up when you’re not interested or when things seem hard. Instead, realize that developing the ability to learn will help set you up for success in whatever God has for your future!

Today’s Truth: Don’t Give Up When Things Seem Tough

Pray: God, thank you for helping me develop a love for learning. I realize that I’ll keep learning and growing for the rest of my life. Help me to find ways to develop a love to learn even when things seem difficult. Amen.

Things to Think About

1. What do you dread the most about going back to school?
2. Are there any strategies you can come up with to help yourself stay engaged, even when the course material doesn’t interest you?
3. How can you encourage yourself to not give up, even when things are tough this year?

Do you ever find it difficult to stand up for God when it seems like everyone else you know is going the other direction? Maybe your best friends are making bad choices, getting involved with sex, drinking, or simply not following after the things of God.

Samuel probably felt a lot like you might. He lived in the temple, but the people he was surrounded with (Eli’s sons) were very wicked. I’m sure there were times when that might have bothered Samuel.

However, it shows that Samuel didn’t let the bad choices of the people around him stop him from serving God. It says that Samuel grew in favor with the Lord. That means he probably was spending time in the presence of God. He was probably praying and reading the scriptures. He wasn’t letting those people around him stop him from getting to know God.

As a result, Samuel grew both physically and in favor with the Lord. He loved the Lord, knew Him, and spent time with Him.

Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the LORD and with the people. – 1 Samuel 2:26 (NLT)

So if you feel alone in your stand with God, don’t worry. Many times in history people like Samuel have had to stand up for their faith, and it often feels lonely. However, standing up for God is worth it. You’ll never regret taking the time to have a deep and meaningful relationship with God.

Decide to start this new school year off right. Determine that you’ll stand for God even if you feel alone. Standing up for what’s right is always worth it!

Today’s Truth: Standing up for what’s right is always worth it

Pray: Dear God, I ask for your help. There are times that I feel like the only person serving you. I know that serving you is worth it in the end. Help think of practical ways to stay encouraged in my walk with you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Things to think about and discuss

1. When is a time when you felt all alone in your stand for Jesus?
2. What things help you stay encouraged when you feel all alone?

Youth Group Discussion Questions – Why You Shouldn’t Compromise

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But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. – Psalm 56:3 (NLT)

I remember the year I started 6th grade. I was afraid. 6th grade meant that I had to switch buildings, it meant lockers and combinations, and switching classes. All of those new things caused me to dread the upcoming school year.

I lost sleep worrying about the new building. I wondered if I’d ever find my classes. Many nights, I had nightmares that I was lost wandering the school’s halls.

For many students, a new school year can cause them some anxiety. You might be one of those students and find yourself staying up at night dreading the start of the year.

The thing about dread is that it’s really fear. It’s being afraid of something that might happen.

Today’s Truth: Put your trust in God even when you’re afraid.

So in those moments when you begin to dread going back to school, take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. Yes, you might be at a new school. There might be new bullies or new challenges that the new school year brings, but that’s ok. You’re not navigating the school alone. You have God to help you.

So determine to put your trust in God. Even when you’re afraid. Even in those moments when you don’t know what to do. Put your trust in God. He will see you through. He’ll help you remember where your classes are. God will help you be a success this year at school if you’ll simply put your trust in Him.

Pray: God, there are parts of the upcoming school year that are causing me anxiety. I ask you for your help. Help me to be a success this year at school. I give my worries and concerns to you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Things to think about and discuss

• What causes you the most anxiety about the upcoming school year?
• How can you take those things that you’re anxious about and give them to God?
• What do you want to see God help you with this year?

5 Devotions to Defeat Fear

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Anxiety. It’s tough, right? Maybe you’re anxious about whether you’ll make friends at a new school this year. Perhaps the idea of tests makes you want to stay in bed and hide. If you’re honest, there’s probably something about the upcoming school year that makes you anxious.

Anxiety is often our response to the unknown. We don’t know how the school year is going to go and so due to that, we become anxious anticipating it’s start.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. – 1 John 4:18 (ESV)

Today’s verse gives us some help when it comes to anxiety. It says that perfect love casts out fear. So what does that mean for you?

It means that as you focus on God, and His perfect love for you, that knowledge will help cast out fear and anxiety in your life.

Today’s Truth: Knowing God loves you causes fear to go.

