Children might not have traumatic struggles and challenges to face in their lives (hopefully!), but they can certainly relate to the concept of weakness. There are a lot of things that are difficult or impossible for kids to do on their own, and they recognize that they need help from others to accomplish daily tasks. In the same way, we know we rely on God for all that we do in our lives. This message reminds students that we need God’s help, and that our weaknesses only make His power more apparent.
Law/Gospel Theme: Keeping rules perfectly can be daunting and seem impossible, and on our own it is impossible to maintain the law. In fact, we can do nothing on our own. Facing difficulties and challenges is discouraging, but we have the comfort of knowing that God is with us. He might not remove obstacles the way we would prefer, and we might feel tremendously incapable. But we recognize that Jesus has provided all we need, and that He promises to be with us and help us through the challenges we face. God is on our side, and will help us no matter what! God’s grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in our weakness.
Optional Materials: Something heavy or challenging to do alone.
Bible Passage: 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
More Teaching Ideas:
- Watch the video demonstration of this children’s sermon and related craft ideas
- Download the complete Sunday School Lesson from 2 Corinthians 12:2-10
Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs. Use your judgment and ideas to best serve students.
Power in Weakness 2 Corinthians 12:2-10 Children’s Sermon
Greet the children, with something that is heavy or tough to manage…
Hello, children of God! Have you ever had a big, important task to tackle? I sure have. In fact, I wanted to show off my skills right now, because I have this big box I need to move (or insert other task that needs handled). I am big and strong, though, so I should have no problem carrying it from one side of the room to the other. Just give me a minute and I’ll take care of this! Attempt to lift/move the box, but have an obviously hard time doing so. Give it a few tries.
Hmm…. You know what, I think I have to admit something here. This is too hard for me to do on my own. I just don’t think I can lift this box all by myself! Do you think maybe you could help me out? Come on up! Allow several students to assist you in moving/carrying the object. Phew! Thank you for your help! Wow, that was much easier with help. And you know what else? Your strength really showed through. Because I couldn’t do this on my own, I needed your strong muscle power to help! Sometimes it’s difficult to admit that we need help or can’t do things all by ourselves. But God created us to need one another…and even more importantly, He made us to rely on Him.
There will be times when we feel like we are weak, not good enough, maybe even powerless. But God wants us to know that He is enough for us. It’s okay if we can’t do everything on our own, because God’s strength helps us! The apostle Paul talked about this in 2 Corinthians. Paul was an amazing man of God who wrote a lot of the New Testament. But there was something in his life that was a big challenge. We aren’t quite sure exactly what it was. It might have been an illness or physical impairment of some sort, or maybe something mental…whatever bothered him, Paul tried to ask God to take it away. He prayed and prayed that God would remove the problem, but He didn’t. Paul still had what he called this “thorn in his flesh.” There was a reason for this, though. God wanted Paul to remember the source of his strength. Paul finally accepted that his problem was not going to go away, and that it would be okay. He realized that God’s grace was enough. He knew that he needed to fully depend on God, and that His power would show up even more because of Paul’s problems and weaknesses.
So what about us? We already recognize that we need God for all things. We can’t do much of anything at all on our own strength and power! There will be times in our lives that we feel frustrated, challenged, or inadequate. Those are the moments when we need to remember that God is still with us. God’s grace is all we need. That can be hard to remember or to fully embrace, but it’s true. If we have Jesus, we have everything. Without Him, nothing is possible. With Christ, we can do all things! God promises to provide us with strength and power to do whatever He wills. When we are weak or struggling, He is even stronger. Lean on God for all things!
Let’s say a prayer to thank God for taking care of us, and ask Him to help us trust in His power and strength for all we do:
Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for being strong and powerful
On my own, I am weak
But with you I can do all things
Help me to trust in you always
And recognize that I need you for everything
Thank you for your love
I love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!
Bible Verses/story to Reference:
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. -2 Corinthians 12:2-10