Leader Guide

Video Leader Guide

Welcome (1 minute)

Welcome back to the second lesson of our Superbook adventure called “Zacchaeus.” In today’s lesson, we will learn how Zacchaeus turned from his sins and vowed to do things for people that most would think impossible. Now, let’s stand and praise Jesus, the One who forgives and takes away all of our sins!

Play Video Song: Free (2 minutes)

Preview the song so you can help the children sing along with the music.

Free Music Video

SuperTruth and Discussion (2 minutes)

Our SuperTruth today is: “I will turn from my sins and follow Jesus.” Let’s say that together: “I will turn from my sins and follow Jesus.”

Raise your hand if you ever traveled one way on your bike or skateboard and then changed your mind and made a U-turn to head the opposite direction. Children respond.

Imagine being Zacchaeus. You start out like any other day collecting taxes; then, Jesus calls your name, and everything changes. What you cared about most no longer matters. That is what our SuperTruth is all about. Let’s watch a short version of our Bible story about Zacchaeus and his encounter with Jesus. If you have seen it before, Jesus says that Zacchaeus is a true son of someone. Listen carefully for who that person is.

Introduce Condensed Bible Story (1 minute)

If all children watched the Bible story video in the previous lesson, you may skip it here and go straight to the Bible Background Video.

Play Video 4: Condensed Bible Story (10 minutes)

Superbook takes Chris, Joy, and Gizmo to ancient Jericho, where they meet Zacchaeus. People despise him for being a tax collector for Rome, so they are amazed when Jesus reaches out to him, and Zacchaeus is saved and transformed. The children learn that Jesus came to seek and save every lost person.

Condensed Bible Story

Let’s say that you are a person in the crowd following Jesus. Zacchaeus is trying to get closer to Jesus. Do you think you would help him? Why or why not? Children respond.

Would you join in with the crowd who shouted insults and unkind things to Zacchaeus? Please explain. Children respond.

Do you think that you would feel you had more of a right to see Jesus and have Him as a guest in your home than Zacchaeus? Why or why not? Children respond.

Consider how Zacchaeus was in a tree next to the road. Jesus was surrounded by a large crowd. The Bible says that Jesus reached the spot and stopped, then looked up to see him. How do you think Jesus knew Zacchaeus was in the tree, and how did He know Zacchaeus’s name? Jesus knows everything; He is God.

Jesus knows everyone’s name. Jesus came to seek and save the lost. (See Luke 19:10.) He knows those who He came to earth to forgive and save!

Introduce Bible Background Video (1 minute)

In today’s Bible Background video, we’ll learn more about the town of Jericho and tax collectors in the time of Zacchaeus. Be ready for Gizmo’s questions! Wait for him to give some answers, then call out the one you think is right!

Play Video 5: Bible Background (7 minutes)

Bible Background

Play Video 10B: SuperVerse Graphic

The graphic loops 2.5 minutes without audio; turn off or freeze video after children repeat the verse.

10B: SuperVerse Graphic

SuperVerse Discussion (1 minute)

The SuperVerse today is 1 John 1:9:

What does this verse tell us that we must do before being forgiven? Confess our sins.

God could just forgive our sins automatically. Why do you think He wants us to confess our sins to Him? He wants us to acknowledge and be aware that we have sinned against Him. He wants us to be truly sorry. He wants us to come to Him, knowing only He can forgive our sins. If He automatically forgave us, we would take it for granted and not appreciate what Jesus does for us.

How does it make you feel to know that we can trust Jesus almost all of the time to forgive our sins? Children respond, hopefully correcting you. Really?

Let’s read the verse together. 1 John 1:9:

You caught my mistake! We can always trust Him 100% of the time. He will never fail us!

Children will have more time to learn the SuperVerse in Small Group. If they are not able to memorize the entire verse, be sure they understand its meaning.

Prayer and Send-Off (1 minute)

Let’s pray. Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to seek us and call us each by name to come and follow Him. We know that when we sin, we can trust Jesus to forgive us and take our sins away! We praise You and thank You, Jesus, and it is in Your precious name we pray, Amen.

