Theme: Let’s play outdoors!
Bible Story: The man in the tree
Value: Forgiveness
The man in the tree
Many years ago there lived a man named Zacchaeus. He was very short and worked as a tax collector, taking money from people. Sometimes he took more money than he was supposed to. The people didn’t like Zacchaeus because of this.
One day, Jesus came to Zacchaeus’ town, and a big crowd gathered to see Him. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus too, but he was too short to look over everyone’s heads. So, he climbed up into a big tree, where he could see Jesus.
When Jesus walked by, He looked up, smiled and said, “Zacchaeus, come down! I’m coming to your house today!” Zacchaeus was so surprised that Jesus knew his name! He was happy that Jesus wanted to be with him. Everyone else was shocked. How could Jesus go to Zacchaeus’s house? He was such a bad person!
But Zacchaeus felt sorry for the wrong things he had done. He told Jesus, “I’m going to give back the money I took, and I’ll give even more to help others.” Jesus was pleased and said, “Today, Zacchaeus, you are forgiven. You have changed your heart, and you are now a friend of God.” Zacchaeus learned that when we are sorry and choose to change, Jesus forgives us.
(Luke 19:1-10)
- Opening
Come on, let’s get up! Now, let’s pretend our bodies are trees. Stretch your arms as high and wide as you can. Now pretend that you are climbing a tree.
Today we will read in the Bible about a man in a tree who met someone very special. Let’s read the Bible story.
- Discovery
Can you remember the story that you heard yesterday?
Yes, we talked about the man in the tree. Let’s read the story again.
What is your favourite part of the story?
What surprised you in the story?
Who do you see in the picture?
- Retell
Can you tell me what happened in our story yesterday? (Ask leading questions and guide the child using the picture and story).
At the beginning of the story, was Zacchaeus a good man or a bad man?
How do you feel when you have done something bad?
What did Jesus do after Zacchaeus said he was sorry and made things right?
How do you think Zacchaeus felt when Jesus forgave him?
- Value
This week we’ve been talking about how Jesus forgave Zacchaeus when he said that he was sorry. Have you ever done something bad?
God loves you and is always ready to forgive you. He forgives you when you are sorry for what you have done wrong and when you choose not to do bad things anymore.
How do you feel knowing that God is always ready to forgive you?
Do you feel bad about something you did wrong? Let’s pray together, say sorry and ask God to forgive you.
- Activity
In our Bible story this week we talked about how Zacchaeus said that he was sorry for all the bad things he had done, and how Jesus forgave him. Let’s see if you can act out the story.
(Have the children act out the story of Zacchaeus. One child can play Zacchaeus, one child can be Jesus and the other children can act like they are shocked that Jesus wants to go to Zacchaeus’ house.)