15 Stories Of Courage In The Bible

Welcome to our next exciting adventurous journey as we discover incredible and inspiring stories of courage in the Bible! In these pages, we will embark on a journey through some of the most courageous stories from the Bible. Each tale is a treasure, filled with bravery, faith, and lessons that will help you be strong and courageous in your own life.

From the bravery of young David to the wisdom of Queen Esther, from the steadfast faith of Noah to the peacemaking of Abigail, these stories will show you how ordinary people did extraordinary things with God's help.

1. David and Goliath: The Courage to Face Giants

Bible Verse: 1 Samuel 17

The Young Hero and the Giant

Once upon a time, in a land far away, there was a young shepherd boy named David. He wasn't very big, but he had a huge heart full of courage. One day, a scary giant named Goliath challenged David's people, but everyone was too afraid to fight him. David, however, believed that with God's help, he could defeat Goliath. Armed with just a sling and a few stones, David faced the giant. With a whoosh, he slung a stone that hit Goliath right in the forehead, and the giant fell down! This shows us that no matter how small we are, we can overcome big challenges with faith and courage.

Fun Activity: Draw a picture of David and Goliath. How would you look facing a giant?

2. Daniel in the Lions' Den: Bravery in Belief

Bible Verse: Daniel 6

Daniel's Trust in the Lions' Den

In a kingdom ruled by King Darius, there was a man named Daniel who loved God very much. Some people were jealous of Daniel and tricked the king into making a law that could put Daniel in danger. The law said that people could only pray to the king, but Daniel kept praying to God. As a result, he was thrown into a den of lions! But guess what? God protected Daniel, and not a single lion hurt him. Daniel's story teaches us to stay true to our beliefs, even when it's hard.

Interactive Quiz: How well do you know the story of Daniel?

3. Esther's Boldness: Courage to Speak Up

Bible Verse: Esther 4

Esther's Brave Choice

In the palace of a great king, there was a brave queen named Esther. When an evil man named Haman planned to hurt her people, Esther knew she had to do something. She bravely went to the king, even though it was risky, and asked him to save her people. Esther's courage saved many lives and showed us that speaking up for what is right is always important.

Story Link: Discover more about Queen Esther's bravery

4. Noah's Faith: Courage to Be Different

Bible Verse: Genesis 6-9

Noah's Great Big Ark

Long ago, there was a man named Noah who was different from everyone else because he always chose to do what was right. God saw that the world was filled with people who were not nice, but Noah was good and kind. God told Noah about a great flood that would come and asked him to build a huge boat, called an ark.

Even though people laughed at him, Noah followed God's instructions. He worked hard to build the ark and gathered two of every animal into it. When the flood came, Noah, his family, and the animals were safe. Noah's story teaches us that sometimes, being brave means being different and doing the right thing, even when others don't understand.

Craft Time: Can you make your own ark model using craft materials? Fill it with animal figures or drawings!

5. Moses: Courage to Lead

Bible Verse: Exodus 3

Moses and the Burning Bush

In a land called Egypt, there lived a man named Moses. One day, while tending sheep, Moses saw a bush that was on fire but was not burning up. From the bush, God spoke to Moses, telling him to lead his people, the Israelites, out of slavery in Egypt. Moses was scared at first because it was a huge task, but he trusted God. With God’s help, Moses bravely went to the Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, and led his people to freedom. Moses' courage reminds us that even when we are scared, we can do great things with God’s help.

Explore More: Read about Moses and the Burning Bush

6. Joshua and the Battle of Jericho: Courage to Follow God's Plan

Bible Verse: Joshua 6

The Walls Come Tumbling Down

After Moses, there was a leader named Joshua. God gave Joshua a very unusual plan to conquer the city of Jericho. Instead of fighting, God told Joshua to have his soldiers march around the city walls once a day for six days, and seven times on the seventh day, then blow their trumpets. Joshua followed God’s strange plan, and on the seventh day, after they marched and blew their trumpets, the walls of Jericho fell down all by themselves! Joshua's story shows us that following God’s plan, even when it seems unusual, can lead to amazing things.

Interactive Game: Pretend you are marching around Jericho. How would you feel when the walls fall down?

7. Gideon's Trust: Courage in Doubt

Bible Verse: Judges 6

Gideon's Small Army

In a time of trouble for Israel, God chose a man named Gideon to save His people. Gideon was not sure if he could do it, as he did not think he was strong or important enough. God showed Gideon that He would be with him, and that was all the strength he needed. When it was time to battle, God told Gideon to reduce his army to just 300 men, which seemed too small to win. But Gideon trusted God. With only 300 men and some clever tactics, they won a great victory. Gideon’s story tells us that with God, even a small group can do big things when we trust and follow His guidance.

Story Link: Learn more about Gideon's amazing faith

8. Ruth's Loyalty: Courage to Start Over

Bible Verse: Ruth 1

Ruth's New Beginning

Once, there was a woman named Ruth who lived in a land called Moab. After she lost her husband, she had to make a big decision. She chose to leave her home and go with her mother-in-law, Naomi, to a new land called Israel. It was a big change, and Ruth was very brave to start her life over in a place she did not know. In Israel, Ruth worked hard and took care of Naomi. God blessed Ruth for her kindness and loyalty, and she became part of a very special family. Ruth's story inspires us to be brave when starting new things and to always be kind and loyal to our family and friends.

Craft Activity: Create a family tree showing your family and friends who are like family to you.