Have you ever done something wrong and wanted to “bounce back” and do it the right way? There are many times we would like to start over again and forget what just happened. The game we will play in Small Group will literally let you “bounce back!” Let’s go play!

Teachers take children to Small Group classes for Grades 1–3 and 4–6. If the combined group is small, all children may stay together for Small Group time.

Balloon Game

Bounce Back With Forgiveness: Play a fun game to illustrate the SuperVerse.

In Large Group, you were asked to listen and watch carefully for something Jesus said about Zacchaeus. Who did Jesus say that Zacchaeus was a true son of? Abraham.

Zacchaeus confessed his sins. Jesus forgave him, and his new life in Christ began. When we confess our sins to Jesus, we can always trust what we will receive back from Him. Is it punishment? No!

Is it guilt or shame? No!

Is it criticism or rejection? No!

What can we trust we will receive from Jesus? Forgiveness!

That is what this game is all about!

Divide the children into two equal teams. Have the teams make two single-file lines, with players standing about an arm’s length behind each other. Leave several feet of space between the teams—see illustration.

Give a “Sin” balloon to the player at the front of each line. Give a “Forgiveness” balloon to the player at the back of each line. Start the game. Without turning around, the first player must toss the “Sin” balloon backward over his/her head to the player directly behind. The balloon continues to move backward in this way until it is caught by the player at the back of the line. That player keeps the “Sin” balloon in one hand while using the other hand to toss the “Forgiveness” balloon to the player directly ahead. The “Forgiveness” balloon moves forward until it reaches the player at the front of the line.

At the end of the round, the entire team immediately turns around to face the opposite end of the room, and the second round begins. The player who was at the back of the line is now at the front of the line. He/she tosses the “Sin” balloon overhead and backward to the player directly behind. Continue with the game as it was played in the first round. The first team to complete both rounds wins.

Note: If a balloon falls to the ground, the player who was to receive the toss must pick it up and continue play from that point.

We could say that you all put your sins behind you! We serve an amazing God who loves us and offers forgiveness through His Son when we come to Him and let go of our sins. It doesn’t matter what the sin is—He can always be trusted to forgive us. Let’s learn more about this in today’s teaching.

Teaching

No Cover-up: Discuss how God takes our sins away.

Let’s say the SuperVerse together. See the board. 1 John 1:9:

The people in Jericho grumbled when Jesus stopped to talk to Zacchaeus. They could not believe Jesus would speak with such a sinner, and even more, be a guest in his house! Didn’t Jesus know that Zacchaeus was a terrible sinner? There were so many good people Jesus could have chosen to spend time with.

Jesus knew exactly what He was doing—He came into the world specifically for lost people like Zacchaeus. After spending time with Jesus in his home, Zacchaeus didn’t try to hide his sin. He admitted that he had been dishonest by taking more money from people than he should.

Zacchaeus turned from His sin and decided to follow Jesus! How do we know this? Zacchaeus not only admitted his sin, but he also pledged to return more than he had taken and to give to the poor. He turned away from his old ways and did something completely the opposite. No one in Jericho could have thought this was possible—probably not even Zacchaeus!

Point out the SIN sign and the GOD sign. Stand in front of the GOD sign and slowly walk toward the SIN sign as you talk.

Before Zacchaeus met Jesus, he was not serving God. He was more interested in filling his pockets with as much money as he could. Then Zacchaeus met Jesus and had a change of heart. He didn’t just admit his sin and keep pursuing or doing it.

Turn around and begin to walk the opposite direction toward the GOD sign. He confessed his sin and turned away from it. He began to follow Jesus and come closer to God. This is called repentance—to turn away from sin and toward God.

True repentance is more than just admitting your sin or saying you’re sorry. Turn around and walk slowly toward the SIN sign again. That is like doing this. As you walk say, “I just sinned... oh, I did it again, sorry. There I go again, oops!” Do you think God is pleased with that; why or why not? No, you haven’t turned away from your sin.

That’s correct! Confess the sin, and say you are sorry. Then turn away from it and walk the opposite direction toward the God sign. Is this true repentance; why? Yes, you admitted your sin and turned away from it and toward God.

