- Participants will explore what gave David the confidence to fight Goliath.
- Participants will discuss the importance of confidence in the love of God in their lives.
Lesson Preparation
Once we have a firm understanding of who we are and the unique skills God has placed within us, we can begin to confidently communicate the value we have to offer to the world and others. Our communities, employers, and customers will only know what we can do if we present ourselves as a solution to their problems. Yet, even if others fail to see value in our work, we can rest assured in our belonging to God, his kingdom, and his call on our lives.
1 Samuel 17:1-37
- Communication: the process of exchanging information
- Confidence: believing in your own trustworthiness
- Workbook
- Pen/Pencil
Need help teaching the session?
Need help teaching the session?
- Lesson Summary: The summary provides an overview of what will be covered in the lesson. It includes the Scripture or biblical truths and how the biblical principles apply to the lives of the participants.
- Lesson Objectives: These goals guide instruction and support the main idea of the lesson. They state what participants should know and be able to do once they have completed the lesson.
- Scripture References: These are passages of Scripture used in each lesson. Plan to read these passages prior to teaching the lesson
- Vocabulary: These are the key words discussed in each lesson that should be taught in context.
- Materials: This is a list of supplies needed to teach the lesson and/or to do the activities.
- Welcome and Review: Begin each class by welcoming the participants and reviewing the material from the previous lesson.
- Icebreaker: In Lesson 1, there is an icebreaker activity to start the lesson. This is a great way to get participants talking and comfortable with one another.
- Scripture Study: Includes different parts. The leader shares the Bible story interactively, asking questions and guiding discussion to engage participants in the Scripture.
- Workbook Activity: During each lesson, students will complete a workbook exercise that will help reinforce learning through hands-on engagement. The workbook activities provide structure for applying the lesson content to the project. Completed examples are provided in this leader's guide and at the back of the participant's workbook.
- Facilitation Tips: These support the leader with strategies for guiding the group projects. These reminders help facilitators adapt to challenges and adjust for learners with different abilities and styles.
- Project Milestone: This statement is designed to help define the progress goal for the group project. It outlines the key steps that the leader and student should aim to accomplish by the end of the lesson.
Pray: Participants will reflect on the lesson, and the facilitator will end the lesson with a prayer.
Welcome and Review
Greet participants and review the previous lesson.
Post four pieces of paper around the room. On each piece of paper, write the phrase, "I feel confident when …"
Divide students into four groups around the room.
Give students 5 minutes to respond to the sentence starter and list the things that make them feel confident.
Quick debrief: Notice how many of the answers are about external factors (support, appearance …).
Say:
As you present your project pitches today, you are not just sharing an idea—you are stepping into your calling to thrive. Do not worry about being perfect. Focus on being authentic, prepared, and trusting Christ with the outcome. Remember, your voice matters, and God has given you something valuable to contribute. True confidence is knowing God is with you, even when you feel unqualified.
Say:
Let us look at someone in the Bible who had to step into a moment of pressure and uncertainty. In 1 Samuel 17:1-37, David, a young shepherd boy, faced a giant when no one else dared to. His story teaches us where true confidence comes from.
Invite students to open to page 17 in their workbook and follow along as you read the Scripture selections.
1 Samuel 17:1-37:
When David was a young boy, a prophet named Samuel anointed David as Israel's chosen king. However, since Saul, Israel's king at the time was still alive and ruling, David spent the next few years as a shepherd of his father's flocks.
One day, an enemy nation called the Philistines sent their army into Israel's territory. King Saul and Israel's army met the Philistines in a valley and agreed to settle their dispute by sending their greatest warriors to fight one another. However, when the Philistines' champion turned out to be a three-metre-tall, battle-hardened giant named Goliath, none of Israel's army could find the confidence to face him.
While delivering food to his brothers, David saw Goliath taunting the armies of Israel, insulting them and their God. After seeing no one stand to fight the giant, David met with King Saul. He said, "Don't worry about this Philistine, I'll go and fight him!" "Don't be ridiculous!" Saul replied. "There's no way you can fight this Philistine and possibly win! You're only a boy, and he's been a man of war since his youth."
But David persisted. "I have been looking after my father's sheep and goats," he said. "When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death."
Pause and invite students to respond to questions 1 and 2 in the workbook.
Question 1:
David's confidence came from remembering God's past faithfulness. What past victories can you recall that remind you to trust God with confidence today?
Question 2:
How can changing your perspective help you overcome challenges like pitching, exams, or leadership moments?
Say:
In this passage, David enters the battlefield where Israel's army is frozen in fear of Goliath. David's confidence did not come from his strength, age, or training but from God's faithfulness. He remembered how God had rescued him from the lion and the bear, and he trusted that God would give him victory again.
