Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Welcome students as they arrive with their parents.
OPTIONAL: As they arrive, play the song “No More Lies.”

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands the lesson from Lesson 1 about Jesus and Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a wealthy man, but he wasn’t happy. Zacchaeus was despised because he was a dishonest tax collector who cheated people to become rich. Zacchaeus’ life turned upside down after meeting Jesus. Children will learn the importance of being honest in all they say and do!   

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

Optional Opening Game

Blow up the balloons and tie them closed. Bring an extra balloon in case one breaks.

Set up the game as shown in the illustration.    

Optional: add another balloon and allow two children to play at one time.

In today’s game, you will each take a turn to hit the balloon in the air and into the basket.      

Have the children stand 3–4 feet from the table.

Give a balloon to the first child and have them try to bat it in the air while moving closer to the table until it drops into the basket.  

Lead the children in cheering for each player!  

Remove the balloon for the next child's turn.

Repeat until all the children have taken a turn.

If a balloon falls to the ground, the child may pick it up and continue.

Optional play:

The table can be moved farther away.

The basket can be raised higher. 

Good job hitting the balloon high into the air so it fell into the basket! In today’s video, a man goes up above the ground but not to fall into a basket. Let’s watch and see why he climbed higher.   

Video Lesson

In this lesson, we will learn the importance of honesty, which is being truthful in all you say and do.

Let’s watch our Bible story to see why Zacchaeus would not give up trying to see Jesus. Jesus found Zaccheus in a very unusual place and called his name. After Zacchaeus met Jesus, his life was completely changed forever!

Play Video (Bible story)

Jesus Calls Zacchaeus

Bible Story

Teaching Time

Text: Luke 19:1-10

Make one copy of the Coin Pouch on cardstock in color or black and white.

Cut out the two sides of the pouch and fold in the middle on the dotted line.

Punch holes where shown. Weave the yarn through the holes on both sides of the pouch.

Place the coins in the pouch.   

Encourage children to participate as much as possible as you tell the Bible story below. Emphasize the words in bold text, which correspond to an action you model for the children to imitate. Vary your facial expression, voice, and volume level to hold children’s attention and interest.     

●      Jesus was walking through a town called Jericho. Walk in place.  

●      A crowd of people came to look for Jesus. They stood on tiptoes to see Him. Stand on tiptoes, “stretch” neck, and turn head side to side.

●      Our story is about a man who wanted to see Jesus, but he was too short to see above the crowd. Can you remember his name? Zacchaeus.

●      What did Zacchaeus do for a living? He collected taxes.

●      Zacchaeus was rich because he took more tax money than he should from the people. Hold up the coin pouch, remove some coins, and slowly pour them back into the bag.

●      What’s it called when you take something that you shouldn’t? Cheating, stealing.  

●      Did the people like Zacchaeus? No!

●      Even though he was rich, he wasn’t happy. Make a sad face.

●      When Zacchaeus heard that Jesus was in Jericho, he ran to see Him. Children stand and run in place.

●      Zacchaeus had a problem. He was a small man. Children stand, then crouch down.

●      He couldn’t see Jesus over the crowd. Stand on tiptoes and “stretch" neck as you look forward, then jump up and down to try to see.  

●      Raise your hand if you have ever gone to a parade and couldn’t see over the crowd. Children respond.

●      Maybe an adult lifted you up, or you sat on someone’s shoulder to see.

●      But did anybody help Zacchaeus? No. 

●      Zacchaeus had no friends! But he really wanted to see Jesus; maybe Jesus could help him to be happy! Make a happy face.

●      Zacchaeus thought and thought. What could he do? Does anyone have an idea? Climb a tree!

●      He looked and saw a sycamore tree. Put hand over eyes to look up at the treetop.

●      Zacchaeus ran as fast as he could and quickly climbed the tree. Run in place and then make a climbing motion with your hands.

●      Up, up, up he went! Finally, he was high enough to see Jesus!

●      Not only did Zacchaeus see Jesus—Jesus saw him! Look up.

●      Jesus called Zacchaeus’ name. Call Zacchaeus’ name together.

●      Then Jesus said, “Quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

●      Zacchaeus was filled with excitement and joy! Make a happy face and jump up and down.

●      He climbed down as fast as he could and walked with Jesus to his house. Make motions to climb down, then walk in place.

●      How do you think the crowd felt? Raise your hand if you think they were angry. Children respond.

