Sensory Showdown: Bringing David & Goliath to Life in Kids Ministry

God isn’t dull—and our teaching about Him shouldn’t be, either. Nothing about the Maker of the Universe, our loving Father, and our beautiful Savior is dull. So why, oh why, do we struggle so much to convey to kids just how amazing He is?

We sing that He's a good, good Father and a friend, but the God we teach them about is stripped of affection, creativity, and fun. Fun matters because children learn through play! By incorporating sensory learning into our Kids Ministry teachings, we can help kids engage with a God who is tangible and real.

Take the timeless story of David and Goliath: it’s more than just brave fighting—it's about courage, trust, and a deeply personal God. By harnessing sensory learning—sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch—we can bring this narrative to life in Sunday School, helping kids feel the stones in David's pouch, hear the clink, and see the giant himself.

Free David and Goliath Lesson for Kids

We all know bullies in our lives. It can be another kid who’s mean to you - taking  your food, pushing you around, or calling you ugly names. And sometimes even grown-ups can act like bullies. Maybe there’s an uncle, auntie, teacher, coach, or even your mom or dad who sometimes makes you feel very scared… 🙈

The Bible show the physical Bible gives us very good advice for every day’s problems. God is always close to you. You are never alone. 

So, let’s read about someone else who was also afraid. In the Bible book 1 Samuel, we read about someone with the name David. David was also part of God’s people who received His promise. He was family of Abraham and Moses…

David was the youngest brother and he watched 🐑 sheep while his older brothers were in the army. One day his dad sent him to take some food to his brothers. When David got there, a very big man was standing tall. His name was Goliath, the giant. 👀

David was surprised that all the fighters were very afraid. Even his big brothers hid away and whispered to each other. David was not very strong, but he knew that God was on their side. Let’s read show the physical Bible:

“Don’t worry about this Philistine,” David told (King) Saul. “I’ll go fight him!”

David defeated the giant with his slingshot and a handful of river stones! But his words were a stronger weapon: “I come to you in the name of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.” ☝️

See:

Create a “battlefield” corner with a cardboard Goliath to scale, slingapult targets, and simple slingshots. Let kids visualize David’s giant challenge facing them directly.

Hear:

Use sounds like marching armor, wind whipping across the Valley of Elah, or the sudden silence before David speaks. Play a recorded heartbeat to ground them in David’s anxiousness. Tip: Place the focus on David proclaiming God's name and not on the violence of the death. Show the kids how to proclaim God's name in situations where they might be afraid:

• When their parents fight, they can go to their room and pray to Jesus

• When they are afraid of the dark, they can whisper the name of Jesus out loud

• When friends are mean, they can say: "What would Jesus do?"

• When siblings hurt them, they can be brave like David and tell them to stop

Touch:

Give each child a smooth stone—let them hold it, weigh it, feel its texture. Connect that to David’s tactile readiness and faith in God’s strength. For a craft activity, they could paint on stones the word "brave".

Smell:

Bring in campfire scent or pine branches—remind kids that David was in the wilderness pondering God’s provision long before the showdown.

Taste:

Serve small “shepherd’s snack”—cheese cubes and olives or fruit leather—so they can eat like David might have in the fields. Or eat the snack he took his brothers in the battlefield.

When kids get to see, hear, smell, touch, and taste, they don’t just hear the story of David—they step into it, engaging their whole selves with God’s living Word. It transforms David from a distant figure to a real boy, a friend of God, someone they can relate to.

You might think teaching kids about God is just cute crafts and games—but this is real ministry, not fluff. When children engage their senses, they engage their hearts—and that’s where faith grows.

Have you ever tried a sensory-driven David and Goliath lesson? Share your ideas in the comments below!

Psst, consider using my $6 coloring book for even more guidance to bring the Bible to life in front of kids' eyes...

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