This lesson teaches children that Paul, a follower of Jesus, did not always have an easy life, but he trusted God through every hard thing. It is designed for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, a Bible reading, and a short activity.
Big Idea
God helps us stay strong when things are hard, because God is with us in every trouble.
Memory Verse
2 Corinthians 11:9
When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn’t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.
(WEB)
Teach the children to hold both hands out flat, then bring them together and hold them close to their heart, the way you would carry something precious. Say the verse together slowly, and do the motion each time you say the words. Repeat it three times, faster each time, until the children know it by heart.
The Story: 2 Corinthians 11 for Kids
Paul was a friend and teacher who told people about Jesus. He loved the people in the town of Corinth very much, and he wanted them to stay close to Jesus. Some people in Corinth did not like Paul, and they said unkind things about him. They even tried to make people believe that they were better teachers than he was.
Paul did not hide from these troubles. He told the people that he had many hard things happen to him. He had been beaten with rods, and he had been thrown into prison. Three times his boat broke apart in the sea, and once people threw stones at him. He often went hungry and cold, and he traveled to many places with no comfort.
One time, Paul had to escape from the city of Damascus. His friends helped him, and they lowered him down through a window in a basket so that he could get away from the soldiers who wanted to catch him. Paul said that he did not boast about being strong, but about the ways God helped him when he was weak.
Paul also said that he cared deeply about all the churches he had helped to start. Every day he worried about how those friends were doing. He wanted them to be safe and to keep trusting Jesus. Paul knew that his own strength was not enough, but God’s strength was always enough.
Read It Together
2 Corinthians 11:23-27
23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often. 24 Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep. 26 I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers; 27 in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.
(WEB)
Point out the long list of hard things Paul went through, such as prison, beatings, and shipwrecks. Ask the children to listen for how many times Paul had to suffer. Explain that Paul was not telling this list to brag, but to show that God helped him through every single trouble.
2 Corinthians 11:30
If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.
(WEB)
Show the children that Paul was willing to talk about his weakness. Explain that being weak does not mean we are bad or unloved. Help them see that admitting we need help is a good thing, because it helps us remember that God is our true source of strength.
2 Corinthians 11:31
The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forever more, knows that I don’t lie.
(WEB)
Point out that Paul told the people that God already knew the truth about him. Explain that God always knows what is in our hearts, and that we can trust God to be honest and faithful. Let the children tell you one thing they know God knows about them.
Talk About It
- What is one hard thing that Paul had to go through in this story?
- How do you think Paul felt when people said unkind things about him?
- Why did Paul choose to talk about being weak instead of only being strong?
- Who are the friends in your life who help you when things are hard?
- How can you remember that God is with you when you feel weak or scared?
Activity Ideas
Strong Hands Craft
You will need construction paper, crayons, scissors, and glue. Have each child trace one of their hands onto the paper and cut it out. On each finger, have them write or draw one way God helps them be strong, such as a family member, a prayer, or a friend. Hang the paper hands on the wall as a reminder that God gives strength.
Basket Escape Game
You will need a laundry basket, a soft ball or stuffed animal, and a open space in the room. Have one child sit in the basket while the others gently pass the ball around the circle. The child in the basket must reach out and catch the ball, showing how Paul’s friends worked together to help him. Switch roles so every child has a turn.
Strength Card for Home
You will need index cards, markers, and a small hole punch with yarn. Have each child write the memory verse on one side of the card and draw a simple picture of a basket or a strong hand on the other side. Punch a hole in the corner, tie the yarn, and ask them to hang it on their bedroom door or by their bed. Encourage them to read it each night before bed.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage shows that Paul’s strength did not come from being impressive or free from pain. He faced constant danger, rejection, and worry, yet he trusted that God’s power works best through weakness. Adults can learn from Paul that honesty about our struggles and dependence on God are signs of genuine faith, not failure.
Be careful not to suggest to children that God will always rescue us from every danger in the way he rescued Paul. Children may then feel confused or guilty when hard things happen to them. Instead, emphasize that God is with us in trouble and gives us the strength to keep going, even when the outcome is not what we hoped for.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank you for being with us when we feel weak or scared. Help us remember that you are our strength and that we never have to be strong on our own. Thank you for our friends and family who help us too. Please keep us close to you every day. Amen.
