Single lesson
1 Corinthians 9: The Rights of an Apostle
1 Corinthians 9:1–18; 1 Corinthians 9:19–23; 1 Corinthians 9:24–27
In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul explains that he had real rights as an apostle, yet he chose not to use them if they might hinder the good news. He then shows a servant attitude and ends with a picture of disciplined running.
Before you teach
This passage moves through three connected parts. Paul first defends the right of those who proclaim the good news to receive support, then says he did not use that right. Next he explains becoming a servant to all for the sake of the good news, and finally urges focused self-control like an athlete training to win a prize.
Students will be able to name Paul’s rights in this passage, explain why he chose not to use them, and give one practical way to serve others for the sake of the good news.
Welcome: rights, choices and serving
4 minAsk children to name a right or fair benefit people may receive for work, such as food or pay. Explain that Paul asks similar questions. He says he is free and an apostle, then asks whether he has the right to eat, drink and be supported. Tell the group they will listen for what Paul could claim and what he chose instead.
1 Corinthians 9:1, 1 Corinthians 9:4, 1 Corinthians 9:6
Read and explain: Paul had rights, but he did not use them
8 minRead 1 Corinthians 9:1–18 aloud in short parts. Point out Paul’s examples of a soldier, farmer and shepherd, showing that workers share in the results of their work. Paul also says the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the good news should live from it. Yet Paul says he did not use this right, so he would cause no hindrance to the good news.
1 Corinthians 9:7, 1 Corinthians 9:10, 1 Corinthians 9:12, 1 Corinthians 9:14, 1 Corinthians 9:18
Discuss: free, yet a servant to all
6 minRead 1 Corinthians 9:19–23. Explain that Paul was free, yet he made himself a servant to all so that more people might be won. He adapted himself to different people without stepping outside God’s way, because he was under law toward Christ. Discuss simple examples, such as speaking kindly, listening well and giving up preferences to help others hear clearly.
1 Corinthians 9:19, 1 Corinthians 9:20, 1 Corinthians 9:21, 1 Corinthians 9:22, 1 Corinthians 9:23
Make and respond: race reminder card
8 minRead 1 Corinthians 9:24–27. Explain that Paul uses a race and a fight as pictures of purposeful effort and self-control. Children choose one short phrase from the passage, then make a reminder card showing one way to stay focused in following Jesus, such as speaking truthfully, praying, or serving someone this week.
1 Corinthians 9:24, 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Corinthians 9:26, 1 Corinthians 9:27
Closing: connect the whole chapter
4 minReview the flow of the passage together. Paul had rights, but he sometimes laid them aside. He became a servant to all for the sake of the good news. He also lived with discipline, like a runner aiming for the prize. Invite each child to say one choice they can make this week that puts the good of others first.
1 Corinthians 9:12, 1 Corinthians 9:19, 1 Corinthians 9:23, 1 Corinthians 9:24, 1 Corinthians 9:27
Questions to explore
What rights does Paul say he had, and what did he choose not to use?
Look for Paul’s questions about eating, drinking and support, then notice his clear statement that he did not use this right so the good news would not be hindered.
1 Corinthians 9:4, 1 Corinthians 9:12, 1 Corinthians 9:14, 1 Corinthians 9:15
Why did Paul become a servant to all kinds of people?
Read the repeated words about gaining people and the final line about doing this for the sake of the good news.
1 Corinthians 9:19, 1 Corinthians 9:20, 1 Corinthians 9:22, 1 Corinthians 9:23
How does the picture of a race help explain the Christian life in this passage?
Notice the words about running to win, self-control and not living aimlessly, then connect them to steady, purposeful obedience.
1 Corinthians 9:24, 1 Corinthians 9:25, 1 Corinthians 9:26, 1 Corinthians 9:27
Make, think or respond
Race Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or markers
- Bible
Try it together
- Read 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 together and let each child pick one phrase to remember.
- Fold or cut paper into a small card shape.
- On one side, write the chosen phrase from the passage.
- On the other side, draw or write one action for this week that shows self-control or serving others.
- Invite children to share their card and where they will keep it.
The card links Paul’s picture of running with purpose and self-control to one practical choice children can remember during the week.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two or three short phrases to copy, such as ‘Run like that’ or ‘self-control in all things’, and let them draw their response instead of writing a sentence.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to compare the three parts of the passage and explain how laying aside rights, serving others and self-control fit together.
An optional closing prayer
Dear God, please help us care about the good news, serve others willingly and live with self-control this week. Amen.
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
1 Corinthians 9
1 Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Haven’t I seen Jesus Christ, our Lord? Aren’t you my work in the Lord?
2 If to others I am not an apostle, yet at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
3 My defense to those who examine me is this:
4 Have we no right to eat and to drink?
5 Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
6 Or have only Barnabas and I no right to not work?
7 What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?
8 Do I speak these things according to the ways of men? Or doesn’t the law also say the same thing?
9 For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it for the oxen that God cares,
10 or does he say it assuredly for our sake? Yes, it was written for our sake, because he who plows ought to plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should partake of his hope.
11 If we sowed to you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we reap your fleshly things?
12 If others partake of this right over you, don’t we yet more? Nevertheless we didn’t use this right, but we bear all things, that we may cause no hindrance to the Good News of Christ.
13 Don’t you know that those who serve around sacred things eat from the things of the temple, and those who wait on the altar have their portion with the altar?
14 Even so the Lord ordained that those who proclaim the Good News should live from the Good News.
15 But I have used none of these things, and I don’t write these things that it may be done so in my case; for I would rather die, than that anyone should make my boasting void.
16 For if I preach the Good News, I have nothing to boast about, for necessity is laid on me; but woe is to me if I don’t preach the Good News.
17 For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward. But if not of my own will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me.
18 What then is my reward? That when I preach the Good News, I may present the Good News of Christ without charge, so as not to abuse my authority in the Good News.
19 For though I was free from all, I brought myself under bondage to all, that I might gain the more.
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain those who are under the law;
21 to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.
22 To the weak I became as weak, that I might gain the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some.
23 Now I do this for the sake of the Good News, that I may be a joint partaker of it.
24 Don’t you know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run like that, so that you may win.
25 Every man who strives in the games exercises self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown, but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore run like that, not aimlessly. I fight like that, not beating the air,
27 but I beat my body and bring it into submission, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.