2 Corinthians 9:6–7

Invite the children to repeat the phrase “God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:7). What does it mean to be “a cheerful giver”? Show a picture of a happy face and a sad face, and ask the children which one looks like a cheerful giver. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

Clipart Library

Sing together a song about service, such as “When We’re Helping” (Children’s Songbook, 198), several times. The first time, ask the children to sing cheerfully; then ask them to sing the song with different emotions or attitudes, such as sad, tired, angry, or scared. Remind the children that Heavenly Father wants us to help others gladly. Then sing the song cheerfully again. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

Help the children make pictures of smiling faces and frowning faces. Ask them to hold up their pictures of smiles when they hear the words smile or smiling as they sing “Smiles” (Children’s Songbook, 267). They could do the same thing with their pictures of frowns and the words frown and frowning. Help the children identify which face is cheerful and which one is not. Explain that one way to be cheerful and serve others is to smile and help others smile. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “1 Corinthians 14–16” )

Plan a class activity to serve someone, such as a child who does not attend Primary or a ward member or neighbor in need. You might plan to visit this person’s home, write kind notes or draw pictures, or make a treat to share. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

Friend February 2017 “Friendship Brownies” Grace’s Primary class makes brownies and a huge card to take to a classmate who hasn’t been coming.

Invite each child to plan an act of cheerful service for a member of his or her family. During next week’s lesson, ask them to share what they did. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

Friend January 2018

Latter Day Kids “I Can Be a Cheerful Giver” Lesson ideas

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8–13” Does your family know someone who could be described as “a cheerful giver”? How can we make our service to others more cheerful? Younger family members could make badges that say “I am a cheerful giver.” You could award the badges to family members whenever you see them serving one another cheerfully.2 Corinthians 10:3–7.

Comefollowmekid.com Badges

I can cheerfully give to people in need (Sr)

2 Corinthians 9:6–9

Write the words of 2 Corinthians 9:7 on the board, with key words left blank. Invite the children to guess what the missing words are. Then let them read the verse in the scriptures to fill in the blanks. What does it mean to give “grudgingly, or of necessity”? What does it mean to be “a cheerful giver”? (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

News with Naylors “A Cheerful Giver” Cover up some words below with thick papers. (See more lesson ideas at link.)

New Testament Study Guide for Home-Study Seminary Students “2 Corinthians 8–9” Read 2 Corinthians 9:6–7, looking for the comparison Paul used to teach the Church members in Corinth about giving freely.

To sow means to plant seeds. Who are the sowers in this comparison?

Consider how giving to others is like sowing seeds in a field. What happens if we only sow sparingly? What happens when we sow bountifully?

According to 2 Corinthians 9:7, how does the Lord expect us to sow, or give?

From 2 Corinthians 9:6–7 we learn the following truth: If we give to those in need with a cheerful heart, God will generously bless us.

Invite the children to help you find pictures of the Savior serving others (there are several in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families). Ask them what they see in these pictures that helps them know that Jesus served others with love. Set a goal as a class to say yes when family members or others ask us to serve in the coming week, such as by helping around the house or caring for others. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

The Red Crystal They can color in a heart when they have completed an act of service.

Help the children decorate small stones. Explain that these are “service stones” that they can carry in their pockets this week to help them remember to cheerfully serve others. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

Kids Activities

Sing together a song about service, such as “Fun to Do” (Children’s Songbook, 253). Help the children think of new verses to the song that describe a variety of ways to serve others. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

Friend September 2023 “Come, Follow Me Activities: A Cheerful Helper”

Story: Paul taught that we can help our neighbor (see 2 Corinthians 9:6–7). As we serve cheerfully, we can help others feel God’s love!

Song: “When We’re Helping” (Children’s Songbook, 198)

Activity: On slips of paper, write down the names of people who might need your help. Then write how you can help that person. Put the papers in a hat or basket and shake them up. Choose one and do what it says!

Heavenly Father always answers prayers, but not always in ways we expect. (Jr)

2 Corinthians 12:7–10

Show the children a plant with thorns (or a picture of one). Help them imagine what it would feel like to have a thorn stuck in their skin for a long time. Summarize 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 for the children, explaining that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was a trial, something difficult in his life. Even though Paul asked God to remove the trial, God did not. Instead, God taught Paul that challenges can help us learn to be humble and trust Him. Then God can make us strong. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

Testify that Heavenly Father knows what is best for us, and He will give us what we need, even if it is different from what we think we need. You might also share an experience when your prayers were answered in a way or at a time that was different from what you expected. A story like “The Diabetes Dilemma” (Friend, Sept. 2019, 4–5) or “Please Bless Ace” (Friend, Nov. 2019, 32–33) can also help. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

Friend September 2019 “The Diabetes Dilemma” Joe prayed that his sister didn’t have diabetes.  When they found out she did have diabetes, he was devastated. He didn’t understand why Heavenly Father didn’t answer his prayer. His mom explained that answers to prayers don’t always happen the way we want. Sometimes, instead of taking something hard away, He answers by giving us peace and helping us be strong. Joe then realizes that Heavenly Father was blessing his sister and family with peace.

