New Testament Unit 6: Jesus Shared His Love Lesson 1: Zacchaeus Met Jesus Hour B

God’s Unfolding Story Suggested

Bible Story: 1. God created everything. Schedule:
Zacchaeus Met Arrival
Jesus (Luke 19:1-10) 2. People disobeyed God. Centers – 25 minutes
Bible Phrase: “Jesus Clean-up Time – 5 minutes
said, ‘I love you’” 3. God chose a special people. Bible Story Time – 15 minutes
Craft Time – 10 minutes
(John 15:9). 4. God sent Jesus to help us. Snack Time – 10 minutes
Bible Truth: Game Time/Dismissal
Jesus loves me. 5. Jesus began the Church.

6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us.

Unfolding God’s Story for Teachers
This may be one of the favorite Bible stories for children. If you had the
privilege of hearing Bible stories as a child, you may recall the following
phrase from a sweet song often sung with this story, “Zacchaeus was a
wee little man, and a wee little man was he.” Most children can identify
with the small statue of Zacchaeus and his need to see above the crowd.
Children also are impressed that Zacchaeus chose to scale a big tree to
see Jesus given their own love to hide in the lush branches. It is a joy to
watch children as you tell this story and see them smile and laugh when
you get to the part where Zacchaeus climbs the tree. Teachers often
will become very animated as they say the words of Jesus, “Zacchaeus,
come down; for I’m coming to your house today!” While we want
children to enjoy the Bible story, we also want them to come away with
the truth of the story as they can understand it. The truth is Jesus loved
Zacchaeus just as he was: wee, selfish and lost. However, Jesus did not
want him to stay that way, at least not selfish and lost. Preschoolers
need to know Jesus loves them for who they are.
Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector in the city of Jericho. Jericho
was a rich community in terms of landscape and economy. Zacchaeus
had taken advantage of his position and gained great wealth through
dishonest means. He probably was a very lonely man who realized
his wealth really had left him very empty. He heard Jesus was coming
to town and that Jesus had eaten with sinners and tax collectors.
Zacchaeus’ need to see Jesus went beyond curiosity; he was desperate
for love.
Zacchaeus chose to hide in a tree away from the crowds that might
not welcome him. He wanted to see Jesus and perhaps hear a word
from Him. Zacchaeus got more than a word. He got a visit from the
Teacher. Although we are not given specifics of the visit, Zacchaeus
found in Jesus what was missing in his life. His conversion
is seen in his words, “I will give half of my possessions
to the poor, Lord! And if I have extorted anything from anyone, I’ll pay
back four times as much!”
Children are not the only ones who identify with Zacchaeus. At a
deeper level, all of us must recognize the things of this world will not
fill the emptiness in our lives. As Zacchaeus did, we must seek Jesus
not just to hear Him, but meet Him, sit down with Him and have a
relationship with Him. Once we have met Him, confessed our sinfulness
and entrusted our lives to Him, we walk forward new and different than
before.
Lesson Plan
Arrival
• Greet children at eye level and express how happy
you are to see them.
• Be sure each child has a name tag and the security
measures of your church are followed.
• Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly
encourage children who have brought items from
home, such as toys and books, to place them on a
shelf while they are working with other materials.
Assure children their items will be safe and they
can take them home at the end of the session.
• Help each child make a choice where he or she
would like to begin his or her Center Time.

