This small group discussion guide draws directly from Our Impact Church 3's sermon “Follow-Up Materials - Initial Analysis” so you can keep engaging with the message all week. Read, reflect, and share it with your small group or friends.
Small Group Discussion Guide
"Slay That Giant" | Based on 1 Samuel 17 & Supporting Passages
A Note to Facilitators: Welcome, and thank you for leading your group this week! This guide is designed to help your group engage honestly and practically with Sunday's message. You don't need to be a Bible expert to lead a great discussion — your job is simply to create a safe space for people to share, ask good questions, and listen well. Feel free to adapt questions to fit your group's needs and pace. Estimated total time: 75–90 minutes.
OVERVIEW
What was Sunday's message about?
This week's sermon used the story of David and Goliath to explore the giants we face in our own lives — fear, doubt, shame, addiction, depression, generational patterns, and more. The pastor challenged us to recognize that many of these giants survive not because they're powerful, but because we keep feeding them with our thoughts, words, and choices. Like David, we are called to face our giants with bold faith — because on the other side of every giant is a new beginning that God has prepared for us.
Key Thought: "Some giants survive not because they're strong, but because they're fed."
SECTION 1: ICEBREAKER
(5–10 minutes)
Start here to warm up the group and get everyone talking before diving into deeper content.
Opening Question:
Think of a time in your life when something that seemed really intimidating turned out to be much less scary once you actually faced it. It could be something big or small — a job interview, a difficult conversation, a new experience. What happened, and how did you feel on the other side of it?
Allow everyone who wants to share a chance to respond. Keep it light and fun — this is just a warm-up!
SECTION 2: SCRIPTURE READING
(5–10 minutes)
Have someone in the group read each passage aloud. It's okay to have different people read different passages. Encourage everyone to follow along in their own Bible or phone.
Primary Text — The Giant Takes His Stand:
"Then the Philistine came forward morning and evening and took his stand for forty days." — 1 Samuel 17:16 (ESV)
Context for Leaders: The story of David and Goliath is found in 1 Samuel 17. Israel and the Philistines were at war in the Valley of Elah. Goliath was a massive Philistine warrior — over nine feet tall — who came out twice a day to taunt and challenge Israel's army. For 40 days, no Israelite soldier, including King Saul, dared to fight him. David, a young shepherd boy, eventually stepped forward with just a sling and five stones — and defeated Goliath with a single shot. This victory launched David's journey toward becoming Israel's greatest king.
Second Text — Taking Thoughts Captive:
"For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ." — 2 Corinthians 10:4–5 (ESV)
Third Text — How Giants Grow:
"But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death." — James 1:14–15 (ESV)
SECTION 3: DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
(30–45 minutes)
Work through as many questions as time allows. Questions are organized from lighter and observational to deeper and more personal. You don't need to cover every question — choose the ones that feel right for your group.
THEME 1: RECOGNIZING YOUR GIANT
Questions 1–3 | (~10–12 minutes)
1. What was one thing from Sunday's message that stood out to you, surprised you, or stuck with you throughout the week?
[Leader Tip: This is a great opener because there are no wrong answers. It helps you gauge what resonated most with your group and naturally surfaces the themes you'll explore together. If the group is quiet, share your own answer first to model vulnerability.]
2. The pastor pointed out something interesting: Goliath never actually won a recorded battle in Scripture. He had no "battle stats." His power was almost entirely built on intimidation and noise. Why do you think intimidation can be so effective — even when the threat behind it isn't as powerful as it appears?
[Leader Tip: Encourage the group to think about this both in the biblical story and in their own experience. Some people may share about intimidating people, situations, or internal voices. Affirm all responses — the goal is to help people see that many "giants" are bigger in our minds than in reality.]
Optional follow-up if discussion stalls: "Has there ever been a giant in your life that turned out to be less powerful than it seemed once you actually confronted it?"
3. The sermon described Goliath's positioning as intentional — using the Hebrew word for "stand," which means purposeful, strategic positioning. The pastor said, "Some things in your life are not lingering by accident. They're standing there to keep you from taking that next step." What do you think it means that the enemy is strategic rather than random in how he works against us?
THEME 2: HOW GIANTS GROW — THOUGHTS, WORDS, AND CHOICES
Questions 4–6 | (~12–15 minutes)
4. The sermon introduced a powerful progression: "Unchecked thoughts become decisions, and unchecked decisions become strongholds." Can you walk through what that progression might look like in a real-life situation? How does a small, unchecked thought eventually become something that feels impossible to overcome?
