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Workshops:

  • Art: they will begin to see that Jesus knows everything about us, even our names! The children will create a "critter" with the shape of their name to remind them that God knows everything about them.
  • Games/Cooking: They will explore how God's love can "stick" to us only if we invite Jesus into our lives through a simple object lesson with cookies. in  They will also review the story of Zacchaeus while playing a modified version of the game Concentration.
  • Movie: The children will watch the video Treasures in Heaven and will discuss how we are called to show our love for Jesus by repenting and sharing treasures.
  • Storytelling/Puppets: The children will reenact the story with puppets and have a chance to ask Zacchaeus questions — in person.
  • Extra - Parents' Take-home Flyer



Zacchaeus

Background Notes

Scripture Reference:

Luke 19: 1-10

Take some time to prayerfully read and consider the scripture for this lesson. If you have time, read some of the chapters in Luke before and after this story to give yourself a feel for where this story fits into Jesus' journey to Jerusalem and the cross.

Zacchaeus is an outsider. He is kept away from Jesus not only by his height and the crowds, but by religious ostracism. He is not just an ordinary Publican (tax collector), but he is chief tax collector. As a tax collector, he is a Jew working for the Roman authorities, collecting taxes that support a "foreign" government — and their pagan gods. Also, tax collectors are not known for their honesty. They cheat their fellow Jews by taking too much money and keeping some for themselves.

This meeting with Zacchaeus is not a detour on Jesus' trip to Jerusalem. It is the purpose of his journey ("For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what is lost." Luke 19:10). In spite of the fact that Zacchaeus is unlovable in society's view, Jesus reaches out to him in love.

Zacchaeus responds to Jesus' love with a change of heart and changes his ways. He repents. Note that he does not buy forgiveness, but pays back more than he owes and more than the law requires as a response to Jesus' love. ("Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." [Luke 19:8b] The law requires him to pay back only an additional 20% as restitution for stealing: Leviticus 6:1-5.) Repentance bears fruit.

Luke tells of two other encounters Jesus has with tax collectors: Luke 5: 27-32 (the calling of Levi the tax collector) and Luke 15:1-2 (more complaints about with whom he spends his time, which prompts the telling of the three parables of lost and found).

The reference to descendants of Abraham in Luke 19: 9 reflects what John the Baptist said in Luke 3: 8 ("Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham."). John's statement was shocking: his listeners thought that being a descendent of Abraham was good enough for God, that faith was inherited. But Jesus reinforces the idea that even people from the "right family" can be lost.

As you reflect on this scripture, consider: Who are the people that we shun today? What groups are ostracized for their political views, their profession, their immoral behavior, their position in society? Would Jesus tell them, "I must stay at your house today"? Do you give in to social pressure and avoid these people, or do you reach out with the Good News?


Sources:

  • Craddock, Fred B. Interpretation: Luke. Louisville: John Knox Press, 1990.
  • Miller, Donald G. The Layman's Bible Commentary: Luke. Atlanta: John Knox Press, 1982.
  • Life Application Study Bible notes. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1986.

Books for sharing during Shepherd Time:
Look for collections of stories about Jesus that contain the Zacchaeus story.

Play a rhythm name game as an ice-breaker and to help the children get to know each other during "Buckets of Fun" time. Establish a rhythm in which you slap your right knee and then your left knee on the beat, clap twice and then snap your fingers on the right hand and then the left hand. After this rhythm has been established, begin the game by saying your name and then the name of another person in the circle. The names are said at the finger snaps. The right snap is your name and the left snap is another's name. When someone's name is said, on the next round of the rhythm, he or she must repeat his name and say the name of another person on the snaps. Increase speed as desired.




A lesson set from River Community Church (PCUSA)

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Last edited by Luanne Payne
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Zacchaeus

Parents' Take-home Flyer

Scripture Reference:

Luke 19: 1-10

Zacchaeus, the "wee little man in the sycamore tree," may have been short of stature, but he held an important government position in his time — tax collector (or publican). Then, even more than now, tax collectors were not popular.

Hence, Zacchaeus was an outsider. He was kept away from Jesus not only by his height and the big crowds, but also by religious ostracism. As a tax collector, he was a Jew working for the Roman authorities, collecting taxes that support a "foreign" government — and their pagan gods. Also, tax collectors were not known for their honesty. They cheated their fellow Jews by taking too much money and keeping some for themselves.

This meeting with Zacchaeus was not a detour on Jesus' trip to Jerusalem. It was the purpose of his journey ("For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what is lost." Luke 19:10). In spite of the fact that Zacchaeus was unlovable in society's view, Jesus reached out to him in love.

Zacchaeus responded to Jesus' love with a change of heart and changes his ways. He repents. Note that he does not buy forgiveness, but pays back more than he owes and more than the law requires as a response to Jesus' love.

Our memory verse for this Rotation is "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10 (NIV)

What we will learn:
At the end of the rotation, the students will

  • Be able to identify Luke as one of the four Gospels.
  • Be able to locate and read the text.
  • Know that Jesus came to save the lost.
  • Begin to understand that Jesus loves us no matter what mistakes we have made.
  • Begin to understand that our love for Jesus causes us to make changes in our lives.
  • Repeat the memory verse.

Workshops:

  • The children will watch the video Treasures in Heaven and will discuss how we are called to show our love for Jesus by repenting and sharing treasures in Movie Time.
  • They will explore how God's love can "stick" to us only if we invite Jesus into our lives in Games and Cooking. They will also review the story of Zacchaeus while playing the game Concentration.
  • The children will reenact the story with puppets and have a chance to ask Zacchaeus questions — in person — in Storytelling, Puppets, and Drama.
  • In Art they will begin to see that Jesus knows everything about us, even our names!


