Riverview Christian Academy Students Put King David on Trial

What happens when biblical history enters a modern courtroom?

Students at Riverview Christian Academy explored that question on May 20, 2025, by staging a mock trial of King David, reimagining the story of David and Bathsheba through the lens of justice and consequence.

A classroom was transformed into a courtroom, where classmates, teachers, and parents observed as students stepped into the roles of attorneys, witnesses, and jurors. Drawing from 2 Samuel 11–12, the prosecution and defense examined David’s actions—his misuse of power, the cover-up, and ultimately, his repentance.

“We wanted students to wrestle with real moral questions,” said one teacher. “David was a man after God’s heart, but he also failed. How do we hold that in tension?”

Under the guidance of Judge James (Jim) Spoo, a former mayor of Sparks, students presented a full case. The prosecution highlighted abuse of authority and moral failure. The defense emphasized the lack of reliable witnesses and later shared David’s confession, God’s mercy, and his transformation as a leade

More than just a dramatization, the exercise challenged students to engage critically with scripture, see the different ways this story is still relevant today, while also developing skills like public speaking, critical thinking, and teamwork. It pushed them to ask tough questions about justice, grace, and leadership in a broken world.

This interesting blend of faith, education, creativity, and real-world application showed that Bible stories aren’t just ancient texts; they’re real human experiences that we can still learn from to this day.