Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

In today’s video, Rig has a secret, and it’s not a good one! He has not been honest about making a souffle for the Quantum Lab picnic. It isn’t like Rig to lie, especially to his friends. Rig learns the importance of being honest and the consequences if you’re not.       

Miss Tina presents a Bible story about a tax collector named Zacchaeus. He was a wealthy but dishonest man who made his living by cheating people on their taxes. One day, Zacchaeus met Jesus, and his life completely changed! Children will learn the importance of honesty, which is being truthful in all you say and do.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation unless noted.”

Optional Opening Game

Show the Coin Bag Image. In Bible times, people would carry coins in cloth or leather bags and tie them closed with a string.

In this game, we are going to work together to try and get as many coins as we can into the bags on the floor. At the end of the game, we will count the coins together to see how many we tossed into the bags.         

Have children line up and take turns trying to toss coins into the bags.

As each child steps to the line, give him/her two coins to toss.

After all the children have taken a turn, move the bags further away and play again. At the end of the game, count the coins aloud with the children. Repeat as time permits.

Afterward, have children wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.        

In today’s video, we will join Miss Tina and the robots at Quantum Labs as they prepare for a picnic. Raise your hand if you have ever gone to a picnic. Children respond.

Rig says that he is making a fancy dessert to take to the picnic, but he doesn’t know how to cook!   

Today’s lesson is about honesty. Honesty is being truthful in all you say and do.

Let’s watch the video to see if Rig was telling the truth.  

Video Lesson

Play Video (Call the Repair Bots)

Call the Repair Bots

Optional discussion following the video. 

●      Was Rig being honest and telling the truth about cooking a dessert? No, he was not telling the truth; he lied.    

●      When Rig told the truth and said he was sorry, what did Miss Tina and the other robots do? They forgave him.

●      What other robots were dishonest? The repair bots, Grip and Doodad.

●      Why did the two bots really come to the lab? To steal Professor Quantum’s plans.

●      When Grip and Doodad said they were sorry for lying, what happened? Miss Tina and the robots forgave them.    

●      What did the repair bots bring to Professor Spectrum instead of the plans they were supposed to steal? Honesty.

Object to GO!

Hold up the coins or image and discuss them using the questions and comments below.  

●      What is in my hand(s)? Coins, money.

●      Raise your hand if you have coins at home. Children respond.

●      Where can you keep coins? In a (piggy) bank, in the bank, drawer, jar, or bag. 

●      What is something you have bought at the store with coins? Children respond.  

●      Someone in the Bible story has some coins. I wonder if that person just has one coin or many coins? Let’s watch the video to find out.      

Today’s lesson is about honesty. Honesty is being truthful in all you say and do.

Play Video (Jesus Calls Zacchaeus—Bible Story)

Jesus Calls Zacchaeus-Bible Story

Teaching Time

Text: Luke 19:1-10

Make one copy of the Sycamore Fig-Tree Pages in color or black and white on cardstock.

Optional: color the leaves green and the headband strips brown if not printed in color.  

Cut out the leaves and headband strips. 

Attach four leaves to the front of the headband using tape rings or staples. 

Size the headband to the tree actor’s head, and then tape the bands together.

Cut strips of tape and form tape rings (sticky-side out) for the two hand leaves. 

Using a pencil, punch two holes a few inches apart near the top of the bag.

Thread yarn through the holes (like a belt loop). Put coins in the bag and seal it shut. 

Attach one leaf to the palms of the tree actor with tape rings.

Help Jesus, the crowd, and Zacchaeus actors with beards and costumes.    

Loosely tie the money bag above Zacchaeus’ waist.

Tell Zacchaeus only to PRETEND to climb up the sycamore tree!  

The remainder of the children can participate as the crowd.    

Slowly read the Bible story as outlined below. Pause after the bold text to direct the actors. Bring excitement to the story by varying your expression, voice, and volume level. 

●      Have the tree actor stand in the front and to one side. 

●      A crowd of people stood together in the town of Jericho. The crowd enters and stands together on one side of the tree.

●      Jesus was walking through their town! Jesus walks in front of the crowd and continues walking in place.   

●      The crowd pointed and waved to Jesus with happy faces. The crowd points and waves to Jesus with happy faces.

●      Jesus smiled at the crowd as He passed by. Jesus turns to the crowd and smiles. 

●      There was a tax collector who lived in Jericho. He came to see Jesus, too. Zacchaeus walks behind the crowd looking toward Jesus. 

●      The crowd made angry faces at Zacchaeus. They did not want him to be there. The crowd turns and makes angry faces.     

●      No one liked Zaccheus because he became rich by cheating people when they paid money for taxes. The crowd shakes heads no at Zacchaeus.   

●      Zacchaeus was a short man, so he could not see Jesus. Everyone in the crowd was taller than he was. This made him sad. Zacchaeus makes a sad face.  

●      But Zacchaeus would not give up; he needed to see Jesus! He stood on tiptoes to look over the crowd. Zaccheus stands on tiptoes, looking toward Jesus.

●      But that didn’t help. He bent down and looked underneath the crowd. Zacchaeus bends down and looks.

●      He jumped up to see, but that didn’t work. I think he jumped up three times! Zacchaeus jumps up three times.  

●      The crowd of people would not help Zacchaeus! The crowd angrily shakes heads no.   

