Lesson - The Second Letter To The Corinthians

VERSES:  2 Corinthians 4:1-18; 11:22-33

MEMORY VERSE:   2 Corinthians 4:7  "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:  Review the New Testament books every week, so that the students may not only be refreshed in their learning, but may also be proud in their diligence of studying and remembering all 27 books.

PRAYER:  Pray that we shine the light of the gospel far and wide, so others may be saved by hearing and obeying God's Word.

SPECIAL SONG:   This Little Light Of Mine (see March 2014 - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #3 on this blog)

VISUAL AID:  Large Activity (see below)

LESSON POINTS:

• We have learned in other lessons that we have studied that the city of Corinth was a very wicked city and that wickedness had slowly crept into the church. The church had listened to false teachers, even questioning the fact that Paul was an apostle. The false teachers who were in the church at Corinth convinced the Christians that Paul was dishonest and insincere. Because of these sinful issues that continued in the church at Corinth, Paul wrote another letter to the Corinthians.
• He wrote in this second letter to the church at Corinth that, as he and his companions endured the sufferings of Christ, they enjoyed the many comforts of Christ (Second Corinthians 1:5). Christ comforted Paul in his troubles (2 Corinthians 1:4), so he could, in turn, comfort others who were in trouble.
• Paul, also, wrote that the gospel was inside earthen vessels or in men, written in their hearts, and not written on tables of stone as the Old Law was written (2 Corinthians 3:2, 3). Christians were letters who could be read by all men by the things that they did and said. 
• Paul explained that he had always spoken boldly against things done in dishonesty and trickery, and against handling the Word of God unjustly (2 Corinthians 4:2). Everything Paul had done was done in the open and not hidden from anyone. He said if the gospel was hidden, then it was hidden to the people who were lost by the devil (2 Corinthians 4:3). The devil hid the gospel from them, so that they would not receive the wonderful light of the gospel of Christ. With Jesus there was light, but with the devil there was darkness. 
• Paul wrote that he and his companions did not preach about themselves, but about Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:5). Paul went on to say that he was never tired of preaching the gospel of Christ. He had led a humble life, serving Christ. He considered himself the chiefest of sinners (First Timothy 1:15).  He treasured God's Word and he counted himself blessed. Anyone could look at what Paul went through to preach about Jesus and know that he was not simply preaching for money or perhaps to be better than anyone else. He believed what he was preaching and he believed in Christ. Because of his belief and his preaching, Paul suffered many things for Christ as we can read in chapter 11 of Second Corinthians (verses 23-33). There were times when Paul:
• endured beatings 
• was in prison
• was shipwrecked three times
• was in the sea a night and a day 
• was in danger on his travels
• was in danger of robbers 
• was in danger of his own countrymen 
• was in danger of the Gentiles 
• was in danger in the city
• was in danger in the wilderness 
• was in danger in the ocean
• was in danger of false brothers
• was in toil and pain
• endured sleepless nights
• endured in times when he was hungry and thirsty
• often had no food
• was cold and had little clothing
• was concerned and anxious about the congregations.of the Lord's church.
• We should be like Paul; always striving to please God, showing humility, preaching with boldness, never being ashamed of the gospel of Christ, but willing to tell everyone we know about the salvation that is found in Christ. Christians want to share the good news, so that all might be saved. Let us look to what Paul went through to spread the gospel and determine that will be just as strong and steadfast

"Older Student" Tips:

• Many ideas are put forth when studying about Paul's "thorn in the flesh" which was something with which Paul suffered, yet is unknown to us today (2 Corinthians 11:7). We know that Paul prayed to God three times, asking that his "thorn in the flesh" be removed, but God said no, that His grace was all that Paul needed (2 Corinthians 11:9). When God answers our prayers, sometimes He says, "no." He knows what is best for us as He did for Paul.
• Paul also commanded that Christians examine themselves (Second Corinthians 13:5). Christians need to stop now and then and think about what they are doing to make sure they are following Christ and His commands. 

ACTIVITY: Paul Suffered Many Things
Materials needed:  Ten pieces of 4" wide colorful construction paper in different lengths, beginning with 4 inches and graduating 1/2" with each paper, stapler, staples, crayons.

NOTE:  This can be a lengthy lesson. It is advisable for the Bible teacher to cut the papers in advance.

1. Hand out all ten papers and place them in order by length.
2. Making sure that each of the ten papers is even at the top, staple two staples to secure. This should look like a book with 1/2" of color showing at the bottom.
   
3. With staples at the top, write "Paul Suffered Many Things For Christ" on the top page.
4. Fold paper up.
5. On the back of the first page, write "Second Corinthians 11:23-33."
6. On the top of the second page, write "Paul endured beatings."
   
7. Fold paper up.
8. On the back of the second page, write "Paul was in prison,"
9. On the top of the third page, write "Paul was shipwrecked 3 times."
10. Fold paper up.
11. On the back of the third page, write "Paul was in the sea a night and a day."
12. On the top of the fourth page, write "Paul was in danger on his travels."
13. Fold paper up.
14. On the back of the fourth page, write "Paul was in danger of robbers."
15. On the top of the fifth page, write "Paul was in danger of his own countrymen."
16. Fold paper up.
17. On the back of the fifth page, write "Paul was in danger of the Gentiles."
18. On the front of the sixth page, write "Paul was in danger in the city."
19. Fold paper up.
20. On the back of the sixth page, write "Paul was in danger in the wilderness."
21. On the front of the seventh page, write "Paul was in danger in the ocean."
    
22. Fold paper up.
23. On the back of the seventh page, write "Paul was in danger of false brethren."
24. On the front of the eighth page, write "Paul was in toil and pain."
25. Fold paper up.
26. On the back of the eighth page, write "Paul endured sleepless nights."
27. On the front of the ninth page, write "Paul endured times when he was hungry and thirsty."
28. On the back of the ninth page, write "Paul often had no food."
29. On the front of the tenth page, write "Paul was cold and had little clothing."
30. Turn booklet over to the last page.
31. On the back of the tenth page, write "Paul was concerned and anxious for the congregations of the Lord's church."
    
32. When everyone is finished writing, let the students read quietly to their neighbor.
33. Reverse and let the listening neighbor read to his partner.