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As Jesus was entering town, he passed a man named Zacchaeus (zack-ee-us). He was a tax collector and he was very rich. He tried to get a look at Jesus but he was too short to see over the crowd.So Zacchaeus ran ahead and climbed a tree so he could see Jesus.Jesus looked up at him and said, “Zacchaeus.” They had never met before and Zacchaeus was amazed that Jesus knew his name! “Let’s have dinner in your home tonight,” Jesus said. Zacchaeus was excited to invite Jesus into his home!But the people were not happy. Zacchaeus was a tax collector and people did not like tax collectors very much. “How could Jesus invite someone like that to dinner?” they said.Zacchaeus stood before Jesus and said, “I will give half of what I have to the poor. And if I have taken anything from someone else, I will give back even more than what I took!” “Today is a special day, because you have been saved,” Jesus responded. “For I have come to find the lost and save them!”
What did Zacchaeus do to seek out Jesus?What did Zacchaeus deserve for cheating poor people out of their money? What did Jesus give him instead?Who did Jesus come to save?
Legends
March 23
This Week’s Bible Story
Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-10) Jesus meets a tax collector named Zacchaeus (zack-ee-us). Jesus decided to have dinner with the man in his home, but the people were not happy because people did not like tax collectors very much. Zacchaeus chose to make things right after all the wrong things he had done. Jesus came to seek and save the lost — just like he did with Zacchaeus!
Monthly Verse: God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. ISAIAH 12:2
Check-in + Worship 8:30 - 9:05 10:30 - 11:05
8:30 - 9:05
10:30 - 11:05
As kids check in, invite them to join their parents in the Auditorium during worship. Once the worship set ends, wait in the back for kids to join you and lead them back to the Zion Kids area.
Connect 9:05 - 9:15 11:05 - 11:15
9:05 - 9:15
11:05 - 11:15
Let kids answer today’s icebreaker question: Would you rather climb a tree with ants everywhere or a tree with sticky wood sap all over it?
Bible Story 9:15 - 9:30 11:15 - 11:30
9:15 - 9:30
11:15 - 11:30
Look up Luke 19:1-10 and tell the Bible story in your own words.
Key Story Points:
Debrief 9:30 - 9:40 11:30 - 11:40
9:30 - 9:40
11:30 - 11:40
Prayer Time 9:40 - 9:45 11:40 - 11:45
9:40 - 9:45
11:40 - 11:45
Close your small group time by praying with your kids. This week’s prayer focus is on THANK YOU PRAYERS. Ask the kids in your group, “What is something good that you can thank God for?” Take time to pray for each of the things that were shared.)
Activity 9:40 - 9:45 11:40 - 11:45
9:40 - 9:45
11:40 - 11:45
Hand out the activity page with the tree on it. Invite kids to glue on the green and brown tissue paper to decorate their tree. Then have them glue on the person cutout to represent Zacchaeus in the tree.
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