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SUMMARY:

Just as David was able to defeat Goliath, so even the smallest person can outperform the biggest person in a competition to shoot Diet Coke out of a 2-liter bottle, showing that no matter how big or small we are, we can accomplish great things with the help from God realized through prayer.

NEEDED:

1. package (14 count) of Mentos candies
2. Diet Coke 2-liters (unopened) – preferably kept warm
3. Geyser Tube – the one I use can be purchased on Amazon.com using the link below
   • Geyser Tube with Caps

PREPARATION:

It is suggested that the Goliath volunteer be selected before the presentation and instructed on how the experiment will proceed. An adult is preferred, due to the potential for messes. The volunteer for David is recommended to be a small child.

NOTE: Due to the mess involved, it is recommended that this experiment be performed outdoors and at least 10-20 feet from spectators. 

EXPERIMENT EXPECTATIONS:

The addition of Mentos candies to a freshly opened 2-liter of Diet Coke results in fountain of soda that can shoot as high as 30 feet into the air. Goliath has no chance to win using his strength alone.

PRESENTATION:

I need two volunteers.

Volunteer for Goliath

My first volunteer needs to be the biggest and strongest person here.

Choose the pre-selected adult.

Great, please stand to my right.

Please put on this jacket and prepare for battle. Today your name will be Goliath.

Volunteer for David

For our second volunteer, we need the smallest person in the room.

Let’s see, you over there.

Choose the smallest person.

Great, please stand to my left.

Please prepare for battle. Today, you will be David.

Story of David and Goliath

Now, let’s re-tell a story from the bible.

Can anyone tell me the story of David and Goliath?

Well, the story goes that these people called the Philistines wanted to go to war with the people of God, the Israelites.

Instead of their armies fighting, though, the Philistines wanted just one Philistine to fight just one Israelite, champion versus champion.

Raise your arms in the air.

Now this did not sound too bad to the Israelites, for no one likes to go to war.

Why not have one fighter for each side, winner take all?

But do you know what happened next?

Yeah, the Israelites saw the champion of the Philistines.

He was a huge giant named Goliath.

Goliath was the biggest, scariest, and strongest person that they have ever seen.

Not just that, he was trained as a fighter all his life, so they knew that he could easily squish them just like a grape.

So, it was no surprise that no one agreed to fight him. They were all too scared.

But there was one small little boy named David who was not afraid to fight.

David was not a soldier; he was not even an adult. He was a kid just like you.

But, David knew that because he had faith in God that he would be protected. He felt the courage and strength that comes from knowing God.

So when David and Goliath met on the battlefield and Goliath came charging toward David, sword in the air.

Raise you right hand like you are holding a sword.

David simply took out some smooth rocks he collected from the stream.

Show a few loose Mentos candies in your hand.

Calmly put them in a sling, and flung them toward Goliath.

Make a swinging gesture like throwing the stones.

They hit the giant square in the forehead and Goliath fell to the ground.

He was dead.

Story summation

Ok, well that is a great story, but what does that mean for us today? Does that me that God wants us to go out and fight giants?  No, of course not.

But, the story does show us that even little people, even kids like you, can do great things, if God is with you.

So, let me ask you. Have you even felt small, powerless?

I think we all have at one time.  Even when we get bigger like me, we sometimes feel small and powerless.

Maybe your best friend just got into a car wreck.  You are not a doctor. You are only a kid. How can you help?

Maybe your parents are always fighting each other. When you try to stop them it only gets worse.

Maybe you even have an older kid picking on you at school. You tried to talk to him, but things only got worse.

In any of these situations you may feel powerless, out of control. After all, you are only a kid in an adults’ world.

But I tell you the truth; YOU can all become very powerful, if you know God. All you have to do is ask for his help.

Prayer is our strength

So, how do we ask for God’s help? Wait for a response.

Yes, we pray.

We ask God to help us and we get his strength and courage, just like David.  Could we fight giants? Sure.

But kids just like you can also have a great impact on the world just by praying. Don’t believe me. Well, people in prayer, especially young children, have led to more miracles than I could tell you.

So, how do small people, even kids, get the strength to defeat large obstacles, like Goliath?  We plug into the power of God though prayer.

Introduction to experiment

Don’t believe me. Well, today we are going to have a similar battle as David versus Goliath, except we will not be fighting each other with swords or rocks. Instead, we will use soda.

Now, all of us have at one time or another opened a can of Coke™ and had it bubble over.  We may have even shaken a can from time to time just to see what happens. Right?

Well, today’s challenge is to see who can shoot soda from a 2-liter the highest.

Will it be the strongest person or the one with God?

Let’s see.

Volunteer introduction

On my right, we have the mighty Goliath, champion of the Philistines.

Gesture to the adult volunteer to acknowledge himself / herself with a bow.

But he does not know God.

On my left, we have David, the smallest of us.

Gesture to the child volunteer to acknowledge himself / herself with a bow.

Yet hopefully with the power from God, he will prevail.

Goliath attack

Well, let’s us just see how powerful someone big can be.

Open the 2-liter bottle of Diet Coke™ on the right side.

Goliath, are you ready? Leaving the bottle on the table, please squeeze it as hard as you can to make the biggest geyser.

Stand back, and then quickly clean up any mess with the towel.

Not bad, Goliath.

David attack

Ok, David, you’re up.

Kneel down to his or her level and talk one on one to the ‘David’ volunteer.

Feel scared? There is no need.  You have God on your side. God will give you strength and courage, just like David. Do you remember how we receive God’s strength? Yes, we pray!

Say a quick prayer asking for God’s help and strength

Ok, now we feel energized. Now, are you now ready to take on Goliath? Good. Ok, do you remember what David did?

Yes, he took small rocks and made a slingshot. Well, here are your rocks, and here is your slingshot.

Pull out the Geyser Tube, show the empty tube and the Mentos candy to your volunteer and the audience, assemble the tube according to the instructions (5 candies is sufficient), and hand the string to the child volunteer.

When we are all ready, David, I want you to pull the pin letting the ‘rocks’ fall into the 2-liter bottle.

Then step back as soon as possible, because I think this is going to be BIG.

Show the child volunteer how the squeeze the clip to release the fishing line. Be prepared to assist the child in getting clear of the soda once the reaction starts.

Ready?

Turn toward Goliath.

Think he /she will beat you, Goliath? You are very big, yet he/she is very small and only has these small pebbles.

Once everyone is ready, have the volunteer release squeeze the clip (pull the string), allowing all candies to enter the 2-liter at once. Be sure to have the volunteer stand back, as the stream of soda can shoot 30 feet or more into the air. Once depleted, remove the 2-liter from the table and quickly clean up the mess with a towel.

WOW!!! You went down Goliath.

David, the smallest person here, defeated you, the largest person here, because he /she had God on his / her side.

So just remember, when you have a problem, just say ‘I can do everything through him who gives me strength’. Philippians 4:13

When God is with you, no matter what your size, you can have a great impact on this world.