During the lesson, the information for you to know is written in regular type, and what we suggest speaking or reading aloud to children is in bold. All resources for this lesson, including the Teacher Guide, Student Page, Family Connection Card, and other resources can be downloaded in a ZIP file by clicking on the following link:
In some lessons you will find "resource articles." These are articles written by experts from around the world to help equip you for your work with children and adolescents. Share them with parents or guardians if you consider it appropriate.
Before class, clear a large space to play the game in the Connecting section of the lesson. Mark a line down the centre of the space using tape or by drawing a line in the dirt or gravel.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.
Psalm 56:3–4
It is a dark night with just a few stars lighting the sky. A light breeze blows the trees around you, creating a soft rustling. You look around in the darkness, watching and listening for danger. Your hands shake as you carefully tie a small flash drive to an inflated balloon. You say a short prayer, release the balloon, and watch it as it floats into the darkness. Then you inflate another balloon and begin the process again. This is just 1 example of how God’s Word is being smuggled into countries where the Bible is not permitted and Christians face persecution.
Not all believers are called to risk their lives and their freedom like these Bible smugglers do, but we all experience situations where we need to show courage. Think of a time you had an opportunity to be courageous for God. Did you put your faith ahead of your fear? Did you trust in the One whose Word is worthy of praise? You do not need to be afraid. Trust God to give the courage you need to do what He has called you to do.
Encourage the teens to ask their family members, “What do you do when you are afraid?” They can then share that God is the source of guidance and help when we are afraid, and He can help us to be courageous.
Teacher Tip: If possible, email or text the Family Connection Card to the families of your students.
Greet the teens as the arrive. Ask each student to share an exciting story of courage—either his own or someone else’s. Encourage the students to share their stories with others in the class. If possible, allow 2–3 teens to share their stories of courage with the whole class.
Today we are going to learn about courage. Let’s start with a fun game!
When you are ready to begin the lesson, divide the class into 2 teams: Team 1 and Team 2. Give each team 1 of the stones. Have each team huddle together and secretly select 1 teammate to be the receiver and 1 teammate to be the smuggler. The smuggler should hold the stone so that others cannot easily see it. Then have the teams stand on opposite sides of the line. Share the following instructions:
There is 1 person on each team who is a smuggler and 1 who is a receiver. When I tell you to begin the game, the smuggler will try to secretly pass the stone to the receiver. He can do this by passing the stone directly to the receiver. Or he can pass the stone to another player who will pass it to another player or to the receiver. That seems easy, right? But there are a few more rules!
The receiver must be on the other team’s side of the line to receive the stone. For example, the receiver on Team 1 must be on Team 2’s side of the line to receive the stone.
Other players can try to confuse the other team by being on the other team’s side too. Other players can also help their team’s smuggler by secretly carrying the stone part of the way or by confusing the players on the other team. Players can pretend to pass stones or try to block of the passing from the view of members of the other team.
If a person is carrying the stone and gets tagged, she is out of the game. She must give the stone to another player and move out of the playing area.
Both teams will try to deliver their stone to their receiver and stop the other team at the same time. The first team to have the smuggler deliver the stone to the receiver wins the game.
Give the teens about 5-10 minutes to play the game. If you have enough time, allow them to play the game again with different smugglers and receivers.
Allow 2–3 teens to share their thoughts. Then guide them to understand that “courage” is the ability to do something that causes fear or to face a difficult or painful situation with strength.
Today we will learn more about courage. “Courage” is strength to persevere when facing danger, fear, or difficulty. It is boldness and confidence, and it is the opposite of fear.
In many countries in the world, it is illegal to own a Bible and Christians face prejudice and persecution. You may think that these believers would not be able to hear God’s truth or read His Word. But courageous people face great danger to bring Bibles to their Christian brothers and sisters. Let me tell you about a few stories about these Bible smugglers.
In one country where Christianity is illegal, Bibles are secretly printed and delivered on motorbikes in the middle of the night. Hidden in the jungle, riders wait for the truck filled with boxes of Bibles to arrive. The truck stops, the boxes are unloaded and tied to the motorbikes, and the riders speed off to the rural villages of the country. Climbing steep and treacherous paths across mountains and even riding across rushing rivers, these courageous men and women are bringing God’s Word to encourage others.
