Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Children's church lesson: Zacchaeus

Story
Say:  Today’s story is in the New Testament.  It is about a man who was very short, and had an unusual name.  Let’s find out what happened to him.  You can help me tell the story!  When you hear about someone being angry, make a mad face. When you hear about someone being too short to see, pretend to try to look over someone.  When you hear about someone climbing a tree, pretend to climb.  Are you ready?

Read “Zaccaeus” in the any children's story bible.

Lesson
Say:  What was Zacchaeus like? (greedy, took money from other people)  What did Zacchaeus do when Jesus came to town? (tried to see him, climbed a tree)  What did Jesus do? (told Zacchaeus to come down, went to Zacchaeus’ house)  How did Zacchaeus change? (Served Jesus, paid people back, gave money to the poor)
Zacchaeus really changed didn’t he?  Before he met Jesus, Zacchaeus was greedy and getting as much money as possible, even if it hurt other people, was the most important thing to him.  After meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus realized that following Jesus was more important than anything else and he money stopped being so important to him. 
Jesus taught Zacchaeus to serve God and to serve others.  He did this by teaching him to treat everyone with care and honesty.  When we decide to make Jesus the most important thing in our lives, and when we are kind to and serve other people we serve God, too, because everyone is part of God’s family.  
Big Idea
When we decide to make Jesus the most important thing in our lives, and when we are kind to and serve other people we serve God just like Zacchaeus did.

Memory Verse
Jesus said “"If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways and follow me.” – Luke 9:23

Prayer
Take a minute to see if the children have any prayer requests or prayer joys.  Say a short prayer asking God to help us make Jesus the most important thing in our lives.

Song

Craft
Childen will make their own sycamore tree by decorating a tree template and attaching it to a toilet paper role (tree trunk).   

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