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

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
3. God chose a special people. Bible Story Time – 15 minutes
said, ‘I love you’”
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 A Page 1
 Block Center
Build with Blocks
Supplies:
• Wooden blocks
• Small cars and trucks
What to Do: Provide a small carpet if
possible. Blocks are best located in a
corner of the room away from the traffic
flow.
Link to the Bible Story: As children build,
listen for opportunities to share the Bible
Phrase or tell a part of the Bible story.
Demonstrate how to dip the sponges into the paint and then
onto the paper. Invite children to use the brown paint to sponge
paint the trunk of the tree and the green to make the leaves of
Home Living Center
Role Play
Supplies:
• Small rocking chair, sink and stove
unit and small table and chairs;
plastic dishes, child pots and pans,
plastic food items; and doll items such
as doll bed, baby doll, doll bag, blanket,
clothes, bottles and diapers.
What to Do: Home living items will encourage
children to role play home activities such as
cooking, cleaning and caring for the baby.
Link to the Bible Story: As children play, thank
them for being kind and sharing with one
another. Express that our Bible Phrase
today is, “Jesus said, ‘I love you.’”
Comment that we are showing love
when we share and take turns with
the home living items.
Center Time Bible Learning Center
Dot-to-Dot Bible Story Picture
Supplies:
• Copies of Activity Page “Dot-to-Dot
Bible Story Picture” (Reproducible)
• Pencils, crayons
What to Do: Ask children to use a pencil
to connect the dots around the figure of
Zacchaeus. Encourage children to color the
picture.
Art Center Link to the Bible Story: Read the Bible Phrase.
Sponge Paint Share part of the Bible story by adding,
“Zacchaeus was not a kind man, but he
Supplies:
• White construction paper wanted to see Jesus. Because he was
• Brown and green paint, paper plates small, he decided to climb a tree and
• Clothes pins, 1 ½-inch to 2-inch squares of wait for Jesus. Jesus wanted Zacchaeus
sponges (cut several household sponges into squares) to know He loved him. In our story
What to Do: Draw a tree trunk on each paper. Pour paint today, you will hear what happened
on paper plates. Attach clothes pins to sponge squares. to Zacchaeus after he met Jesus.”
the tree. Puzzle Center
Link to the Bible Story: As children work, express that Work Puzzles
in our Bible story today, a man named Zacchaeus Supplies:
wanted to see Jesus; so he climbed up into a • Offer a variety of non-fantasy
tree. Comment that Jesus stopped at the tree wooden or cardboard puzzles for
Zacchaeus was in and said, “Zaachaeus, come children to work.
down from that tree because I am coming What to Do: Encourage children to finish
to your house today.” a puzzle before leaving the center. Give
guidance rather than doing the puzzle for
the child.
Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look
for opportunities in conversation to say the
Bible Phrase or briefly tell the Bible story.

God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com NT06 Lesson 1 Hour A 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
Zacchaeus Met Jesus
basket, throwing away the trash, (Luke 19:1-10)
gathering all the glue sticks,
There was a rich man named Zacchaeus who
etc. Guide children to the was a tax collector. Tax collectors got money
Bible Story Time area. from the people to give to the king. Some
tax collectors were dishonest and took more
money than they should from the people.
Bible They would keep the extra money for
Story Time themselves. Zacchaeus was not an honest
tax collector. He probably did not have very
many friends because of way he treated
Supplies: people.
• Bible One day, Zacchaeus heard that Jesus
• Teaching Picture “Zacchaeus was in town. He was curious about Jesus
Met Jesus” (Reproducible)
and wanted to see Him. Crowds of people
• God’s Unfolding Story Cube already had gathered as Jesus walked down
(Reproducible/Cardstock)
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.
Zacchaeus found a nice large sycamore tree,
Introduction 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. the tree where Zacchaeus was sitting!
• Comment to boys and girls today’s story is Jesus looked up at Zacchaeus and said,
from the segment God sent Jesus to help “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down because
us. (Point to that symbol on the cube.) I am coming to your house today.” Many
• Express the following: “Is it easy to love people around said, “Why would He go to
people who are not nice or do unkind the home of someone who is dishonest and
things? Today in our Bible story, we will hear unkind?” However, Jesus wanted Zacchaeus
how Jesus showed love to someone no one to know how much He loved him.
else liked.”
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 A Page 3
 Craft Time
Make a Self Puppet
Supplies:
• Copy of “Bible Phrase Strips” (Reproducible)
• 8-inch paper plates (1 per child)
• Large wiggly eyes (2 per child)
• Crayons or washable markers, glue, tape, construction paper,
scissors, craft sticks Snack Time
What to Do: Cut apart the “Bible Phrase Strips.” Give each child
Be sure to wash hands or use
a paper plate. Invite children to use the materials to make a self
hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you
puppet. Children can cut hair, ears, eye lashes and hair bows from
prayer to God for the snack.
construction paper. Give each child a “Bible Phrase Strip” to glue
When snack time has ended,
on the back of their puppet. Assist children with taping a craft
stick to the back of their puppets. encourage preschoolers to
Link to Bible Story: As children work, talk about the similarities and help with cleaning up.
differences among the children. Discuss different abilities and
skills the children have. Emphasize Jesus’ love for all of us.

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 A Page 4
 Hour A

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)
Activity Page “Dot-to-Dot Bible Story Picture” (1 copy per child)
“Bible Phrase Strips” (1 copy per 15 children)
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 Materials
White construction paper (1 sheet per child)
Paper plates to hold paint (3 or 4)
Clothes pins (4 to 6)
Household sponges (2, cut into shapes)
Materials
8-inch paper plates (1 per child)
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 A
 Dot to Dot Bible Study Picture

D
B C

F
G H
E

A X I
Y J
K
W
V
L
U M
T
Q P

S
R
O N

“Jesus said, ‘I love you’”

(John 15:9).

Dot to Dot Bible Study Picture NT06 Lesson 1 A Center Time: Bible Learning Center
Instructions: Copy 1 sheet per child. Connect the dots to finish the picture God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com
 Bible Phrase Strips
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Jesus said, ‘I love you.’ John 15:9
Bible Phrase Strips
NT06 Lesson 1 A Craft Time
Instructions: Copy 1 sheet per class. Cut out the strips and give God’s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers, Copyright © 2013 - SundaySchoolZone.com
each child 1 strip.
 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