This lesson teaches children that God comforts us when we are hurt or scared, and that He wants us to share that comfort with other people. It is best for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes.
Big Idea
God is our comforter. When He helps us through hard times, we can help others who are sad or scared, just as He helps us.
Memory Verse
2 Corinthians 1:4
Who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
(WEB)
Teach the children to wrap their arms around themselves in a hug as they say the words, then open their arms wide and reach out to a friend. The hug shows God comforting us, and the open arms show us passing that comfort along to someone else.
The Story: 2 Corinthians 1 for Kids
Paul was a missionary who loved the church in Corinth. He wrote them a letter and started it by praying for them. He said, “Blessed be God!” because God is the Father of mercy and the God of all comfort.
Paul told the friends in Corinth about a very hard time he had gone through in the province of Asia. He and his friends were crushed by trouble. It was so heavy that they felt like they might not even live through it. Paul said they felt as if they had heard the sentence of death.
But God did not leave them alone in that scary place. God rescued Paul and his friends, and Paul knew God would keep rescuing them. Paul said that the people in Corinth were praying for them too. Their prayers were like a helping hand.
Paul wanted his friends to know something important. When God comforted him, it was so that Paul could comfort others. Paul said, “God comforts us so that we can comfort those who are in any trouble.” Paul also said that God is faithful, which means God always keeps His promises. Every good promise God makes is a “yes” in Jesus.
Paul ended by reminding everyone that God is the one who makes them strong and who gave them His Spirit as a promise. Paul also said that he wanted the people in Corinth to have joy, and to stand firm in their faith.
Read It Together
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
(WEB)
Point out the names Paul gives to God here: the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. Ask the children to name a time they felt better after someone was kind to them, and explain that God is even more caring than that.
2 Corinthians 1:8-9
8 For we don’t desire to have you uninformed, brothers, concerning our affliction which happened to us in Asia, that we were weighed down exceedingly, beyond our power, so much that we despaired even of life. 9 Yes, we ourselves have had the sentence of death within ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead…
(WEB)
Explain that Paul was honest about feeling very scared and weak during a hard time. Show children that it is okay to tell God when we feel overwhelmed, because God is the one who raises us up when we cannot do it ourselves.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22
21 Now he who establishes us with you in Christ, and anointed us, is God; 22 who also sealed us, and gave us the down payment of the Spirit in our hearts.
(WEB)
Help children see that God is the one who makes us strong and gives us His Spirit as a promise in our hearts. Explain that the Spirit is like a special gift that tells us we belong to God and that He is always with us.
Talk About It
- What is one way God has helped you feel better when you were sad or scared?
- Who is someone you know who might need a little comfort this week?
- How can we tell someone we are praying for them when they feel hurt?
- What did Paul do when he felt very weak and afraid, and what does that teach us to do?
- What is one thing you can do this week to show someone God’s comfort?
Activity Ideas
Comfort Card Craft
Give each child a sheet of construction paper, crayons, and some stickers. Ask them to fold the paper in half and draw a heart or a happy face on the front. Inside, they can write or draw a short message of comfort, such as “God loves you” or “I’m praying for you,” to give to a friend or family member.
Comfort Passing Game
Have the children sit in a circle and pass a soft stuffed animal or pillow from one to the next while the group sings a simple song. When the music stops, the child holding the item must say one kind thing that God does to comfort us. This helps children practice the idea that comfort is shared.
Family Prayer Jar
You will need an empty jar, paper, and a pen. Each day, invite your child to write down one person who needs comfort and place the paper in the jar. At dinner, read a few of the notes aloud and pray for those people together, reminding your child that God comforts us so we can comfort others.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage shows that suffering is real, and Paul did not hide his pain. It also shows that God is the source of all comfort, and that the comfort we receive is meant to flow outward to others. Paul’s confidence rests on God’s faithfulness rather than on his own strength, which is a helpful reminder for every believer.
Avoid telling children that God will always remove every hard thing from their lives. Paul himself went through deep trouble, and the lesson is that God walks with us through hardship, not that hardship will never come. Keep the focus on God’s presence and comfort.
A Prayer to Close
Dear Father, thank You for being the God of all comfort. When we feel sad or scared, help us remember that You are close to us. Help us share Your kindness with others who are hurting. Amen.
