Lesson: 2 Corinthians 10:8 (Ages 6-8)

📖 2 Corinthians 10:8 – Ages 6-8

Explanation

This Bible verse from 2 Corinthians 10:8 is like when a superhero uses their powers to help others instead of showing off. The Apostle Paul is saying that even though he could brag a little bit about the special gifts God gave him to help people, he doesn't want to use those powers to make himself look better. Instead, he wants to use them to make other people stronger and happier.

Imagine if you had a really cool toy that your friend didn't have. You could play with it by yourself and brag about how great it is, but that wouldn't be very nice. Instead, you could share your toy with your friend so both of you could have fun together. That's kind of what Paul is saying here – he wants to use his special powers to help others and make them feel good, not to show off and make them feel bad.

So, just like Paul, we should remember that the talents and gifts we have are meant to be used to help and encourage others, not to make ourselves look better. God gives us special abilities to make the world a better place and to lift others up, not to tear them down.

Kid's Story

Once there was a little squirrel named Sammy who loved to collect nuts in the forest. Sammy would often brag to his friends about how many nuts he had gathered and how fast he could climb trees.

One day, Sammy found the biggest, shiniest nut he had ever seen. He ran to his friends, boasting about his amazing find. But instead of being happy for him, his friends felt sad because they didn't find anything as big as Sammy's nut.

Seeing his friends' sad faces, Sammy realized his bragging had made them feel bad. He remembered the verse that said boasting should be for building others up, not tearing them down. Sammy apologized to his friends and shared his big nut with them.

From that day on, Sammy learned that it's better to use his accomplishments to help and encourage others, just like the Lord wants us to do.

Prayer Prompt

Dear God, thank you for giving us authority to help and build others up. Help us not to boast too much, but to use this authority wisely to be kind and loving to everyone. Amen.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think it’s important to use the authority given by the Lord to help others and make them stronger?
2. How can we make sure we are using our words and actions to build others up instead of tearing them down?
3. Can you think of a time when someone encouraged you or made you feel better? How did it help you?
4. How do you think we can show love and kindness to others, like God wants us to?
5. What are some ways we can be humble and give credit to God for the good things we do?

Life Application

This verse teaches us that when we have authority or power, we should use it to help and encourage others, not to hurt them or make them feel bad. So, children can apply this message by using any authority they have, such as being the oldest sibling or a class monitor, to be kind and caring towards others. They can choose to use their words and actions to build others up and make them feel good about themselves, rather than putting them down or making them feel small. By doing this, children can show love and kindness to those around them, just like the Lord wants us to do.

Craft or Activity

To help children understand and remember the message of 2 Corinthians 10:8, you can create a "Building Up, Not Tearing Down" tower craft. Provide the children with small building blocks or craft sticks and stickers or markers. Encourage them to decorate each block or stick with positive words or phrases that build others up, like "kindness," "encouragement," and "love."

As they decorate each piece, discuss with them how these words and actions can help to build others up and make them feel good about themselves. Once they have decorated their blocks, have them stack them on top of each other to create a tower. Remind them that just as each block supports the tower, our words and actions can support and build up those around us.

This hands-on activity will not only help children engage with the message of the verse but also provide a visual representation of how we can use our words and actions to build others up, just as God intended.

Memory Verse or Rhyme

When I boast, I'll remember,
It's the Lord's power I treasure.
To build you up, not tear you down,
His authority, in love, I crown!

Songs or Videos

One great Christian song for kids that relates to the message of 2 Corinthians 10:8 is "Build My Life" by Pat Barrett. This song talks about building our lives on the foundation of God's love and authority, just as the verse emphasizes building each other up. Another wonderful song is "My Lighthouse" by Rend Collective, which reminds us that God's authority and presence guide and protect us, always leading us towards good and not harm. Both songs reinforce the idea of using God's authority to uplift and encourage others, rather than tearing them down.

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