Slaying Giants - 7-2-12

I realized recently that I haven't posted any of our lessons lately, so here is the lesson the 12+ group got last night.  It is adapted from a recent devotional I read.  For our guys, I included at the end a game where they tried to hit a target using an old style slingshot and a tootsieroll instead of a stone.  The idea was for them to see what it might have like to learn to use a slingshot like that and be accurate enough to high Goliath in the forehead.

The lesson notes...

Slaying Giants

Giants.  We must face them, but we don’t have to face them alone.  We need to focus first and most on God. 

Read 1 Samuel 17

The Enemy:
·         David did not focus on the enemy.
·         In I Samuel 17 he only makes 3 comments amount Goliath. 

o    One comment to Saul about Goliath – this uncircumcised Philistine will be like the bear and lion that I killed while protecting sheep (v. 36).

o    One comment to the men standing near him at the battle front - Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? (v. 26)

o    One comment to Goliath – you come against me with sword and spear and javelin, today I will kill you  (v. 45-47)

·         He did not ask about Goliath’s age, skill, social standing, IQ, tactics.
·         He did not ask about the weight of the spear, the size of the shield, or why Goliath is the only one standing there to fight on behalf of the Philistines.



God:
·         David focuses on God.
·         He speaks about the “the living God” (vs. 26 and 36)
·         He calls him the “Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel” (vs. 45)
·         He proclaims what God will do.  “This day the Lord will hand you over to me.” (v. 46)
·         He states why God is going to do this. “the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel” (v. 46)
·         He says how God is going to win. “for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands” (v. 47)

Instead of focusing on his enemy or his “giant problem,” he focuses on God and God’s solution to that problem.

When you are facing a “giant problem” do you think about God or your problem?

Do you ponder God’s grace more than your ponder your guilt?

Is your list of blessings longer than your list of complaints?

Is your mind full of hope or it is full of worry?

Are you more likely to describe the strength of God as you are to describe the demands of your day?

Lift your eyes to God.  You are a giant slayer. The God who made a miracle out of David, a boy with a sling and a stone, stands ready to make one out of you.



Focus on giants—you stumble.                                              Focus on God—your giants tumble.