The Biggest Story Curriculum
David Stands Tall
BEFORE THE LESSON
Read 1 Samuel 16-17.
Pray for God’s help. Ask for the Spirit’s help in understanding the passage and for the Lord to open the children’s eyes to see who he is, what he has done, and how they should respond to him.
Study the lesson plan below. Use these sections as suggestions. Think of ways to teach it in your own voice.
Pray for God’s help. Ask for the Spirit’s help in understanding the passage and for the Lord to open the children’s eyes to see who he is, what he has done, and how they should respond to him.
Study the lesson plan below. Use these sections as suggestions. Think of ways to teach it in your own voice.
The Big Picture
Help children see how this story connects with the other lessons. Build anticipation by introducing the setting and the significance of what is about to happen in this week’s story. {5 minutes}
The Lord “rejected” Saul “from being king over Israel” because Saul “rejected the word of the Lord” (1 Sam. 15:26). That’s the end of last lesson’s story. But it isn’t the end of God’s Big Story. God raised up a new king, one after his own heart. As Samuel was grieving over Saul, God came and said, “Go to the town of Bethlehem and find a man named Jesse. I will pick one of his sons to be the next king.” When he arrived, Samuel saw Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son. He took out his oil to anoint him: “Surely [this is] the Lord’s anointed” (16:6). Eliab, like Saul, was tall and strong. But God said to Samuel, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (16:7). Jesse paraded his next oldest son and the next and the next and the next and the next and the next. Seven sons! “Do you have any more sons?” Samuel asked. “Well,” Jesse said, “there is David. But he is the youngest and he is just a shepherd boy” (see 16:11). But God knew this was a boy that trusted him. Samuel said, “Bring him to me.” When David arrived, he anointed him the new king, and “the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David” (16:13). Let’s see what the Spirit of the Lord can do through those who trust him.
The Lord “rejected” Saul “from being king over Israel” because Saul “rejected the word of the Lord” (1 Sam. 15:26). That’s the end of last lesson’s story. But it isn’t the end of God’s Big Story. God raised up a new king, one after his own heart. As Samuel was grieving over Saul, God came and said, “Go to the town of Bethlehem and find a man named Jesse. I will pick one of his sons to be the next king.” When he arrived, Samuel saw Eliab, Jesse’s oldest son. He took out his oil to anoint him: “Surely [this is] the Lord’s anointed” (16:6). Eliab, like Saul, was tall and strong. But God said to Samuel, “For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart” (16:7). Jesse paraded his next oldest son and the next and the next and the next and the next and the next. Seven sons! “Do you have any more sons?” Samuel asked. “Well,” Jesse said, “there is David. But he is the youngest and he is just a shepherd boy” (see 16:11). But God knew this was a boy that trusted him. Samuel said, “Bring him to me.” When David arrived, he anointed him the new king, and “the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon David” (16:13). Let’s see what the Spirit of the Lord can do through those who trust him.
Teach The Story
Video: David Stands Tall: The Story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 16-17)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYz3R6dUTjs
One day “the Philistines gathered their armies for battle” against Israel, and they sent forward “a champion named Goliath” (1 Sam. 17:1, 4). Goliath was not a sports champion or a chess champion. He was the big winner in beating people up! And he was a big man. “He is seven feet tall,” said one of Israel’s soldiers. “No, he’s got to be nine feet tall!” said another. “And look at his armor,” someone whispered to King Saul. On the giant’s head was a bronze helmet and his body was covered with heavy metal. He was invincible! Unbeatable! “Choose a man for yourselves,” Goliath barked out, “to fight me. If I kill him, we win. But if he kills me, Israel wins” (see 17:8–9). Every single man in Israel’s army was “greatly afraid” (17:11). No one would go forward to fight. Every day for forty days, Goliath made this challenge. One day, when young David was there to bring his big brothers some food, he heard Goliath. “Enough is enough. This big bully should not make fun of our great God. I’ll fight him!” (see 17:26). David told Saul about the times God saved him from getting killed by lions and bears, and he said, “The Lord . . . will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (17:37). This shepherd could not stand Goliath’s defying God, and he trusted God to deliver him and the Israelites. What courage! What faith! Saul said, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” (17:37). The Lord was with David! Indeed, the Spirit of the Lord was David’s strength. David took his slingshot and five smooth stones and marched forward. “Ha!” Goli ath laughed. “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” (17:43). David answered, “The battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand” (17:47). He placed a stone in his sling, swung it around, and let it fly. Whoosh! The stone flew like a bullet and sunk right into the big winner’s big head. Down he fell—dead! Goliath had defied God. The Lord used faithful and courageous David to defeat this enemy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYz3R6dUTjs
