Zacchaeus Sunday School Lesson
An unforgettable Bible lesson that helps kids learn this truth. No one is too bad for Jesus, real change is always possible.
This Zacchaeus uses movement, humor, and hands-on participation to keep kids engaged while clearly explaining repentance, forgiveness, and Jesus’ heart for sinners.
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Group Worship
Zacchaeus
This song feels like it is REQUIRED to sing, no matter hold much of an “oldy goldy” it is.
This is Amazing Grace
Jesus has rescued all of us. There is nothing we can do to deserve it, and it’s a free gift any of us can receive if we choose to. This is Amazing Grace is a perfect song for your Zacchaeus Sunday School Lesson.
Group Worship
Zacchaeus
This song feels like it is REQUIRED to sing, no matter hold much of an “oldy goldy” it is.
This is Amazing Grace
Jesus has rescued all of us. There is nothing we can do to deserve it, and it’s a free gift any of us can receive if we choose to. This is Amazing Grace is a perfect song for your Zacchaeus Sunday School Lesson.
Opening Activity | Outsider/Insider
Send one child out of the room to be the outsider. Everyone inside of the room will make a circle.
Bring the outsider in and tell him or her they must try to get into the inside of the circle. Everyone on the inside will try to keep them from getting in, but must maintain the circle.
Play a few times, letting different kids be the outsider.
Discuss how it feels to be the insider vs the outsider.
Object Lesson | Irresistable
Objects Needed: coconut, chocolate bar, salty snack, orange (or other food the kids would love)
Bring out the four items and show them to the kids. Have them identify each object.
Put a hangman-style puzzle for “food” on the board and let kids play hangman with you until you reveal the word. Ask them what their favorite food is…then talk about food that is irresistible…in other words, food that you can’t resist eating!
Which one of these items do you find irresistible?
Later today, we are going to learn about a man named Zacchaeus who found money irresistible. Until he met Jesus, and then he found Jesus irresistible.
Earlier, you said the chocolate bar was irresistible, didn’t you? But what if your circumstances were different…
… what if you were on an island, and you were soooo thirsty. There was a coconut up in the tree and you knew if you opened it, there’d be milk inside. Would you want the coconut or the milk?
…. or what if you were stuck out at sea and all you’d eaten was bacon and oatmeal… and you had no fresh fruit and were starting to get sick as a result… Would you want the orange or the chocolate?
…. or what if you were lost in a hot jungle… you have water, but your body has sweated so much you’ve lost a lot of salt. You need salt to survive! Would you want the salty snack or the chocolate?
We all thought the chocolate was irresistible… until we came up with some scenarios where the chocolate wouldn’t help! Then, other things became irresistible.
That’s how Zacchaeus was with money… he found it irresistible, until he met Jesus. Now that he met Jesus though, Jesus became irresistible to him.
Lesson Script
Lesson At-A-Glance:
Bible Passage: Luke 19:1–10
Main Point: Jesus loves sinners and invites them to change
Age Range: Elementary
Prep Level: Low (coins + outdoor space recommended)
Teaching Style: Interactive, story-driven, experiential
Why Kids Remember It: Sitting under a tree, “losing” and regaining coins, and imagining Jesus calling their name
Objects Needed: picnic blanket, golden coins
(Bring the kids outside to sit under a tree for this lesson, if possible. If there are no trees available, just find a grassy spot outside to sit. Have everyone, including yourself, sit on the picnic blanket. Give each child a few golden coins.)
Have you ever heard your parents complain about taxes? Some people even say, “the only two things certain in this life are death and taxes.” That means that people hate taxes so much, they compare them to death! Why do people hate taxes? (Take answers from kids)
Well, every day, your parents go to work and earn money. They bring money home. But they don’t bring home everything they make. Let’s say your parents made $20 in a day, but they only actually bring home $18. Where does that other $2 go?
It goes to our government, who uses it to pave roads, fund schools and libraries, and help people who need it. You use the roads and the schools and the libraries every day, and you probably think of them as “free” to use—but really they cost tax money.
And those things are great and all, but a lot of people don’t like paying taxes, especially when the government says they owe even more than they already sent in!
Well, the guy we’re going to talk about today was a “chief tax collector”. His name was Zacchaeus, and his job was to go to peoples’ houses and make them give him tax money. He was a rich man, because not only did the government pay him well, but sometimes he took more money from the people than he should have.
