“God Loveth a Cheerful Giver” 2 Corinthians 8 - 13 (Paul is writing letters to the members again)

2 Corinthians 9:7 “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not _________, or of necessity: for God loveth a ________ giver.” grudgingly cheerful What does it mean to give “grudgingly, or of necessity”? What does it mean to be “a cheerful giver”? Invite the children to guess what the missing words are. Then let them read the verse in the scriptures to fill in the blanks.

I can cheerfully give to people in need. Can you find pictures of the Savior serving others? What do you see in these pictures that shows Jesus served others with cheerfulness and love? I brought my Come Follow Me manuals (personal and primary) and some other picture books featuring Christ. Our Class’s Goal this Week: Say yes when family members or others ask us to serve (like helping around the house or caring for others)

What are these verses teaching us? Compare: 2 Corinthians 12:9 - 10 9. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. Ether 12:27 27. And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Are any words or phrases repeated? What are these verses teaching us?

What are some trials people have in life? Paul (one of the twelve apostles!) prayed three different times and asked God to remove his weakness, but God knew that Paul’s infirmity would humble him and make him strong. Heavenly Father always answers our prayers, but He doesn’t always give us everything we ask for. What are some trials people have in life? What could they learn from these trials? How could they be blessed by them?

Trusting Heavenly Father When Dallin H. Oaks was seven years old, his father got very sick. For six months, Dallin’s father stayed in the hospital while doctors tried to help him get better. During this time, Dallin, his mother, and his brother and sister all prayed a lot for his father to get better. Dallin’s father even had many priesthood blessings. Dallin’s family all thought his father would get well. When the doctors said that his father was going to die, it was hard for everyone to understand why. Had they not had enough faith? A few days before Dallin’s father died, his mother had a very peaceful feeling. She trusted Heavenly Father’s will. It was still really hard when Dallin’s father died, but she knew things would be all right. Elder Oaks learned that when we have strong faith in Heavenly Father, we can trust Him. He can help us through any hard time. Take turns reading this article from Friend Magazine (the pictures are from the article). I included a picture of Elder Oaks if you click once it will appear. If you click again it will disappear.

Have you ever prayed for something that you didn’t receive? Does anyone want to share a time when this happened to you? What did you learn from your experience? You might have your own experiences to share as well.