Lead Pastor, Christchurch Miami James Drake  ·  1 Samuel 17:25-49  ·  Sunday, June 21, 2026

Our culture is deeply confused about manhood. Some say masculinity itself is the problem; others say it means dominance, aggression, and power. Preaching on Father's Day from his deployment in the Middle East, Pastor James Drake takes us into one of the most famous scenes in Scripture — David and Goliath, 1 Samuel 17 — and shows that the valley is crowded with three men, but only one of them understands what true manhood looks like. There is Goliath: nearly ten feet tall, all strength and pride, using his power for his own glory. That is toxic masculinity — strength without submission, which always ends in destruction. There is Saul: the biggest, most experienced, most responsible man in Israel, who hears the giant and does absolutely nothing. That is passive masculinity — the fear of man instead of the fear of God, and Drake argues it is the greater and more overlooked threat today: men waiting for someone else to lead, to pray, to step up. And then there is David: not toxic, not passive, but strong — courageous, humble, and utterly dependent on God. The thesis runs through the whole message like a drumbeat: biblical masculinity is strength surrendered to God for His glory and the good of others. Drake reminds us that David was not prepared in the valley but in the pasture — faithful with lions and bears that nobody saw, long before the giant nobody could miss. Everyone wants the platform; nobody wants the process. But here is the twist: we are not really David in this story. We are Israel — afraid, powerless, unable to save ourselves — until our true Champion steps forward. Jesus is the greater David. David defeated a giant; Jesus defeats sin and death, and shares the victory with His people. The hope of Christianity is not that you become David; it is that Jesus becomes your Savior. So what do we do? We run toward our giant. Faith moves; fear hesitates. Most giants don't live in valleys — they live in our homes, our marriages, our parenting, our habits, our fears, and our excuses. Not perfect men, but faithful men, whose strength is surrendered to God.