Family Time and Prayer:
Read: Luke 19: 1-10

Reflection: Have you ever seen a grown man climb a tree? Think about an important man or woman you know, someone who has an important position in the community. Can you imagine him or her dressed in his finest clothes, climbing a tree to get a better view of someone? Talk about something you really wanted to see and what you had to do to see it. Zacchaeus REALLY wanted to see Jesus. Why do you think Zacchaeus was so anxious to see Jesus?

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for coming to us and for wanting to be with us. Help us to want to be with you, to see you, more than anything else. Help us to live lives that show our love for you. Amen.

Offering: Your offering will go to the Heifer Project International in order to buy farm animals for families in poor areas of the world.

Thank you to our Zacchaeus Rotation Team:
Movie Time:
Cooking/Games:
Puppets:
Art:
Shepherds:
Music Leader:
Curriculum writers: Jamie Senyard and Amy Crane
Sunday School Coordinator:


Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.


 

This lesson was written by Amy Crane (amycrane@hotmail.com) for River Community Church

Prairieville, Louisiana. 

 

Copyright 2003 Amy Crane. Permission granted to freely distribute and use, provided the copyright message is included.

 

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

 

Last edited by Rotation.org Lesson Forma-teer

Zacchaeus

Art Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

The children will create a "critter" with the shape of their name to remind them that God knows everything about them.

Scripture Reference:

Luke 19: 1-10

Memory Verse:

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10 (NIV)

Lesson Objectives for rotation
At the end of the rotation, the students will

  • Be able to identify Luke as one of the four Gospels.
  • Be able to locate and read the text.
  • Begin to understand that Jesus loves us no matter what mistakes we have made.
  • Begin to understand that our love for Jesus causes us to make changes in our lives.
  • Repeat the memory verse.
  • Begin to see that Jesus knows our names and everything else about us.

Teacher preparation in advance:

  • Read the scripture passages and lesson plan and attend the Bible Study. It will be very important for you to attend this study led by ___. Please RSVP to ___.
  • Prepare a closing prayer.
  • Learn the memory verse.
  • To our teachers at RCC: The design of this workshop is very intentional. The activities and discussion questions for this workshop were designed to meet the goals of the entire rotation and the educational objectives of the Rotation Model (tm) at River Community Church. While we feel it is important to follow the serendipitous leading of the Holy Spirit, please do not change the lesson plan without consulting a Curriculum Planning and Writing Team member.
  • Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located. This will be our first month in the new church building. We will discuss the set-up process and the new morning schedule at the Bible Study.
  • The bin with "normal" supplies is located in the Children's Ministry Office. Request additional supplies from ___ by ___.
  • Make the memory verse posters for the Memory Verse Review: Write or use the computer to print out each word of the memory verse on individual pieces of paper so that each one is large enough for everyone to read.


Room set-up: The room should be set-up with tables and chairs. Hang the Memory Verse words in order on the wall with masking tape or on a clothesline.

Supply List:

  • Bibles,
  • white construction paper,
  • pencils, markers, crayons,
  • scissors;
  • memory verse words (see Teacher Preparation)
  • masking tape.

Optional: baby name/meaning book (borrowed from the public library).



Presentation

Opening - Welcome and Introductions:
Greet the children and introduce yourself. Wear your name-tag. Make sure the children are wearing name-tags. If not, ask the shepherd to supply a temporary badge. Remember you are interacting with a different group of students each week who may not know you.

We had an opening prayer during the gathering time, but you may open with prayer if you feel led to do so.

Explain the purpose of this workshop. Use kid friendly words to give a brief overview of what the children are going to learn and do.

Scripture/Bible Story:
Read the scripture: Luke 19:1-10. (Encourage the children to use their Bibles in looking up verses. If it is the second, third, or fourth Sunday of the rotation ask the children if they remember where the story of Zacchaeus is found in the Bible. While they are opening their Bibles, review the names of the first four books of the New Testament and that they are the Gospel — the Good News about Jesus. Ask for volunteers to read a paragraph at a time.)

"Does the story tell us that someone introduced Jesus to Zacchaeus?" [no]
"I wonder how Jesus knew Zacchaeus' name? I wonder how Zacchaeus felt when he realized Jesus knew his name?"
"Today our art project has to do with our names."

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

Application:
1)Give each child a piece of white construction paper that has been folded in half length-wise.

2)Instruct them to write or print their name along the fold (omitting the parts of any letter that normally go below the line).

3)Encourage them to write the letters as large as possible and still be able to get all the letters on the paper.

4)With paper still folded have them cut their name following the shape of the top of the letters.

5) Next, have them unfold the paper and use markers, crayons, or colored pencils to create a "critter" that fits the shape of their name.

As they are working, get to know the children. Talk about what their names mean and why their parent chose the name they did. Ask about their critters: is it a real or imaginary animal? Do the critters reflect them or their personalities or their favorite things in some way?

Pulling it all together (closing discussion):

  • If Jesus knew Zacchaeus' name, do you think he also knew how Zacchaeus taking money from people?
  • Do you think God knows your name?
  • What else does God know about you?
  • Does God like everything about you?

Have each child share their "critter" with the class. Tell them to take it home and display it somewhere they can see it often. When they see it they can be reminded that God knows everything about them and loves them very much no matter what mistakes they have made.

