“2 Corinthians 8–13,” New Testament Institute Teacher Manual (2025)
2 Corinthians 8–13
Paul counseled the Saints in Corinth to follow the Savior’s example and cheerfully give to those in need. He taught that the grace of God abounds as we serve others. Paul also taught that through God’s grace we can receive power to avoid Satan’s deceptions, overcome our weaknesses, and find purpose in our trials.
Additional Resources
Scripture Helps: New Testament, “2 Corinthians 8–13”
Note: The “Introduction to the Course” provides guidance on how to use the four standard lesson elements that follow.
Encouraging Personal Study
Before class, consider sending students one or more of the following messages or some of your own:
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Have you ever found it difficult to give to those in need? As you study 2 Corinthians 8–9, think about what can help you to be more giving.
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What deceptions could draw you away from Jesus Christ? As you study 2 Corinthians 11:1–15, see what you learn about how God helps us avoid deception.
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Do you ever feel frustrated by your weaknesses? As you read 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, look for a frustration Paul faced.
Questions and Sharing
Provide time for students to ask questions and share insights and truths they discovered in their personal study of 2 Corinthians 8–13.
Skill Training
2 Corinthians 12:7–10 might be a helpful place to use the skill “Memorizing Scripture Passages” in Scripture Study Skills.
Learning Activity Options
Multiple learning options are provided for you and your students. Prayerfully choose which option or options will be most meaningful for your class.
Improving Our Teaching and Learning
Create a setting conducive to spiritual learning. Be mindful of the atmosphere you are creating in your class. Does the way you greet and interact with students invite the Spirit? Do you remind students of their role in creating a spiritual class environment? Do you look for opportunities to help learners discover how the Spirit communicates with them? Do you give them plenty of time to ponder and write about what they are learning from the Holy Ghost?
What would the Lord have me do for the poor and other people in need?
You could begin with a scenario like the following:
One day while picking up some groceries, you notice that the person in front of you at the checkout doesn’t have enough money to pay for her food. What would you do?
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Why is it sometimes difficult to know how to help those who are in need?
During this discussion, invite students to seek inspiration about how they can provide relief to those around them.
Explain that in 2 Corinthians 8–9, Paul counseled the Corinthian Saints about caring for the poor and other people in need. Display the following questions and passages. Invite students to work in small groups to study the passages and look for truths that answer the related questions:
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What can I learn from the Savior about giving to the poor? Read 2 Corinthians 8:1–5, 9.
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How much should I give? Read 2 Corinthians 9:6 (see also Alma 1:30).
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What should my attitude be when giving to those in need? Read 2 Corinthians 8:12; 9:7 (see also Moroni 7:6–8).
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How does giving relate to gratitude? Read 2 Corinthians 9:11–15.
After allowing time for group study, invite students to write on the board truths they found that help answer the questions. (They may identify truths like the following: Understanding what the Savior has given us can help us be more willing to give to others. God wants us to be willing to give even when we may not have anything to give. If we give generously to those in need, God will generously bless us. God loves the cheerful giver. Relieving the wants of others is a way of giving thanks to God.)
Consider discussing some of the following questions to help students deepen their understanding of these truths.
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How can reflecting upon the Savior’s life and mission inspire you to give to others?
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How can you be generous with others if you don’t have much to give?
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What helps you to be a cheerful giver? How have you been blessed by a cheerful giver?
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In what way is giving to others an expression of gratitude to God?
You could discuss together specific ways we can follow the Lord’s commandment to care for those in need. As part of this discussion, you could invite students to share examples they have seen in their own lives.
Consider concluding this activity by sharing the following statement by President Jeffrey R. Holland:
I don’t know exactly how each of you should fulfill your obligation to those who do not or cannot always help themselves. But I know that God knows, and He will help you and guide you in compassionate acts of discipleship if you are conscientiously wanting and praying and looking for ways to keep a commandment He has given us again and again. (“Are We Not All Beggars?,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 41)
Give students time to ponder what they can personally do to help someone in need. Encourage students to record their plan.
How can the Lord’s prophets and apostles keep me focused on Jesus Christ?
You could begin with the following scenario:
Mary was raised in the Church. While she has a testimony of the Savior, she also has questions about His divinity. To address her concerns, she has been listening to and reading mostly sources that try to prove that Jesus was not divine. After several weeks, she is more confused now than when she started.
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What problems do you see with Mary’s approach?