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT06 Lesson 1 Hour B Page 1
 Center Time Home Living Center
Role Play
Supplies:
Block Center • Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit
Build with Blocks
and small table and chairs; plastic dishes,
Supplies:
child pots and pans, plastic food items; and
• Wooden blocks
doll items such as baby doll, doll bed, doll
• Small cars and trucks
bag, blanket, clothes, bottles and diapers.
What to Do: Provide a small carpet if
What to Do: Home living items will encourage
possible. Blocks are best located in a
Art Center children to role play home activities such as
corner of the room away from the traffic
Make a Bible Story Mural cooking, cleaning and caring for the baby.
flow.
Supplies: Link to the Bible Story: As children play,
Link to the Bible Story: As children build,
• Long sheet of white butcher paper thank them for being kind and sharing
listen for opportunities to share the Bible
• Copy of “Bible Story Characters” with one another. Express that our Bible
Phrase or tell a part of the Bible story.
• Washable markers, crayons, glue Phrase today is “Jesus said, ‘I love
What to Do: Draw a road through the middle of the you.’” Comment that we are showing
paper. Sketch the trunks of several trees along the road. love when we share and take turns
Print today’s Bible Phrase at the top of the paper. Cut out with the home living items.
the Bible Story Characters. Invite children to finish the trees
by adding branches and leaves. Identify the characters of Jesus,
Zacchaeus and people who wanted to see Jesus. Suggest that some
children color the characters and others glue them on the scene.
Bible Learning Center Children can draw additional people, flowers, birds, sun and Puzzle Center
Make a Puzzle other features on the mural. Work Puzzles
Supplies: Link to the Bible Story: As children work, express that in our
Supplies:
• Copies of Activity Page “Bible Story Bible story today, a man named Zacchaeus wanted to
Puzzle” (Reproducible) see Jesus; so he climbed up into a tree. Comment • Offer a variety of non-fantasy
• Teaching Picture “Zacchaeus Met Jesus” that Jesus stopped at the tree Zacchaeus was in wooden or cardboard puzzles for
(Reproducible) and said, “Zacchaeus, come down from that children to work.
• Child scissors, glue, construction paper tree because I am coming to your house What to Do: Encourage children to finish
What to Do: Show children the teaching picture today.” a puzzle before leaving the center. Give
and express that they will make a puzzle like our guidance rather than doing the puzzle for
Bible Story Picture. Show children the Activity Page the child.
and express that the picture looks a little mixed up. Their Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look
job is to cut apart the squares and glue them together to for opportunities in conversation to say the
make the picture resemble the Bible Story Picture. Bible Phrase or briefly tell the Bible story.
Link to the Bible Story: Read the Bible Phrase on
the picture. Share part of the Bible story by adding,
“Zacchaeus was not a kind man, but he wanted to
see Jesus. Because he was small, he decided to
climb a tree and wait for Jesus. Jesus wanted
Zacchaeus to know He loved him. In our story
today, you will hear what happened to
Zacchaeus after he met Jesus.”
God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT06 Lesson 1 Hour B Page 2
 Clean-up Time
Encourage
preschoolers to
help at clean-up time.
Assign specific tasks for
preschoolers to do such as
placing all the crayons in the Bible Story
basket, throwing away the trash, Zacchaeus Met Jesus
gathering all the glue sticks, (Luke 19:1-10)
There was a rich man named Zacchaeus who
etc. Guide children to the
Bible Story Time area. was a tax collector. Tax collectors got money
from the people to give to the king. Some
tax collectors were dishonest and took more
Bible money than they should from the people.
They would keep the extra money for
Story Time themselves. Zacchaeus was not an honest
tax collector. He probably did not have very
Supplies: many friends because of way he treated
• Bible people.
• Teaching Picture “Zacchaeus One day, Zacchaeus heard that Jesus
Met Jesus” (Reproducible) was in town. He was curious about Jesus
• God’s Unfolding Story Cube and wanted to see Him. Crowds of people
(Reproducible/Cardstock) already had gathered as Jesus walked down
the street. Zacchaeus was not very tall, so
he could not see above the people’s heads.
He decided to run ahead and climb up into
a tree so he could watch as Jesus passed.
Introduction Zacchaeus found a nice large sycamore tree,
climbed up the tree and waited for Jesus to
• Show the God’s Unfolding Story Cube.
come down the street.
Point to each symbol and tell God’s
Zacchaeus watched as Jesus got closer.
Unfolding Story. (Refer to page 1.) Encourage
Suddenly, Jesus stopped right under
children to say the story with you.
• Comment to boys and girls today’s story is the tree where Zacchaeus was sitting!
from the segment God sent Jesus to help Jesus looked up at Zacchaeus and said,
us. (Point to that symbol on the cube.) “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because
• Express the following: “Is it easy to love I am coming to your house today.” Many
people who are not nice or do unkind people around said, “Why would He go to
things? Today in our Bible story, we will hear the home of someone who is dishonest and
how Jesus showed love to someone no one unkind?” However, Jesus wanted Zacchaeus
else liked.” to know how much He loved him.
God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com
Zacchaeus quickly came down out of the
tree and took Jesus to his home. Zacchaeus
saw the love and kindness Jesus showed
to him that day. He was sorry that he had
taken more money from the people than he
should have taken. Zacchaeus told Jesus,
“I will give back to the people more money
than I took.” That day Zacchaeus chose to
be a follower of Jesus.
Talk Time
1. Show the teaching picture for today’s Bible
story. Ask the following: “Was Zacchaeus
a kind and honest tax collector? What did
Zacchaeus do to see Jesus? Where did
Jesus tell Zacchaeus He was going? What
happened after Zacchaeus visited with
Jesus?
2. Comment that even though Zacchaeus
was unkind and dishonest, Jesus showed
love to him, and Zacchaeus changed from
being a dishonest person to a kind and
caring person. Read the Bible Phrase on the
teaching picture. Say the phrase together.
Express to children that Jesus always
loves us no matter how good or bad our
behavior may be. Continue saying that just
as Jesus loved Zacchaeus although he was
dishonest, Jesus loves us and wants us to
love Him.
3. Close the Bible Story Time in prayer
thanking God that He always loves us.
NT06 Lesson 1 Hour B Page 3
 Craft Time
Make Finger Puppets
Supplies:
• Copies of “Finger Puppets” (Reproducible)
• Crayons or washable markers, scissors, tape or stapler
What to Do: Cut apart the “Finger Puppets” and give each Snack Time
child a Jesus figure and a tree to color. After coloring, assist Be sure to wash hands or use
children in folding and stapling or taping each puppet where hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you
indicated. Show children how to put the puppets on their prayer to God for the snack.
fingers. When snack time has ended,
Link to Bible Story: Invite children to use their “Finger encourage preschoolers to
Puppets” to review the Bible story. help with cleaning up.