[Leader Tip: This question can open up very honest and personal sharing. Create safety by reminding the group that what's shared in the room stays in the room. If someone shares something heavy, acknowledge it warmly before moving on. You don't need to fix or counsel — just listen and affirm their honesty.]
5. James 1:14–15 describes how temptation and sin grow — from desire, to conception, to being "fully grown." The pastor said, "What you don't kill in the desire stage will rule you in the grown stage." Why is it so much easier to deal with something in the "desire stage" than after it has grown? What makes it hard to address things early?
6. The pastor said that giants are often fed not by their own strength, but by what we give them — our words, our declarations, our attention, and our agreement with the lies they tell. In what ways do we sometimes unknowingly "feed" the giants in our lives? What are some practical ways we can stop feeding them?
[Leader Tip: This question connects naturally to 2 Corinthians 10:5 about "taking every thought captive." You might read that verse again here. Encourage the group to think about specific habits — what we say about ourselves, what we rehearse in our minds, what we agree with when we're alone.]
THEME 3: THE DAVID RESPONSE — FACING YOUR GIANT WITH FAITH
Questions 7–9 | (~12–15 minutes)
7. When David arrived at the battlefield, his response was completely different from everyone else's. While the whole army saw an unbeatable giant, David saw an uncircumcised Philistine who had defied the living God. What do you think shaped David's perspective? What does his response teach us about the role of our identity and history with God in how we face challenges?
Background note for leaders: Earlier in 1 Samuel 17, David told King Saul that he had already killed a lion and a bear while protecting his sheep. He said, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine" (v. 37). David's confidence wasn't in himself — it was built on his personal track record with God.
8. The pastor made a bold statement: "A giant is always a precursor that something new is on the way." David didn't know that slaying Goliath would pave the way for him to become king. How does this idea change the way we might look at the difficult challenges, obstacles, or "giants" we're currently facing?
9. The sermon mentioned that the voices we surround ourselves with either feed our giants or help us slay them. The pastor said, "Who you get counsel from matters — because the voices you surround yourself with don't just influence the giants, they give them permission to keep standing." How have you experienced the power of community — either positively or negatively — when you were facing something hard?
SECTION 4: PERSONAL APPLICATION
(10–15 minutes)
These questions are more reflective and personal. You may want to give people 2–3 minutes of quiet reflection before sharing, or invite people to share only what they're comfortable with. Some groups may prefer to journal their answers rather than share aloud.
Reflection Questions:
1. If you're honest with yourself, what is the "Goliath" in your life right now — the thing that keeps showing up, morning and evening, taunting you and keeping you from stepping into what God has for you? You don't have to name it out loud if you're not ready, but take a moment to identify it for yourself.
2. Based on the sermon's framework, where are you in the process with this giant?
- Am I still in the "desire stage" — where I can still address this before it grows?
- Has this become an "unchecked decision" I keep returning to?
- Has it become a stronghold — something that feels like it has real power over me?
What would it look like to take one step toward facing this giant this week?
3. The pastor talked about the importance of the words we speak over ourselves and our situations — that "life and death are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21). What is one lie you've been agreeing with — about yourself, your future, your family, or your circumstances — that you need to stop feeding? And what is the truth from God's Word that you could replace it with?
4. David faced Goliath with a sling, five stones, and a history with God. He didn't wait until he had the right armor or the right credentials — he used what he already had. What has God already placed in your hands — gifts, experiences, faith, community — that He might be calling you to pick up and use as you face your current giant?
SECTION 5: THIS WEEK'S CHALLENGE
Choose one (or more) of the following practical steps to take before your group meets again:
🗡️ Name It: Write down the name of your giant — the thing that keeps taunting you. Naming it is the first step toward facing it. Pray over it by name this week.
🧠 Capture It: Practice 2 Corinthians 10:5 this week. When a negative, discouraging, or fear-based thought comes, pause and ask: "Is this true? Is this from God? Am I feeding this?" Choose not to agree with it. Replace it with a truth from Scripture.
📖 Read It: Read the full story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel 17. Pay attention to what David says and does — and notice what gave him the courage to step forward when no one else would.
👥 Share It: Find one trusted person in your life — a friend, spouse, mentor, or group member — and tell them about the giant you're facing. Ask them to pray with you and speak truth over you this week. Don't face it alone.
🙏 Declare It: Write out one Scripture-based declaration about who you are and what God has promised you. Speak it out loud every morning this week. (Need a starting point? Try Philippians 4:13, Romans 8:37, or Isaiah 54:17.)
SECTION 6: PRAYER FOCUS
(5–10 minutes)
Close your time together in prayer. You can pray as a group, ask for specific prayer requests, or use the prompts below as a guide. Consider breaking into pairs or triads for more personal prayer if your group is comfortable with that.
