Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Welcome students as they arrive with their parents.
OPTIONAL: As they arrive, play the song “Honesty.”

Today's Bible story reinforces and expands on the previous lessons about Jesus and Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was a wealthy tax collector in Jericho who no one liked because of his dishonesty and greed. Jesus called out to Zacchaeus and his heart was forever changed. At Quantum Labs, Rig is sad because he has lost all of his followers for his workout show. Miss Tina has an idea of what Rig can do if he is willing to be honest and share his feelings. Children will learn about the importance of honesty--to be truthful in all you say and do! Today's focus is being honest with God about how you feel.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation except as noted.

Optional Opening Game

Give each child a Robot Game Card and 7-8 coins or buttons.

Raise your hand if you have played a game called Tic-Tac-Toe. Children respond.

Raise both hands if you have played a game called Bingo. Children respond.

This game is a little bit of both!

Hold up a Robot Game Card. On your card are four different robots. Each robot is on two squares. What is different about each robot? Each robot has a happy face and a sad face or expression.

Yes, we will talk about being happy and sad a little later.

In this game, I will pick a number card out of the bowl. I will then say the number, the name of the robot and if the robot is happy or sad. For example—number one, happy Gizmo. (point to this square on the card you are holding) or number seven, sad Gears (again, point to the square).

You can also look at the bottom of your game card to see the different robots and numbers to help you find the correct one. When you find it on your card, cover that square with a coin.

Point to the FREE square. This is a FREE square. Can you find it on your card? Children respond.

Now, place a coin on the FREE square to begin, to give you a head start! Assist children if necessary.

So, here is how we will play. Place a coin on a square when I call out a number and a robot.

Hold up the card and demonstrate the three different directions.

When you have a row of three coins up and down (vertically), sideways (horizontal), or top corner to bottom corner (diagonally) you will stand and shout “HONESTY.” Any questions?

Play until each child has completed three squares in a row.

Have children swap cards (with the same robots but in a different layout) and play additional rounds as time permits.

Conclusion: Today’s lesson is about honesty. What does honesty mean? To be truthful in all you say and do!

We all would like to be happy every day. But things can happen that cause you to feel sad. No matter how you feel, you must always be honest with God, and with family, friends and others you trust. God cares about you and wants you to come to Him no matter how you are feeling.

Video Lesson

Zacchaeus

In today’s video, Jonathan and David work together to save David’s life. Let’s watch the video to find out what happened.

Play Video (Bible story)

Bible Story

Teaching Time

Make one copy of each of the two Emoji Card Pages on cardstock in color and black and white.

Cut out the ten individual cards from the two pages.

Lay the cards face up in numerical order on the table.

Hold up the Emoji cards as indicated to discuss the Bible story.

Something big was about to happen in Jericho. Jesus was coming!

Hold up Card #9. The crowd was excited as they waited to see Him.

Jump up and down if you’ve felt excited while waiting for something. Children respond.

Let’s all try to make an excited face like this card I am holding. Make an excited face with the children.

There was a man named Zacchaeus who lived in Jericho. He was the chief tax collector. He became rich because he was not an honest man and took more money than he should for people’s taxes.

Hold up Card #8. This made the people angry.

Raise your hand if you have ever felt angry. Children respond.

Hold up Card #10. Because Zacchaeus wasn’t honest, no one liked him, so he must have felt lonely.

Raise your hand if you have ever felt lonely. Children respond.

Zacchaeus stood in the crowd and waited to see Jesus, but there was a problem. He couldn’t see Jesus over the crowd because he was so short! How do you think Zacchaeus felt now? Sad, disappointed.

Hold up Card #6. Yes, I think he must have felt disappointed and sad.

Raise your hand if you have ever felt disappointed or sad. Children respond.

What could he do? Suddenly Zacchaeus had an idea. He saw a tree that Jesus would walk beside. Zacchaeus ran to the tree and climbed it.

Hold up Card #5. This made Zacchaeus feel happy. Now he could see Jesus!

When Jesus was near the tree, He looked up and called to Zacchaeus. He said, “Zacchaeus, quick, come down! I must be a guest in your home today.”

Hold up Card #3. Zacchaeus was confused and surprised. He wondered how Jesus knew his name and why he stopped to talk to him.

Hold up Card #9. Zacchaeus was so excited! He climbed down from the tree as quickly as he could and took Jesus to his house. How do you think the crowd of people felt? Confused and angry.

Hold up Card #3 and Card #8. Yes, they wondered why Jesus talked to Zacchaeus and even worse, they wondered why Jesus went to his house because Zacchaeus was dishonest and cheated them!

Hold up Card #6 and Card #7. After meeting Jesus, Zacchaeus became an honest person. He felt ashamed and sad when he remembered how he had cheated the people.

Raise your hand if you have ever been ashamed or embarrassed. Children respond.

Hold up Card #4. After he met Jesus, Zacchaeus was so changed that he stood before the Lord and said, “I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have cheated people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!”

Jesus forgave Zacchaeus of his sins and told everyone that He came to the world to seek and save those who are lost! Jesus doesn’t want to punish us; He wants to forgive us!

