David and Goliath teaches children that God helps us even when we feel small or scared, and that God can use the least likely person to do something big. This lesson suits children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes to teach, including the story, the reading, and one activity.
Big Idea
God is bigger than any giant, and He can help even a young shepherd boy win a battle.
Memory Verse
1 Samuel 17:45
Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to you in the name of the LORD of Armies, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
(WEB)
Have the children stand tall with their arms stretched out wide, then hold up one hand like a shield each time they say “the Lord of Armies.” Repeat the verse together three times, getting a little louder each time.
The Story: 1 Samuel 17 for Kids
A long time ago, the Philistine army gathered to fight the army of Israel. They camped on one hill, and Israel camped on the hill across a valley. Between the two hills was a deep valley called the valley of Elah. Every morning and every evening, a huge soldier named Goliath walked out in front of the Philistine army. He was taller than any man the Israelites had ever seen, and he wore heavy bronze armor.
Goliath shouted across the valley. “Pick one man to fight me! If he wins, we will be your servants. If I win, you will be our servants!” Saul, the king of Israel, and all his soldiers were terrified. For forty days, Goliath came out and shouted the same words, and nobody dared to step forward.
Now, there was a young shepherd named David. He was the youngest son of a man named Jesse, and his three oldest brothers were already soldiers in Saul’s army. One day, David’s father sent him to the battlefield with food for his brothers. When David arrived, he heard Goliath shouting, and he couldn’t believe that no one was answering him.
David said to King Saul, “Let no one lose heart because of this giant. I will go and fight him.” Saul said, “You are only a boy, and he is a warrior. You cannot fight him!” But David told Saul about the times he had protected his sheep from a lion and a bear. He said, “The Lord who saved me from the lion and the bear will save me from this Philistine.” Saul let David go.
David did not wear the heavy armor, because it did not fit him and he had not tested it. Instead, he took his shepherd’s staff, picked up five smooth stones from the brook, and carried his sling. When Goliath saw him, he laughed and said, “Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?” David answered, “You come to me with a sword and a spear, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel.”
David ran toward the giant, put one stone in his sling, and let it fly. The stone struck Goliath in the forehead, and the giant fell down. David ran over, took Goliath’s own sword, and finished the battle. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they ran away, and the army of Israel chased after them.
Read It Together
1 Samuel 17:4-7
4 A champion out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span went out. 5 He had a helmet of brass on his head, and he wore a coat of mail; and the weight of the coat was five thousand shekels of brass. 6 He had brass shin armor on his legs, and a brass javelin between his shoulders. 7 The staff of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; and his spear’s head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. His shield bearer went before him.
(WEB)
Point out how big Goliath was and how heavy his armor was. Ask the children to act out how tall he would look standing across the valley, and remind them that everyone else was afraid.
1 Samuel 17:32-37
32 David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.” 33 Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are but a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.” 34 David said to Saul, “Your servant was keeping his father’s sheep; and when a lion or a bear came, and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after him, and struck him, and rescued it out of his mouth. When he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and struck him, and killed him. 36 Your servant struck both the lion and the bear. This uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 David said, “The LORD who delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go! The LORD will be with you.”
(WEB)
Show the children how David remembered God’s help with the lion and the bear before he faced the giant. Point out that his courage came from remembering what God had already done for him.
1 Samuel 17:47-50
47 And that all this assembly may know that the LORD doesn’t save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he will give you into our hand.” 48 When the Philistine arose, and walked and came near to meet David, David hurried, and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 David put his hand in his bag, took a stone, and slung it, and struck the Philistine in his forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and struck the Philistine, and killed him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
(WEB)
Help the children see that David’s victory belonged to the Lord, not to his size or his weapons. Notice that David did not use Saul’s armor, and that God gave the win through a single stone.
Talk About It
- How do you think David felt when he saw the giant and all the soldiers were afraid?
- What did David remember about God that helped him feel brave?
- Why did David say no to Saul’s heavy armor, and what does that teach us about being ourselves?
- What is a giant problem you face, and how can you ask God to help you with it?
- How can we tell other people about the way God helped David win the battle?
Activity Ideas
Five Smooth Stones Craft
You will need paper plates, markers, glue, and five small paper circles for each child. Have the children draw a shepherd on a plate, then glue five paper stones to the edge as a reminder of David’s choice. As they work, talk about one thing God has helped them with this week.
Giant and Shepherd Freeze Game
Choose one child to be Goliath and another to be David. Everyone else stands in a circle as the Israelite army. Goliath stomps and shouts while David tiptoes closer, and when David says “The Lord is with me,” everyone freezes. Let the children switch roles so each one gets a turn.
Take-Home Sling Reminder Card
You will need index cards, a pencil, and a rubber band for each child. Have each child write “God is bigger than any giant” on the card and tape a rubber band to the back as a sling. Encourage them to keep the card in a pocket or backpack as a reminder to bring their worries to God.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this chapter shows that God’s power is not measured by human strength, size, or status. David’s faith was rooted in his past experience of God’s faithfulness, and his confidence came from trusting the Lord of Armies. Adults can learn that God often works through people who seem unqualified in the eyes of others.
When teaching children, avoid suggesting that God always gives us the exact victory we want when we are brave. The point is that God is faithful and powerful, not that every struggle will end the way David’s did. Help children understand that God is with them even when things do not turn out as they hope.
A Prayer to Close
Lord, thank You that You are bigger than any giant we face. Help us remember what You have done for us, and help us trust You when we feel small or scared. Thank You for being with us every day. Amen.