Review the memory verse: in unison, read the verse (including the citation) that is on the wall. After a few readings, take one of the words down, and have everyone read again in unison, saying the missing word. Take down another word and say the whole thing in unison again. Keep taking down one word at a time and saying the entire verse in unison until there are no more words on the wall and they know the verse by heart. (Take down "and" and "the" the first two rounds.)
If time permits, ask volunteers to say the entire verse from memory.

At 11:50 a.m. ask the Shepherds to pass out the journals and pencils/markers. Suggestion: You may wish to give the children a sticker or some memento to paste in their journal as a reminder of the story or activity.


Shepherd Time:
Prompts for journal writing: God knows everything about you, the good things and the not-so-good things, and He still loves you. Write a sentence or draw a picture of how you feel about this.
Or encourage the children to write their names in "fancy" writing — lots of curls, doodles, etc.
Or write out the memory verse.

You may want to provide an extra activity or worksheet for children who finish their journals quickly, such as crossword puzzles, word search, games. See the Teacher's Background Notes or http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/ and rotation.org for ideas.

At noon, ask the students to close their journals and sit quietly for prayer.

Closing:
Pray for each child individually by name, thanking God for one quality for each child. If time permits, you may want to ask each child for one word that describes himself or herself and use that in your prayer. (That is, "Dear God, thank you for knowing each one for us by name and for loving each one of us, even though we are all different. Thank you for loving Sophie the ballerina, cheerful Rachel, generous Mallory, Jordy the drummer.....Amen.")

Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help tidy up. Give any specific instructions for clearing the workshop room.
Give everyone the parent take-home flyer the first week of the rotation; give it only to children who were absent and have not yet received it the other weeks of the rotation.

Additional Suggestions:
You will need to decide how best to adjust the lesson for older and younger students. Keep the children active and involved in activity. Do what works for you and the children. Some ideas:

Older Children: If they finish the name critter project quickly, they can write name poems. Have the child write her or his name down the side a piece of paper, one letter on each line. Have them decorate the letters of their name and write descriptive words which tell something about them for each letter in their name. (You may want to have a dictionary handy for difficult letters.) For example,
Ambitious
Memorable
Yuletide lover

Younger Children may need help printing their names large enough and cutting them out.


Resources

  • Family Fun Magazine (for a similar idea check out http://www.scholastic.com/teac...me-bug-craft-project)
  • Dixon, Michael E., editor. No Matter What: Outdoor Ministry Resources for 2001. Christian Board of Publication and The United Methodist Publishing House on behalf of the Cooperative Publication Association, 2001.
  • Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.



This lesson was written by Jamie Senyard for River Community Church
Prairieville, Louisiana.

Copyright 2003 Jamie Senyard. Permission granted to freely distribute and use, provided the copyright message is included.

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Last edited by Luanne Payne

Zacchaeus

Games/Cooking Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

The children will learn about the importance of believing that God loves them through a simple object lesson with cookies. They will also review the story of Zacchaeus with a modified version of the game Concentration.

Scripture Reference:

Luke 19: 1-10

Memory Verse:

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10

Lesson Objectives for rotation:
At the end of the rotation, the students will

  • Be able to identify Luke as one of the four Gospels.
  • Be able to locate and read the text.
  • Begin to understand that Jesus loves us no matter what mistakes we have made.
  • Begin to understand that our love for Jesus causes us to make changes in our lives .
  • Repeat the memory verse.
  • understand that God's love is always there for us, all we have to do is accept Jesus and receive His love.

Teacher preparation in advance:

  • Read the scripture passages and lesson plan and attend the Bible Study, __. It will be very important for you to attend this study.
  • Learn the memory verse.
  • Prepare a closing prayer.
  • Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located. This will be our first month in the new church building. We will discuss the set-up process and the new morning schedule at the Bible Study.
  • Make index cards for the Concentration memory game: write the words to the Bible memory verse on index cards (one word or phrase per card). Make two matching sets of cards. Mix up the cards and number the backs of the cards from 1 to ???? (however many there are).

Room set-up:
Tables covered with plastic table cloths will be needed for the cookie activity.

Supply List:

  • Plastic table cloths,
  • wet wipes,
  • sugar cookies or gingerbread cookies cut in the shape of a person,
  • icing,
  • sprinkles (heart shaped if possible),
  • plastic knives,
  • paper plates,
  • paper towels or napkins,
  • baggies,
  • permanent marker,
  • index cards,
  • Bibles.


Presentation

Opening - Welcome and Introductions:
Greet the children and introduce yourself. Wear your name-tag. Make sure the children are wearing name-tags. If not, ask the shepherd to supply a temporary badge. Remember you are interacting with a different group of students each week who may not know you.

We had an opening prayer during the gathering time, but you may open with prayer if you feel led to do so.

Explain the purpose of this workshop. Use kid friendly words to give a brief overview of what the children are going to learn and do.

Scripture/Bible Story:
Read the scripture: Luke 19:1-10. (Encourage the children to use their Bibles in looking up verses. While they are opening their Bibles, review the names of the first four books of the New Testament and that they are the Gospel—the Good News about Jesus. Ask for volunteers to read a paragraph at a time.)

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

Application:
What facts about Zacchaeus are in the passage we just read? [chief tax collector in Jericho, rich, short, sinner]

Do you know anything about tax collectors during the time Jesus lived on earth? [If this is the first week of the rotation, they may not be aware how unpopular tax collectors were at this time. Make sure they know what a Publican is. (See Teacher Background Notes.)]

The Bible doesn't tell us anything about Zacchaeus before this meeting with Jesus. Do you think God was watching over Zacchaeus and loving him before Jesus saw him in the tree?
I wonder what things God might have done to show Zacchaeus that God loved him?
I wonder why Zacchaeus saw God's love this time?