One day “the Philistines gathered their armies for battle” against Israel, and they sent forward “a champion named Goliath” (1 Sam. 17:1, 4). Goliath was not a sports champion or a chess champion. He was the big winner in beating people up! And he was a big man. “He is seven feet tall,” said one of Israel’s soldiers. “No, he’s got to be nine feet tall!” said another. “And look at his armor,” someone whispered to King Saul. On the giant’s head was a bronze helmet and his body was covered with heavy metal. He was invincible! Unbeatable! “Choose a man for yourselves,” Goliath barked out, “to fight me. If I kill him, we win. But if he kills me, Israel wins” (see 17:8–9). Every single man in Israel’s army was “greatly afraid” (17:11). No one would go forward to fight. Every day for forty days, Goliath made this challenge. One day, when young David was there to bring his big brothers some food, he heard Goliath. “Enough is enough. This big bully should not make fun of our great God. I’ll fight him!” (see 17:26). David told Saul about the times God saved him from getting killed by lions and bears, and he said, “The Lord . . . will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine” (17:37). This shepherd could not stand Goliath’s defying God, and he trusted God to deliver him and the Israelites. What courage! What faith! Saul said, “Go, and the Lord be with you!” (17:37). The Lord was with David! Indeed, the Spirit of the Lord was David’s strength. David took his slingshot and five smooth stones and marched forward. “Ha!” Goli ath laughed. “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” (17:43). David answered, “The battle is the Lord’s, and he will give you into our hand” (17:47). He placed a stone in his sling, swung it around, and let it fly. Whoosh! The stone flew like a bullet and sunk right into the big winner’s big head. Down he fell—dead! Goliath had defied God. The Lord used faithful and courageous David to defeat this enemy.
Gospel Connection
Show how the story points to Jesus and his rescue mission as the Snake Crusher. {5 minutes}
The story of David’s defeat of Goliath is not about how we can face the giant problems in our lives. Rather it is a story that shows us what God values and how he works in the world. King Saul was tall, handsome, strong, and popular. But God doesn’t look on the outside; he looks on the inside. What’s in our hearts is what matters most. Saul’s heart did not follow after God’s heart. So he was not the king God wanted, which meant he wasn’t the king God used to defeat Israel’s big enemy. But David’s heart beat after God’s heart. Even though he was just a humble shepherd boy, he completely trusted that God could defeat Isra el’s biggest enemy through him. He didn’t need special armor, a strong shield, a bronze helmet, and a long sharp sword. He just needed God’s wisdom and strength. And that’s what God gave him. David’s humility points forward to Jesus’s humility. David’s trust in God was great—it led him through a scary battle. But Jesus’s trust in God was greater—it led him through death itself! And so Jesus accomplished the greatest victory because he had the greatest humility.
The story of David’s defeat of Goliath is not about how we can face the giant problems in our lives. Rather it is a story that shows us what God values and how he works in the world. King Saul was tall, handsome, strong, and popular. But God doesn’t look on the outside; he looks on the inside. What’s in our hearts is what matters most. Saul’s heart did not follow after God’s heart. So he was not the king God wanted, which meant he wasn’t the king God used to defeat Israel’s big enemy. But David’s heart beat after God’s heart. Even though he was just a humble shepherd boy, he completely trusted that God could defeat Isra el’s biggest enemy through him. He didn’t need special armor, a strong shield, a bronze helmet, and a long sharp sword. He just needed God’s wisdom and strength. And that’s what God gave him. David’s humility points forward to Jesus’s humility. David’s trust in God was great—it led him through a scary battle. But Jesus’s trust in God was greater—it led him through death itself! And so Jesus accomplished the greatest victory because he had the greatest humility.
Discuss The Story
1. Question: Why did Samuel think the oldest son would be the next king? Can we tell if people love and trust God by their appearance? Who is the only one that knows completely if we love God or not? And how does he know?
Takeaway: God doesn’t look on the outside; he looks inside at our hearts.
2. Question: Why were all the Israelites afraid of Goliath? Why wasn’t David afraid? How can we be like David?
Takeaway: God is with us, so we don’t need to be afraid of our enemies.
3. Question: What happened when David was anointed that gave him strength for the battle? How was David able to defeat the mighty Goliath? If we are Christians, we have the Spirit just like David. How can this help us when we feel weak or afraid?
Takeaway: The Spirit of the Lord is our strength.
4. Question: How was Jesus an unlikely king like David? What did David do to defeat Goliath? What did Jesus do to defeat sin, death, and Satan?
Takeaway: Through God’s chosen King (Jesus) and his weakness (the cross), God defeated our biggest enemies (sin, death, and Satan).
Memory Verse:
Know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s. 1 SAMUEL 17:47
Takeaway: God doesn’t look on the outside; he looks inside at our hearts.
2. Question: Why were all the Israelites afraid of Goliath? Why wasn’t David afraid? How can we be like David?
Takeaway: God is with us, so we don’t need to be afraid of our enemies.
