Lesson Learned:  With God’s strength, David defeats the giant, Goliath.

Materials Needed: 5 small sheets of gray construction paper, grocery sack, large piece of construction paper, pencil, scissors, piece of string, tape

Bible Verse:
1 Samuel 17:2-11, 16, 40, 45-50
2 Saul and the Israelites assembled and camped in the Valley of Elah and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. 3 The Philistines occupied one hill and the Israelites another, with the valley between them.
 4 A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span.5 He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; 6 on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. 7 His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him.
 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” 10 Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” 11 On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

16 For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and evening and took his stand.

40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

45 David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. 46 This day the LORD will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”
 48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
 50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

Talking Points:  David was just a small boy when he went to fight a great, big giant named Goliath.  Goliath did not love God and was very mean.  Everyone else was scared to fight Goliath because he was so big and so mean, but David knew that with God’s help, he could defeat Goliath.  David took 5 small stones with him and a sling and when he saw Goliath, he took one stone out of his bag, put it in his sling, and he defeated Goliath.  He only had to use one stone to defeat Goliath because David loved God and God was on his side. With God’s strength, David defeated the giant, Goliath.  When we are on God’s side, we will win too.

Questions:  Why were the people scared of Goliath? Was David scared? Why not? Who helped David defeat Goliath? Have you ever felt scared or uncomfortable around someone? What did you do?

Activity:
Trace the outline of a person onto the construction paper with the pencil and cut it out.  This will be Goliath. Cut a piece of string about 2-3 feet long and tape it to the back of the outline of Goliath.  Tape the other end of the string to the top of a door frame so Goliath is hanging from it.

Crumple up the 5 pieces of gray construction paper until they form small balls. Put them into the grocery sack.

Now, the child is going to try to throw the “balls” at Goliath in the doorway. 

Prayer: Holy Father, we can do anything with You!  We know we have nothing to fear when You are on our side.  We want to be with You always! Amen!

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