●      Then Zacchaeus had an idea! He looked and saw a tall tree where Jesus would soon pass by. Zacchaeus ran to the tree. Now, our Zacchaeus is only going to pretend to climb that tree! He climbed higher and higher! Zacchaeus runs to the tree and makes a climbing motion with his hands.   

●      There was Jesus! Zacchaeus finally could see Him! Zacchaeus puts a hand over his forehead to see Jesus.  

●      Jesus walked to the tree, stopped, and looked up. Jesus walks to the tree and looks at Zacchaeus.

●      He called to Zacchaeus: “Zacchaeus, quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.” Say the words a few at a time slowly, and have Jesus repeat them.

●      Zacchaeus was filled with joy! Jesus knew his name! He climbed down as fast as he could. Zacchaeus climbs down with a happy face.

●      He walked with Jesus to his house. Jesus and Zacchaeus walk past the crowd to the chairs and sit down.

●      The crowd was angry! How could Jesus go to the house of a man who was not honest? The crowd looks toward Jesus and makes angry faces.

●      After Jesus talked with him, Zacchaeus was changed! He was now an honest man who loved Jesus!

●      Zaccheus stood up and said: (Say a few words at a time slowly and have Zacchaeus repeat them) “I will give half my money to the poor, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Zacchaeus stands up, then repeats words, and points to the money bag. 

●      Zaccheus was full of joy! His sins were forgiven, and his life was changed forever! Everyone makes a happy face, jumps up and down, and celebrates.

Zacchaeus was sorry for the wrong things he had done, and Jesus forgave him! When we do something wrong, Jesus will forgive us, too!     

Hold up the Coins or image. Who had the coins in the Bible story? Zacchaeus.

How did Zacchaeus get so many coins? He collected taxes; he was not honest. 

What did Zacchaeus do with his coins after meeting Jesus? He gave a lot of the coins back to the people whom he had cheated.

What happened when Zacchaeus said he was sorry? Jesus forgave him.  

Verse to GO!

Colossians 3:9 (CEV)

Optional: Show the memory verse presentation (the complete verse rather than the abbreviated version here).

Play Video (Verse to Go)

Verse to Go

Raise your hand if you saw Gizmo and Widget sharing a Bible verse in the video. Children respond.

We are going to learn the first part of our verse today with actions. 

Stop…  Move arm straight out with hand/palm forward and fingers up to signal STOP.

Lying to each other… Cover mouth with hands.

Stand facing the children and lead them in repeating phrases and imitating the motions.

Note: Preschool children may not be able to memorize the entire verse; they may simply repeat it with you. Be sure all children understand its meaning.

Prayer Time

Close the lesson with a simple prayer to encourage the children to be honest in all they say and do.   

For example: Dear God, help us to be honest in all we say and do. Thank You for loving us and always being ready to forgive us when we make a mistake, just like You forgave Zacchaeus. In Jesus’ forgiving name, we pray, Amen.  

Music Time

The lyrics and chords for this song are found in the Resources section.

Create your own motions for the song, or use the suggested motions for the chorus as seen in the Quantum Karaoke “No More Lies” under Resources or under “Extras! in the DVD main menu.

No More Lies

Play the video song “No More Lies” for your students.

The children may want to imitate Miss Tina and the robots playing instruments (singing into a microphone, playing keyboards, guitars, and drums). Encourage the children to dance and move to the music.    

Singing Activity

Optional: Invite someone to play the guitar or piano and lead the children in singing this song about Zacchaeus to a familiar tune. (A good key for children’s voices on this song is G.) 

“Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man”— Lead the children in singing this song and doing the motions.  

       G             D         G         D

Zacchaeus was a wee little man… Crouch down.
            G              D                G      D

And a wee little man was he.
      G                 D      G               D

He climbed up in a sycamore tree… Slowly rise while pretending to climb.
               G                  D         G         D

For the Lord he wanted to see.  Place hand above brow, as if looking out.

        G            D         G                D

And as the Savior passed that way,
            G         D        G         D

He looked up in the tree… Look up and point up. 

(spoken, not sung:)

And He said,

"Zacchaeus you come down from there!

(sung:)

              G                      D         G           D

For I'm going to your house today!  March in place and swing arms.
              G                      D         G           D

For I'm going to your house today!”

Video Option

Let's watch the end of the video to see what Rig does after returning from the picnic.

Call the Repair Bots - Wrap Up

Ask the following discussion questions:

●      What was Miss Tina sorry she missed at the picnic? Rig’s souffle/ dessert. 

●      What did Rig actually do after the picnic? Cook/bake (his souffle).

●      What did Rig say he wouldn’t do again? Lie.

●      What did Miss Tina say was really important? Telling the truth.

●      Why did Miss Tina hear a fire alarm and see smoke? Rig’s souffle burned.

Take Home Coloring Page

As children color, review today’s lesson using the discussion points below: 

●      Who was the crowd waiting to see? Jesus.

●      Who couldn’t see Jesus? Zacchaeus.  

●      Why couldn’t Zacchaeus see Jesus? Because of the crowd; he was too short. 

●      Why didn’t Zacchaeus have many friends? He was not honest; he cheated them; he took too much money for taxes.   

●      What did Zacchaeus do to see Jesus? He climbed a tree.  

OPTIONAL TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! trading cards for ZACCHAEUS, one per child. These are available for purchase under Products. Explain that there is a different trading card for each of the three lessons, so if they come back to Sunday school each week, they can collect all three! (Save the cards for Gears and Call the Repair Bots for Lessons 2 and 3.)