3. Question: What happened when David was anointed that gave him strength for the battle? How was David able to defeat the mighty Goliath? If we are Christians, we have the Spirit just like David. How can this help us when we feel weak or afraid?
Takeaway: The Spirit of the Lord is our strength.
4. Question: How was Jesus an unlikely king like David? What did David do to defeat Goliath? What did Jesus do to defeat sin, death, and Satan?
Takeaway: Through God’s chosen King (Jesus) and his weakness (the cross), God defeated our biggest enemies (sin, death, and Satan).
Memory Verse:
Know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord’s. 1 SAMUEL 17:47
Activity Or Craft
Option 1 (Activity):
"Sheep In The Pen Relay Race"
"Supply List: bag of cotton balls, plastic spoons (one per team), large plastic cup (one per team)
Before Class: Gather supplies. Scatter cotton balls on the floor on one side of the room.
Divide children into teams and give each team a cup and have them put it on the f loor at the starting line. Give the first child on each team a spoon. When you call out “Go,” the first person on each team should race down, pick up a “sheep” (cotton ball) with the spoon, and bring it back to the “sheep pen” (cup). If the cotton ball falls off the spoon while carrying it, the child must stop and replace it before continuing. Once they put it in the cup, they give the spoon to the next player. Play continues for a predetermined amount of time. The winning team gets the most cotton balls into their team’s cup in the allotted time.
Option 2 (Activity):
"Shepherd the Sheep Game"
Supply List: Masking tape
Before Class: Mark off an area on the floor with the tape so all the children can stand in it.
Have the children stand in the taped area (the sheepfold). Choose one person to be David the Shepherd and the others to be sheep. David stands in the center of the play area and counts to five with his eyes closed. While David counts, the sheep scatter outside of the sheepfold. After counting, David opens his eyes and tries to tag the sheep until he has tagged them all. When a sheep is tagged, she is sent to the sheepfold. As time allows, the last person to be tagged can be the new David.
Option 1 (Craft):
"Heart Necklace"
Supply List: cardstock, hole punch, scissors, marker/crayons, pony beads in a variety of colors, thin yarn/string, small bowls
Before Class: Gather supplies. Cut out small paper hearts on cardstock that say, “God looks at the heart.” Hole punch two holes in the top of the heart so the heart will lay flat when string is threaded through it. Cut thin yarn into 24-inch pieces. Place beads in small bowls (one per table). Make a sample craft.
Give each child one piece of string and a heart. Place beads and markers/crayons on each table. Have children decorate the paper hearts and then string a piece of thin yarn through the holes in the heart. Then have them add pony beads in patterns and colors of their choosing to the sides of the heart. Tie each child’s string to form a necklace.
"Sheep In The Pen Relay Race"
"Supply List: bag of cotton balls, plastic spoons (one per team), large plastic cup (one per team)
Before Class: Gather supplies. Scatter cotton balls on the floor on one side of the room.
Divide children into teams and give each team a cup and have them put it on the f loor at the starting line. Give the first child on each team a spoon. When you call out “Go,” the first person on each team should race down, pick up a “sheep” (cotton ball) with the spoon, and bring it back to the “sheep pen” (cup). If the cotton ball falls off the spoon while carrying it, the child must stop and replace it before continuing. Once they put it in the cup, they give the spoon to the next player. Play continues for a predetermined amount of time. The winning team gets the most cotton balls into their team’s cup in the allotted time.
Option 2 (Activity):
"Shepherd the Sheep Game"
Supply List: Masking tape
Before Class: Mark off an area on the floor with the tape so all the children can stand in it.
Have the children stand in the taped area (the sheepfold). Choose one person to be David the Shepherd and the others to be sheep. David stands in the center of the play area and counts to five with his eyes closed. While David counts, the sheep scatter outside of the sheepfold. After counting, David opens his eyes and tries to tag the sheep until he has tagged them all. When a sheep is tagged, she is sent to the sheepfold. As time allows, the last person to be tagged can be the new David.
Option 1 (Craft):
"Heart Necklace"
Supply List: cardstock, hole punch, scissors, marker/crayons, pony beads in a variety of colors, thin yarn/string, small bowls
Before Class: Gather supplies. Cut out small paper hearts on cardstock that say, “God looks at the heart.” Hole punch two holes in the top of the heart so the heart will lay flat when string is threaded through it. Cut thin yarn into 24-inch pieces. Place beads in small bowls (one per table). Make a sample craft.
Give each child one piece of string and a heart. Place beads and markers/crayons on each table. Have children decorate the paper hearts and then string a piece of thin yarn through the holes in the heart. Then have them add pony beads in patterns and colors of their choosing to the sides of the heart. Tie each child’s string to form a necklace.
Contact Hannah Kitchens at hannah@gatherwithus.church for more information.