Heroes #2: Run Towards Your Giant

HEROES #2: RUNNING TOWARDS YOUR GIANT

INTRO TO TOPIC:
Review last week. Although Jesus is the world’s greatest superhero, God is calling every one of us to be heroes as well. Heroes are made when you make a choice – will you be a hero?

KEY TEXT: Daniel 11:32b.
“But the people who know their God will be strong and carry out great exploits.”

THE BIG IDEA: David, the shepherd boy, was a young person who knew God, was strong in the Lord, and therefore had great adventures. His victory over the giant Goliath is an example for us as to how we can overcome the giant troubles and problems in our lives.

BIBLE STORY – GOD’S CHOOSING OF DAVID:
“Now the Lord said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go; I am sending you to Jesse the Bethlehemite. For I have provided Myself a king among his sons." 2 And Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me." And the Lord said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, ’I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you." 4 So Samuel did what the Lord said, and went to Bethlehem. And the elders of the town trembled at his coming, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" 5 And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. 6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the Lord’s anointed is before Him. 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:1-7).

ILLUSTRATION: Have someone play Samuel, Jesse, and Jesse’s seven sons. Have them all line up from the tallest to the shortest, and describe something great about all of them. Then have someone come up to play David – the shortest one.
• v.12: “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one.”

PERSONAL STORY: When I was 12 on the Huskies little league team. First year, I was only a bat boy. I didn’t have much athletic skill. But the next year I got on the team (even though most of the season I was only a bench warmer). Why? My best friend’s dad was the coach!
• Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” (John 15:16).

TEXT: “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.” (Ephesians 1:4-6).
• What amazing thought that God chooses US! He loves US! He accepts US!

WHO WAS DAVID?
“Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the Lord is with him.” (v. 18).
• Do you want to be a hero? Get to know God, be strong, have great adventures…

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT IN THE STORY? (1 Samuel 17)
v.1-3 - the Israelites go to war against the Philistines (Goliath =