"We are going to do an activity to illustrate how God made a difference in Zacchaeus' life."
[Have the children move to tables and clean their hands. Each child should have a cookie (preferably cut in the shape of a person) in front of them.]

"The cookie represents Zacchaeus." [Give each child a few heart shaped sprinkles.] "These sprinkles represent things God did before Zacchaeus met Jesus to show Zacchaeus that God loved him. What are some of those things?" [Review earlier answers.]

"Put the sprinkles on the cookies."
"What is the problem?" [The sprinkles won't stick to the cookie.]

Explain that the sprinkles represent God's love for Zacchaeus before met Jesus. All the loving things God "sprinkled" on Zacchaeus fell off because Zacchaeus didn't believe God.
"What does the cookie need to make the sprinkles stick?" [Frosting. Give the children the frosting on a paper plate and let them spread it on the cookie. Then try adding the sprinkles again. They stay on the cookie this time.

"What did Zacchaeus need for God's love to "stick" to him?" [He needed to believe that God loved him no matter what he had done.]

Repeat the activity with a second cookie but this cookie is the child. Again, discuss how God loves us, even before we invite Him into our homes and hearts.
Let the children eat one cookie! While the children are eating, talk about how they can take the other cookie and give it to a friend or family member and tell them about Zacchaeus, and how we, like Zacchaeus need to accept God's love that he pours on us and it will stick. [Put one of each child's cookies in a baggie with their name on it in permanent marker.]

Tell the children that they are going to play a game to see how well they remember the story.
This is a game of Concentration. Divide the class into two teams and appoint a spokesperson for each team.
Mix up the Concentration cards and place them word side down in an organized pattern on a table. Determine which team will go first by some fair method. Allow the children to use their Bibles to look up answers. Ask the first team a question. The team must agree on an answer and have the spokesperson give the answer to the teacher. If a team answers correctly, a member of the team may turn over two cards to check for a match. If the words match, then take the cards off the board. (Make sure the team members take turns turning the cards over.)
Suggested Questions: (Some of these review information from the other two workshop rotations we have done recently and general Bible knowledge. If you print these questions on cards you can shuffle them and ask them again if necessary. Or make up more questions.)

  • What city was Jesus passing through?
  • What was the name of the tax collector that lived in Jericho?
  • Why couldn't Zacchaeus see Jesus?
  • What did Zacchaeus do so he could see Jesus?
  • What did people say about Jesus when he went to eat with Zacchaeus?
  • How did Jesus change Zacchaeus' life?
  • What is the name of book of the Bible where the story of Zacchaeus is told?
  • In which chapter of the book of Luke is the story of Zacchaeus told?
  • In Luke 19:10 Jesus says "The Son of Man came to _____ and to _____ what was _____."
  • Name the first four books of the New Testament. (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)
  • What do we call the first four books of the New Testament? (The Gospels)
  • What does "gospel" mean?
  • What is the name of the first book of the Bible?
  • What is the name of the last book of the Bible?
  • Recite John 3:16.
  • What book of the Bible has the story of the Holy Spirit coming to Jesus' disciples after Jesus went back to Heaven?
  • Find Acts 1:8 and read it aloud.
  • Name the two parts of the Bible.
  • What does the first verse of the Bible say?
  • What does the last verse of the Bible say?

Alternate Game: Inside/Outside (adapted from No Matter What)
Remind the children that Zacchaeus was thought of as an "outsider" by other people because he was a tax collector. His height could have kept him on the outside of the crowd waiting for Jesus, but he chose to work at getting to see Jesus by climbing the tree. Challenge the children to think of C but not name aloud C people who are considered "outsiders" today (the homeless, poor, kids who dress differently, etc.).

Have the children form a tight circle, linking elbows. Ask a volunteer to name an outsider today and then to step out of the circle and turn his or her back on the others. Instruct the others to keep the outsider out of the circle, no matter what he or she does. Quietly select another child to be Jesus — the one ready to let in the outsider. Instruct "Jesus" to break the link in the circle and let in the outsider, just as soon as the outsider makes an attempt at that spot in the circle. Instruct the outsider to try to get into the circle, with the assurance that when they find Jesus, they=ll find their way in.

Repeat the game as many times as possible, each time identifying persons considered as outsiders today. Select a different player to be Jesus each time. Afterward, ask those who played outsiders how it felt being kept out of the group and how it felt when Jesus let them in. Ask those who played Jesus how it felt to let the outsiders in. Ask how it felt to keep others on the outside.

Pulling it all together (closing discussion):

  • I wonder why Jesus picked Zacchaeus to go to his house and eat with?
  • I wonder how God might have shown Zacchaeus that he loved him before Jesus came to Jericho?
  • How does God show He loves you?

Review the memory verse.
Using the cards from the concentration game, give each team a set of the cards, but take one word card out of each set. Tell the children to put the cards in the correct order and find out which word in missing. If time allows, repeat this activity several times, taking out a different word each time.

At 11:50 a.m. ask the Shepherds to pass out the journals and pencils/markers. Suggestion: You may wish to give the children a sticker or some memento to paste in their journal as a reminder of the story or activity.

Shepherd Time:
What are some ways that God shows you that he loves you? Write a prayer thanking God for the ways he shows his love for you or draw a picture of something that shows God's love for you.

You may want to provide an extra activity or worksheet for children who finish their journals quickly, such as crossword puzzles, word search, games. See the Teacher's Background Notes or http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/ and rotation.org for ideas.

At noon, ask the students to close their journals and sit quietly for prayer.

