God s Unfolding Story. Arrival

New Testament Unit 6: Jesus Shared His Love Lesson 1: Zacchaeus Met Jesus God s Unfolding Story Bible Story: Zacchaeus Met Jesus (Luke 19:1-10) Bible Phrase: Jesus said, I love you (John 15:9). Bible Truth: Jesus loves me. 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour A Unfolding God s Story for Teachers This may be one of the favorite Bible stories for children. If you had the privilege of hearing Bible stories as a child, you may recall the following phrase from a sweet song often sung with this story, Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he. Most children can identify with the small statue of Zacchaeus and his need to see above the crowd. Children also are impressed that Zacchaeus chose to scale a big tree to see Jesus given their own love to hide in the lush branches. It is a joy to watch children as you tell this story and see them smile and laugh when you get to the part where Zacchaeus climbs the tree. Teachers often will become very animated as they say the words of Jesus, Zacchaeus, come down; for I m coming to your house today! While we want children to enjoy the Bible story, we also want them to come away with the truth of the story as they can understand it. The truth is Jesus loved Zacchaeus just as he was: wee, selfish and lost. However, Jesus did not want him to stay that way, at least not selfish and lost. Preschoolers need to know Jesus loves them for who they are. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector in the city of Jericho. Jericho was a rich community in terms of landscape and economy. Zacchaeus had taken advantage of his position and gained great wealth through dishonest means. He probably was a very lonely man who realized his wealth really had left him very empty. He heard Jesus was coming to town and that Jesus had eaten with sinners and tax collectors. Zacchaeus need to see Jesus went beyond curiosity; he was desperate for love. Zacchaeus chose to hide in a tree away from the crowds that might not welcome him. He wanted to see Jesus and perhaps hear a word from Him. Zacchaeus got more than a word. He got a visit from the Teacher. Although we are not given specifics of the visit, Zacchaeus found in Jesus what was missing in his life. His conversion is seen in his words, I will give half of my possessions to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I ll pay back four times as much! Children are not the only ones who identify with Zacchaeus. At a deeper level, all of us must recognize the things of this world will not fill the emptiness in our lives. As Zacchaeus did, we must seek Jesus not just to hear Him, but meet Him, sit down with Him and have a relationship with Him. Once we have met Him, confessed our sinfulness and entrusted our lives to Him, we walk forward new and different than before. Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT06 Lesson 1 Hour A Page 1

Block Center Build with Blocks Wooden blocks Small cars and trucks What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: As children build, listen for opportunities to share the Bible Phrase or tell a part of the Bible story. Home Living Center Role Play Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans, plastic food items; and doll items such as doll bed, baby doll, doll bag, blanket, clothes, bottles and diapers. What to Do: Home living items will encourage children to role play home activities such as cooking, cleaning and caring for the baby. Link to the Bible Story: As children play, thank them for being kind and sharing with one another. Express that our Bible Phrase today is, Jesus said, I love you. Comment that we are showing love when we share and take turns with the home living items. Center Time Art Center Sponge Paint White construction paper Brown and green paint, paper plates Clothes pins, 1 ½-inch to 2-inch squares of sponges (cut several household sponges into squares) What to Do: Draw a tree trunk on each paper. Pour paint on paper plates. Attach clothes pins to sponge squares. Demonstrate how to dip the sponges into the paint and then onto the paper. Invite children to use the brown paint to sponge paint the trunk of the tree and the green to make the leaves of the tree. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, express that in our Bible story today, a man named Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus; so he climbed up into a tree. Comment that Jesus stopped at the tree Zacchaeus was in and said, Zaachaeus, come down from that tree because I am coming to your house today. Bible Learning Center Dot-to-Dot Bible Story Picture Copies of Activity Page Dot-to-Dot Bible Story Picture (Reproducible) Pencils, crayons What to Do: Ask children to use a pencil to connect the dots around the figure of Zacchaeus. Encourage children to color the picture. Link to the Bible Story: Read the Bible Phrase. Share part of the Bible story by adding, Zacchaeus was not a kind man, but he wanted to see Jesus. Because he was small, he decided to climb a tree and wait for Jesus. Jesus wanted Zacchaeus to know He loved him. In our story today, you will hear what happened to Zacchaeus after he met Jesus. Puzzle Center Work Puzzles Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for children to work. What to Do: Encourage children to finish a puzzle before leaving the center. Give guidance rather than doing the puzzle for the child. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible Phrase or briefly tell the Bible story. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT06 Lesson 1 Hour A Page 2

Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Bible Teaching Picture Zacchaeus Met Jesus (Reproducible) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock) Introduction Show the God s Unfolding Story Cube. Point to each symbol and tell God s Unfolding Story. (Refer to page 1.) Encourage children to say the story with you. Comment to boys and girls today s story is from the segment God sent Jesus to help us. (Point to that symbol on the cube.) Express the following: Is it easy to love people who are not nice or do unkind things? Today in our Bible story, we will hear how Jesus showed love to someone no one else liked. Bible Story Zacchaeus Met Jesus (Luke 19:1-10) There was a rich man named Zacchaeus who was a tax collector. Tax collectors got money from the people to give to the king. Some tax collectors were dishonest and took more money than they should from the people. They would keep the extra money for themselves. Zacchaeus was not an honest tax collector. He probably did not have very many friends because of way he treated people. One day, Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was in town. He was curious about Jesus and wanted to see Him. Crowds of people already had gathered as Jesus walked down the street. Zacchaeus was not very tall, so he could not see above the people s heads. He decided to run ahead and climb up into a tree so he could watch as Jesus passed. Zacchaeus found a nice large sycamore tree, climbed up the tree and waited for Jesus to come down the street. Zacchaeus watched as Jesus got closer. Suddenly, Jesus stopped right under the tree where Zacchaeus was sitting! Jesus looked up at Zacchaeus and said, Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because I am coming to your house today. Many people around said, Why would He go to the home of someone who is dishonest and unkind? However, Jesus wanted Zacchaeus to know how much He loved him. Zacchaeus quickly came down out of the tree and took Jesus to his home. Zacchaeus saw the love and kindness Jesus showed to him that day. He was sorry that he had taken more money from the people than he should have taken. Zacchaeus told Jesus, I will give back to the people more money than I took. That day Zacchaeus chose to be a follower of Jesus. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story. Ask the following: Was Zacchaeus a kind and honest tax collector? What did Zacchaeus do to see Jesus? Where did Jesus tell Zacchaeus He was going? What happened after Zacchaeus visited with Jesus? 2. Comment that even though Zacchaeus was unkind and dishonest, Jesus showed love to him, and Zacchaeus changed from being a dishonest person to a kind and caring person. Read the Bible Phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together. Express to children that Jesus always loves us no matter how good or bad our behavior may be. Continue saying that just as Jesus loved Zacchaeus although he was dishonest, Jesus loves us and wants us to love Him. 3. Close the Bible Story Time in prayer thanking God that He always loves us. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT06 Lesson 1 Hour A Page 3

Craft Time Make a Self Puppet Copy of Bible Phrase Strips (Reproducible) 8-inch paper plates (1 per child) Large wiggly eyes (2 per child) Crayons or washable markers, glue, tape, construction paper, scissors, craft sticks What to Do: Cut apart the Bible Phrase Strips. Give each child a paper plate. Invite children to use the materials to make a self puppet. Children can cut hair, ears, eye lashes and hair bows from construction paper. Give each child a Bible Phrase Strip to glue on the back of their puppet. Assist children with taping a craft stick to the back of their puppets. Link to Bible Story: As children work, talk about the similarities and differences among the children. Discuss different abilities and skills the children have. Emphasize Jesus love for all of us. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time/Dismissal Look at It! No supplies needed What to Do: Ask children to stand in a circle. Say something such as, Listen and do what I say as quickly as you can. Direct children to look at various objects and people in the room such as: Look at the ceiling. Look at the light switch. Look out the window. Look at Coleman. Look at the floor. Look at the block center. Look at Kelby. Invite preschoolers to call out some objects and people to look at. At the close of the game, remind boys and girls that Zacchaeus climbed a tree to see Jesus and was probably surprised when Jesus looked up and saw him. Comment that Zacchaeus realized Jesus loved and cared for him. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of your church. God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT06 Lesson 1 Hour A Page 4

Resources and Supplies New Testament Unit 6: Jesus Shared His Love Lesson 1: Zacchaeus Met Jesus Hour A Standard Art Supplies (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn Standard Equipment (Equipment that is generally in the room) Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Activity Page Dot-to-Dot Bible Story Picture (1 copy per child) Bible Phrase Strips (1 copy per 15 children) Teaching Picture Zacchaeus Met Jesus (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parent Page (1 copy per child) Additional Art and Bible Learning Materials White construction paper (1 sheet per child) Paper plates to hold paint (3 or 4) Clothes pins (4 to 6) Household sponges (2, cut into shapes) Additional Craft Time Materials 8-inch paper plates (1 per child) Large wiggly eyes (2 per child) Variety of construction paper (3 or 4 sheets) Crafts sticks (1 per child) God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT06 Lesson 1 Hour A

Dot to Dot Bible Study Picture B C D E F G H A Y X W V U T Q P J K L M I S R O N Jesus said, I love you (John 15:9). Dot to Dot Bible Study Picture Instructions: Copy 1 sheet per child. Connect the dots to finish the picture NT06 Lesson 1 A Center Time: Bible Learning Center God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com

Bible Phrase Strips Bible Phrase Strips Instructions: Copy 1 sheet per class. Cut out the strips and give each child 1 strip. NT06 Lesson 1 A Craft Time God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com