David – A Child’s Faith

by Ross Ward

Text: I Samuel 17:32-37

1. David’s Faith
   1. David Overcame
      1. Vs. 33-35 – bear and lion
         1. 33 – a youth
         2. 34 – shepherding
         3. 34-35 – lion and bear take a lamb
            • David caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him
         4. 37 – The Lord that delivered me… will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine.
      2. Vs. 24-33 – Peer pressure
         1. Fear in his own brothers
         2. Fear in the warriors
         3. Fear in his king
      3. Vs. 41-51 – Israel’s enemy
         1. Goliath
         2. Philistine army
2. Foundation of David’s Faith (I Samuel 17)
   1. Taught
      1. Romans 10:17 – Faith comes by hearing the word of God
   2. Witnessed in his mentors
   3. Vs. 31-37 – David’s experience
      1. 33 – a youth shepherding
      2. 34-35 – lion and bear take a lamb
3. Slaying our Goliaths
   1. Faith in the 21^st century
      1. World of the guardrails and safety nets
         1. Insurance
         2. Product warning labels
         3. Gas cans
      2. Subsistence cultures
         1. Growing food
         2. Sickness
         3. Life expectancy – 40 yrs.
      3. Foundations
         1. Strive for righteous living
            • Psalms 11:7 – God loves righteousness and is watchful over the upright
         2. Heart desire to serve God
            • Learn
            • Apply
         3. We are adopted children
            • Become Christ-like
      4. James 2:14-26 – put it to practice
         1. James 1:2-18 – tested and proven
         2. One step at a time
      5. Give our troubles to God
         1. Hebrews 12:1 – burdens and sin
            • Worry, disappointments, and challenges
         2. Not through blindness
      6. Work
         1. Change in management
         2. Lay-offs and downsizing
   2. Health
      1. Cancers and other diseases
      2. “mental illnesses”
      3. Addiction
   3. Family
      1. Relations
      2. Raising children
4. Children and Faith
   1. Faith in the 21^st century
      1. Teach our children lessons of faith
         1. Display Faith in our own lives
      2. Children’s faith at work
         1. Example of David
         2. II Kings 5 – example of a young maiden
5. Conclusion
   1. Faith that will endure
      1. The heart of the matter
         1. Strive for righteousness
         2. Develop a love for God
         3. Develop faith in God
         4. Exercise our faith
      2. Our children
         1. Teach faith
         2. Let them experience