Closing:
Prayer: Ask if anyone wants to share their prayer from journaling time. Otherwise, lead a prayer thanking God for the ways he shows his love.

Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help tidy up. Give any specific instructions for clearing the workshop room.
Give everyone the parent take-home flyer the first week of the rotation; give it only to children who were absent and have not yet received it the other weeks of the rotation. Remind the children to take their cookie and share it and the story with someone.

Additional Suggestions:
You will need to decide how best to adjust the lesson for older and younger students. Keep the children active and involved in activity. Do what works for you and the children. Some ideas:

Younger Children:

  • For the Concentration cards: Use a different color ink for each word or phrase to help the K-1 grade match the words. For younger children you may choose to use pictures of things from the story on the cards rather than words (tree, road, little man, Jesus, coins, bread, sandals, eye, etc.).
  • The younger children may need help looking up answers in the Bible. Help them and also adapt the questions as necessary.

Resources:

  • Carver, Karen. Cooking workshop suggestion at rotation.org: https://www.rotation.org/topic...n-lesson-set-outline
  • Dixon, Michael E., editor. No Matter What: Outdoor Ministry Resources for 2001. Christian Board of Publication and The United Methodist Publishing House on behalf of the Cooperative Publication Association, 2001.
  • The concentration game idea came from http://www.fishersofkids.com/game_1.htm
  • Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
  • NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of International Bible Society.

This lesson was written by Jamie Senyard for River Community Church in Prairieville, Louisiana.

Copyright 2003 Jamie Senyard. Permission granted to freely distribute and use, provided the copyright message is included.

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Last edited by Luanne Payne

Zacchaeus

Movie Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:

The Students will watch the video Treasures in Heaven and will discuss how we are called to show our love for Jesus by repenting and sharing treasures.

Scripture Reference:

Luke 19: 1-10

Memory Verse:

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10

Lesson Objectives for rotation
At the end of the rotation, the students will

  • Be able to identify Luke as one of the four Gospels.
  • Be able to locate and read the text.
  • Know that Jesus came to save the lost.
  • Begin to understand that Jesus loves us no matter what mistakes we have made.
  • Begin to understand that our love for Jesus causes us to make changes in our lives .
  • Repeat the memory verse.
  • think about how they can act differently as a result of Jesus' love in their lives.

Teacher preparation in advance:

  • Read the scripture passages and lesson plan and attend the Bible Study.
  • Learn the memory verse.
  • Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located. This will be our first month in the new church building. We will discuss the set-up process and the new morning schedule at the Bible Study.
  • The bin with "normal" supplies is located in the Children's Ministry Office. Purchase or request additional supplies from Heather __.
  • Read also Luke 18:15 - 19:44 for the full sequence of Scripture included in the video.
  • Preview the video. Be familiar with the places where the video should be stopped for discussion. (Neil MacQueen's "Two Most Important SHOWING TIPS: 1.) Use the PAUSE button. It's your most powerful ‘video' teaching tool. 2.) Don't be afraid to view an important scene a second time. Kids (and adults) watch movies over and over all the time.")

Room set-up:
Students will sit in seats or on the floor facing the video/projection screen.

Supply List:

  • Popcorn, lemonade or water and cups, wet wipes, vcr setup, Bibles, shiny treasure or star stickers.
  • Video: Treasures in Heaven, Animated Stories from the New Testament, 1991, ISBN #1-56489-010-4. (Available through Nest Video: https://nestlearning.com/produ...vd?affiliateid=10057) About 25 minutes long.


Presentation

Opening - Welcome and Introductions:
Greet the children and introduce yourself. Wear your name-tag. Make sure the children are wearing name-tags. If not, ask the Shepherd to supply a temporary badge. Remember you are interacting with a different group of students each week who may not know you.

We had an opening prayer during the Gathering Time, but you may open with prayer if you feel led to do so.

Explain the purpose of this workshop. Use kid friendly words to give a brief overview of what the children are going to learn and do.

Scripture/Bible Story:
Luke 19:1-10. Read the scripture. (Encourage the children to use their Bibles in looking up verses. While they are opening their Bibles, review the names of the first four books of the New Testament and that they are the Gospel — the Good News about Jesus. Ask for volunteers to read a paragraph at a time.)

"We will be looking at the story of Zacchaeus today by watching a video. This video includes the scripture we just read, and also refers to some other Bible stories with which you may be familiar. All of the stories you see are in the book of Luke. We don't know if Zacchaeus knew all these people that Jesus met on his way through Jericho to Jerusalem, but he might have. We also don't know if Zacchaeus had a wife and son as the movie shows, but he might have."

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

Application:
Before beginning the video, make sure everyone knows what a Publican is. [See the Background Notes.]

Tell the children: While you're watching the video,

  • notice how different people react when they hear that Jesus is coming.
  • notice how alone and lonely Zacchaeus is.
  • the video changes the story. The passage we read in the Bible says that Jesus stopped under the tree and spoke to Zacchaeus. Jesus knew Zacchaeus was there and Jesus just knew his name. The video shows it a little differently.

Pass out wipes, popcorn and drinks. Start the video. (Don't dim the lights too much as you will be stopping frequently for brief discussion.)

STOP the video after the Rich Young Man says, "You're a disgrace to our people."

  • I wonder why the Rich Young Man said that to Zacchaeus?

STOP the video after Blind Bartimaeus says "He can change lives, Zacchaeus."

  • I wonder why Blind Bartimaeus says this?
  • Do you think he believes this? I wonder why he believes before he even meets Jesus?

Watch the video to the end.

