Leader Guide

Teaching

Tags:

Discipleship Challenge materials:

  • Zacchaeus Coin Pouch, Coin Page, and yarn for any children who missed Lessons 1 and 2
  • Sample craft made in Lesson 1
  • Bibles or the Superbook Bible App

Discipleship Challenge materials for children who missed Lessons 1 and 2.
Make copies of the Coin Page and the Coin Pouch Page. See Lesson 1 for details.
Give a piece of yarn to each child.
Place the coins in a stack.
Have a child select the first Signpost Coin and read it aloud.
Tape the coin to the wall or prop it up so children can see it.
Lead a discussion with the information below.
Repeat for Coin #2.
Additional material is included for Grades 4–6 to look up and discuss.

One to One: Discuss how Jesus wants to be with us now and forever.

Coin #1: Jesus Came to Everyone.

Zacchaeus was a tax collector and was not liked by many people. This was because tax collectors worked for the Roman government and often were dishonest, charging more for taxes than they should. Hold up Signpost Coin #1. Do you remember what the people in the crowd said about Zacchaeus? He was a sinner, tax collector, and a thief.

The people didn’t believe Jesus would or should talk with Zacchaeus. Imagine how shocked they were when Jesus invited Himself to Zacchaeus’s home! They thought Zacchaeus was a bad person and that a holy man like Jesus should stay far away from him!

This is not how God thinks about people. Over 500 years earlier, God spoke through the Old Testament prophet Ezekiel. He said in Ezekiel 34:11:

“For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I Myself will search and find My sheep.”

Jesus is fulfilling this prophecy—even today, as we speak! In Luke 19:10 (NKJV), He says:

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus, even though he wasn’t very tall, and the crowd was large. He decided the best way to see Jesus was to climb a tree. What he didn’t realize is that Jesus would also see him!

Coin #2: Jesus Knows Our Names

Much to the disbelief of the large crowd, Jesus called to Zacchaeus and told him to quickly come down from the tree. What else did Jesus say to Zacchaeus? He must be a guest in his home that day.

Did you know that it is still the same for us today? Jesus not only sees us, He knows us, and He calls us by name! No matter our age or size, Jesus sees us. No matter what others think of us, or what we may have done wrong, He sees us, and He calls us by name! He calls us to come closer and to have a deep and personal relationship with Him.

Jesus described Himself as the Good Shepherd. He said that the sheep recognize His voice and come to Him, and He calls His own sheep by name. (See John 10:3.)

Who is Jesus talking about when He talks about His sheep? Us, we are His sheep!

Jesus does not play favorites between those who think they are good and those who some think are sinners. Jesus was not influenced by what the crowd thought about Zacchaeus. He didn’t care that He was breaking social rules or proper etiquette by inviting Himself to Zacchaeus’s home.

Romans 3:23 and 24b (CEV) says:

All of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. He freely accepts us and sets us free from our sins.

Jesus is calling out to us today. All we need to do is open the door to our hearts and let Him in! By confessing our sins and believing in Him, our new life in Christ begins!

OPTIONAL VERSES FOR GRADES 4–6 

John 10:3 (NLT):

“The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

Revelation 3:20:

“Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”

Luke 19:7 (NKJV):

But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

Luke 19:9 (NKJV):

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham.”

Now, it’s time for the Discipleship Challenge, where we will discuss our next challenge to demonstrate our new life in Christ!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give the Discipleship Challenge materials to children who missed previous lessons; see Lesson 1 for details. Hold up the sample craft.

Last time, your challenges were on Coins #3 and #4.

Read Coin #3. Did someone accept the bonus challenge of memorizing 1 John 1:9? Would you like to try to say it aloud for us? Children respond.

Every time we confess our sins, we can trust Jesus hears us and forgives us.

Read Coin #4. Would anyone like to share their experience with following Jesus more closely by being obedient to the Holy Spirit’s leading? Children respond.

Let’s find out what your next challenge is. Have a child pull out Coin #5 and read it: 2 Corinthians 5:17:

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.

This is part of our SuperVerse. The first challenge is to look up and read this verse in your Bible or Superbook Bible app, every day. For an added challenge, try to memorize it.

Have a volunteer pull out Coin #6 and read it: Do something daily to show you are a new person in Christ.

The people of Jericho saw a change in Zacchaeus’s words and actions. His heart was changed by Jesus; a new life had begun. That is what this last challenge is about. Pray and try to do something each day to represent your new life in Christ. It could be showing God’s love to a new student by sitting with them at lunch. It could be helping at home without being asked. It could be listening to someone or giving them a kind word to cheer them up. By doing things like this, we don’t want to point to ourselves, but to Christ, who gives us new life.

◄ Previous: Game Next: SuperVerse ►