David's confidence was not about self-belief but God-belief. He saw the giant through the lens of God's power, not his own weakness. Just like David, we face our own "giants" like fear of failure, doubt, or rejection. But when we anchor our confidence in Christ, we can step up, speak out, and thrive knowing he equips us for every challenge.
Ask:
How does God's faithfulness give us confidence?
Allow students time to respond.
Say:
God is faithful to us because he loves us. This truth may seem simple on the surface, but take a moment to really consider what that means. God loves you—the real you. Not the polished, perfect disguise you may like others to see, but all the messiness underneath. You do not have to earn his approval or impress him. He already calls you his own.
Embracing your identity as God's beloved will give you more confidence than any praise or accolades this world has to offer. When you know you are his, the need to be anything other than yourself slowly fades away.
Like David, challenges will come as you mature in your calling. Your confidence will be tested. So, continue abiding in your relationship with Jesus. As you read his Word and spend time talking to him in prayer, God will form a foundation of faith in you that even the strongest giant cannot shake.
Say:
Today is Pitch Day! This is your team's chance to share your project idea with the group. You have worked hard to plan and prepare, and now it is time to present what you have created. Each team will have a few minutes to share their project pitch, explain their idea, and show any visuals they prepared. Remember, every person should take part in some way. As you listen to other groups, be respectful and engaged. Use your reflection sheet to capture what you noticed, liked and learnt from each presentation.
Invite students to turn to page 18 in their workbook.
Sample Completed Activity
During each group's pitch, listen carefully and take notes using the following prompts:
| Group | I Noticed … What did you notice that was interesting, unique, or creative about the pitch? |
I Liked … What do you think was done well? |
I Learnt … What was something new you did not know or had not thought of before? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | I noticed your group used a clear example, which made the problem easy to understand. | I liked the teamwork—everyone had a role. One area to grow is slowing down a bit so the audience can catch every detail. | I learnt that Alex has the ability to show confidence. I am proud of the way you trusted God in your delivery. |
Pitch Evaluation Rubric
This is your last chance to offer support to students before they will need to execute their projects. Use this rubric to help determine what kind of support each group might need.
| Criteria | 3 – Excellent | 2 – Developing | 1 – Needs Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clarity of problem and solution | Clear, focused problem and realistic solution | Some parts unclear | Problem and solution are not clear |
| Confidence and delivery | Spoke confidently with clear tone, eye contact and body language | Spoke with confidence but showed some hesitation | Seemed unsure or unprepared; little eye contact |
| Collaboration | All participated equally | Some group members did not participate | One person gave the entire presentation |
| Logistics and feasibility | Steps, timing, and resources needed were clear | Some details were missing | Planning is underdeveloped and not feasible |
Project
Milestone:
Milestone:
Project pitch.
By the end of the lesson, students will have participated in the project pitch with the rest of their group.
If you sense your students need additional support, consider these teaching strategies.
-
Limit time
Limit presentations to 1-2 minutes based on how many groups you have.
-
Model what "good" looks like
Show an example of a strong pitch before students start.
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Practise first
Give students a few minutes to practise before groups begin their pitches.
-
Ask direct questions
If you notice gaps in the pitch plan, ask questions to guide students to think through what might be missing.
Say:
Today, you have done something many people find intimidating: standing up and presenting your ideas. You have shown courage, collaboration, and creativity. But more than that, you have learnt that true confidence does not come from being perfect, having all the answers, or even being the loudest in the room. True confidence comes from knowing Christ is with you, he calls you his own, and he will never leave you.
As we end this lesson, remember: The same God who gave David confidence to face Goliath also gives you confidence to step into your calling to thrive.
Pray:
Allow time for participants to repeat each section after you.
Father, we thank you for the gifts, ideas, and courage you have stirred in us today.
We pray that our confidence will remain anchored in you, not in circumstances or approval.
May we continue to grow in boldness, creativity, and faith as we step into new opportunities.
And let our lives shine as testimonies of your strength working through us. In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Lessons 1-12
- Lesson 1 Being Who I Am Called To Be
- Lesson 2 Called To a Kingdom
- Lesson 3 Called To Image
- Lesson 4 Called To Serve
- Lesson 5 Called To Responsibility
- Lesson 6 Called To Overcome
- Lesson 7 Called To Collaborate
- Lesson 8 Called To Confidence
- Lesson 9 Called To Refine
- Lesson 10 Called To Implement
- Lesson 11 Called To Evaluate
- Lesson 12 Called To Continue