My Council of Advisors

When we talk about peer pressure, we almost always talk about it negatively.  There are tons of scriptures and cautionary tales.

Paul warned that “bad company corrupts good morals” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Jesus warned his disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees” (Matthew 16:6).

Peer pressure has a positive effect, too. Good influences can help us be better than we would have been otherwise. Read the following scriptures to see how the Bible speaks of positive influence:

• Acts 4:13
• 1 Timothy 4:12
• Titus 2:7-8
• 1 Peter 5:1-3
• 1 Corinthians 11:1

People say that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with. Who are the five people you spend the most time with?

How have those people made you a better person?

How have they negatively affected you?

I’m not interested in blaming others for our faults—that’s not the point of this lesson. The blame game was pointless in the Garden of Eden and it still is today! BUT – we would be foolish to neglect the fact that we are influenced by those around us.

Locate an example in the Bible of someone who was made better by the people around him or her.

Locate an example in the Bible of someone who was made worse by the people around him or her.

Check out the OpenBible Topical Bible reference on “Influence.” Select one passage you find to be particularly helpful and share it with your friends.

Who is on your council of advisors? How did each person earn his or her spot? What is uniquely helpful about each person’s input?