Week 4

1 SAMUEL 17:38-51

38 Then Saul dressed David in his own tunic. He put a coat of armor on him and a bronze helmet on his head. 39 David fastened on his sword over the tunic and tried walking around, because he was not used to them.

“I cannot go in these,” he said to Saul, “because I am not used to them.” So he took them off. 40 Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream, put them in the pouch of his shepherd’s bag and, with his sling in his hand, approached the Philistine.

41 Meanwhile, the Philistine, with his shield bearer in front of him, kept coming closer to David. 42 He looked David over and saw that he was little more than a boy, glowing with health and handsome, and he despised him. 43 He said to David, “Am I a dog, that you come at me with sticks?” And the Philistine cursed David by his gods. 44 “Come here,” he said, “and I’ll give your flesh to the birds and the wild animals!”

45 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. 46 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. 47 All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lordsaves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.”

48 As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. 49 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.

50 So David triumphed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him.

SYNOPSIS

• Commonly referred to as the story of David and Goliath
• Saul provided David with armor, but David was not used to it and removed it
• Goliath jeers at David
• David challenges Goliath
• David killed Goliath with a slingshot

TALKING POINTS

• Goliath has been challenging the Israelites every day for 40 days
• Israelites feared Goliath
• David has complete trust in the Lord despite his lack of strength and maturity
• David hadn't set out looking to battle a giant; he was delivering food
• David acts to defend God's glory
• What is your Goliath?
• For some, it is his or her past
• How do you become intimate with God?
• Learn how to amble
• Spend uninterrupted time with God
• Listen and be still
• Get off your butt and be reckless
• Life is full of battles, but God is always going to win the war

MUFFIN OF THE WEEK

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE CHIP

Ingredients

• 6 tbsp unsalted butter
• 4 oz bittersweet chocolate chips
• 2 cups flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/4 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 375F. Prepare a muffin pan with paper liners and grease. Melt butter and half the chocolate in a double boiler. Remove from heat. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, and vanilla. Pour wet ingredients and melted chocolate into dry ingredient. Gently blend. Fold in remaining chocolate chips. Using an ice cream scoop, fill each tin 3/4 full. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.