Opening

Find out from the children if they have been in a situation where they were faced with something they feared, but had to be very courageous. Receive the answers from the children. The following story is about Samson, who was known as the strongest man in the Bible. He faced every danger with much boldness.

Bible Story

 ● We want to become children who choose to have goals that almost seem impossible, but still have confidence that we can do it. This means that we come to a knowledge of who God created us to be. That God did not give us a Spirit of fear, but one that bears boldness, and courage. We should walk in faith that God has made it possible for us to walk beyond our fears.
● Our memory verse today teaches us that God has given us the ability to walk out of fear and walk in love and power and self-control. We do not let the things that scare us to control us but we allow God through His spirit to guide us.
● In our Bible story today, we meet a young man called David. He has been sent by his father to take some food to his brothers, who are soldiers in the army of Israel. The nation of Israel at that time was at war against the Philistines.

● The army of Israel was led by King Saul. The army of the Philistines had their champion called Goliath. He was a very huge man, and he was feared by all of Israel. The Philistines believed he could not be challenged or defeated.
● Goliath would come out each day, and shout his usual defiance against the nation of Israel.
● David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. David heard the shouts from Goliath, and asked the men standing near him what would be done to the man who would be able to kill Goliath, who was disgracing God and the nation of Israel.
● King Saul had promised to give his daughter in marriage, to any man who would be able to kill Goliath.
● David was overheard asking what would be given to the man who will kill Goliath, and was reported to King Saul, who sent for him. David asked for permission to fight Goliath, but King Saul thought David would not be able to kill Goliath, as he was only a young man.
● David, full of confidence, told the king that whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from his father’s flock, he would rescue the sheep. When the lion or bear attacked him, he would fight back, and kill it. He said the Lord who rescued him from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear, would rescue him from the hand of Goliath. This showed David’s faith that God will protect him.
● King Saul allowed him to go fight Goliath, and dressed him in his army tunic. However, when David tried walking around, he felt uncomfortable as he was not used to the heavy army tunic. He took them off.
● He then 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.
● Goliath looked David over and saw he was a little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him.
● He asked David, ‘Am I a dog that you come at me with sticks?’ And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. He told David that he will give his flesh to the birds and the wild animals.
● David said to Goliath, ‘You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. David’s faith in God was great.
● As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. He took out a stone, slung it, and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into Goliath’s head, and he fell facedown to the ground, and died.
● David ran over, and stood over Goliath’s body. He took Goliath’s sword and used it to cut off his head.
● When the Philistines saw that their hero had been killed, they turned and ran. The Philistines had for a long time believed that Goliath was undefeatable. They had laid all their hope on him.
● So, just like David, we should be children who strive to dare greatly. Let us learn to look beyond our fears, and have faith in the saving grace of God.

Questions

1. Why did God give the Israelites over to their enemies? They did evil
2. What can we learn from Samson? He was a brave/ fearless
3. Who betrayed Samson? Delilah