Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands on the lesson from the previous two lessons about Jesus and Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a dishonest tax collector, which made him wealthy but also earned him the reputation of a notorious sinner in Jericho. This would all change when he met Jesus! Children will learn that Jesus knows their names and how important it is to be truthful in all you say and do!

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation.

No More Lies

Optional Opening Game

Have children form a single-file line behind the mark or line.

Can anyone remember the name of the man in the Bible story we’ve been learning about? Zacchaeus.

In our story, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree, which grows figs—a kind of fruit. Do you think he climbed up the tree just because he wanted a piece of fruit to snack on? Children respond.

In this game, you will each have a chance to help Zacchaeus get up in the tree. Raise your hand if you have played a game called “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.” Children respond.

Show a Zacchaeus figure. When it is your turn, I will put a ring of tape on the back of this figure.

Then I will place a blindfold on you. Try your best not to peek! 

You will carefully walk to the wall and try to place the figure in the tree. Once you have stuck your figure to the wall, you can’t move it! You may take the blindfold off and look at the tree to see where you put it.

Play until all children have taken a turn. Remove the figures and play again if time permits.

Note: If a child misses the tree, gently guide them to stand in front of it and try again. 

That looked like fun. You did a good job helping Zacchaeus get up into the tree! Just like you helped him to get up the tree, we should always try to help others when we can!

Now, let’s watch the video to see why it was so important for Zacchaeus to climb the tree.   

Video Lesson

Play Video (Bible Story)

Jesus Calls Zacchaeus

Today, we will learn the importance of honesty. Honesty is being truthful in all you say and do.

Now it’s time to watch our Bible story about Zacchaeus. He was a tax collector who often cheated people and took more money from them than he should. But then Jesus came to his town, and something exciting happened. Let’s watch the video to see what happened!    

Teaching Time

Tell the Bible story slowly, using the bullets provided and the Bible Story tubes. Tubes are numbered 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5, and 6. 

As tubes are listed, place them in position on the table to illustrate the story. For example, set the crowd between Jesus and Zaccheus as Jesus walks by. Keep tubes not being used at one end of the table with the numbers toward you for easy identification. 

Move tubes in and out of the story as the teaching progresses. Bold words suggest actions to do with the tubes. For example, when Zacchaeus is happy, “jump” his tube up and down. When Jesus walks through town, tilt the tube back and forth. Add interest to the story by varying your facial expression, voice, and volume level.

Before class, practice telling the story using the tubes, so it flows smoothly.  

●      (Add 1A) There was a man named Zacchaeus who lived in Jericho. He was a tax collector who was very rich. Look at all of his money! Point to the money bags.

●      But Zacchaeus wasn’t honest. He became rich by cheating people when he took their tax money.  

●      (Add a 4) This made people angry. They did not like Zacchaeus because he was dishonest!  

●      (Add 3) One day, Jericho got exciting news: Jesus was walking through town! 

●      (Add a second 4). A crowd of people gathered; everyone wanted to see Jesus!

●      (Add 1B; remove 1A) Zacchaeus had heard of Jesus and decided to go see Him, too. But there was a problem: Zacchaeus was shorter than everyone else. He couldn’t see Jesus!

●      Zacchaeus tried standing on his tiptoes and jumping up to see over the crowd.

●      But nothing worked. This made him sad! Even worse, no one would help Zacchaeus!

●      (Add 2A; remove 1B) Suddenly, Zacchaeus smiled; he had an idea how to see Jesus!

●      (Add 5/6 NOT extended) Zacchaeus saw a sycamore tree nearby.  

●      Zacchaeus ran to the tree as fast as he could.

●      (Remove 2A; slowly raise Tube 5 as Zacchaeus climbs) Up, up, up he climbed until he could finally see Jesus over the crowd of people!

●      Jesus walked past the crowd and stopped right under the tree where Zacchaeus was sitting!  

●      Then Jesus looked up and saw Zacchaeus.

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

●      Zacchaeus couldn’t believe it! Jesus knew his name! And He wanted to come to his house!    

●      (Slowly lower Tube 5 as Zacchaeus descends) Zacchaeus climbed down as fast as he could!

●      (Add 2A beside Jesus; remove tree 5/6) Zacchaeus was full of joy; he had a new friend!  

●      Not everyone was happy. The crowd of people could not believe Jesus talked to Zacchaeus. They thought that Jesus didn’t know that Zacchaeus had cheated them! But Jesus knows everything! And Jesus reached out to be a friend to Zacchaeus even though Jesus knew he had sinned!  

