Who Will You Follow?

Upper Elementary

Lesson 9
Fall 2025
By: RLD Editorial Team
November 02, 2025

Lesson Focus:

We can follow God when others don’t.

Bible Basis:

Numbers 13:1—14:45

Materials Needed:

Step 1:

Internet access

Step 4:

Internet access
Index cards
Pens or markers

Summary & Links:

Students will watch a video about conformity as they discuss peer pressure and realize they can say “no” to their peers and “yes” to following God.

Memory Verse:

“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
—Joshua 24:15

Students will watch a video about conformity as they discuss peer pressure and realize they can say “no” to their peers and “yes” to following God.

Materials Needed:

Internet access

Doing something simply because others are doing it is a good example of what is called “herd mentality.” Herd mentality is when people are influenced so much that they behave the same way as other people—even when they do not understand why the group is acting a certain way.

Show the following video [4:16; stop at 3:33]: Asch’s Experiment and Social Conformity: Why Do We Follow the Group?

In this video, we heard about the Asch Experiment—and how the true participants began to give the wrong answers to conform with the paid actors. When have you done or said something because everybody was doing it? (Answers will vary but may include: following trends in clothes, music, or food; doing positive things like joining an after-school club or team; unkind behaviors such as teasing a peer or carrying on when there is a substitute teacher, etc.)
Why do you think the participants felt more comfortable saying what the others were saying, even though they knew it was wrong? (Answers will vary; they did not want to appear unintelligent; they did not want stand out as being different; they wanted to feel like part of the group, etc.)
Even though participants had the right answers, the majority of participants went along with the actors at least once. Perhaps they felt odd for being different. How does a person keep from giving in to that kind of pressure? (Answers will vary.)

Participants choosing the wrong line length like in the video was harmless, but it says a lot about the way people respond to peer pressure. We want to belong or fit in with others. We may end up following others without stopping to think that we have a choice. We may follow even when what the others are doing is not what we should or want to do.

When have you felt pressured to follow the crowd or follow just a few friends? (Answers will vary.)
What is your biggest fear about what might happen if you do not go along with the group? (Answers will vary; rejection, ridicule, loneliness, isolation, teasing, bullying, etc.)

Moses, Caleb, and Joshua went against the group and stood up for God’s plan when others were too afraid to trust God. Let’s see how they managed to say “no” to peer pressure and “yes” to choosing to serve God.

Looking for Steps 2 & 3?

You can find Steps 2 and 3 in your teacher’s guide. To purchase a teacher’s guide, please visit: Bible-in-Life or Echoes.

Materials Needed:

Internet access
Index cards
Pens or markers

If your class is meeting online, invite students to bring supplies with them to class.

Rather than giving in to the “herd mentality” and agreeing with those who were driven by fear and doubt, Moses, Caleb, and Joshua followed the Lord, their Shepherd. They had a choice, and they chose to serve God. With every pressure to follow the crowd, we have a choice, too. Do we follow the crowd so we can fit in, or do we choose to serve God and walk in His ways even when others do not?

Why do you think people join the crowd even when they do not agree with what the crowd is doing? (They are afraid of how others will treat them, etc.)
Where did Moses, Caleb, and Joshua get their strength to choose to serve God? (Answers might include: they believed God’s promises; from their commitment to God, etc.)

This week as you are faced with big and small pressures, and when following God might mean that you are the only one doing so, making the godly choice may not be easy.

Distribute supplies (or invite students to have them ready at home.) On the index card, write Joshua 24:15, “Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.” Each day, you have a choice: follow the herd of sheep, or follow the Lord, our Shepherd.

While the students are working, you may want to play the following [2:42]: Step by step you’ll lead me and I’ll follow you all of my days

Place the index card in your room where you will see it each day this week. Or, keep it in a pocket or in something else that you carry. When you are faced with peer pressure and the choice to follow God’s ways, let this verse remind you to say a prayer for strength, and choose who you will serve.

Moses, Caleb, and Joshua followed the Lord even when the others did not. Will you?

Close in prayer asking God to give the students the strength to choose to walk in His ways no matter what.

David C Cook COVID-19 Response

Upper Elementary