True repentance involves a decision to stop sinning and to change direction. God can always be trusted to forgive us!

Erase the SuperVerse from the board. Now, here is another very powerful part of today’s SuperVerse. In the Old Testament, the priests made sacrifices to God to cover the sins of the people. This did not take the sins away; it only temporarily covered them. Can you see the word sin written on the board? No.

It really is there, but you can’t see it; it’s covered up. Carefully remove the cardstock. Can you see it now? Yes!

Place the cardstock over SIN again. This is what took place in the Old Testament. The sacrifices only covered the people’s sins.

Partially lift the cardstock. Yes, it’s still there!

When Jesus died on the cross, everything changed! He sacrificed His own life, not to just cover our sins, but to take them away completely. Remove the cardstock and totally erase SIN. Isn’t that amazing?

Acts 3:19 (NLT) says:

Only Jesus can wipe away our sins! Now, let’s do our Discipleship Challenge to apply what we have learned about Jesus’ forgiveness and turning from our sins.

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give any child who missed Lesson 1 a Coin Page, Coin Pouch Page, and a 30-inch piece of yarn. Show children the sample craft made in Lesson 1, and have them assemble the craft at home.

Use the model craft as you discuss the challenge. The challenge last time was to learn Romans 3:23. Can anyone say it from memory? Allow volunteers to say the verse.

We were also challenged to pray for people who may not realize their need to know Jesus. Raise your hand if you remembered to do that. Children respond. That’s a good thing to keep doing every day!

Have a child pull out Coin #3 from the bag and read it. 1 John 1:9b:

That is part of our SuperVerse. So your challenge is to read the whole verse in your Bible or Superbook Bible app, every day. For an added challenge, try to memorize it.

Have a child pull out Coin #4 and read it. Determine each morning to follow Jesus. Pray for strength to follow the Holy Spirit’s leading. Pray each day and ask Jesus to forgive you of any sins you may have committed. Then, try to follow Jesus closely by being obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading every day.

For example, you may see a classmate sitting alone at lunch, and you may sense the Lord speaking to your heart, showing you to be friendly and go sit with that person. Be open to doing what God wants you to do. He will never lead you astray! We will discuss your experience with these challenges next time we meet!

SuperVerse

Superbook Takeaway: Memorize the SuperVerse with a group activity.

Let’s say today’s SuperVerse together. 1 John 1:9:

Isn’t it a good feeling when you can trust someone? To have a friend that you can depend on is a very valuable thing. Even so, people can let us down and disappoint us. Praise God, He will never let us down! When we confess our sins, the SuperVerse tells us that God can ALWAYS be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away—every time! How wonderful our God is!

In this activity, you are going to take away words that don’t belong in the verse.

Erase the correct verse at the top of the board and carefully uncover the modified verse at the bottom of the board.

Have children raise their hands to tell you which words to “take away,” one word at a time. Erase the words until you end up with the correct verse. Then, say the correct verse together.

A fun option if time permits: After “taking away” a few words, read the partially corrected verse with the children, and ask if all the wrong words have been taken away. Do this once or twice before the verse is totally corrected.

I think you did it! Just like those words did not belong in this verse, sin doesn’t belong in our lives. That isn’t what God intended! God wants to take our sins away and remove all of our guilt and shame. When we confess our sins, He can be trusted to take them away!

If children cannot memorize the SuperVerse, be sure they understand its meaning. Remind them to keep working on the verse at home.

Prayer

Confession Prayers: Communicate with God.

What do we need to do before we can receive forgiveness? Confess our sins.

Yes, we need to admit that we have sinned against God and need His forgiveness. Sometimes, we may ask for others’ forgiveness when we have committed an offense against them, and we should! But we sometimes forget that we have also sinned against God. David said in Psalm 51:2–4 (CEV):

David said he knew he had sinned not only against another person but against God!

Let’s use this prayer as a guide for our prayer today. First, I would like us to silently confess any sin that you know you have committed in disobedience to God and His Word. It could be thoughts that are wrong or impure, an unkind word, or an action. Confess this silently to God and tell Him you are sorry. Allow children time to pray.

