Single lesson
2 Corinthians 9: God Loves a Cheerful Giver
2 Corinthians 9:1–15
In this passage, the writer teaches that a promised gift for the saints should be prepared, generous and cheerful. Children can learn that the passage focuses on both the gift itself and the willing attitude that leads to thanksgiving to God.
Before you teach
2 Corinthians 9 speaks about service for the saints and a gift already promised. The writer says the believers’ readiness had stirred up many others, so brothers were sent ahead to make sure the gift would be ready. The passage then explains generosity, God’s grace and the thanksgiving that results from this service.
Students will identify that 2 Corinthians 9 teaches believers to give willingly and cheerfully, and explain that such giving helps the saints and leads to thanksgiving to God.
Welcome: A promised gift for the saints
5 minBegin by asking children what it means to be ready to help. Explain that this passage is about service for the saints and a promised gift. The writer says these believers had shown readiness already, and their zeal had stirred up many others. This helps children hear that the passage starts with real preparation to give.
2 Corinthians 9:1, 2 Corinthians 9:2
Read and explain: Prepared giving, not pressured giving
8 minRead verses 3 to 7 aloud. The writer sent the brothers so the gift would be ready beforehand as generosity. Then pause at verse 7. Each person is to give as they have decided in their heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver. Explain grudgingly as unwillingly and compulsion as being forced.
2 Corinthians 9:3, 2 Corinthians 9:5, 2 Corinthians 9:7
Discuss: Sowing, reaping and enough for good work
6 minExplain the farming picture in the passage. Sowing sparingly and bountifully describes the way a person gives. Then show what God does in the passage. God is able to make grace abound so believers have sufficiency in everything and may abound in every good work. The writer also speaks about seed for sowing and fruits of righteousness.
2 Corinthians 9:6, 2 Corinthians 9:8, 2 Corinthians 9:10
Make and respond: Reminder card for cheerful generosity
7 minChildren choose a short phrase from the passage such as ‘God loves a cheerful giver’ or ‘thanks be to God’. They write it on a card and add one realistic response they could make this week, such as sharing supplies, helping someone or setting aside part of pocket money. Explain clearly that these examples are applications, not extra words from the passage.
2 Corinthians 9:7, 2 Corinthians 9:12, 2 Corinthians 9:15
Closing: Giving helps people and brings thanks to God
4 minFinish by tracing the result of the gift in verses 11 to 15. People are enriched for generosity, the saints’ lack is supplied, thanksgiving rises to God, and others glorify God. The passage ends with thanks to God for his unspeakable gift. Invite children to name one result of cheerful giving from the passage.
2 Corinthians 9:11, 2 Corinthians 9:12, 2 Corinthians 9:13, 2 Corinthians 9:15
Questions to explore
Why did the writer want the gift prepared before he arrived?
Look for the words about being prepared and about the gift being ready as generosity, so nobody would be disappointed.
2 Corinthians 9:3, 2 Corinthians 9:4, 2 Corinthians 9:5
According to verse 7, what kind of giver does God love?
Use the exact words of the verse and notice both how giving should happen and how it should not happen.
2 Corinthians 9:7
What two main results of this giving are named near the end of the passage?
Look for what happens for the saints and what happens towards God when the gift is given.
2 Corinthians 9:12, 2 Corinthians 9:13
Make, think or respond
Cheerful Giving Reminder Card
What you’ll need
- card or paper
- pencils or pens
- coloured pencils or markers
- Bible
Try it together
- Read 2 Corinthians 9:7 together and let children choose a short phrase from verse 7, 12 or 15.
- Give each child a small piece of card or folded paper to turn into a reminder card.
- On one side, write the chosen phrase from the passage. On the other side, write or draw one realistic way to respond with generosity this week.
- Invite children to share their card with the group if they want to, and place it somewhere at home as a reminder.
The card helps children remember that this passage links cheerful generosity with helping others and giving thanks to God.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, offer two verse choices only, and let them draw their response instead of writing a full sentence.
- For older or more confident children, ask them to explain how verses 12 to 13 show that giving affects both people in need and praise to God.
An optional closing prayer
‘God, thank you for your grace and for your gift. Please help us to be generous and cheerful, and to use what we have in ways that help others and bring thanks to you. Amen.’
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
2 Corinthians 9
1 It is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you concerning the service to the saints,
2 for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to those of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for the past year. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.
3 But I have sent the brothers so that our boasting on your behalf may not be in vain in this respect, that, just as I said, you may be prepared,
4 lest by any means, if anyone from Macedonia comes there with me and finds you unprepared, we (to say nothing of you) would be disappointed in this confident boasting.
5 I thought it necessary therefore to entreat the brothers that they would go before to you and arrange ahead of time the generous gift that you promised before, that the same might be ready as a matter of generosity, and not of greediness.
6 Remember this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly. He who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.
7 Let each man give according as he has determined in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that you, always having all sufficiency in everything, may abound to every good work.
9 As it is written, “He has scattered abroad. He has given to the poor. His righteousness remains forever.”
10 Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
11 you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us.
12 For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God,
13 seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all,
14 while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you.
15 Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.