Near the border of another country, courageous Christians tie computer flash drives with the text of the Bible or small pieces of paper with handwritten Scripture passages to helium balloons and release these balloons into the night sky. The balloons float into the neighbouring country, where people can be imprisoned simply for owning or reading the Bible. When the balloons land, the Bible messages are picked up by Christians who are anxious to read God’s Word.
In another area, courageous believers carry backpacks and bags filled with Bibles as they hike across mountains into the remote parts of a country where Christianity is carefully controlled by the government. They share the message of Jesus’ love and give the people Bibles to help them to grow in faith. Occasionally these Bible smugglers are stopped by border patrol officers and the Bibles are taken. Other times, the smugglers are arrested and put into prison, possibly for many years.
What can we learn about courage from the example of the Bible smugglers?
Allow 2–3 teens to share their ideas.
Not every Christian believer is called to smuggle Bibles into other countries, but all believers are called to show courage for the Lord. For some people, that means facing danger or persecution for their faith. But for others, that means standing up for what is right and good in other ways.
What are some ways we can be courageous for God?
Allow 2–3 teens to share their ideas.
We are going to read a story from the Bible that you may already know. As we read it, think about the courageous things this person did.
The story begins on a battlefield with mountains on both sides and a valley between them. In the mountains on 1 side were the Israelites, led by King Saul. In the mountains on the other side were the Philistines, Israel’s enemies.
We are going to act out the story to find out what happened.
Divide the class into 4 groups. Give each of the groups 1 of the Bible passages from the end of the lesson. Tell them to choose a reader to read the passage aloud. The rest of the group members will act it out. Give the groups 5 minutes to prepare.
Gather the class together. Then have the first reader read the passage while the group acts it out. After the reading, the group can sit down. Repeat this process for each passage.
A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. His height was six cubits and a span. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver’s rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him. Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, “Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” Then the Philistine said, “This day I defy the armies of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” On hearing the Philistine’s words, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.
1 Samuel 17:4–11
Ask the whole class the following questions.
What can we learn about Goliath from this passage?
He was a very big man, and he wore very heavy armour and carried heavy weapons. He was a confident warrior.
What kind of person would you expect to accept his challenge?
A courageous warrior, possibly King Saul or one of his best warriors.
For 40 days, Goliath came forward each morning and each evening to challenge the Israelites. But the Israelites were afraid. Finally someone did accept Goliath’s challenge—and it may not be the kind of person you would have expected.
David was the youngest of 8 sons. His 3 oldest brothers were in Saul’s army. As the youngest, David was in charge of caring for his family’s sheep. David’s father sent him to check on his brothers and bring food to them. Let’s read what happened next.
Have the second group read and act out their passage.
Israel and the Philistines were drawing up their lines facing each other. David left his things with the keeper of supplies, ran to the battle lines and asked his brothers how they were. As he was talking with them, Goliath, the Philistine champion from Gath, stepped out from his lines and shouted his usual defiance, and David heard it. Whenever the Israelites saw the man, they all fled from him in great fear. Now the Israelites had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out? He comes out to defy Israel. The king will give great wealth to the man who kills him. He will also give him his daughter in marriage and will exempt his family from taxes in Israel.” David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
1 Samuel 17:21–26
What can we learn about David from this passage?
He was responsible with the sheep when he left them. He was a faithful follower of God, and he was offended by Goliath’s defiance.
The soldiers told Saul what David had said. So Saul called David and asked if he would fight Goliath.
Have the third group read and act out their passage.
But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.” Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
1 Samuel 17:34–37
What can we learn about David from this passage?
David was courageous in defence of God and His people, and he trusted God to give him strength.
So Saul gave David armour, a helmet, and a sword. He put them on but then told Saul he could not wear them, as he had not tested them. So he took off the protective armour and picked up his staff and his sling. He chose 5 smooth stones from the brook and put them in his pouch. Then he went to face Goliath.
Have the last group read and act out their passage.
David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.
1 Samuel 17:45-49
Optional: If you are using The NIV Action Study Bible, the teens can read about slings in the “Ancient Archives” section near 1 Samuel 18.
God called David to be courageous for a special purpose. The Israelites were afraid, but David obeyed God and trusted Him to provide the strength and skill to defeat Goliath. Some of us may be called to do great acts of courage for God, as David and the Bible smugglers were called to do. But others of us may be called to smaller acts of courage, such as sharing God’s truth or standing up for what is right and just. We also may be called to show strength in difficult situations.