Next, silently ask God to forgive you and wash you clean from sin and guilt. Allow children time to pray.

Pray: Dear God, thank You for hearing our prayers today. We can trust that You are faithful to forgive us and cleanse us of our sins and guilt. We are clean in Your eyes through Jesus’ blood that He shed on the Cross. We praise You for not just covering our sin, but for completely taking it away! In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Relay Game

No Reason to Hide: Play a game to receive mercy and forgiveness.

It is important for us to be honest with God; He knows us inside and out. He even knows our thoughts! There is nothing hidden from God—that includes our weaknesses, struggles, and sins.

He can also see the good things that we do with a pure heart and motive. Nothing escapes God’s eyes! The game we are about to play is based on Proverbs 28:13, which is on the board. Let’s read it together:

What does it mean to conceal something? To hide something or keep it a secret.

If we don’t prosper, we don’t thrive and succeed. But when we confess our sins to Jesus instead of covering them up, we receive mercy. This means that instead of punishing us as we deserve, He forgives us.

• Divide the children into two equal teams. An assistant may need to play, so groups are equal.
• Have the teams gather in separate areas behind the starting line.
• Give two index cards and a pencil to each child. Have each child write MERCY and FORGIVENESS on one side of a card. Younger children can copy the words from the board.
• Have children write their first and last name in large letters on the back of the card.
• Gather each team’s cards separately, shuffle them, and place them in the team’s MERCY and FORGIVENESS box.
• On the second index card, have the children write their first and last name on one side of the card.
• On the back, have children write “SIN.” Then they should close their eyes for a moment and silently think of anything that is bothering their conscience and that they would like to confess to God.
• Gather each team’s SIN cards separately, shuffle them, and place them in a pile on the floor mid-way between the team box and the starting line.
• Place the beach towel or table cloth over the cards to conceal them.
• Have each team make a line behind the starting line.

In this race, the first players from each team will walk quickly to the towel, lift it, and pick up the card with their name. They will then cover the other cards with the towel again, quickly walk to the trash can, and throw the card away.

Next, they will turn away from the trash can and go to the MERCY AND FORGIVENESS boxes, where they will find and pick up the index card with their name. Then the players will go back to the starting line, and the next player will take a turn. The first team to finish wins.

Play until everyone has received “mercy” and “forgiveness.” Good job, everybody! How did it feel to get rid of your sin and receive forgiveness and mercy? Children answer.

Conclusion: We had fun playing this game, but everything you did represented something very real and powerful.

1. You took something to God and confessed it instead of hiding it.

2. You turned from your sin and then received mercy and forgiveness.

Place both trash cans in front of you. There is still one important thing that God does every time that Jesus shows us mercy and forgives us.

Hint if necessary: We talked about this in today’s teaching, and the answer is in the SuperVerse. God takes our sins away.

Place both trash cans outside the classroom and close the door. Jesus not only forgives us, but He also takes our sins away!

Blindfold Game

A Better View: Place Zacchaeus in a tree to see Jesus.

In our story, was it one of Jesus’ disciples or Gizmo who climbed the tree? No, Zacchaeus.

Why did he climb the tree—to pick figs for a snack? No, to see Jesus.

Give each child a Zacchaeus figure and a pencil. Have the children write their name on the back, and then collect the pencils. Have children form a single-file line behind the mark or line.

Just like in the Bible story, Zacchaeus needs to climb the tree to see Jesus. In this game, you will each have the opportunity to help him! Raise your hand if you have played a game called “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” Children respond.

When it is your turn, I will give you a ring of tape to stick to the back of your figure. Then I will place a blindfold on you.

Optional: Spin each child around three times, gently. You will carefully walk to the wall and try to place Zacchaeus in the tree. Each figure that touches any part of the tree gets one point. One more thing: you have to play with one hand behind your back to make it a little more challenging. Once you have stuck your figure to the wall, you may take the blindfold off and give it to the next player.

Play until all children have taken a turn and then count the points. Children can remove their figure and play again if time permits.

Conclusion: That looked like fun. You did a “TREE-mendous” job helping Zacchaeus! Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus, and he didn’t let his size or an unfriendly crowd keep him from his goal. Let’s follow his example and never stop seeking after Jesus every day of our lives! Just like you helped Zacchaeus in this game, we should try to help others to see Jesus in any way we can!