"What does ‘repentance' mean? Did Zacchaeus repent?" [to experience sorrow for and to seek to change wrong behavior]

"Any additional questions or comments about the video?"

Pulling it all together (closing discussion): (these questions are adapted from Young Children and Worship)

  • I wonder if it was hard for Zacchaeus to give back what didn't belong to him?
  • I wonder how he felt when he gave half of his possessions to the poor?
  • I wonder how the poor felt? (Remember, the video we saw shows one person's interpretation of the story and its affects.)
  • I wonder if people were friends with Zacchaeus after he repented?
  • I wonder how Zacchaeus felt when he was right with God and right with people?
  • I wonder what Jesus meant when he said he came to find the lost?

Review the memory verse. Teach the children the verse using American Sign language (see attached instructions).

At 11:50 a.m. ask the Shepherds to pass out the journals and pencils/markers. Suggestion: You may wish to give the children a sticker or some memento to paste in their journal as a reminder of the story or activity. Perhaps sparkly, shiny treasure stickers if you can find them. Or shiny star stickers.

Shepherd Time:

  • Do you think money was as important to Zacchaeus after he met Jesus? What is important to him now?
  • What do you value? What is your treasure?
  • How will you use your treasure? Write a few sentences or draw a picture showing how you can use your "treasure" for Jesus.

You may want to provide an extra activity or worksheet for children who finish their journals quickly, such as crossword puzzles, word search, games. See the Teacher's Background Notes or http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/ and rotation.org for ideas.

At noon, ask the students to close their journals and sit quietly for prayer.

Closing:
Dear God, thank you for loving each one of us, no matter what we do. Help us to love and accept each other, and to reach out in love and understanding and generosity, no matter what. Amen.

Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help tidy up. Give any specific instructions for clearing the workshop room.
Give everyone the parent take-home flyer the first week of the rotation; give it only to children who were absent and have not yet received it the other weeks of the rotation.

Additional Suggestions:
You will need to decide how best to adjust the lesson for older and younger students. Keep the children active and involved in activity. Do what works for you and the children.


Resources

  • American Sign Language Browser: http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm
  • MacQueen, Neil. "A Manual for the Video ~ A-V".
  • Riekehof, Lottie. Talk to the Deaf. Springfield, Missouri: Gospel Publishing House, 1963.
  • Stewart, Sonja M. and Jerome W. Berryman. Young Children and Worship. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1989. (Reflection questions.)
  • Life Application Study Bible notes, Tyndale House Publishers, 1986.
  • Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Memory Verse Sign Language

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10

SON: combines the signs for MALE (right hand grabs brim of hat) and BABY (place right hand in crook of left arm as if rocking a baby)

MAN: combines signs for MALE (right hand grabs brim of hat) and FINE (thumb of right hand at chest, palm facing left, and move the hand slightly up and forward).

CAME: (COME) index fingers rotate around each other and move toward the body, palms toward self.

SEEK: The C handshape (with the palm facing left) is circled around the face as it moves from right to left.

SAVE: Cross the wrists as if the fists were bound and then pull them apart (palm forward, still fists) to show that a person has broken free from being tied up.

LOST: The right hand V handshape represents a person. Hold it at shoulder height and move it to the left palm (represents a person falling flat on his or her face (losing)).

You can see the signs at the American Sign Language Browser: http://commtechlab.msu.edu/sites/aslweb/browser.htm




This lesson was written by Amy Crane (amycrane@hotmail.com) for River Community Church
Prairieville, Louisiana.

Copyright 2003 Amy Crane. Permission granted to freely distribute and use, provided the copyright message is included.

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Last edited by Luanne Payne

Zacchaeus

Storytelling/Puppet Workshop

Summary of Lesson Activities:
After a visit from Zacchaeus, the children will retell his story using puppets and will explore what it means to be a friend to someone whom society has called an outcast.

Scripture Reference:

Luke 19: 1-10

Memory Verse:

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." Luke 19:10

Lesson Objectives for rotation
At the end of the rotation, the students will

  • Be able to identify Luke as one of the four Gospels.
  • Be able to locate and read the text.
  • Know that Jesus came to save the lost.
  • Begin to understand that Jesus loves us no matter what mistakes we have made.
  • Begin to understand that our love for Jesus causes us to make changes in our lives .
  • Repeat the memory verse.
  • see everyone as a potential friend, even the outcasts.

Teacher preparation in advance:

  • Read the scripture passages and lesson plan and attend the Bible Study.
  • Learn the memory verse.
  • Check out the room before your first Sunday workshop so that you know where everything is located. This will be our first month in the new church building. We will discuss the set-up process and the new morning schedule at the Bible Study.
  • The bin with "normal" supplies is located in the Children's Ministry Office. Request additional supplies from __.
  • Recruit someone to visit the class as Zacchaeus. The volunteer who has agreed to be Zacchaeus must know the information in the script and have learned the memory verse. Make sure he knows to cover the information in the script, as it is the basis for the lesson that follows. (Give him copies of the appropriate pages in Surprising Stories from People Jesus Met.)

Room set-up:
This is a crowd-filled puppet show, so use a large puppet stage that a number of children can sit behind or cover an eight-foot table with a tablecloth and use that.

Supply List:

  • Bible time puppets;
  • puppet stage or a large table with a tablecloth;
  • a puppet-sized tree that can be attached to the stage or stand on the puppet table (it can be made out of posterboard or something sturdier);
  • leaves, sticker leaves, or some other memento for the journal page.
  • An adult or youth volunteer dressed in Bible times clothes prepared to be Zacchaeus (see script and costume suggestions in Surprising Stories from People Jesus Met - see note in below post regarding this book link).