Game Time/Dismissal
Look at It!
Supplies:
• No supplies needed
What to Do: Ask children to stand in a circle. Say something such as, “Listen
and do what I say as quickly as you can.” Direct children to look at various
objects and people in the room such as: “Look at the ceiling. Look at the light
switch. Look out the window. Look at Coleman. Look at the floor. Look at the
block center. Look at Kelby.” Invite preschoolers to call out some objects
and people to look at.
At the close of the game, remind boys and girls that Zacchaeus climbed
a tree to see Jesus and was probably surprised when Jesus looked up
and saw him. Comment that Zacchaeus realized Jesus loved and cared
for him. Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security
procedures of your church.

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT06 Lesson 1 Hour B Page 4
 Hour B

Resources and Supplies New Testament Unit 6: Jesus Shared His Love
Lesson 1: Zacchaeus Met Jesus

Standard Art Supplies Standard Equipment

(Supplies that are generally in the room) (Equipment that is generally in the room)
Washable markers Small beanbag for Bible Story Time
Crayons Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles
Child scissors Set of wooden blocks
Playdough and accessories Small cars and trucks
Drawing paper Doll bed
Easel (optional) Baby doll (soft plastic)
Glue/glue sticks Stove/sink unit
Tempera paint, 4 colors Play dishes/pots and pans
Tape/masking tape Small table and chairs
Pencils/colored pencils Small carpet for block area
Hole punch Play food items
Teacher scissors Storage shelf for blocks
Stapler/staples Tables and chairs for art, puzzles,
Permanent markers and Bible Learning Center
Watercolors CD player/Children’s Worship CDs
Paintbrushes
Yarn

Reproducibles
(Included with the lesson plan downloads)
“Bible Story Characters” (1 copy per child)
Activity Page “Bible Story Puzzle” (1 copy per child)
“Finger Puppets” (1 copy per child)
Teaching Picture “Zacchaeus Met Jesus” (1 copy per class)
God’s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock, 1 copy per class)
Parent Page (1 copy per child)

Additional Art and Bible Additional Craft Time

Learning Center Materials Materials
Long sheet of white butcher paper 8-inch paper plates (1 per child)
Construction Paper Large wiggly eyes (2 per child)
Variety of construction paper (3 or 4 sheets)
Crafts sticks (1 per child)

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT06 Lesson 1 Hour B
Bible Story Characters
Bible Story Characters
Instructions:Copy 1 sheet. Teacher cuts out the Bible Story
NT06 Lesson 1 B Center Time: Art Center
God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com
Characters to use with the mural activity in the art center.
‘I love you’” (John 15:9). “Jesus said,

Heath McPherson

Bible Story Puzzle NT06 Lesson 1 B Center Time: Bible Learing Center
Zacchaeus Met Jesus God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com
 Finger Puppets

FOLD FOLD

STA
STA

PLE
PLE

Finger Puppets
Instructions: Copy 1 sheet per child. Teacher cuts out puppets. Child colors NT06 Lesson 1 B Craft Time
and folds puppets. Tape or staple on the side. Slip over fingers. God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com
 God’s Unfolding Story Cube
Instructions: Cut out on dotted
lines, fold on solid lines. Glue or
tape to form a cube.

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2012 - SundaySchoolZone.com

 “Jesus said, ‘I love you’” (John 15:9).
Coloring Sheet NT06 Lesson 1 Optional
Zacchaeus Met Jesus God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com