●      (Remove all tubes except Jesus 3; add 2B) Jesus and Zacchaeus walked to his house.     

●      Zacchaeus said, “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 was a new man, an honest man who loved Jesus with all his heart! His sins were forgiven, and his life was changed forever! 

Zacchaeus was sorry for his sins, and Jesus forgave him. Zacchaeus learned that honesty was more important than money!

When we do things we shouldn’t, like disobeying, telling a lie, or being unkind, it’s called sin.

When we sin, we can go to Jesus and ask Him to forgive us. Jesus will forgive us just like He forgave Zacchaeus!

Object to GO!

Hold up the controller or image while leading a short discussion with the following comments and questions:

●      Raise your hand if you have ever seen or used something like this. Children respond.  

●      What is it used for? To play video games.    

●      What is your favorite video game to play? Children respond.     

●      In the video today, Rig gives the controller to someone else to take a turn. Can you guess if it is Miss Tina, Widget, Professor Quantum, Gears, or Gizmo? Children guess. 

●      Good guesses! Let’s watch the video to find out who played Rig’s game with him!       

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

Today we are going to visit Rig, who has a new video game about kittens. He is having a lot of fun, but let’s see if his friend is being honest about having fun too.

Play Video (Smitten for Kittens)

Smitten for Kittens

Optional discussion following the video. 

●      Let’s see who guessed correctly: who played Rig’s new game with him? Gizmo.

●      What was the video game about? Kittens.

●      Gizmo said he liked the video game, but was he being honest with Rig? No.  

●      Why did Gizmo pretend that he was having fun? He didn’t want to hurt Rig’s feelings.   

●      What could Gizmo have said to tell the truth in a nice way? “Rig, I like spending time with you, but I’m getting tired of playing this game. Can we do something else instead?”

●      What did Rig say when Gizmo said he was sorry for not being honest? He forgave Gizmo.

●      Rig had another game. What pet was in this game? Puppies.    

Verse to GO!

Colossians 3:9: (CEV)

Note: This verse has been divided into 3 parts. The first two parts were learned in Lessons 1 and 2. The last part is presented here.  

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

Raise your hand if you were here to learn the first parts of the memory verse. Can anyone say it? “Stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life.”

Let’s all say that together with our motions:

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

Lying to each other… Cover mouth with hands.

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 over to someone.

Today, we’re going to learn the last part of the verse:

…and its habits. Make fists and point both thumbs down toward the floor.   

What are habits? Children respond.

What are some good habits? Obeying, brushing your teeth, washing your hands.

What are some bad habits? Disobeying parents, lying, cheating, stealing.

To point thumbs down means NO to something you don’t like—like bad habits.

When we come to Jesus, we give Him our lives—everything about us—our good habits and our bad habits! And He comes into our hearts to wash us clean and give us His strength to obey Him!

Let’s put the whole verse together!

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

Lying to each other... Cover mouth with hands.

You have given up your old way of life… Put both arms out with palms up, then make fists.

And its habits. Point both thumbs down toward the floor.   

Repeat 2–3 times slowly until children can easily say the verse with the motions.

Very good, everyone! Let’s cheer and clap our hands for each other. Clap hands and cheer.

Note: some 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 always be honest and to come to Jesus for forgiveness when they make a mistake or are dishonest.   

For example: Dear Jesus, thank You for calling Zacchaeus’ name and being his friend. Thank You for knowing our names, too, and calling us to live for You! Help us to choose to be honest in all we say and do. In Your 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 “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, “Honest Prayer,” under Additional Resources.

Take-Home Coloring Page

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

●      Who is in the picture you are coloring? Zacchaeus and Jesus.

●      Where did Jesus go after Zacchaeus came down from the tree? To Zacchaeus’ house.

●      Zacchaeus was not honest when he collected taxes. What did he do with the money after he met Jesus? He gave it back to the people he had cheated!   

●      What did Jesus do for Zaccheus when he said he was sorry for being dishonest? He forgave him; Jesus saved him from his sins.

●      Who will forgive us for all our sins when we ask? Jesus.

●      Who can tell us what honesty means? To be truthful in all you say and do.

OPTIONAL TAKE-HOME TRADING CARD:

Optional: Hand out GizmoGO! CALL THE REPAIR BOTS HONESTY trading card, one per child. These are available for purchase under Products. (The other two cards in the set were to be handed out to the children in Lessons 1 and 2.)