Single lesson
2 Corinthians 13: Examine Yourselves
2 Corinthians 13:1–10; 2 Corinthians 13:11–14
In this lesson, children will hear a strong call to examine themselves and a warm closing blessing. They will see how the passage joins honest self-testing with truth, peace, shared greetings and God’s grace.
Before you teach
In 2 Corinthians 13:1–10, the writer says he is coming for a third time, warns those who have sinned, speaks about Christ’s power, and tells the believers to examine themselves. In 2 Corinthians 13:11–14, the letter closes with commands to rejoice, be perfected, be comforted, agree, live in peace, greet one another, and receive a blessing.
Students will be able to explain that this passage calls believers to test themselves honestly, do what is honourable and true, and live in peace as the letter closes.
Welcome: What does it mean to check yourself?
5 minBegin by introducing the main command: “Examine your own selves” and “Test your own selves”. Explain that this means looking honestly at your own faith and actions. Tell the children that later in the passage they will also hear words about peace, so the lesson will connect honest self-checking with living well together.
2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Corinthians 13:11
Read and explain: A serious warning and Christ’s power
8 minRead 2 Corinthians 13:1–10 aloud. Explain that the writer says this will be a third visit and quotes, “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established”, showing care about what is confirmed. He warns people who have sinned and says Christ is “not weak, but is powerful in you”. He also says his authority is for “building up and not for tearing down”.
2 Corinthians 13:1, 2 Corinthians 13:2, 2 Corinthians 13:3, 2 Corinthians 13:10
Discuss: Examine yourselves and stay with the truth
7 minFocus on verses 5–9. Explain that to examine and test yourself is to ask honestly whether you are “in the faith”. The letter says, “Jesus Christ is in you”, unless they are disqualified. The writer prays that they will “do no evil”, do what is “honorable”, and continue with what is true, because nothing can be done against the truth.
2 Corinthians 13:5, 2 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Corinthians 13:8, 2 Corinthians 13:9
Make and respond: Reminder card from the closing words
7 minRead 2 Corinthians 13:11–14. Point out the closing instructions: rejoice, be perfected, be comforted, be of the same mind, and live in peace. Then notice the greetings in verses 12–13 and the blessing in verse 14 about grace, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Children choose one short phrase and make a reminder card.
2 Corinthians 13:11, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Corinthians 13:13, 2 Corinthians 13:14
Closing: Built up by truth, peace and blessing
3 minReview the whole passage together. The writer gives a warning, but he also prays that the believers will do what is honorable and for their becoming perfect. He says his authority is for building up, not tearing down. The last lines call them to peace and end with a blessing. Finish by helping children name both parts of the passage: honest self-examination and a peaceful, grace-filled farewell.
2 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Corinthians 13:9, 2 Corinthians 13:10, 2 Corinthians 13:11, 2 Corinthians 13:14
Questions to explore
Why does the letter tell the believers to examine and test themselves?
Look carefully at verse 5 and notice the questions about being in the faith and about Jesus Christ being in them.
2 Corinthians 13:5
What does the writer say he wants for the believers instead of evil or acting against the truth?
Use verses 7–10 to find the words “honorable”, “truth”, “becoming perfect” and “building up”.
2 Corinthians 13:7, 2 Corinthians 13:8, 2 Corinthians 13:9, 2 Corinthians 13:10
What do the final verses say to the believers as the letter ends?
Look at verses 11–14 and list the commands, the greetings, and the blessing named there.
2 Corinthians 13:11, 2 Corinthians 13:12, 2 Corinthians 13:13, 2 Corinthians 13:14
Make, think or respond
Key Phrase Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- paper or card
- pencils or pens
- crayons or markers
- Bible text read aloud by the teacher
Try it together
- Read 2 Corinthians 13:5 and 2 Corinthians 13:11–14 again.
- Ask each child to choose one short phrase from the passage, such as “Examine your own selves”, “Live in peace”, or “God’s love”.
- Children write the phrase on a small card and decorate it with simple shapes or symbols that match the words.
- Invite each child to say one sentence about how the phrase could help them remember self-examination, peace, greetings, or blessing from the passage.
The card helps children remember the main ideas named in this passage: examining themselves, living in peace, sharing greetings, and the blessing of grace, love and fellowship.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two or three short phrase choices only and let them draw a picture to match the words.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to compare verses 7–10 with verses 11–14 and explain how truth, building up, peace and blessing fit together in this passage.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “God, please help us examine ourselves honestly, love what is true, live in peace, and remember the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, your love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Corinthians 13
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. “At the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.”
2 I have warned previously, and I warn again, as when I was present the second time, so now, being absent, I write to those who have sinned before now and to all the rest that if I come again, I will not spare,
3 seeing that you seek a proof of Christ who speaks in me who is not weak, but is powerful in you.
4 For he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives through the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we will live with him through the power of God toward you.
5 Examine your own selves, whether you are in the faith. Test your own selves. Or don’t you know about your own selves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
6 But I hope that you will know that we aren’t disqualified.
7 Now I pray to God that you do no evil; not that we may appear approved, but that you may do that which is honorable, though we may seem to have failed.
8 For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.
9 For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. We also pray for this: your becoming perfect.
10 For this cause I write these things while absent, that I may not deal sharply when present, according to the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.
11 Finally, brothers, rejoice! Be perfected. Be comforted. Be of the same mind. Live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.
12 Greet one another with a holy kiss.
13 All the saints greet you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s love, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.