●      That’s right! Instead of being happy for Zacchaeus, the crowd was angry! They thought, how can Jesus go to the home of a man who was a sinner? He took their money by cheating! Show the bag, remove some coins, then slowly pour the coins back into the bag.

●      Zacchaeus looked the same on the outside—but inside, was he the same? No.

●      Zacchaeus was a new man, an honest man who loved Jesus with all his heart! Place hand over your heart.

●      Zaccheus said, “I will give half my money to the poor.” Hold up the money bag.

●      He also said, “If I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!” Hold up your hand and slowly count to four on your fingers as the children count aloud with you.   

●      Zacchaeus was full of joy. Make a happy face and jump up and down.

●      His sins were forgiven, and his life was changed forever! Celebrate!

Zacchaeus was sorry for not being honest, so Jesus forgave him.  

When we do wrong things like disobeying, cheating, telling a lie, or being unkind, that is called sin.

When we sin, we can go to Jesus and ask Him to forgive us. What will Jesus do? He will forgive us!       

Object to Go

Hold up the headphones or show the image. Lead a short discussion with the following comments and questions:

●      Have you ever worn something like this? Children respond.

●      Where did you wear them? At home, school, a friend’s house, a store.     

●      What can you listen to with headphones? Music, songs, an instrument, book, TV, video. 

●      Who do you think will wear headphones in today’s video—Miss Tina, Gizmo, Gears, Rig, or Widget? Children guess. 

●      I think someone has guessed correctly! Let’s watch the video now to find out!    

Leave the question unanswered until it is revealed in the video.

Today, we are going to catch up with the tiny robot named Widget. She can’t sleep because of all the noise, and she can’t wait to find out where it is coming from and who is making it!

Play Video (Phantom of the Robotics Division)

Phantom of the Robotics Division

Video Discussion

●      Hold up the headphones or image. Who guessed that Gears was the robot who would wear headphones? Children respond.

●      What musical instrument was Gears playing? The piano.

●      Was Gears honest in all he said and did? No!  

●      How was Gears not truthful? He hid from Widget and lied about playing the piano. 

●      Why didn’t Gears want anyone to hear him play the piano? He didn’t think he was very good at it.   

●      Who did Widget say we must always be honest with? Our friends.

●      What did Widget give to Gears to fix the noise problem? Headphones.

Telling the truth is always the right thing to do with God, our family, our friends—EVERYONE!     

Sometimes it is hard to tell the truth, especially if we have to admit that something we did or said was wrong. But when we tell the truth, we can always ask for forgiveness and ask for God’s help to be truthful in all we say and do!    

Verse to GO!

Note: The verse has been divided into three parts. The first part was learned in Lesson 1 and children will learn the second part in Lesson 2 today.

Colossians 3:9: (CEV)

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

Raise your hand if you were here last time when we learned the first part of the memory verse. Can anyone say it? Children respond.

Let’s all say it together with the motions:

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

Lying to each other… Cover mouth with hands.

Good! Now let’s learn the next part:

You have given up your old way of life… Put both arms out with palms up to hand something to someone.

To give something up means to let it go or hand it to someone.

This Bible verse tells us to let go of things that we say or do that are not truthful, like telling lies.

Note: Some preschool children may not be able to memorize the 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 always be honest.   

For example: Dear God, help us to be truthful in all we say and do. Thank You for loving us and forgiving us when we don’t do or say what we know is right. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Music Time

No More Lies

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

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

Play the video song and teach the chorus and motions of “No More Lies” to your students.

No More Lies

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.   

Note that if you don’t wish to use this song, you can substitute the extra video, “Super Gizmo and Gear-O,” under Additional Resources.

Take-Home Coloring Page

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

●      Who is the man in this picture? Zacchaeus.

●      Why is he up high in a tree? He wanted to see Jesus.

●      What job did Zacchaeus do? He was a tax collector.   

●      Why didn’t people like Zacchaeus? He cheated them; he was not honest.   

●      What did Jesus do when He saw Zacchaeus in the tree? He called his name and told him to come down.

●      Where did Jesus and Zacchaeus go together? Zacchaeus’ home.

●      How did Zacchaeus change after he met Jesus? He was sorry for cheating people; he became an honest man.    

OPTIONAL TAKE-HOME TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! trading cards for GEARS, one per child. These are available for purchase under Products. Explain to the children 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! (Last time was the ZACCHAEUS card, and next time will be the CALL THE REPAIR BOTS! / HONESTY CARD.