Suggested Prayer Topics:
🙏 Courage — Ask God to give your group members the courage of David to face the giants in their lives, rather than retreating in fear.
🙏 Discernment — Pray for clarity to recognize when the enemy is using intimidation, lies, or strategic positioning to keep us from stepping into God's promises.
🙏 Thought Life — Ask God to help each person take their thoughts captive this week, and to replace lies with truth.
🙏 Community — Pray that your group would be the kind of community that speaks life over one another — people who say "you're blessed, not cursed; above and not beneath; you can get through this."
🙏 New Beginnings — Pray in faith that as people face their giants, God would open new doors, new opportunities, and generational blessings on the other side.
Suggested Closing Prayer Prompt: Invite someone to close in prayer, or use this as a guide:
"Lord, we thank You that You are greater than every giant we face. We confess that we've sometimes fed our giants instead of facing them — with our thoughts, our words, and our agreements with the enemy's lies. Give us the spirit of David — a faith that remembers what You've already done and trusts You for what's ahead. Show each person in this room the giant they need to face, and give them the courage to take that first step. We believe that on the other side of this giant is something new You're bringing. In Jesus' name, amen."
SECTION 7: OPTIONAL DEEP DIVE
For groups wanting to go further | (+15–20 minutes)
Use these questions if your group has extra time, if the discussion is especially rich, or if you want to assign them for personal reflection during the week.
Deep Dive Question 1 — The Pattern of Generational Giants:
The pastor talked about generational giants — patterns of sin, shame, addiction, divorce, or dysfunction that seem to pass from one generation to the next. He described a giant saying, "I got your grandparents, I got your parents, and I'm going to get you."
Read Exodus 20:5–6, where God speaks about patterns passing through generations, and Galatians 3:13–14, where Paul describes Christ redeeming us from generational curses.
"...visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." — Exodus 20:5b–6
"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us... so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith." — Galatians 3:13–14
- What patterns or tendencies have you noticed in your family line that feel like they've been passed down — for good or for bad?
- What does it mean practically that Christ has "redeemed us from the curse"? How does faith in that promise change how we engage with generational patterns?
- What would it look like for you to be the person in your family line who says, "This stops with me"?
Deep Dive Question 2 — The Role of Identity in Facing Giants:
Before David faced Goliath, he had a conversation with King Saul in which he recounted his previous victories over a lion and a bear (1 Samuel 17:34–37). His confidence came directly from his personal history with God.
- How does our sense of identity — who we believe we are and whose we are — affect how we face the giants in our lives?
- Where do you tend to draw your sense of identity from — your performance, other people's opinions, your past, or your relationship with God? How does that source of identity hold up when you're under pressure?
- The pastor noted that David asked, "Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" — meaning David's first instinct was to think about God's honor, not his own fear. How might shifting our focus from "How big is my giant?" to "How big is my God?" change the way we approach challenges?
Deep Dive Question 3 — Spiritual Warfare and the Mind:
The sermon referenced 2 Corinthians 10:4–5 and the idea of "casting down" thoughts and imaginations. The apostle Paul also addresses spiritual warfare directly in Ephesians 6.
Read Ephesians 6:10–18, the famous "armor of God" passage:
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit..." — Ephesians 6:10–18a
- The pastor said the enemy is "intentional" and "strategic." Paul calls his schemes "flaming darts." What does it look like practically to take a defensive posture in spiritual warfare — protecting your mind, your faith, and your identity?
- Which piece of the armor of God do you feel like you most need to "put on" right now, and why?
- The sermon emphasized that giants are fed by the absence of God's presence — through the absence of prayer, Scripture, fellowship, and community. How does the armor of God passage connect to the importance of staying spiritually engaged and connected?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
For Further Reading:
- 1 Samuel 16–17 (Full context of David's story, from his anointing to Goliath's defeat)
- Psalm 27 (David's declaration of confidence in God in the face of enemies)
- Romans 8:31–39 (Paul's declaration that nothing can separate us from God's love)
- Philippians 4:6–8 (Practical instruction on managing anxious thoughts)
Related Passages on Strongholds and the Mind:
- Romans 12:1–2 (Renewing the mind)
- Proverbs 18:21 (Life and death in the power of the tongue)
- Isaiah 54:17 (No weapon formed against you shall prosper)
Thank you for leading your group this week. Your willingness to show up, create space, and guide conversation matters more than you know. You don't have to have all the answers — you just have to be present, ask good questions, and trust that God will do the rest.
Slay that giant. 🗡️
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