My Heart Belongs to Jesus

Zacchaeus, the Tiny Tax Man

5/28/20-6/4/20 Scripture Reference

Luke 19:1-10

The Point!

God wants me to give everything I have to Him!

Lesson Goals

Discover spending time with Jesus is the most important thing we can do.

Learn to use our mouth to thank and praise God.

Practice giving to God knowing it makes Him happy!

Worship Time:

(Memory Verse, Songs, Lesson Introduction Activity)

Memory Verse:

Use the sign language chart to teach the children the memory verse.

They can learn it!!

Songs:

Lesson Introduction Activity

Climbing Trees Based on activity in Gospel Light’s Movers and Shakers Winter A pg 51.

Do: Show a tree branch or a picture of a tree.

Talk About:

• Have you ever climbed a tree?

• Would it be easy or hard?

Today we will hear about a man who climbed a tree just to see Jesus!

Opening Prayer:

Dear God

Thank You for loving us.

Teach us how to give to You.

We love You,

In Jesus name, amen.

Bible Story: Read the story from the Read With Me Bible.

A Very Short Man

Read With Me Bible

Pages 356-357

Zacchaeus was a tax collector and was very rich. He wanted to see Jesus. But he was a short

man. He could not see Jesus because of the crowd. So Zacchaeus ran and climbed a tree. Jesus

reached the spot where Zacchaeus was and said, “Zacchaeus, come down at once. I must stay at

your house today.” So Zacchaeus came down and welcomed him

gladly.

Discussing the story: Ask: Who was coming to town? Why couldn’t Zacchaeus see Jesus? Have you ever had trouble

seeing around people? What did you do to see better? What would you do special if Jesus were

coming to stay at your house?

Say: Zacchaeus really wanted to see Jesus. He climbed a tree so he could see him over the

crowds. Zacchaeus did some mean and bad things. Jesus wanted Zacchaeus to be kind and

good. After Jesus was with Zacchaeus, Zacchaeus was different. He started being kind and

good. Only Jesus can change hearts. When Zacchaeus gave his heart to Jesus, Jesus changed his

heart from a bad heart to a good heart. Have you ever thought about giving your heart to

Jesus? You should talk with your mom and dad so they can help you.

Pray: Thank God for Jesus. Thank God for the children. Ask God to help us be kind and

good.

Closing Prayer:

Dear God,

Thank You for loving us.

Help us to love you by giving to you!

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Craft Activity:

Children color craft page. Help them glue the leaves part way on the paper so they can peak at

Zacchaeus.

Bible Activity:

Zacchaeus in a Tree

Do: Make a paper tree, tape and a Zacchaeus figure. Tell family members they will try to stick

Zacchaeus in the tree while wearing a blindfold or closing their eyes tightly and that you will

turn them around a few times to make it harder. Take turns lining up a few feet from the tree.

Blindfold them, one at a time. Turn them around a few times. Guide them a little if needed. Let

them try to stick Zacchaeus on the tree. Remove blindfold and let them see where they stuck

Zacchaeus. Don’t force them to wear the blindfold. They can just close their eyes.

Talk About:

• The man in our Bible story really wanted to see Jesus.

• He then gave back to the people what he had taken.

• Jesus wants us to be honest and give time to Him to sing, read the

Bible and be kind to others.

• How can you give time to Jesus this week?

Prayer for Your Child Father we pray (child’s name) will come to know Christ as Savior early in life and desire a close relationship with You throughout his/her childhood, teen, and adult years. Mark 10:13-16

Bible Activity:

Faith @ Home

My Heart Belongs to Jesus Zacchaeus

Scripture Reference Luke 19:1-10

Goals: The Children Will; Tell a way Jesus was

kind and showed love to

Zacchaeus

Learn that God wants us to give our hearts to Jesus.

Discover that it makes God happy when we give to Him.

Things to talk about:

• Tell me something you liked doing today. God cared for you by (giving you a friend to play with).

• What can you say to thank God for His love and care? Dear God, (say words child suggested). We know You are taking care of us. We love You! In Jesus’ name, amen.

Happy Heart Friends Adapted from; “Group’s Hands on Bible for Toddlers & 2’s Winter 2007”

Supplies: Make or buy some sugar cookie dough, heart cookie cutters, frosting, cinnamon candies Preparation: You can cut out heart cookies and bake the cookies ahead of time if you want to. If not, let everyone help cut out heart cookies. Give everyone a heart cookie, some frosting, a spoon or plastic knife to spread with, cinnamon candies on a paper plate. Let everyone decorate a cookie for themselves and one cookie for a friend. As everyone is working on their cookies, talk about the story of Zacchaeus. He had no friends because he took their money. When Zacchaeus met Jesus, he changed. Jesus changed Zacchaeus’ heart. He started giving people their money back. Then, he had new friends. Talk about how Jesus changes our hearts. Talk about which friend or family member you want to give a cookie to.