God Helps Us When We Are Afraid and Ashamed

David faces the giant Goliath

Learning goal: Each child will find peace and security by faith in Jesus.

Preparation: Gather some smooth stones that children can write on.

Children may want to color the picture at the end of this lesson.

Read or tell by memory the story of David and Goliath from 1 Samuel 17:20-51. If possible, have an older child read it to the others. Then ask the children questions about how God’s power overcomes fear and shame:

¨ What was David doing while his older brothers were fighting in the army?

¨ What did David learn to do while he watched his father’s sheep?

¨ What complaint did David’s older brother make when David came to the battlefield?

¨ Why did David refuse to wear Saul’s armor when he went out to fight?

¨ Who made David strong when he went out against the giant, Goliath?

¨ How did God help a young boy to kill a giant that was frightening people?

Activity: Defeat our fears

Write on a large piece of paper some fears that people have.
The children might mention some of their fears.

Older children write on the stones words that describe God.
Let all the children mention words that tell about God, such as: “POWERFUL,” “KNOWS EVERYTHING,” “LOVES ME,” “IS EVERYWHERE,” and “SAVES ME.”

Let the children throw the stones at the paper target with their fears written on it.
You may want to take the children outside to do this.

Something to think about: The stones remind us of God's power to protect weak people. The stone that David hurled at Goliath was small but God made it powerful.

The Shelter of the Most High. Let four children read, say by memory, or sing the four parts of Psalm 91 (verses. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12):

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I put my trust.”

He will cover you with his feathers
and under his wings you will find refuge;

You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

Nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.

A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;

They will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Dramatize the story of David and Goliath from 1 Samuel 17:1-51.

¨ Arrange with worship leaders to present the drama to the adults.

¨ If time is limited, skip the less important parts of the story.

¨ Some children should act like Philistines, others like Israelite soldiers.
If there are not enough children, then ask adults to help.

¨ Practice until everyone knows what to do and say.

When the narrator comes to a next part of the story, the actors say the words and act out the actions of the person in the Bible.

Narrator:      Read those parts of the story that are not spoken, and pause to let actors act out their parts. Have two children stand in for Jesse and the King.

Goliath          Carry a stick (to represent a spear) and shout loudly and angrily.

David:           Pretend to use a sling, which was a leathern pouch that held a stone, with two attached cords. One would swing it in a circle above his head, then let go of one cord to release the stone.

Get a more complete dramatization of David fighting Goliath (5 minutes):

http://biblestoryskits.com/004-david-faces-peril-with-faith-and-courage/