So, if you feel extra anxious this year about starting school, take some time to focus on God and His love for you. Realize that He can and will help you be successful at school. He wants to help you have peace when you take a test. God wants to help lead you to the right friends. So instead of being anxious, determine to trust God and focus on His love for you. As you do, you’ll realize that you don’t have to be anxious, instead you can be confident, knowing that God loves you and wants His best for your life!

Pray: Dear God, help me realize how much you love me. I ask you to show me. Help me next year at school. I choose to trust you, and focus on your love this year, instead of my anxiety. In Jesus, name, Amen.

Things to Think About or Discuss

1. What are some ways that God has shown His love for you?
2. What is a scripture you can use to remind yourself how much God loves you?

Youth Group Discussion Questions – What Does The Bible Say About Anxiety?

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School can be stressful. Friendships, making sports teams, keeping up with a job and all the homework can sometimes feel overwhelming.

The good news is that God doesn’t want life to be so stressful and overwhelming that it keeps you up at night. God’s best is that you’re able to live your life at peace.

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. – Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

Just because that’s God’s best for your life, doesn’t mean that it’s going to happen automatically, however. It takes some effort on your part. You have to work on getting your emotions and thoughts lined up to God’s word.

Today’s Truth: God’s Best for your life is that you live in peace.

That becomes easier as you read and study the Bible. As you read God’s word, it becomes more exciting to you and it becomes what you think about, rather than all the stressful things going on around you. As you spend time in God’s word, it’s easier to be at peace.

You don’t have to live your life in a place of fear and torment. God’s best for your life is that you live in peace.

Take a Moment to Pray: Jesus, I ask for your peace this school year. Sometimes school can be overwhelming, but I ask for your help and wisdom this year. Help me to live in your peace. In Your name, Amen.

Think About and Discuss

1. How can you make room in your life to spend more time in God’s prescence?
2. What causes you the most stress and fear right now?
3. How can you take those things to God and walk in His peace?

I remember each year getting ready to go back to school. For me, going back to school wasn’t a time I was excited about. I was always anxious about what the next year would bring.

I’d begin to worry about whether I’d remember everything for the first day of school. I’d be anxious about finding the right classrooms. Sometimes, I’d even stay up at night worrying about these things.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. – Philippians 4:6

What I didn’t realize was that I didn’t need to carry that worry. I didn’t need to lose sleep over whether I’d find the right classroom or remember the right stuff for school.

I could have relaxed, realizing that I had supernatural help from God. God was there to help me remember everything I needed. He was willing to help me with getting my locker open and finding the right classroom.

Today’s Truth: Relax, You Have Supernatural Help From God

Being anxious about going back to school is easy. It’s the default response to something unknown, like how the school year will be.

God wants you to walk free from anxiety. And that starts when you put your full trust in Him. When you reach out and know that He will help you, deliver you, and give you everything you need.

Take a Moment to Pray: Jesus, I want to ask for your help this year at school. I choose to not worry, but rather pray about everything that concerns me. I know that you love me and will help me to be a success this year at school. In your name, I pray, Amen.

Think About and Discuss

1. What concerns you most about the upcoming school year?
2. What are some concerns you can take to Jesus in prayer for this school year?
3. During this school year, what is one thing you can do to remember that you have supernatural help from God?

So now I live with the confidence that there is nothing in the universe with the power to separate us from God’s love. I’m convinced that his love will triumph over death, life’s troubles, fallen angels, or dark rulers in the heavens. There is nothing in our present or future circumstances that can weaken his love. – Romans 8:38 (TPT)

When you get hurt by someone it might cause you to question God’s character. You might wonder, does He really love me? If so, why did something so bad happen to me? These questions, if unanswered can really shake your faith in God.

However, today’s Bible verse helps us see how great God’s love is for us. It tells us that there is nothing, not life’s troubles or present circumstances that can weaken His love for us. That’s good news! There is nothing that you can go through or anything that can be done that will change God’s love for you.

God loves you. He thinks you’re great! So even if people don’t see your potential or hurt you, you can stand firm in the fact that God loves you. In the middle of your hurt, in the middle of your pain, don’t turn from God. God is the one who loves you when no one else does. He’s the one that will be with you in the middle of your storm. Go to God. Stand firm, knowing His love will carry you through.

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