Turning Game

The Turning Point: Play a game to follow Jesus.

Let's say today's SuperTruth together: "I will turn from my sins and follow Jesus."

Walk as you talk and demonstrate turning at each mark. Today, we are going to play a fun game about turning. You will walk from the start mark to the finish mark on the other side of the room. When you come to each of the two marks along the way, you must turn completely around before you can continue. Now, does that sound easy enough?

As I think about it, it's probably a little too easy.

Hold a paper plate or cardstock sheet and place a balloon on top of it, then demonstrate walking the course again.

To make this more challenging, you must balance the balloon on top of the plate as you walk and turn. Now, be careful—if you move too quickly, the balloon may fall to the floor. If it does, you must pick it up and continue from that spot. When you reach the finish line, hand the balloon and plate to the next player on your team, who will then take the journey to the finish line at the opposite end. The first team to finish wins!

Play again as time permits.

Conclusion: Good job turning, everyone! When we first decide to turn from our sins and follow Christ, that is just the beginning. All along our journey of life, there will be times we make bad choices and need to turn back to God. The good news for us is that we can always trust that He will welcome us back, forgive us, and take our sins away!

Bible Activity

Take It Away! Race to find verses about confession, repentance, and taking our sins away.

When we believe in Jesus and confess our sins, something amazing happens—He forgives us and even forgets the sin! This doesn’t happen just once in a while or even most of the time. Each time we confess our sins, He is faithful and can be trusted to forgive us. Every single time!

In this activity, we are going to look up verses about confession, repentance, and taking our sins away.

Have the children sit in pairs. Try to pair an experienced Bible user with a child who isn’t as familiar with the Bible. Give each pair a Bible. The experienced Bible user can quickly look up the verse while the other player writes the answer on a sticky note.

The notes are then stuck to the board. If both players are experienced Bible users, the players can alternate looking up a verse and writing down the answer. Have children close their Bibles before you announce the next verse. Note that the suggested answers are from the New Living Translation. If children are using different translations, their answers will vary.

I will say a Bible reference, telling you whether it is in the Old or New Testament, and then write it on the board. You may start to look it up, and I will then read a fill-in-the-blank question for that verse. One player in each group will write the answer on a sticky note and walk quickly to stick it on the board. You have thirty seconds to do that. The first team scores ten points for the correct answer; all other teams score five points for the correct answer stuck to the board within the time limit.

Every pair will have a chance to finish, so don’t give up! The team with the most points wins. Are you ready to learn more about how our sins are taken away... forever? Let’s get started!

Allow spelling errors because of the fast pace of the game. Do as many verses as time allows. Be prepared to help any children with special needs.

1. Isaiah 43:25—Old Testament: Through the Prophet Isaiah, God said He would never _____ of their sins again. (Think)

2. Hebrews 8:12—New Testament: God forgives our wickedness and will never again _____ our sins. (Remember)

3. Micah 7:19—Old Testament: God will _____ our sins under His feet and throw them into the _____. (Trample, Ocean)

4. 1 John 1:9—New Testament: When we confess our sins to Jesus, He is _____ and just to forgive and cleanse us. (Faithful)

5. Psalm 103:12—Old Testament: God removes our sins as far from us as the east is from the _____. (West)

6. Isaiah 1:18—Old Testament: God will make our sins white as _____ and white as _____. (Snow, Wool)

7. Psalm 32:5—Old Testament: David said that instead of trying to hide his guilt, he _____ all his sins, and God forgave him. (Confessed)

8. Proverbs 28:13—Old Testament: If we confess and _____ from our sins, we will receive mercy. (Turn)

9. Luke 15:21—New Testament: The Prodigal son confessed that he had _____ against God and his father. (Sinned)

10. Acts 3:19—New Testament: Peter told the people to repent and turn to God so their sins could be _____ away. (Wiped)

Conclusion: When we confess our sins to Jesus, He doesn’t judge us. He takes them away, and God forgets them. It’s as if we never sinned!