AY Honors/David: A Heart for God/Answer Key

David: A Heart for God

Skill Level

1

Year

2025

Version

31.03.2026

Approval authority

Australian Union

1

Read or watch the story of David’s anointing and rise to kingship. Create a timeline or storyboard showing key moments in David’s life from shepherd boy to king. (Suggested passages: 1 Samuel 16 to 2 Samuel 5)

Objective: Help Pathfinders understand the major events in David’s early life and how God prepared him for leadership.

Trainer Talking Points:

• Begin with 1 Samuel 16 – David’s anointing by Samuel.
• Highlight stages:
  • » Defeats Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
  • » Friendship with Jonathan
  • » Fleeing from Saul
  • » Spares Saul’s life (1 Samuel 24 & 26)
  • » Becomes King of Judah (2 Samuel 2)
  • » Becomes King over all Israel (2 Samuel 5)

Activity Ideas:

• Draw a timeline poster with key scenes or turning points.
• Create a comic strip showing “Shepherd to King.”
• Optional: Act out one key event (e.g., anointing, battle, or coronation).

Discussion Questions:

1. How did God prepare David through his experiences before becoming king?
2. What does this teach us about waiting for God’s timing?

2

Explore David’s relationship with God. Discuss or write about:

• Why was David called “a man after God’s own heart”?
• What made David different from Saul?
• What role did music and worship play in his life?

Objective: Discover what made David’s heart unique and how his devotion shaped his leadership.

Bible Focus/References:

• 1 Samuel 13:14 – “A man after My own heart.”
• Acts 13:22 – David “will do everything I want him to do.”

Trainer Talking Points:

• Contrast Saul’s disobedience and pride with David’s humility and repentance.
• Emphasize David’s honesty with God in the Psalms—he praised, questioned, and repented openly.
• Worship was his daily language: through song, music, and prayer.

Activity Ideas:

• Write a list of traits that describe “a heart after God.”
• Reflect together on which traits we’d like to grow in.
• Optional: Share favorite worship songs and how they help connect with God.

Discussion Questions:

1. What do you think God looks for in our hearts today?
2. Can someone make mistakes and still have a heart for God?

3

Study one of David’s Psalms. Choose a psalm (e.g. Psalm 23, 51, or 139) and:

• Read it aloud
• Discuss what David is feeling and expressing
• Create your own short prayer or song inspired by the psalm

Objective: Help Pathfinders connect emotionally and spiritually through David’s psalms.

Suggested Psalms:

Psalm	Theme	Key Focus
23	Trust and Peace	God as shepherd and guide
51	Repentance	Confession and restoration
139	Identity and Presence	God knows and loves us completely

Trainer Talking Points:

• Ask: What emotion is David expressing—joy, fear, guilt, gratitude?
• Explore how poetry and prayer can be honest and personal.

Activity Ideas:

• Write a short prayer or poem in the style of a psalm.
• Draw a visual response to one verse.
• Optional: Compose a song or rap using lines from their psalm.

4

Look at David’s courage and trust in the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17). Discuss:

• What gave David confidence?
• What does this story teach us about trusting God with big challenges?

Optional: Re-enact the story or create a comic strip of the battle.

Objective: Relate David’s courage to modern life and personal faith.

Trainer Talking Points:

• David trusted in God, not weapons or strength.
• His preparation as a shepherd (facing lions and bears) built faith for bigger challenges.
• Connect Goliath to modern “giants”: fear, peer pressure, self-doubt.

Activity Ideas:

• Modern retelling of the story (e.g., “David vs. Peer Pressure”).
• Group skit or battle of courage challenge.
• Poster - “My Giant and My God.”

Discussion Questions:

1. What “giants” do you face at school, home, or church?
2. What helps you stand firm when others doubt you?

5

Reflect on David’s mistakes and repentance. Read about one major mistake (e.g., Bathsheba – 2 Samuel 11–12 or the census – 2 Samuel 24). Discuss or write:

• What did David do wrong?
• How did he respond when confronted?
• What does real repentance look like?

Objective: Teach that spiritual growth includes repentance and accountability.

Trainer Talking Points:

• David’s failure with Bathsheba and the census shows even great leaders fall short.
• The difference between David and Saul is found in response, not perfection.
• David’s immediate confession in Psalm 51 shows his humility and need for grace.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why does God still call David faithful even after his sin?
2. How can we respond when we’ve done something wrong?

Sensitive Topic Reminder: If students share personal experiences of guilt or mistakes, handle responses with care. Avoid judgment and redirect to God’s forgiveness and healing.

Optional Creative Reflection:

• Write a short modern Psalm of repentance.
• Make a “Torn and Mended Heart” craft: tear paper hearts and glue them with verses about grace.

6

Compare David’s story with Jesus. Discuss or present two connections between David and Jesus, such as:

• David as a shepherd --> Jesus as the Good Shepherd
• David as king --> Jesus as King of Kings
• David’s throne --> Messianic prophecy (Luke 1:32)

Objective: Recognize how David’s story points forward to Jesus.

Bible Focus/Reference:

• Luke 1:32–33 – Jesus sits on David’s throne
• John 10 – Jesus the Good Shepherd
• Psalm 22 – Quoted by Jesus on the cross

Activity Ideas:

• Make a comparison chart: “David  Jesus”
• Create a poster showing how Old Testament promises were fulfilled in Christ.
• Optional: Read a prophecy and act out its New Testament fulfilment.

Discussion Questions:

1. How does Jesus complete what David began?
2. Why is it important that Jesus came from David’s line

7

Create a project to show what you’ve learned. Choose one:

• A skit or play about David’s life
• A praise song or poem based on one of his psalms
• A “Heart of Worship” craft
• A poster showing "David’s Strengths and Weaknesses"

Objective: Consolidate learning through creative and reflective expression.

Activity Ideas:

• Drama - David’s anointing, repentance, or worship
• Poster - “A Heart for God” showing his character traits
• Song or Poem - Inspired by Psalm 23 or 51
• Devotional - “When I face my Goliath”

Encourage Pathfinders to present or display their work in a closing reflection session or Sabbath program.

References

• Australian Union David: A Heart for God Honor