Presentation

Opening - Welcome and Introductions:
Greet the children and introduce yourself. Wear your name-tag. Make sure the children are wearing name-tags. If not, ask the shepherd to supply a temporary badge. Remember you are interacting with a different group of students each week who may not know you.

We had an opening prayer during the gathering time, but you may open with prayer if you feel led to do so.

Explain the purpose of this workshop. Use kid friendly words to give a brief overview of what the children are going to learn and do.

Scripture/Bible Story:
Read the scripture: Luke 19:1-10. (Encourage the children to use their Bibles in looking up verses and volunteer to read out loud.)

[Introduction adapted from Surprising Stories from People Jesus Met.] "I am sure everyone here has known some mean people. What do you think makes a person mean? What actions tell you that someone is mean? Who do you think is the meanest person on television or in a book or movie? That's a lot of mean people!"

"We are going to have an important visitor today. At one time, if you went to Jericho and asked the people there who was the meanest person in town, our visitor is the person they would have chosen. But some things have changed after he met Jesus. Let's let Zacchaeus tell us his story. Welcome Zacchaeus!"

[Zacchaeus delivers his monolog as outlined in Surprising Stories from People Jesus Met.]

  • "Does anyone have any questions for or about Zacchaeus?"
  • "Thank you, Zacchaeus, for visiting with us today." [He leaves.]
  • "Why do you think people disliked Zacchaeus?"
  • "Why do you think it was so important to Zacchaeus that he see Jesus — so important to see Jesus that he risked embarrassing himself by climbing a tree?"
  • "How would you feel if you were one of the townspeople and Jesus stopped to talk to Zacchaeus, of all people!?" [If it is early in the rotation, you may wish to take a moment to discuss the place of tax collectors in Jewish society; see Background Notes.]
  • "How did Zacchaeus change after his meal with Jesus?"
  • "I wonder what Jesus said to Zacchaeus during the meal they shared?"
  • "What would you change in your life if you had a chance to meet Jesus?"

Dig - Main Content and Reflection:

Application:
"Now we are going to use our puppets and re-enact the story of Zacchaeus meeting Jesus. Let's think about the story. Who are characters in the story that our puppets can be?" [Zacchaeus, Jesus, disciples, Zacchaeus' family, people of Jericho crowded to see Jesus]

Introduce the puppets, puppet care, and puppet skills. If there are enough puppets, let each child have a puppet (any puppet) to practice manipulation. If there are not enough puppets, have everyone practice with "invisible puppets" (hand held like a puppet). Do this around the puppet stage/table. Demonstrate how to move the puppets. Have all the puppets jump, nod, shake their head, act happy, act sad, act afraid, act mad, collect money, pray, preach, climb a tree, etc. If desired, this can be done in a "Simon Says" game format.

Assign parts and have the children create movement and dialog as the scripture/narration is read. (See the script that follows or create your own.) Encourage creative dialog. Remember, there are no right or wrong answers. We don't know if Zacchaeus had a wife and what she may have said when Jesus came home with Zacchaeus for dinner. We don't know what the poor people and the cheated people said when Zacchaeus gave them money.

If there are more children than puppets, some can watch while the others do the puppet show. (The audience is a very important job!) Then, reassign parts and do it again. (Let those who watched the first time have first choice on parts for the second performance. If more than one child wants a part, draw names.)

If time permits, do the puppet show several times, allowing the children to create different dialog each time.

Pulling it all together (closing discussion):

  • What were some of the mistakes that Zacchaeus made? What are some of the mistakes that we make?
  • I wonder, did Jesus love Zacchaeus more before or after he said he was sorry? [Neither — he loves us no matter what we do or say.]
  • There are some awfully unlovable people in this world. Do you know any? Are we called to love people, "no matter what," too? How can we do it?

Review the memory verse. Have the children echo the verse as you say it, phrase by phrase. After they seem familiar with it, have them say the entire verse in unison. If time permits, ask for volunteers to say the verse by themselves.

At 11:50 a.m. ask the Shepherds to pass out the journals and pencils/markers. Suggestion: You may wish to give the children a sticker or some memento to paste in their journal as a reminder of the story or activity. A sycamore leaf (or another leaf or a leaf sticker) would be appropriate.

Shepherd Time:
"Think about people whom you try to avoid. Maybe they are mean to you. Maybe they look different, or act different. Maybe they smell a little. Or cheat. Once you think of someone, or a group of someones, write something that Jesus would want you to say to them. Or draw a picture of you being their friend."

You may want to provide an extra activity or worksheet for children who finish their journals quickly, such as crossword puzzles, word search, games. See the Teacher's Background Notes or http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/ and rotation.org for ideas.

At noon, ask the students to close their journals and sit quietly for prayer.

Closing:
Ask each child to name someone they would normally avoid as you pray for them — they may either say the name out loud or in their hearts.
Dear God, Thank you for the love that Jesus shows for each one of us, even when we act unlovable. Please help us reach out to the unlovable people in our lives, ______. Help us to love them, no matter what. Grant us guidance from the Spirit as we work to share the Good News with them and with others. Amen.

Tidy and Dismissal: Ask children to help tidy up. Give any specific instructions for clearing the workshop room.
Give everyone the parent take-home flyer the first week of the rotation; give it only to children who were absent and have not yet received it the other weeks of the rotation.