9. Joseph's Perseverance: Courage in Hard Times

Bible Verse: Genesis 37

Joseph's Journey from Dreams to Reality

In the land of Canaan, there lived a boy named Joseph, who had eleven brothers. Joseph was special because he had dreams that told of the future. His brothers were jealous of him and sent him far away to Egypt. In Egypt, Joseph faced many challenges, but he never lost his faith in God. God helped Joseph understand dreams, and eventually, Joseph became a powerful leader in Egypt. When a famine came, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt for help, not knowing who he was. Joseph forgave them, and they were all reunited. Joseph’s story teaches us that no matter what troubles we face, we can overcome them with faith and perseverance.

Read More: Explore the story of Joseph in detail

10. Mary's Faith: Courage to Accept

Bible Verse: Luke 1

Mary's Brave Yes

In the town of Nazareth, there lived a young woman named Mary. One day, an angel appeared to her with a surprising message: she would be the mother of Jesus, the Son of God. This was a huge responsibility and could be very scary, but Mary showed great courage. She said yes to God's plan with faith and trust, even though she didn't know what the future would hold. Mary's bravery reminds us that sometimes, courage means saying yes to God's plans, even when they seem scary or uncertain.

Reflection Activity: Write a letter to Mary. What would you like to tell her about your own moments of saying 'yes' to something challenging?

11. Peter's Courage to Walk on Water

Bible Verse: Matthew 14:22-33

Peter's Bold Step

On a stormy night, Jesus' disciples were in a boat on a lake when they saw Jesus walking on water towards them! They were terrified, thinking he was a ghost, but Jesus told them not to be afraid. Peter, one of the disciples, asked Jesus to let him walk on the water too. Jesus invited him, and Peter stepped out of the boat and started walking on water! But when he saw the wind and waves, he got scared and began to sink. Jesus reached out and saved him, teaching Peter, and us, that with faith, we can do incredible things – and even when we're scared, Jesus is there to help us.

Interactive Experiment: Try walking on different surfaces (like a pillow or a piece of wood). How does it feel to step out of your comfort zone?

12. The Good Samaritan: Courage to Help Others

Bible Verse: Luke 10:25-37

A Lesson in Kindness

Jesus told a story about a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who was attacked and left hurt on the road. Many people passed by him, but they did not stop to help. Then, a Samaritan man came along. Samaritans and Jews usually did not get along, but this Samaritan felt sorry for the injured man. He stopped, took care of his wounds, and took him to an inn to rest. Jesus used this story to teach us that we should help others, no matter who they are. The Good Samaritan's actions show us that true courage sometimes means helping those who are different from us.

Craft Idea: Create a 'Helping Hands' poster. Trace your hand and write ways you can help others, just like the Good Samaritan did.

13. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego: Courage to Stand Firm

Bible Verse: Daniel 3

The Fiery Furnace

In Babylon, three friends named Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were faced with a huge challenge. The king made a golden statue and ordered everyone to bow to it. But these three friends only worshipped God and refused to bow to the statue, even though they knew they could be thrown into a fiery furnace for disobeying the king.

The king was furious and ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. But something miraculous happened! When the king looked into the furnace, he saw four men walking in the fire, unharmed - the fourth looked like an angel! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out without a single burn. Their story teaches us the power of standing firm in our beliefs, no matter how hard it gets.

Discussion Question: Have you ever had to stand up for what you believe in? How did it make you feel?

14. Abigail: Courage to Make Peace

Bible Verse: 1 Samuel 25

Abigail's Wise Intervention

There was a wise and courageous woman named Abigail. She was married to Nabal, a very rich but mean and foolish man. When David, who would later become king, asked Nabal for help, Nabal rudely refused. David was very angry and planned to harm Nabal and his household. But Abigail acted quickly. She gathered food and gifts and went to meet David, apologizing for Nabal's behavior. Her wisdom and courage calmed David's anger and prevented a terrible fight. Abigail’s story shows us that sometimes, courage means taking steps to make peace and prevent harm.

Creative Activity: Draw a scene where you helped to make peace, just like Abigail did.

15. The Shunammite Woman: Courage in Faith

Bible Verse: 2 Kings 4:8-37

The Miracle for a Faithful Woman

In the land of Shunem, there lived a kind and wealthy woman who often hosted the prophet Elisha. To show her respect, she even set up a special room in her house for him. Elisha wanted to repay her kindness, and through God's power, he promised she would have a son, even though she was old. Her son was born, but after some years, he suddenly fell ill and died.

The Shunammite woman, in her deep sorrow, still had faith. She went to Elisha, who came and prayed over her son, and he was miraculously brought back to life! Her story teaches us that even in the hardest times, our faith can lead to miraculous things.

Reflection Activity: Write a story or draw a picture about a time when you kept faith, even when things were difficult.

Conclusion on Stories Of Courage In The Bible

What an incredible journey we've had! Together, we've met heroes and heroines from the Bible who showed great courage in different ways. From David's giant-slaying bravery to Esther's boldness in speaking up, from Moses leading his people to freedom to Abigail's peace-making efforts, each story has taught us something special about being brave.

Remember, courage doesn't always mean doing big, heroic things. It can be about standing up for what's right, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, or keeping faith in tough times, like the Shunammite woman. It's about being brave enough to start over, like Ruth, and having the courage to say 'yes' to God's plans, like Mary.

As you go about your days, think about these stories. When you face something scary or hard, remember David and his stones, Esther and her words, or Moses and his staff. Believe that, like them, you have God's help to be brave and do great things.

Just like the people in these stories, you have the courage to face giants, stand up for what is right, and be kind to others. Keep exploring, keep learning, and keep being brave – for with courage in your heart and faith in God, you can do amazing things!

May these stories stay with you, inspire you, and remind you always of the courage you have within.