Here are some simple, family-friendly discussion starters based on the message. You can pick just a few for one mealtime, or spread them out over a week.
1. “Everyone Else Has One”
- Can you think of something you have wanted (or still want) mainly because everyone else has it?
- How do you feel when you don’t have what other people have?
- What do you think God might say to us when we want something “just because everyone else does”?
2. Big Fears (Our “Goliaths”)
- If you had to name your “big fear” right now, what would it be? (Parents can share too.)
- When do your fears usually feel strongest—morning, evening, or night?
- What helps you when you feel afraid? Is there a Bible verse, song, or person that helps?
3. How Are You Known?
- If your friends had to describe you in three words, what do you think they would say?
- How would you LIKE to be known? (e.g., kind, brave, funny, someone who loves God)
- What is one small thing you could do this week to be more like the person you want to be known as?
4. A Heart After God
- The Bible says David was “a man after God’s own heart.” What do you think that means in everyday life?
- If someone watched our family for a week, would they notice that we love God? What might they see?
- What is one way our family could show we are “after God’s heart” this week?
5. Standing Up / Standing For
- What is something you think is worth standing up for? (e.g., someone being bullied, telling the truth, helping someone left out)
- Have you ever felt “too young” or “too small” to make a difference—like David? What happened?
- Can you think of a situation (at school, work, online, neighbourhood) where you might need to stand FOR something good this week?
6. Fighting in God’s Way, Not in Saul’s Armour
- In the story, David couldn’t fight in Saul’s armour; he had to use what he knew: his sling and stones.
What are some “gifts” or strengths you think God has given you? - Do you ever feel pressure to copy how other people do things instead of being who God made you to be?
- How can we encourage each other in our family to be ourselves and use the gifts God has given us?
7. David’s Stone & Jesus’ Stone
- The sermon compared David’s stone (that hit Goliath) with the stone that was rolled away from Jesus’ tomb.
In what ways is Jesus’ victory even bigger than David’s? - What do “sin and death” mean, in simple words? Why is it good news that Jesus defeated them?
- How does knowing Jesus is alive help you with your own “giants” or fears?
8. “Whom Shall I Fear?” (Psalm 27 & 23)
(Read Psalm 27:1 or Psalm 23:4 together if you can.)
- What stands out to you in these verses?
- If you really believed “The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear?”, what might change in your life?
- Is there a fear you’d like us to pray about together as a family, trusting these promises?
9. God Is Bigger Than Our Giants
- The sermon said: “That big fear is not big when God is bigger.”
What does that sentence mean to you? - Can you think of a time when something felt HUGE, but later you saw God was bigger?
- How can we remind each other, practically, that “God is bigger” when someone in the family is scared?
10. Praying for Each Other
(Use this to end your discussion.)
- Ask each person:
1) What do you want to be known for?
2) What is one thing you’d like to stand for?
3) What is one fear you’d like prayer for? - Take turns praying a short, simple prayer for the person next to you, asking God to help them:
- be who they want to be in Him,
- stand for what is right,
- and trust Him with their fears.
Adult Questions
The sermon asks what things we want simply because everyone else has them. How can we discern between genuine needs and desires driven by comparison or peer pressure in our spiritual lives?
David was known as a man after God’s heart despite his failures. How does this challenge our understanding of what it means to be faithful to God?
The Israelites wanted a visible king instead of trusting God as their king. In what ways do we seek visible solutions or leaders instead of trusting in God’s invisible but present guidance?
Fear came to the Israelites every morning and evening through Goliath’s taunts. What fears repeatedly confront you at specific times, and how might recognizing this pattern help you combat them?
David’s brother accused him of having an evil heart, yet God saw his heart differently. How do we handle the gap between how others perceive us and how God sees us?
The sermon emphasizes being known as someone who seeks after God’s heart above all other identities. What would need to change in your life for this to become your primary identity?
David refused to wear Saul’s armour because he wasn’t used to it. When have you tried to fight spiritual battles using someone else’s methods instead of trusting God’s unique calling for you?
David faced Goliath with confidence because he remembered past victories over lions and bears. How can reflecting on God’s faithfulness in past struggles strengthen us for current challenges?
The sermon connects David’s victory over Goliath with Jesus’s victory over sin and death. How does understanding Jesus as the greater David transform how we approach our own battles?
David declared that the battle belongs to the Lord before facing Goliath. What would it look like practically to surrender your current biggest fear to God’s ownership and power?
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