Single lesson
2 Corinthians 5: Our Eternal Dwelling
2 Corinthians 5:1–10; 2 Corinthians 5:11–21
In this lesson, children explore how 2 Corinthians 5 moves from hope about being with the Lord to a clear call to live for Christ now and to hear Paul’s message about reconciliation through Christ.
Before you teach
This passage begins with the picture of an earthly tent and a building from God, then speaks about living by faith, aiming to please the Lord, and appearing before Christ’s judgment seat. It then explains why Paul persuades people: Christ died and rose again, God reconciles people through Christ, and Paul says, ‘We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ’.
Students will be able to explain that 2 Corinthians 5 teaches hope in God’s eternal future, living to please Christ now, and Paul’s message urging people to be reconciled to God through Christ.
Welcome: Tent and house picture
4 minShow two simple drawings, one of a tent and one of a strong house. Explain that Paul uses a tent for our present earthly life and a building from God for what is eternal. Tell the children they will listen for what gives confidence and what gives purpose in this passage.
2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:6
Read and explain: From groaning to confidence
8 minRead verses 1 to 10 aloud. Explain that Paul says our present body is like a tent, and he longs for what God has prepared. God has given the Spirit as a down payment. Even now, believers walk by faith, aim to be well pleasing to the Lord, and remember that all will be revealed before Christ’s judgment seat.
2 Corinthians 5:1, 2 Corinthians 5:4, 2 Corinthians 5:5, 2 Corinthians 5:7, 2 Corinthians 5:9, 2 Corinthians 5:10
Discuss: Why Christ’s love changes life
6 minRead verses 11 to 17. Help the class notice that Paul persuades people because of the fear of the Lord, and Christ’s love compels him. Jesus died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves. In Christ, a person is called a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:11, 2 Corinthians 5:14, 2 Corinthians 5:15, 2 Corinthians 5:17
Make and respond: Reminder card from the passage
8 minChildren choose one key verse or phrase from the passage, such as ‘walk by faith’, ‘be well pleasing to him’, ‘new creation’, or ‘be reconciled to God’. They make a small reminder card with those words. Then, as an application, they add one realistic response for this week that fits the verse they chose.
2 Corinthians 5:7, 2 Corinthians 5:9, 2 Corinthians 5:17, 2 Corinthians 5:20
Closing: Reconciliation through Christ
4 minFinish by reading verses 18 to 21. Explain that reconciliation means God bringing people to himself through Jesus Christ. Paul says, ‘We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ’, and he gives the message, ‘be reconciled to God’. Review the lesson goal, then invite children to name one way the passage can guide their response this week.
2 Corinthians 5:18, 2 Corinthians 5:19, 2 Corinthians 5:20, 2 Corinthians 5:21
Questions to explore
What does Paul compare our present earthly life to, and what does he say God has prepared instead?
Look at the contrast between ‘the earthly house of our tent’ and ‘a building from God’ to describe present life and eternal hope.
2 Corinthians 5:1
According to the passage, why should those who live no longer live to themselves?
Find the verse that links Christ’s death and resurrection with a changed way of living.
2 Corinthians 5:15
What message do ambassadors for Christ carry in this passage?
Use the verses about reconciliation to explain what God has done and what people are urged to do.
2 Corinthians 5:19, 2 Corinthians 5:20
Make, think or respond
Passage Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils or pens
- crayons or markers
- Bible
Try it together
- Read 2 Corinthians 5:7, 2 Corinthians 5:9, 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 2 Corinthians 5:20, and let each child choose one verse or phrase.
- Fold or cut paper into a small card and write the chosen words clearly on the front.
- On the back, write one realistic response for this week that fits the verse, making it clear this is their application of the passage.
- Decorate the card with simple symbols such as footsteps for faith, a heart for Christ’s love, or a message badge.
- Invite children to share why they chose that verse and where they will keep the card.
The card helps children remember the passage’s own words, and then consider a personal response shaped by its teaching.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two verse choices only and let them draw a picture instead of writing a full response sentence.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to explain how 2 Corinthians 5:9 and 2 Corinthians 5:20 connect living to please Christ with Paul’s message about reconciliation.
An optional closing prayer
Suggested prayer: ‘Lord God, thank you for giving hope through Christ. Please help us walk by faith, seek to be pleasing to him, and listen carefully to your message of reconciliation. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Corinthians 5
1 For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens.
2 For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven,
3 if indeed being clothed, we will not be found naked.
4 For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened, not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
6 Therefore we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord;
7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8 We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
9 Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him.
10 For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ that each one may receive the things in the body according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God, and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences.
12 For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance and not in heart.
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you.
14 For the love of Christ compels us; because we judge thus: that one died for all, therefore all died.
15 He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again.
16 Therefore we know no one according to the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know him so no more.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.
18 But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21 For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.