David and Goliath 2.0

Sermon: "The Giant Has Fallen"

Text: 1 Samuel 17 Theme: Jesus has defeated the real Goliath.

Good evening, everyone! Welcome to tonight’s service. I’m grateful to be here and to see all of you here tonight. Before we begin let’s open with prayer.

*Ask someone to open in prayer*

Greet your neighbors with a smile if you would!

Introduction: "Everybody Knows the Story..."

I think nearly everybody knows the story of David and Goliath. It’s the classic underdog story — a shepherd boy against a giant warrior. It’s the story that inspires movies, sports speeches, graduation ceremonies.

You know it well:

David, overlooked by his father.

Goliath, feared by the world.

A sling, a stone, and an unlikely victory.

And usually, when we hear this story, the lesson goes something like this:

“Believe in yourself.”

“Face your giants!”

“With faith, you can conquer anything.”

Now, that’s nice. It sounds motivational. But friends — tonight...that’s not the main point.

The story of David and Goliath is not about you discovering your inner champion. It’s about Jesus being the Champion you could never be.

The Bible is not about us rising to greatness. It’s about a Savior stooping into our weakness and winning for us.

The goal of tonight’s message is to help us recenter a passage that is so often man-centered and to hopefully make it God-centered.

If we miss that, we miss the heart of Scripture itself.

Luke 24:27 NIV

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

The whole Bible points to Jesus — including David and Goliath.

1. David Is a Foreshadowing of Jesus, Not Just a Role Model for You

a) David steps in when no one else can or will.

When Goliath taunted Israel, the soldiers ran in fear. Even King Saul — who was supposed to lead in courage — trembled in his tent.

No one was brave enough. No one was strong enough. No one was willing.

Sound familiar?

In the great battle against sin and death, no human being could step forward.

We all fell short. We all stood guilty.

No hero could be found among us.

But then — just like David stepping onto the battlefield — Jesus stepped out of eternity into time. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14).

He came not to be served, but to serve — and to fight the battle we couldn’t fight.

b) David’s victory was substitutionary.

Notice this: when David wins, the whole nation wins.

Even though the soldiers hadn’t fought a single blow, they share in David’s triumph.

When David cut off Goliath’s head, it was counted as their victory.

When Jesus rose from the grave, it was counted as our victory.

Romans 5:19 NIV

For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.

Imagine being one of the Israelite soldiers that day.

Every morning, you woke up dreading the sound of Goliath’s voice. For forty days, he came out roaring insults, daring anyone to fight him. And for forty days, you hid — paralyzed, ashamed, helpless.

And then, out of nowhere, a young shepherd boy steps onto the field.

No armor. No sword. No grand military strategy.

You watch, heart pounding, as he sprints toward the giant — not away from him — and slings a single stone. It sinks into Goliath’s forehead. The giant collapses with a crash that shakes the ground. And suddenly, the fear that had ruled you lifts.

The battle is over — and you didn’t swing a sword.

Victory is yours — but you didn’t win it. David did.

Friends, that’s the gospel.

We didn't lift a finger to win salvation. Jesus fought — and we share in his victory

David points to the greater, Jesus Christ, who fought for us, not merely with us.

c) David came in weakness, not strength.

David wasn’t wearing armor. He wasn’t impressive by worldly standards.

Just a boy with a sling and five stones. Mocked by his brothers. Disbelieved by his king.

Isaiah 53:2-3 — “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men…”

Jesus, like David, didn’t come in worldly might. He came in humility and weakness— and through it, won the ultimate victory.

2. Jesus Has Slain the Real Goliath: Sin, Death, and Hell

Let’s be clear: Goliath is not just a metaphor for your personal struggles — anxiety, insecurity, health problems.

Those are real struggles, but they are not the ultimate enemy.

The real Goliath is far more terrifying:

Your guilt before a holy God.

Your bondage to sin.

The power of death and the grave.

The judgment your sin rightly deserves.

No slingshot of self-help can defeat that enemy. No human strategy can bring down that giant.

Only Jesus could.

Colossians 2:13-15 — “And you, who were dead in your trespasses… God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us… He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

On the cross, Jesus destroyed the giant.

He faced it alone. He crushed its head. He rose again as the Champion of heaven.

3. Because the Giant Is Dead, You Can Live Fearlessly

Now — and only now — do we talk about facing your giants.

Because Jesus has taken care of the ultimate enemy:

You don’t have to be afraid of what the future holds.

You don’t have to be ruled by fear of failure, rejection, suffering, or even death.

The worst thing that could ever happen to you — separation from God — has already been dealt with.

Everything else is a lesser battle.

a) Courage in suffering

Romans 8:31–32 NIV

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?

If God took care of your biggest need (forgiveness and eternal life), will he not also take care of your daily needs?

You can face suffering with confidence, knowing it will not have the last word.

b) Courage in death

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 NIV

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the Christian, death is not defeat — it is promotion into glory.

You can face the valley of the shadow of death and say, “I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”

c) Courage in the face of rejection

You don’t need to live enslaved to the opinions of others anymore.

You don’t need the approval of man when you have the smile of God.

If the cross proves anything, it proves this: You are already loved with an everlasting love.

You can live boldly. You can speak truth without fear. You can endure misunderstanding, slander, and loneliness — because you are anchored to something greater than the applause of people.

4. The Shepherd Who Fought for You Now Walks With You

David wasn’t just a giant-slayer — he was a shepherd.

And after Goliath fell, David didn’t stop caring for sheep. He didn’t abandon the weak. He didn't forget about those he fought for.

Jesus, too, is your Good Shepherd.

John 10:11 NIV

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

He walks with you now. He leads you through green pastures and dark valleys alike. He prepares a table for you in the presence of your enemies. He anoints your head with oil. Your cup overflows.

Surely — surely — goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life. And you will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Conclusion: Worship the True Champion

When you hear the story of David and Goliath, don’t make yourself the hero.

Make yourself the one who rejoices in the hero.

David → Jesus → You.

The victory has been won.

The giant has fallen.

The Shepherd is with you.

The future is secure.

Therefore:

Worship him.

Trust him.

Follow him.

Rest in him.

The story of David and Goliath isn’t just about facing your fears — it’s about a Savior who stepped onto the battlefield for you. We were like the Israelite army: helpless, stuck, unable to defeat the real giants of sin, shame, and death. But Jesus fought for us. He faced the enemy alone, conquered the grave, and now offers His victory freely to anyone who will trust Him. You don’t have to fight for your salvation. You don’t have to clean yourself up first. You just come — weak, weary, and ready to receive. Today, if you need forgiveness, if you need freedom, if you need a new beginning, Jesus is ready to meet you. Don’t stay stuck on the sidelines. Step into the victory He won. Come to Jesus today.