Additional Suggestions:
You will need to decide how best to adjust the lesson for older and younger students. Keep the children active and involved in activity. Do what works for you and the children. Some ideas:
Older children: Sometimes older children think that puppets are babyish. If time permits, consider inviting a preschool class to see their "performance" (warn their teacher that it will NOT be a polished performance).
Younger Children: Encourage them to hold their puppets tall and to speak loudly and clearly, but remind them that this is not expected to be a polished performance. If the children's heads are showing behind the puppet stage or table, that is okay.


Resources:

  • Keefer, Mikal and John Cutshall. Surprising Stories from People Jesus Met. Loveland, Colorado: Group, 1998.
  • For additional information on using puppets and drama to bring Bible stories to life, see Amy Crane's Puppet and Drama Workshop Instructions in the "Rotation Documents: Workshop Manuals" section of the IDEA AND LESSON EXCHANGE: https://www.rotation.org/topic...o-life-using-puppets
  • For more help with storytelling, see Amy Crane's manual on Biblical Storytelling in the Rotation Documents: Workshop Manuals section of the IDEA AND LESSON EXCHANGE: https://www.rotation.org/topic/biblical-storytelling
  • Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
  • NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of International Bible Society.

Zacchaeus Puppetry Workshop Narrator's Script
Adapted from the New International Version

(Narrator should pause at indicated points to allow students to improvise dialog and act out the story with their puppets.)

Long ago, in the city of Jericho, there lived a man named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector. He was wealthy.

(Read this part slowly. Pause often. Encourage the children to create a family and/or work life for Zacchaeus that shows what sort of person they think he was.)

One day Jesus was passing through Jericho. As always, a big crowd gathered to see Jesus.

(Crowd scene. Lot's of excited talking. Encourage the puppets to say why they want to see Jesus.)

Zacchaeus wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd.

(Zacchaeus moves around crowd, trying to see.)

So Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus.

(Zacchaeus puppet thinks and then runs and climbs the tree.)

When Jesus reached the spot by the sycamore tree, he looked up and said to Zacchaeus:

(Jesus should tell Zacchaeus to come down so he can dine with him. Zacchaeus comes down and greets Jesus.)

All the people saw this and began to mutter.

(Dialog about what a sinner Zacchaeus is and unbelief that Jesus is eating with him.)

At dinner, Zacchaeus made a promise to Jesus.

(Encourage students to add Zacchaeus' wife and other family members to the dinner scene at the end. What might have been said?)
(Zacchaeus announces he will give money to the poor and pay back what he should not have taken plus more. Jesus says the memory verse.)

Zacchaeus kept his promise to Jesus.

(Allow the children to improvise dialog between Zacchaeus and the people to whom he returns stolen money and between Zacchaeus and the poor people to whom he gives money.)


This lesson was written by Amy Crane (amycrane@hotmail.com) for River Community Church
Prairieville, Louisiana.

Copyright 2003 Amy Crane. Permission granted to freely distribute and use, provided the copyright message is included.

A representative of Rotation.org reformatted this post to improve readability.

Last edited by Luanne Payne
oh no! Someone pointed out that the book used for part of the Puppet Workshop is no longer available (Surprising Stories from People Jesus Met). I checked amazon.com and there is very limited availability on the book and Group doesn't even have it listed! And it is one of my favorites. Frown

Because of copyright, I can't post the monolog, but I will outline key points and your "visitor" can fill in the blanks.

  • if you can find a short adult or youth to be Zach, that adds to authenticity

  • costuming: rich looking Bible times clothes (nice fabrics). Jewelery such as rings and a pin to hold a cloak (costume jewelry fine). Purple sash or robe sign of affluence. Sandals. Money pouch.


Zacchaeus Monolog Talking Points:
  • introduce self as Zach. and announce you have a story to tell about the time you met Jesus.
  • but first, let me tell you about what I was like before.
  • tax collector -- explain taxes: pay for streets, policemen, army.... When you buy something you pay a little extra. Point to girl wearing dress. "Now, that tunic -- oh, dress. Storekeeper says it costs 10 silver coins. What do you pay? [ten silver coins] No! You pay 11, 10 for dress and one for tax."
  • taxes on a lot of things. In Jericho, where I live, pay tax on land, things they make, animals they own, temple tax....
  • my job is to make sure everyone pays taxes. I work for the Romans.
  • my Jewish neighbors don't like me much -- they don't like Rome.
  • because people didn't like me anyways, I sometimes charged them extra and kept it. That's just how tax collectors did our jobs. That's how we got so rich!
  • one day I heard Jesus was in town. I had heard about everything he was doing... wanted to see him myself.
  • too many people. you may have noticed I am short.
  • Jesus important person. but not like other important people who ride chariots. he was walking. hard to see him.
  • saw a sycamore tree -- branches great for climbing! so up I went.
  • nothing fancy about Jesus. he looked like a normal guy in dusty clothes.
  • suddenly, parade stopped and Jesus was under the tree, looking right up at me! and so was everyone else. I realized I must look silly.
  • Jesus said -- (Bible quote)
  • I was surprised. hurried out of the tree.
  • I overheard people saying Jesus shouldn't eat with someone like me.
  • talked to Jesus all evening. He told me about love and forgiveness. ...
  • finally, I jumped up and said (Bible quote)
  • my life was changed. no one made me do this. I wanted to do what Jesus said.
  • Jesus smiled and said (Bible quote)
  • that night Jesus became my friend not because I was rich or important or popular, but because he wanted to be my friend.
  • thank you for listening. ever since then I've tried to love people no matter who they are. "Jesus wants to be your friend too, and you'll never find a better one."


Hope this is enough to get someone started!
Blessings and peace,
Amy Crane Smile
Last edited by Amy Crane

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