Friend November 2019 “Please Bless Ace” Zach’s dog, Ace, has to have surgery and Zach is worried about him. Zach prays that Ace will live. After his pray, Zach felt the worried feeling leave. He remembered that peace throughout the day. When he got home, he found out that his dog was okay. The family gave Ace extra care that week. Then Ace got sick again and he died. Zach had wanted Ace to live, but he was glad he had been given extra time to spend with him and show Ace how much he loved him.

Sing with the children a song about Heavenly Father’s love, such as “A Child’s Prayer” (Children’s Songbook, 12–13). Ask the children what they would say to someone who wonders whether Heavenly Father hears and answers prayers. Sing the song again, and point out lines that describe how Heavenly Father feels about us. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

Heavenly Father always answers prayers, but He doesn’t always give me everything I ask for. (Sr)

2 Corinthians 12:7–10

Invite the children to compare 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 and Ether 12:27. What words or phrases are repeated? What are these verses teaching? (You may need to explain that Paul was comparing his challenge to a thorn in his skin.) What did God teach Paul about trials? (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles commented that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was “some unnamed physical infirmity, apparently a grievous one from which the Apostle suffered either continuously or recurringly” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols.

Invite the children to list some trials people have in life. Help them consider how someone might learn from these trials and be blessed by them. (Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

The Cozy Red Cottage 2 Corinthians 12:7–10 “Explain that Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was a trial, such as a physical weakness. Even though Paul asked God to remove the trial, God did not. Instead, God taught Paul that challenges can help us learn to be humble and trust Him. Then God can make us strong.” (primary Manual)

Use the “blessing and thorn” page to discuss some of the trials people may experience.  Write their ideas by the thorns.  Then discuss some of the blessing that come from trials and write their ideas on the petals.  (Ideas for trials might include: friendship difficulties, school difficulties, health issues, family difficulties, etc.) (Ideas for blessings might include: adversity can help us become more like Jesus Christ; It can help us to develop empathy, patience, kindness, humility, faith and trust in God, reliance on God, etc.)

Read with the children “The Diabetes Dilemma” (Friend, Sept. 2019, 4–5). Ask the children to share experiences when they prayed for something and did not receive it. Ask them to share what they learned from their experiences. You might have your own experiences to share as well. Bear your testimony that Heavenly Father always answers our prayers in the way and at the time that will bless us the most.(Come, Follow Me—For Primary: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8-13” )

Friend September 2019 “The Diabetes Dilemma” Joe prayed that his sister didn’t have diabetes.  When they found out she did have diabetes, he was devastated. He didn’t understand why Heavenly Father didn’t answer his prayer. His mom explained that answers to prayers don’t always happen the way we want. Sometimes, instead of taking something hard away, He answers by giving us peace and helping us be strong. Joe then realizes that Heavenly Father was blessing his sister and family with peace.

Friend November 2019 “Please Bless Ace” Zach’s dog, Ace, has to have surgery and Zach is worried about him. Zach prays that Ace will live. After his pray, Zach felt the worried feeling leave. He remembered that peace throughout the day. When he got home, he found out that his dog was okay. The family gave Ace extra care that week. Then Ace got sick again and he died. Zach had wanted Ace to live, but he was glad he had been given extra time to spend with him and show Ace how much he loved him.

Paul asked God to remove his weakness, but God knew that Paul’s weakness would humble him and God could make him strong.

Liahona September 2019 “Family Study Fun: Muscleman Challenge”

Paul wrote of “a thorn in the flesh” (2 Corinthians 12:7) to describe challenges and personal weaknesses. These challenges can weigh us down. With the Savior’s grace, however, we can find strength.

1. Gather some heavy objects (personal challenges).
2. Give each family member one or more heavy objects to carry.
3. Make these “challenges” even more challenging by completing tasks while holding them (for example, making a sandwich, folding clothes, dancing).
4. Try the same activity again, but this time ask someone to help you with the heavy objects.

Discussion: What was difficult about carrying the objects alone? How does Christ lighten our burden? What are some trials or challenges that we’ve experienced as a family? When have we been strengthened by the Savior’s grace? (see Ether 12:27).

Additional Resources

Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: New Testament 2023 “2 Corinthians 8–13” How could you teach your family about our “warfare” against wickedness? Would your family enjoy building a wall or a fort with chairs and blankets? This could lead to a discussion about how to cast down things that lead us away from God and how to “[bring] into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” What are the spiritual “weapons” we use to control our thoughts? (see Ephesians 6:11–18).

The Red Crystal

Come Follow Me with Living Scriptures “Giving to Others” Lesson ideas