The 1986 movie Hoosiers is a classic example of a David versus Goliath sports movie. The film is based on a true story in the small Indiana town of Hickory. The typical nobody-to-champions film pits a high school of 161 against a powerful school with more than 1,500 students. The 1954 Indiana high school basketball tournament championship game became known as “The Milan Miracle.” They beat Muncie Central High School 32-30 to clinch the title with an all-time high 14,000-plus fans packed into Butler Fieldhouse, with more than 40,000 fans greeting them when they arrived home in Hickory.

1 Samuel 17-18 – “The Battle is the Lords”

The story of David and Goliath is another amazing nobody-to-somebody story in 1 Samuel 17-18. The Philistine army challenged the Israelite army to battle with only their greatest champions. Goliath was the Philistine’s champion, a giant no Israelite wanted to fight. The 9-foot-9 giant wore 125 pounds of armor, carried a spear with a 15-pound point, and stood behind a man holding a large shield. David was just the opposite of the Israelite underdog, who would use only his slingshot and the power of God to defend God’s honor and kill the giant.

God used David and Goliath to send messages to both teams. To Israel, God’s message was, “The battle is the Lord’s.” To the pagan Philistines, the message was, “There is still a God in Israel.” Only the power of His Spirit can defeat sin, self, and Satan (Galatians 5:16-25). David understood that God’s power comes when we step out by faith. This was a spiritual battle to be won with spiritual weapons—prayer, faith, God’s Spirit, truth, and righteousness. 

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete rely on God’s spiritual weapons to fight spiritual battles. They are most concerned with the Glory of God.

Bible Memory Verse – “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of Yahweh of hosts, the God of the battle lines of Israel, whom you have reproached.’” 1 Samuel 17:45 (LSB)