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How could this approach lead to deception?
Explain that in Paul’s day, some of the Corinthian Saints encountered false apostles who deceived people.
Invite students to read 2 Corinthians 11:3–4, 13–15, looking for how Satan seeks to deceive us.
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According to Paul, how can we be deceived? (Students may identify a truth like the following: Satan uses false teachers and deceptive practices to lead us away from Jesus Christ.)
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How can the Lord’s Apostles, like Paul, protect us from deception?
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How have the Lord’s living prophets and apostles helped you avoid deception? How have they kept you focused on Jesus Christ?
Invite students to imagine they are Mary, and instead of listening to and reading mostly antagonistic sources, they turn to the Lord’s prophets and apostles. You could have students go to Gospel Library and search one of the following sources to see what prophets and apostles teach about Jesus Christ:
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The topic “Jesus Christ” in General Conference
After sufficient time, invite students to share with a partner or with the class what they discovered. You could ask questions like the following:
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What did the message you studied teach you about Jesus Christ?
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How did what you read influence your thoughts or feelings about the Savior?
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How has studying the words of the Lord’s prophets and apostles helped you understand truth about Jesus Christ? How has it protected you from deception?
To conclude, you could display the following statement by President Russell M. Nelson:
There is no end to the adversary’s deceptions. Please be prepared. Never take counsel from those who do not believe. Seek guidance from voices you can trust—from prophets, seers, and revelators and from the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, who “will show unto you all things what ye should do” [2 Nephi 32:5; emphasis added]. (“Think Celestial!,” Liahona, Nov. 2023, 119)
Encourage students to consider what they can do to make the words of prophets and apostles a more important part of their lives.
How can the Savior strengthen me when I am weak?
Invite students to share challenges or weaknesses young adults deal with. List their responses on the board. Then give students time to think of a personal challenge or weakness they are striving to overcome. Invite them to keep their personal challenge or weakness in mind during this learning activity and to record any promptings they receive.
Explain that in 2 Corinthians 12:1–6, the Apostle Paul referred to a remarkable vision he saw. After talking about this vision, he then talked about a weakness he faced. Invite the class to read 2 Corinthians 12:7–10, looking for how Paul described his weakness. As students share what they found, consider displaying an image of thorns like the following:
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What do you find significant about Paul comparing his challenge or weakness to “a thorn in the flesh”? (verse 7). (Note: It may be helpful to define difficult words and share the entry “2 Corinthians 12:7–9: What was the thorn that troubled Paul?” in Scripture Helps: New Testament.)
Invite students to read 2 Corinthians 12:8–10, looking for what Paul learned as he asked for help from the Lord.
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What did you learn about Paul’s struggle?
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What phrases stood out most to you? Why? (You could invite students to select a phrase they find especially inspiring and to spend a few minutes memorizing it. This might be a helpful place to practice the skill “Memorizing Scripture” in Scripture Study Skills).
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What truths did you learn about the Savior from Paul’s experience? (Students could identify truths like the following: The grace of Jesus Christ is sufficient to strengthen us in our weaknesses. The Lord does not always remove our challenges, but He will strengthen us as we endure them faithfully.)
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How can knowing these truths affect the way you respond to your personal weaknesses or imperfections?
Students could form small groups and study “Grace” in Topics and Questions (Gospel Library). Invite them to look for reasons why the Savior’s grace is sufficient for them. After students share what they find, consider discussing the following questions together as a class:
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What have you learned about the Savior today that encourages or helps you?
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When have you felt Jesus Christ strengthening you through your weaknesses? (As part of your discussion of this question, consider watching the video “Let God Guide You: From Weakness to Strength” [6:06]. Invite students to look for and discuss how Paul’s teachings from 2 Corinthians 12 were exemplified in this video.)
6:7
You could conclude by sharing the following statement by Bishop Gérald Caussé:
God is not the God of superheroes, nor of people without weaknesses. Such beings do not exist! God helps people like you and me, those who recognize their limits and the weakness of their condition and seek His help and guidance. …
… As you … put your confidence in the Lord, you will see your weaknesses transformed into strengths through the power and grace of His Atonement. (“For When I Am Weak, Then Am I Strong” [Brigham Young University devotional, Dec. 3, 2013], 3, 6–7, speeches.byu.edu)
Give students time to think about how they can apply the truths they have learned to their personal circumstances. Encourage them to record their plan and spiritual impressions they have had.