No matter what act of courage we are called to do, the steps are the same. We can learn from what David did when he was called to show courage in his faith.
First, listen for God’s guidance. Sometimes God may call us to stand up for His truth and His ways, as He did with David. Other times, He may ask us to do this in secret, as He does with Bible smugglers. And at other times, He may call us to walk away quietly and wait for His direction. We should always seek God’s guidance when we need courage.
Second, ask God for help. We do not have the strength or wisdom to handle difficult situations on our own. We should always ask God to give us the courage we need to do what He has called us to do.
Last, give the honour to God. Doing this brings glory to His name!
If you do not yet trust in God, you can ask trusted adults or friends for advice. They can help you to show courage in the ways you need to. But only God has conquered fear and doubt, so His comfort and courage are much more powerful than the courage you may receive from other people.
What are some ways you can apply these ideas to your own life?
Optional:
If time allows, you may share the following story of courage with your students.
Listen to another story of courage and faith. In 1971, President Idi Amin took over the government of Uganda by force and established a military dictatorship. A few years later, a small rebellion took place. To put an end to the dissent, Amin’s troops imprisoned, tortured, and killed thousands of people. Christians leaders, including Archbishop Janani Luwum, began to speak out against Amin’s brutal policies. Though he was threatened many times, Archbishop Luwum continued to share his faith and protest the government’s mistreatment of the people. In February of 1977, Archbishop Luwum was arrested on false charges and executed. The archbishop’s courage in sharing his faith and standing up for what is right led many in Uganda to return to their Christian faith.
What can we learn about courage from the story of Archbishop Luwum?
How can this help us to have courage in our own situations?
End of Option
It is important to remember that courage does not mean never being afraid. It does not mean never struggling with grief or pain. But it does mean that we know that God is the source of our strength and we call out to Him in our times of need. When we trust and obey God, He will give us the courage we need.
Gather the teens for the Responding activity. Decide on 2 areas in your teaching space where groups of students can gather. One will be for students who want to ask God for guidance about where they need courage, and the other will be for students who need to ask God for help to be courageous.
David was able to defeat a giant warrior with a few small stones because God gave him courage. He followed God’s guidance and asked for God’s help. He trusted that God would bring victory.
Today we learned 3 things about courage from the story of David. We should seek God’s guidance when we are afraid, ask God for help, and give God the glory.
Think about your own life. Are you wondering what courageous things God may want you to do? If so, go to this area.
Point to 1 of the areas you decided on earlier.
Do you know the courageous things you are called to do but you need to ask God for help? If so, go to this area.
Point to the other area you decided on earlier. Tell each group to gather in a circle. Then give each group 1 of the stones from the Connecting activity.
When you receive the rock, pray and ask God to give you the guidance or help you need to be courageous. You may also want to thank Him for a time when He helped you to be courageous. If you are not sure you are ready to trust in God, you can think about a person who can help you to be courageous. When you are done with your prayer, pass the rock to the next person. You can pray quietly or aloud.
Give the teens a few minutes to do this activity. Suggest that they pray for and encourage each other with their situations. Then share the following Bible verse with them:
David trusted God to give him courage when he was afraid. You can trust God when you are afraid. God is always trustworthy and always good. His power is greater than your fear. Listen to what David wrote in Psalms about his courage:
If you are using the Memory Verse Poster, show it to the students.
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust and am not afraid.
Psalm 56:3–4
You can pray this verse aloud or whisper it quietly or even think it when you are afraid. You can call out to God when you are afraid, as David did, and God will give you comfort and courage.
Optional: If you are using the Student Pages, give the teens time to complete them.
Let’s say it a few times now so you will remember it when you are afraid.
Have the students repeat the verse 4–5 times. Then close with a blessing based on Psalm 56:3–4:
Blessing: May you find comfort in God in your times of fear, and may He be the source of your courage. May you ask Him for guidance and help when you are afraid, and may you praise His name when His strength helps you to overcome your fear.
Lead the students in singing this quarter’s song, if possible.
Life on Life ©2020 David C Cook. Reproducible for home or classroom use only. All other uses require written permission from David C Cook [email protected]. All rights reserved.
