CONNECT:  Is there one area of your life in which you are not taking Jesus’ commands seriously? Confess it and ask for God’s help to change.

WARM-UP  Question

1. What are some David and Goliath battles that you’ve seen in your lifetime? 
2. Have you heard David and Goliath taught before, as a child or later in life, what was the main message?

READ 1 Samuel 17:1-25

1. Why were Saul and the Israelites ‘dismayed and terrified’ by Goliath’s challenge? How did David come to the battle-front?
2. In the text you’ll often see Goliath named as ‘the Philistine’. Why was Goliath the ‘Perfect Philistine’? 
3. At this point who are the two opposing forces in the battle? Who is the battle ultimately between?
4. Why should the people have known better than to be afraid of Goliath (hint:think about Israel’s history)?

READ 1 Samuel 17:26-47

1. What other ‘giants’ does David have to overcome in order to get the point where he confronts Goliath? What does this tell us about following God?
2. Does David ‘see’ the battle differently to those around him? What do his words tell us about his faith?
3. How can we let God’s goodness in the past inform the way we look at our challenges today? 
4. What are the links between David and Jesus? How might this inform a ‘christian' take on 1 Samuel 17?
5. If you had to place yourself within this account, who would you be and why? 

READ 1 Samuel 17:48-58

1. The battle is over before it begins in v.51. How does this compare to other battles in 1 Samuel (1 Samuel 7:10-11; 1 Samuel 11:11)? What does this show us about who truly overcomes Goliath?
2. What does the epilogue to the battle of David and Goliath tell us about David and the people of Israel?
3. What is our role in God’s mission and work today (hint: Ephesians 6:10-17)? 

APPLY: How can the account of David and Goliath and the example of Jesus inform the way you live as a disciple maker this week?

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On Your Frontline This Week: Have you ever thought about following Jesus shapes the work you do? If you are in the Medical and Allied Health industry, come along to our Frontline breakfast on Thursday June 13. Register here.

Audio and Video 

• ‘The Battle is the Lord’s’ by Paul Williams
• ‘1 Samuel 17 - David and Goliath’ by Paul Tripp
• ‘David and Goliath’ by Guy Mason
• ‘A Man after God’s own Heart’ by Ray Galea
• ‘The Unheard Story of David and Goliath’ by Malcolm Gladwell
• ‘New King’ by Jen Wilkin
• ‘You Goliath and God’ by David Platt
  

Articles

• ‘David’s Rise to Power’ by Theology of Work
  

Key Resource

• “1 Samuel For You” by Tim Chester is an excellent introduction to 1 Samuel that will be suitable for people reading at a range of levels. The guide includes helpful discussion of the content of 1 Samuel, along with plenty of practical and devotional application. Watch an introduction to the book by Tim Chester. 

Other Helpful Books, Articles, and Courses

• “1 and 2 Samuel: Hope for the Helpless” by Andrew Reid (“Reading the Bible Today Series”) 
• “1 Samuel: Looking on the Heart” by Dale Ralph Davis (“Focus on the Bible Series”) 
• “Is Hell for Real? And other questions about judgment, eternity, and the God of love” by Erik Raymond.
  

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