21 Days of Prayer & Fasting - Parent Guide
Parent Guide: Week 1
Parent Guide
This guide is meant to equip you with discussion questions and conversation starters that you can use throughout the week to continue the conversation about what you and your kids learned on Sunday. This parent guide is for parents of kids ages 3 through 18.
Sermon Summary
In case you missed it, or if you just need a refresher, here's a quick summary of what we talked about this week in the sermon:
Pastor Michael A. Pender's sermon "David | The Overachiever" emphasizes the power of faith in action, using David's victory over Goliath as a model. He challenges believers to trust God beyond their limitations and equipment, urging them to embrace faith that moves with certainty and boldness in overcoming obstacles in 2026.
Conversation Starters
These are things you can talk about with your kids to help further the conversation about what they may have learned on Sunday.
How do you personally tell the difference between “faith” you say you have and “faith with action” that actually changes what you do this week?
Talk about specific places where your beliefs stay in your head but don’t make it into your calendar, spending, conversations, or habits. David didn’t just agree that God was able—he moved toward the fight, so discuss what one concrete next step of obedience would look like for you.
What are you “working with” right now—habits, influences, relationships, media, substances, routines—and how might God be calling you to test whether those things strengthen or weaken your trust in Him?
The sermon emphasized that everyone is working with something, and not everything that’s normal is healthy or God-honoring. Consider what your current inputs are producing in your life (peace, courage, purity, discipline—or fear, compromise, numbness) and what needs to change.
What “equipment” do you tend to rely on instead of God—money, skills, connections, image, control—and why is it hard for you to face your giants without it?
David refused armor he hadn’t tested and chose to go “in the name of the Lord,” showing dependence over appearance. Discuss what you use to feel secure, what you’re afraid would happen if it was taken away, and how God might be inviting you to trust Him beyond your resources.
How can your group or family create “combat condition” practices that prepare you before pressure hits—so you’re not trying to build faith in the middle of fear?
Testing isn’t only about avoiding bad things; it’s also about training for real life through prayer, Scripture, accountability, and worship rhythms. Share what practices have helped you stay steady under stress and what shared plan could help everyone grow in courage and consistency.
What is an “automatic L” you’re facing entering this year, and what would it look like to approach it like David—naming the giant, moving forward, and trusting God for the outcome?
The sermon highlighted that situations that look like guaranteed losses can become wins in God’s hands. Identify the fear or obstacle clearly, then discuss what faithful action looks like even before results change, and how you’ll measure faithfulness rather than just success.
This guide is meant to equip you with discussion questions and conversation starters that you can use throughout the week to continue the conversation about what you and your kids learned on Sunday. This parent guide is for parents of kids ages 3 through 18.
Sermon Summary
In case you missed it, or if you just need a refresher, here's a quick summary of what we talked about this week in the sermon:
Pastor Michael A. Pender's sermon "David | The Overachiever" emphasizes the power of faith in action, using David's victory over Goliath as a model. He challenges believers to trust God beyond their limitations and equipment, urging them to embrace faith that moves with certainty and boldness in overcoming obstacles in 2026.
Conversation Starters
These are things you can talk about with your kids to help further the conversation about what they may have learned on Sunday.
How do you personally tell the difference between “faith” you say you have and “faith with action” that actually changes what you do this week?
Talk about specific places where your beliefs stay in your head but don’t make it into your calendar, spending, conversations, or habits. David didn’t just agree that God was able—he moved toward the fight, so discuss what one concrete next step of obedience would look like for you.
What are you “working with” right now—habits, influences, relationships, media, substances, routines—and how might God be calling you to test whether those things strengthen or weaken your trust in Him?
The sermon emphasized that everyone is working with something, and not everything that’s normal is healthy or God-honoring. Consider what your current inputs are producing in your life (peace, courage, purity, discipline—or fear, compromise, numbness) and what needs to change.
What “equipment” do you tend to rely on instead of God—money, skills, connections, image, control—and why is it hard for you to face your giants without it?
David refused armor he hadn’t tested and chose to go “in the name of the Lord,” showing dependence over appearance. Discuss what you use to feel secure, what you’re afraid would happen if it was taken away, and how God might be inviting you to trust Him beyond your resources.
How can your group or family create “combat condition” practices that prepare you before pressure hits—so you’re not trying to build faith in the middle of fear?
Testing isn’t only about avoiding bad things; it’s also about training for real life through prayer, Scripture, accountability, and worship rhythms. Share what practices have helped you stay steady under stress and what shared plan could help everyone grow in courage and consistency.
What is an “automatic L” you’re facing entering this year, and what would it look like to approach it like David—naming the giant, moving forward, and trusting God for the outcome?
The sermon highlighted that situations that look like guaranteed losses can become wins in God’s hands. Identify the fear or obstacle clearly, then discuss what faithful action looks like even before results change, and how you’ll measure faithfulness rather than just success.
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