(Bible Overview #3 of 54)

One Main Truth: God looks at the heart


1 GAME: Big Shirt Relay


  1. Divide everyone into two teams. Each team stands shoulder-to-shoulder facing the center
  2. Give each player a number each group should have a one, a two, a three, making sure each child has a number.
  3. Explain that when children hear their number called they will run to the center and try to pick up the “Rock.” Place the “Rock” in the center of the playing area.
  4. Play one round normal as instructed above. Then play a round with a “guard” next to the sock, if the guard tags a player they have to sit down.
    (Players will be less brave when there is a guard guarding the sock.)
  5. Play one last round with a helper that can “freeze” the guard so the players can be brave and not fear the guard.
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2 BIBLE DISCOVERIES: Gospel & Truth 1 Samuel 16:1-13

 Game / Bible / Life Connection:    Someone helped you be brave in the Game / God helped David be brave in the Bible / God will help you be brave in your Life

Long ago, there lived a young shepherd boy in a town of Bethlehem. David was the youngest of Jesse’s eight sons.
His handsome brothers were already in the army, but David being the youngest was home taking care of the sheep.

As a shepherd David mostly was alone, the only company he had were his sheep, his harp, and God. In the spring, everyday David took his flock to graze in the pastures. When summer heat set in, he would move his flocks to cooler pastures.

Each evening, he counted the sheep and checked on their health. He would work and sleep outdoors, allowing the flock to graze and spending the nights guarding the sheep from predators.

David usually carried a small leather bag, a sling, and a shepherd’s staff. Shepherd life was lonely and dangerous too, especially from wild animals. One day a loud bleating cry of a lamb alarmed his attention. He quickly took his staff, ran toward it and there he saw a lion snatching away a lamb.

He fought the mighty lion and took the lamb back from its mouth. Later a ferocious bear tried to kill a lamb yet David fought and killed the bear too (1 Sam. 17:36). He always protected his sheep attack from wild animals.

David grew fearless because he shared a very close relationship with God. During this life as a shepherd he developed a firm relationship that shapes his life as a man of God. If we trust and nurture our relationship with God, He helps us to be brave and fearless.

Prophet Samuel anointed Saul to be Israel’s first king. When a person is anointed oil is placed on their head to set them apart for a particular job, in this case to be King. When God rejected Saul for his disobedience, He sent Samuel to Bethlehem to anoint David, a man after God’s own heart as the next king. He came to Jesse’s house and saw all the tall, handsome and impressive older sons.

They all had very attractive physiques that Samuel thought all would perfectly fit to be a king. However God wasn’t looking for good physical structure, He was looking at the heart of man. The older handsome brothers were rejected and at last Joseph the youngest simple shepherd was brought in and Samuel anointed him to be the king as directed by God.

The modest and brave David was chosen as king because his heart was right with God. Man judges by the outward appearance but God looks at the heart.


  Game / Bible / Life Connection:    Someone helped you be brave in the game / God helped David be brave in the Bible God will help you be brave in your Life

Memory Verse:  “The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outside of a person. But the LORD looks at what is in the heart.”            1 Samuel 16:7b


1. Game 
Why were you braver when you had someone help you block the guard in our game?

2. Bible
That sounds a lot like David, why was David so brave?
When Samuel came to anoint the next King what was he looking for?
What was God looking for?
What made David so Brave?
Did Samuel anoint the oldest son, or he tallest son?
Who was anointed to be king? Why?

3. Life
Prayer: Repeat after me “God thank you for telling us about David, God thank you for looking at my heart and attitude and character because I can be a small person, but God you can do great things through me. Let’s be quiet and ask God what he wants to do in your life *pause* God help me to be brave and always trust you.

4. Worship Song
Ask the children what is their favorite worship song and then sing several worship songs with hand-motions (click here for worship songs “GameLife Strong & Powerful Worship Motions”)

5. Reinforcement 
Use local resources and common objects.
Provide crayons and let the children draw David tending sheep, where a lion and a bear looking to attack.

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