Faith In Action Series; wk. 1 - 1 Samuel 17 David and Goliath 2.8.26

Title: David and Goliath
Key Verses: 1 Samuel 17
Link to full Sermon: (click here)

David and Goliath


Jesus doesn’t want your performance.
He doesn’t want your voice, your hands, or your résumé.
He wants your heart.

That truth sits at the center of worship, and it sits at the center of faith. As we finish the Armor of God series, our attention naturally turns to David—not because he was impressive by human standards, but because his faith was active, surrendered, and anchored in God alone.

David’s story in 1 Samuel 17 is not about courage or skill. It’s about what faith looks like when it moves.

Giants Are Real—but Fear Doesn’t Have to Win

Every one of us faces giants. Not always physical ones, but real ones all the same.
Some giants shout lies—fear, intimidation, opposition.
Others whisper quietly—doubt, insecurity, shame, or discouragement.

For forty days, Goliath stood in the valley mocking Israel. The army wasn’t defeated because they were weak. They were defeated because they were afraid. They had seen God move before. They carried His presence. Yet fear kept them frozen.
Then David arrived—not as a soldier or a king, but as a shepherd.

He didn’t bring credentials. He brought faith.

Faith Sees the Battle Through God’s Perspective

When David spoke up, it sounded reckless to everyone else.
“Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
That wasn’t arrogance. That was perspective.

Faith rooted in God sees differently. What looks like a mountain becomes an opportunity. What feels overwhelming becomes a place for God to show His power. Everyone else saw a giant. David saw a God who had already proven Himself.

David remembered the lion. He remembered the bear. He remembered the faithfulness of God.

Fear makes us forget. Faith remembers.

Trusting God’s Assignment, Not Human Armor

When Saul tried to dress David in armor, it made sense. It looked safer. It looked wise. It looked strong.

But it didn’t fit.

David refused to fight God’s battle in someone else’s strength. He didn’t need borrowed armor. He used what God had already placed in his hands—a staff, a sling, and a few smooth stones.

God often accomplishes extraordinary victory through ordinary obedience.
You don’t need to be someone else to be used by God. You don’t need new strategies or better plans. God doesn’t need your brilliance—He wants your surrender.

If He called you to the battle, He already equipped you for it.

Faith Moves Forward in Confidence, Not Fear

When the Philistine advanced, David didn’t hesitate. He ran toward the battle.
That moment matters.

Faith is not passive. It doesn’t wait for fear to disappear. Faith moves because God is present.

David didn’t defeat the giant with superior strength. He defeated him through complete dependence on God. There was no sword in David’s hand so there would be no confusion about where the victory came from.

God sometimes places us in situations where success feels impossible because He wants us to say, “I couldn’t have done this without Him.”

The Giant Fell After David Stepped Forward

God didn’t remove Goliath before David entered the valley. The giant fell after David moved.

That’s often how God works.

We pray for obstacles to disappear, but God invites us to trust Him in their presence. Faith doesn’t deny the giant. Faith declares that the giant is not in control.
Some of us are standing at the edge of the valley right now.

Fear.
Uncertainty.
Temptation.
Discouragement.

Faith doesn’t ask, What if I fail?
Faith asks, What if God is faithful?

David didn’t know how the battle would end. He just knew who God was.
And when faith moves forward, the enemy always falls at the feet of Jesus.

Measure Your Faith by the Size of Your God

Faith in action isn’t measured by how brave you feel. It’s measured by who you trust.

When God is in charge, your life begins to move as if victory is already yours—because it is.
So what step do you need to take today?

Where is God calling you to move forward instead of stepping back?

Let your faith be visible.
Let your trust be active.
And let your life declare that you belong to the winning team.