Book: Raising Giants – Study Guide: Chapter 1
- Dr. Layne McDonald
- Jun 11
- 5 min read
"Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it." , Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
Welcome to the frontline. If you are holding this study guide, it is because you recognize that the ground beneath our families has shifted. We are no longer raising children in a quiet, predictable village; we are raising them in a digital canyon where a thousand voices compete for their identity, their attention, and their eternal soul.
In Chapter 1 of Raising Giants, we explored the reality of the "Valley of Voices." We looked at the historical weight of 1 Samuel 17 and drew a parallel to the modern giants our children face today. This study guide is designed to move you from theory to action. It is a tactical manual for the Christian parent who refuses to let the algorithm become the primary discipler of their home.
The goal of this first session is simple but profound: Awareness. Before David could defeat Goliath, he had to accurately assess the size of the giant and the strength of his own God. Today, we begin that assessment.
Part 1: Bridging the "Time Gap"
One of the most startling realizations for modern parents is the sheer disparity between the time we spend in "intentional spiritual formation" (church, family devotions, prayer) and the time our children spend in "passive digital consumption."
In 2026, the average teenager spends upwards of 7 hours per day on a screen for entertainment. That is 49 hours a week. In contrast, the average "active" Christian family spends about 1 to 2 hours in a church service and perhaps another 30 minutes in scattered prayer or Bible reading throughout the week.
The Math of Influence
If we do the math, the digital giant has a 40-to-1 advantage in the battle for your child’s ear. While we are teaching them about the Fruit of the Spirit for sixty minutes on Sunday, the algorithm is teaching them about comparison, consumerism, and secular identity for sixty hours during the week.
Discussion Point: Look at the infographic above. When you compare the "Altar Time" (worship/prayer) to the "Screen Time" in your home, what does the ratio look like? Don’t answer with guilt; answer with honesty. We cannot fix what we do not measure.
Part 2: The Family Digital Audit
The first practical step in Raising Giants is the Digital Audit. This isn't about being "anti-tech"; it's about being "pro-soul." In 1 Samuel 17, David didn't just run into the valley; he rejected the armor that didn't fit him and chose the tools that did. An audit is simply the process of deciding what "fits" your family’s Kingdom mission and what is just dead weight.
How to Conduct Your Audit
To successfully navigate this, you need a framework. Use the three pillars below to evaluate every piece of technology and every platform in your home:
Content (The "What"): What is actually coming through the screen? Is it building wisdom, or is it feeding foolishness?
Connection (The "Who"): Who is your child talking to? Is the platform facilitating healthy community or anonymous, high-risk exposure?
Call (The "Why"): Why are they using it? Is it for rest and creativity, or is it an escape from reality?
Audit Action Steps:
Inventory the Entry Points: List every device (smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, smart TVs).
Check the "Screen Time" Settings: Most devices in 2026 have built-in reports. Look at the "Top Used Apps." Are they social, gaming, or educational?
The Notification Check: How many times a day is your child’s attention being "poked" by a notification? Constant interruption kills deep thought and spiritual reflection.
Part 3: Biblical Deep Dive – 1 Samuel 17
When we read the story of David and Goliath, we often jump to the stone and the sling. But the battle was won long before David reached the valley. It was won in the "quiet fields" where David tended sheep.
The Training in the Private Places
David told Saul, "Your servant used to keep sheep for his father. And when there came a lion, or a bear, and took a lamb from the flock, I went after him and struck him..." (1 Samuel 17:34-35).
David was ready for the giant because he had already dealt with the lion and the bear in private. For our children, the "lions and bears" are the smaller digital temptations, the first inappropriate video, the first mean comment, the first pull toward comparison. If we don't help them defeat these in the "private fields" of the home, they will be crushed by the "Goliaths" of the culture when they leave our roof.
Reflection Questions:
What are the "Lions and Bears" currently attacking your child’s peace? (Is it a specific social media app? A gaming community? A YouTube influencer?)
Is your child’s "Armor" authentic? Saul tried to put his heavy, bronze armor on David. It didn't fit. Often, we try to force our children into a "legalistic" mold of Christianity that doesn't fit their heart. How can we help them find their own "five smooth stones", their own personal, authentic relationship with Jesus?
Part 4: Who is the Primary Voice?
Every child has a "Primary Voice." This is the voice they trust most, the one they look to for validation, and the one that defines what is "normal" for them.
In the Valley of Elah, the primary voice for forty days was Goliath’s. He shouted, and the entire army of Israel trembled. They had forgotten the voice of God because the voice of the giant was louder and more frequent.
Ask yourself this hard question:If my child had to describe the "good life," would their description sound more like a Sermon on the Mount or a trending video on TikTok?
The Audit of the Worldview
Worldview isn't taught in a single lecture; it is caught through thousands of micro-moments of consumption. If the primary voice shaping your child is a secular influencer who does not know Christ, your child is being discipled into a secular kingdom.
Family Exercise: The "Raising Giants" Covenant
Before you finish this study guide, I want to challenge you to sit down as a family, not as a judge, but as a team. Use the following prompts to start a conversation that could change the trajectory of your home:
For the Parents: "I confess that I sometimes let my phone get in the way of our time together. I want to do better. Will you help me?"
For the Children: "Which apps or games make you feel happy and creative, and which ones make you feel tired or angry?"
For the Family: "Let’s pick one 'Digital Sabbath', a time each week where all phones go in a basket and we focus only on God and each other."
Chapter 1 Takeaway:
The giant's greatest weapon is not his spear; it is his volume. When we silence the noise through a digital audit, we finally make room to hear the "still, small voice" of God.
Layne McDonald, Ph.D., is an author, researcher, and Christian minister dedicated to helping families navigate the complexities of modern culture through a biblical lens. With a background in theology and leadership, Dr. McDonald provides practical tools for spiritual formation, cultural discernment, and emotional healing. His work is rooted in the belief that the Word of God is the ultimate authority for every area of life, from the quiet of the altar to the noise of the office.
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The giants are loud, but they are not undefeated. If we can audit the voices in our children's ears today, who will they have the courage to stand against tomorrow?
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