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Teach Them Jesus with Building Bricks

David and Goliath: Faith

1 Samuel 17:32-51; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Genesis 3:15 Old Testament PrincipleFaith

Brick-built David runs toward the giant Goliath in the valley, sling spinning.

The giant Goliath dared Israel's army to fight him, and every soldier was afraid. But a young shepherd named David said, "I will fight him." David told King Saul, "The LORD saved me from the lion and the bear. He will save me from this giant too." David took no armor, only his sling and five smooth stones. He ran at Goliath in the name of the LORD. God guided one stone, and the giant fell. Faith means believing God and acting on it, because we know what He has already done.

Faith is believing God and acting on what He says, even before we see how things will turn out. We can have faith because we remember all that God has already done.

  1. CreationGod made it
  2. FallWe broke it
  3. RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
  4. RestorationJesus makes it new

Memory verse

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

2 Corinthians 5:7 BSB

Christ Connection · Promise

In the garden, God promised that a child of Eve would crush the serpent's head (Genesis 3:15). David's stone struck the giant "on the forehead," and the enemy fell. Long after, Jesus, the Son of David, came to win the real battle. By His death and rising, He destroyed the power of the devil (Hebrews 2:14). We have faith in Him, and His victory becomes ours.

Hebrews 2:14-15; Romans 16:20; Colossians 2:15

The Big Story · Redemption

God promised from the very beginning that someone would come to crush the head of the enemy who brought sin into the world. David's victory over Goliath is a picture of that promise. Jesus, the Son of David, won the real victory over sin, death and the devil.

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Teacher guide plus handouts for preschool through 6th grade. Members can read the full lesson and download everything.

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Teacher Guide Preschool K–2nd 3rd–4th 5th–6th

Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade

A giant named Goliath made fun of God's army, and every soldier was afraid. But young David had faith in God. He said, "God saved me from a lion and a bear. He will save me from this giant too." David took five smooth stones and his sling. He fought in God's name, and God gave him the win with one stone. Faith means believing God, because we remember what He has done.

Start here

Do "How tall is a giant?" Mark nine feet on the wall. Say, "A giant this tall scared a whole army! But one boy had faith. Let's find out why!"

Bible story 6 min

God's army was on one hill. The Philistine army was on another hill. A valley was in the middle.

Every day, a giant came down from the Philistine side. His name was Goliath. He was more than nine feet tall! He wore heavy armor. He yelled, "Send a man to fight me!"

God's soldiers shook with fear. No one would go.

The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.

Try an activity

Build the valley 10 min

You’ll need: A tub of building bricks, Baseplates, Minifigures or small brick people

  1. Pairs build the Valley of Elah from the build guide, with two hills and a blue stream.
  2. Put five gray stones in the stream. Count them!
  3. Act out the story with minifigures. When David wins, say, "The battle is the LORD's!"
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More lessons from this story

Same Bible story, a different principle.

Kings and ProphetsDavid and Goliath1 Samuel 17:1-51; 1 Samuel 16:1-13God saves His people by His own power, through the champion He chooses.Old TestamentFreeTrust

More lessons on Faith

The same principle in other Bible stories.

In the BeginningThe PassoverExodus 11:1-12:42God protected every home marked by the lamb's blood, and Jesus is our Passover Lamb whose death keeps us safe.Old TestamentFaithThe Armor of GodThe Armor of God: Shield of FaithDaniel 3:1-30; Ephesians 6:16; Hebrews 11:33-34; Isaiah 43:2King Nebuchadnezzar set up a huge gold statue and told everyone to bow down or be thrown into a blazing furnace. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego would not bow. "Our God is able to save us," they said. "But even if He does not, we will not bow." They were thrown into the fire, but God was with them, and they came out without even the smell of smoke. The shield of faith means holding on to God Himself, and His promises put out the fiery arrows of fear and lies.Old TestamentFaithThe Twelve SpiesNumbers 13:1–14:38Moses sent twelve spies into the land God promised. They all saw the same good land and the same giants. Ten spies said, "We can't!" Joshua and Caleb said, "The LORD is with us!" The people listened to fear instead of God. Faith means trusting what God says more than what we see.Old TestamentFaithGod Opened Her Heart: Lydia BelievesActs 16:6-15God gave Paul a vision of a man from Macedonia begging, "Come over and help us!" So Paul and his friends sailed across the sea to the city of Philippi. On the Sabbath, they went to the river outside the city to find a place of prayer. There they met some women, and one was Lydia, a businesswoman who sold expensive purple cloth. As Paul talked about Jesus, the Lord opened Lydia's heart, and she believed. She and her household were baptized, and she opened her home to Paul's team. Faith in Jesus is a gift from God.New TestamentFaithJesus Turns Water into WineJohn 2:1-11; Isaiah 25:6At a wedding in Cana, the wine ran out. Jesus turned six huge jars of water into the very best wine. It was His first sign, and it showed His glory, so His disciples believed in Him.New TestamentFaithWith Building BricksNoah and the Flood: FaithGenesis 6:9-9:17; Hebrews 11:7; 1 Peter 3:20-21God warned Noah about a flood no one could see yet. Noah believed God and built the ark just as God said, and God kept him and his family safe inside. Faith means trusting what God says before we see it.Old TestamentFaith