Conclusion: Jesus saw Zacchaeus and knew His name. When no one else wanted to spend time with Zacchaeus, Jesus did. Even when we mess up and sin, Jesus will never leave us or stop loving us!

Hold up Card #9. That’s exciting! Let’s jump up and down and thank Jesus for His love and kindness! Jump up and down and thank Jesus.

Object to Go

Hold up the hoop or image. If you can, spin the hoop around an arm, leg, or waist for a moment.

Optional: Ask for volunteers to spin the hoop around their waist.

Lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:

● Stand up and spin around if you have ever used a hoop like this. Children respond.

● Do you think it is easy or hard to use it? Children answer.

● In the next video, Rig used a hoop or hoops during his workout. How many hoops do you think he spun at the same time; one, two, three or four? Children guess.

● Let’s watch the video to see how many hoops Rig used.

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

Play Video (Honest Prayer)

Honest Prayer

After the video, ask the following discussion questions:

● What was Rig’s show about? Exercising, working out, being healthy.

● Why was Rig sad? No one watched his show. He lost all his followers.

● What did Miss Tina tell Rig he should do? Pray to God and share how he felt.

● How did Rig feel after praying and sharing his feelings with God? Great!

● Can you name some friends that Rig prayed for? Miss Tina, Professor Quantum, Gears, Gizmo and Widget.

● Raise your hand if you have ever been honest with God and shared your feelings, good or bad, with Him. Children respond.

You may think it is best to try to hide something you’ve said or done from God, but He loves you and wants you to tell Him the truth; good or bad, big or small. What is important to us is also important to God. You can never hide anything from God; He hears and sees us at all times!

Optional Object Talk

At first, Rig didn’t want to talk to God about why he was so sad. He didn’t think it was a big enough deal for God to care about. This isn’t true; God cares about you and loves you. Whatever is important to you, is important to Him! After talking to Miss Tina, Rig decided to be honest with God and share why he was feeling sad.

Hold up Card #1. Have you ever been scared to tell God something because you thought He would be angry with you or not care? Have you ever tried to hide something you’ve done or said from Him?

It is impossible to hide anything from God. He knows everything about you, even your thoughts! But even though He already knows, He wants you to come and tell Him everything.

Hold up Card #1 and Card #2. He wants to know when you feel afraid, scared, anxious or worried.

Hold up Card #3. God wants to help you if you feel confused, frustrated or don’t even understand why you are feeling down or off.

Hold up Card #5 and Card #9. He wants you to tell Him when you are happy and excited.

Hold up Card #7. God wants you to talk to Him if you feel embarrassed or ashamed about something you did or said.

Hold up Card #6 and Card #8. God wants to listen when you are sad or feel angry.

Hold up Card #10. God wants to be your friend when you feel lonely.

Hold Card #4. God loves when you come to just say thanks for loving you and blessing you!

No matter how you feel or what is going on, God wants you to be honest with Him!

Verse to GO!

Proverbs 12:22 (NLT)

Today’s Bible memory verse is Proverbs 12:22. Say the memory verse slowly.

”The LORD detests lying lips, but He delights in those who tell the truth.”

The word detest means to hate or dislike something very, very much.

When you delight in something it means that it brings you happiness and joy.

Let’s learn this verse together with some actions.

Stand facing the children and lead them to repeat phrases and imitate the motions.

The Lord…. point to sky.

Detests lying lips…. shake head no, point both index fingers to lips.

But He delights … make a big smile and applaud.

In those who tell the truth…. Place hand over heart and nod head yes.

Repeat slowly a few more times.

God hates lies. But it brings Him happiness and joy when we are honest and truthful in all we say and do. Raise your hand if you want to delight God every day! Raise your hand with children.

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 be honest with God in prayer.

For example: Dear God, thank You for always hearing my prayers. Help me to always be honest with You and share what I am feeling and thinking, no matter how big or small it is. 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.

Play the video song “No More Lies” to 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.

No More Lies

Singing Activity

Singing Activity

Optional: Invite someone to play the guitar or piano and lead the children in singing and doing motions to the song “Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man.” (A good key for children’s voices on this song is G.)
Lead the children in singing the song “Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man.” Additional instructions are located in the previous lesson.

Take-Home Coloring Page

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

● What is Rig doing in this picture? Praying to God.

● How was Rig feeling? Sad.

● Who did he share his feelings with before he prayed? Miss Tina.

● Why hadn’t Rig prayed about his show before? He thought God didn’t care about it because it wasn’t a big deal.

God cares about you, so He also cares about everything in your life, no matter how big or how small it is. You can be honest with God and talk to Him about your feelings. He always hears your prayers and is ready to help.

Game

Game

Play the Optional Opening Game “Tic-Tac-Truth” at the beginning of this lesson.

Play the game “Coin Toss” from Lesson 1. 

Play the game “Up in the Air?” from Lesson 2. 

Play the game “A TREEmendous View” from Lesson 3. 

Play the game “Is it True? from Lesson 4.