Jesus talking to small child

September 16–22

2 Corinthians 8–13

“God Loveth a Cheerful Giver”

As you read 2 Corinthians 8–13, think about the people you teach and plan activities that would help them discover the principles in these chapters. Then review this outline for additional ideas.

Record Your Impressions

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Invite Sharing

Here is one way to invite class members to share what they learned from 2 Corinthians 8–13. Ask a few of them to write on the board a favorite phrase from their reading, and then ask the rest of the class to find it in the scriptures. Invite class members to share why these phrases are meaningful to them.

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Teach the Doctrine

2 Corinthians 8:1–15; 9:6–15

Saints cheerfully share what they have to bless the poor and needy.

• God has commanded His Saints to help take care of those in need, and passages in 2 Corinthians 8–9 can inspire your class members in their efforts. To help them find these passages, you could write on the board questions like Why do we give? and How should we give? Half of the class could search for answers in 2 Corinthians 8:1–15, and the other half could search in 2 Corinthians 9:6–15. (You might explain that in chapter 8, verses 1–5, Paul spoke of the Macedonian Saints as examples of generous giving.) How might the principles taught by Paul help us better care for the poor and needy?

• To help class members better understand the Lord’s way of meeting the temporal needs of His Saints, there are many resources listed in “Additional Resources.” Perhaps you could assign a few class members to review one or more of these resources and share what impresses them. Can class members find ideas in 2 Corinthians 8:1–15; 9:6–15 showing that the Saints in Paul’s time cared for the poor in the same ways we do today?

2 Corinthians 11:13–33

False prophets seek to deceive.

• Because we, like the Corinthian Saints, are all susceptible to false teachings, we can benefit from reviewing Paul’s warnings to the Corinthians about “false apostles.” Class members might find examples of false teachings that influence us today in Elder Quentin L. Cook’s message “Valiant in the Testimony of Jesus” (Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2016, 40–43). Perhaps you could assign someone to read this message beforehand and share with the class what it teaches about how we can avoid “stumbling blocks” that lead us away from the gospel. What other teachings common in the world today can lead us away from the truths of the gospel? You might ask class members to review 2 Corinthians 11:21–33 and share what they learn from these verses about true “ministers of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 11:3; 13:5–8

We should “examine” our faithfulness in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Sometimes Church members feel overwhelmed with the demands of life—including what they might see as the demands of being a Latter-day Saint. Paul’s counsel to “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith” can help you and your class members focus on “the simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Corinthians 13:5; 11:3). Perhaps you could read together 2 Corinthians 11:3 and discuss what the phrase “simplicity that is in Christ” might mean. You could also ask class members to imagine that they were invited to write a description of the gospel of Jesus Christ for a newspaper, with a limit of 100 words. Give them time to write their descriptions, and let them share with each other what they wrote. If they need help, they might refer to John 3:16–17; 3 Nephi 27:13–21; and True to the Faith, 76. Invite class members to ponder whether they are staying true to the fundamental principles of the gospel.

• To help class members “examine” how they could simplify their lives to be better disciples, you might share with them President Dieter F. Uchtdorf’s statement in “Additional Resources.” Class members could discuss how they can apply President Uchtdorf’s invitation to “focus on the basic doctrines, principles, and applications of the gospel.” What other ideas do class members have about how we can examine ourselves to ensure that we remain true to the faith?

2 Corinthians 12:5–10

The Savior’s grace is sufficient to help us find strength in our weakness.

• What would you say to a friend who has prayed for relief from a physical infirmity but feels that this prayer is not being answered? Consider inviting class members to ponder this question as they silently read 2 Corinthians 12:5–10. Then they could share insights from these verses that might help in this situation. They could also share experiences when, through Jesus Christ’s grace, they found strength in weakness. How did that experience influence their lives?

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Encourage Learning at Home

To encourage your class members to read Galatians, you might ask them if they know anyone who has strayed from the gospel. If so, they will want to read how Paul invited the Galatians who had strayed from the gospel to come back.

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Additional Resources

2 Corinthians 8–13

The Lord’s way of providing for the poor and needy.

• Mosiah 4:16–27; Alma 34:27–29; Doctrine and Covenants 104:14–18.

• Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010), 6.1.

• “Tithes and Offerings,” For the Strength of Youth (2011), 38–39.

• Hymns: “Because I Have Been Given Much,” “Lord, I Would Follow Thee,” “Have I Done Any Good?” (Hymns, nos. 219, 220, 223).

• Videos on LDS.org: “Welfare Facilities––Bishops’ Storehouse,” “The Labor of His Hands,” “Thanks Be to God,” and “Fast Offerings: Are We All Not Beggars.”

• Gospel Topics, “Welfare,” topics.lds.org.

We can simplify our approach to living the gospel.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf taught:

“Brothers and sisters, living the gospel doesn’t need to be complicated.

“It is really straightforward. It could be described like this:

• “Hearing the word of God with earnest intent leads us to believe in God and to trust His promises.

• “The more we trust God, the more our hearts are filled with love for Him and for each other.

• “Because of our love for God, we desire to follow Him and bring our actions in alignment with His word.

• “Because we love God, we want to serve Him; we want to bless the lives of others and help the poor and the needy.

• “The more we walk in this path of discipleship, the more we desire to learn the word of God.

“And so it goes, each step leading to the next and filling us with ever-increasing faith, hope, and charity.

“It is beautifully simple, and it works beautifully.

“Brothers and sisters, if you ever think that the gospel isn’t working so well for you, I invite you to step back, look at your life from a higher plane, and simplify your approach to discipleship. Focus on the basic doctrines, principles, and applications of the gospel. I promise that God will guide and bless you on your path to a fulfilling life, and the gospel will definitely work better for you” (“It Works Wonderfully,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2015, 22).

Improving Our Teaching

Work together with family members. “The people who have the most powerful influence on an individual—for good or ill—are usually those in his or her home. Because the home is the center of gospel living and learning, your efforts to strengthen a class member will be most effective when you work together with … family members” (Teaching in the Savior’s Way, 8).