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!