When most people, especially students, think of summer they think of VACATION! Time away from the "normal" routine of early rising, classes and homework. While it is a good thing to change things up and have a time of rest and relaxation, encourage your student to make the most out of their summer. Rather than just sleeping it all away, help them to make a summer schedule that would include beneficial and constructive actives. Family vacations are a great time to get away, disconnect from technology and reconnect as a family. If you need some suggestions on summer actives, HF releases their summer activity schedule at the SUMMER KICKOFF on June 2nd, but you have a sneak peak here in the things to come section (shhhh!). Be sure to have your student signup by the event deadline at the latest. We have had to cancel/ reschedule activities due to not enough students signing up. Also, there is at least one activity that we are doing with other churches and space is limited.  Be sure to use the "add to calendar" button on the TBC App/ Website to easily add events to you personal calendar.

Overcoming Peer Pressure ~Acts 4:19
Objective:
Students will understand what empowers peer pressure and will be challenged to use a biblically based game plan for overcoming negative peer pressure.
Key Thought: 
Don’t fear your peers.
Lesson Summary:
In this lesson, we began a four-week study dealing with the issue of peer pressure. Our series is called “Under the Influence: Navigating the Pressure to Conform.” Your student was taught to understand the power of peer pressure and was challenged to use a biblically based game plan for overcoming negative peer pressure. We discussed how even the Apostle Peter faced peer pressure. We learned that as a result of peer pressure, Peter denied Jesus (John 18:17) and distanced himself from certain Christians just because of what others might think of him (Galatians 2:11-13). Eventually, Peter found accountability and strength when he surrounded himself with those who loved God.
We give in to peer pressure because we are afraid of what they will think of us. When we live in fear, we surrender to our peers. Faith, on the other hand, rearranges your priorities and removes the power of fear. Faith is motivated by love and perfect love casts out fear.
Your student was challenged to identify who it is that they most often give in to concerning peer pressure. We asked them to write down the initials of that person and then identify why they are prone to follow this person. They were challenged to answer three questions:
●How can I fall in love with Christ so I don’t fear this person?
●What friendships can I form to help me stay strong?
●What is God’s will for my relationship with this person?
Ask your student how they answered these three questions and begin a conversation about overcoming peer pressure. You can help your student in this next step by talking to them about the struggles of peer pressure. It would be good to let them know how you’ve struggled with it in the past and present. Share with them your thoughts on the power of God in overcoming peer pressure. For some fantastic parental advice on how to talk to your teens, visit www.axis.org for parent guides or to sign up for the free Cultural Translator email.

Who Influences You? ~1 Corinthians 15:33
Objective:
Students will recognize ways in which they have damaged their testimony by giving in to negative peer pressure and will be challenged to take the necessary steps to rebuild their testimony.
Key Thought: 
If you don’t flush it out, you’ll flesh it out.
Lesson Summary:
This lesson was the second of a four-week study dealing with the issue of peer pressure. Our series is called “Under the Influence: Navigating the Pressure to Conform.” The focus of the lesson was to be proactive about removing negative influences and repairing any damage that negative peer pressure has caused. We challenged them to flush out the negative peer pressure or they will flesh it out.
Your student was challenged in four ways. They were challenged to:
1) Remove negative sources of peer pressure.
2) Replace sinful habits with righteous living.
3) Repair a broken testimony.
4) Reach those around them with the Gospel.
Your student needs your help as they navigate the pressure to conform. Use this lesson as a conversation starter with your student about their struggles with peer pressure. Allow them to talk openly with you about areas where peer pressure is difficult to resist. Develop a plan to help your student create an ongoing accountability relationship with someone who will help them resist negative peer pressure. As a silly way to remind them to “flush out” negative peer pressure, a flushing sound can be used as a ringtone for a call from their accountability partner. For some fantastic parental advice on how to talk to your teens, visit www.axis.org for parent guides or to sign up for the free Cultural Translator email.

Turning the Tides ~ Hebrews 10:24-25
Objective:
Students will realize the power of positive peer pressure and will use it to influence others to be more like Christ.
Key Thought: 
Give all you have to influence all you can to follow Christ.
Lesson Summary:
This lesson was the third of a four-week study dealing with the issue of peer pressure. Our series is called “Under the Influence: Navigating the Pressure to Conform.” We focused on using our own influence, positive peer pressure, to help others be more like Christ. Whether we realize it or not, we all have an influence. Whether we like it or not, we all have an influence. The question is, how are we using that influence?
If we want to use it to move others towards being like Christ, we must be intentional, radical, and relational. We ought to be intentional, by looking for every opportunity to help others. We may have to become radical sometimes, by having to confront issues rather than looking away as if we didn’t see them. Our world tells us to mind our own business, but the Bible says that we should “provoke” each other to be more like Christ. Finally, we must be relational because the focus is on people. We don’t just go to church, we are the church!
We also discussed the idea that the best way to learn something new is to see it exemplified in real-time by real people, rather than just by hearing or reading about it. God gave you, as a parent, the privilege and responsibility to be that example to your student; how are you doing in this area? How have you used your influence to encourage your student to be more like Christ?
Your student was challenged to set a reminder on their phone to contact one Christian friend this week and encourage him or her in their walk with Christ. This could be face-to-face, a phone call, text, social media, etc. You could reinforce this lesson by asking your student how you could be a daily encouragement to them in their relationship with God. If they don’t open up about it, consider sending them a text tomorrow morning, describing to them one or two qualities about them you admire or respect. For some fantastic parental advice on how to talk to your teens, visit www.axis.org for parent guides or to sign up for the free Cultural Translator email.

An Audience of One ~ Psalm 33:8
Objective:
Students will learn how a proper view of God will enable them to overcome peer pressure.
Key Thought: 
Live for an audience of One.
Lesson Summary:
This lesson was the final lesson of a four-week study dealing with the issue of peer pressure. Our series was called “Under the Influence: Navigating the Pressure to Conform.” In today’s lesson, your student learned the secret of overcoming peer pressure. We discovered that the secret to overcoming peer pressure comes as a result of fear, dependence, and acceptance: the fear of God, dependence upon God, and understanding of the acceptance of God.
Your student was challenged to:
1. See God for Who He is.
2. See himself/herself for who he/she is.
3. See himself/herself how God sees him/her.
When we fear God more than we do men, we will choose to please Him. When we get a glimpse of His greatness, we will have a greater reverence for Him.
When we humbly admit our weaknesses, it gives us a chance to demonstrate dependence upon God and when we see ourselves as God sees us, we can know that we are 100% loved and accepted by Him.
At the end of the lesson, your student was challenged to search the Scriptures each day this week to find one fascinating or awesome truth about God. Consider taking this challenge with them and discovering together how awesome God is. For some fantastic parental advice on how to talk to your teens, visit www.axis.org for parent guides or to sign up for the free Cultural Translator email.