So how do you think people felt about Zacchaeus? Well, here’s a hint…
(Pass out the gold coins) Okay, so these are your wages, what you’ve worked for. Think about what you’ll buy with them. But wait– here comes Zacchaeus, the tax collector! The government told him to take 2 gold coins from each of you. (Take 2 coins from each child).
That stinks, but you expected it, right? I mean, those are the taxes you’re expected to pay. But wait–it’s Zacchaeus again. “Give me two more gold coins!” he says.
Now you’re upset! You already paid your taxes! How can you afford two MORE gold coins? You can’t, but you’re afraid what will happen to you if you don’t pay. They might put you in jail, or hurt you! So you pay up. (Take two more gold coins from the kids).
Sadly, this happened all the time in Zacchaeus’ day. And now you can imagine how upset people were at him and other tax collectors. What Zacchaeus was doing was WRONG…and he was a pro at it.
But one day, Zacchaeus heard that someone called “Jesus” was coming to town. He had heard that Jesus taught about God and was able to perform miracles. So, like many other people in the town, he wanted to see him. But there was one BIG problem…actually, a LITTLE problem…Zacchaeus was LITTLE! He was a short guy, and crowds were forming.
So what did he do?
(Point up in the sky) He hopped into a helicopter! Just kidding.
He scrambled up a tree! From there, he could see Jesus coming. But…he never expected Jesus to STOP right under the tree and look up at him. He might have been so embarrassed that he could have fallen out of the tree! (Good thing he didn’t!)
Then, Jesus actually SPOKE to him–as if he KNEW him or something! Ever see someone wave at you who you don’t recognize? Talk about awkward. You’re like, “who, me? Are you waving at me?”
Anyway, here’s what Jesus said, ““Zacchaeus, hurry and come down! I must stay at your house today.”
Wait…what? Zacchaeus and everyone in the crowd were totally shocked. First of all, this was the first time Zacchaeus met Jesus, and he wants to stay at his house? Secondly, why would
a good guy like Jesus would talk to a bad guy like Zacchaeus? He was an evil tax collector after all!!
But Zacchaeus climbed down the tree and welcomed Jesus gladly. Meanwhile, people grumbled and said, “Jesus is staying with a sinner!”
Yup, those people were right. Zacchaeus was a sinner. A PROFESSIONAL sinner. He was really GOOD at stealing, and was getting rich off of it.
But Jesus showed Zacchaeus kindness. Since he’s God, he knew Zacchaeus had wanted to see him that day. Remember, God can hear our thoughts! He knew that Zacchaeus felt he was missing something in his life, and was searching for God. So he took compassion on him– and that’s why he stopped under that tree that day.
Jesus loves sinners, and is patient with them. He could see that Zacchaeus was ready for a change. In fact, that very day, Zacchaeus decided to STOP being a thief. He said…
(Have a student read the following verse:)
Luke 19:8
“But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, I will give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone, I will pay back four times more. (NCV)”
Wow! That’s a HUGE change! Not only was he going to stop stealing, he was going to pay the people he stole from back…FOUR TIMES OVER. (Give kids back their coins, plus a few more each).
That’s called repentance. Repentance is when you STOP what you’re doing, and go in the complete opposite direction.
Zacchaeus shows us that we are never too bad for Jesus. Even with all the times we mess up and all the mistakes we make, Jesus still loves us. When we’re willing to repent like Zacchaeus did, he forgives us and welcomes us.
I know– that seems strange, right? Why would Jesus hang out with sinners like Zacchaeus?
Here’s what Jesus said about that:
Luke 5:32
“I have not come to invite good people but sinners to change their hearts and lives. (NCV)”
Jesus is looking for people who want to change! Some people might think he would only love “good” people–but the truth is, there are no good people. We’re ALL sinners, and we all need to repent and change.
So imagine Jesus is stopped under your tree today. He says he wants to speak with you and come to your house. He loves you, no matter what. Will you say “yes” and invite him over?
(Invite kids who haven’t accepted Christ as Savior to do so. Close in prayer).
The best (science experiment style) object lessons that makes teachers jump for joy.
Tricks with water, eggs, and more. No magic skills or hours of prep required. You are going to love these object lessons and then use every last one of them.
Group Game | Balloon Drop
Objects Needed: masking tape, balloons
Give each child a small strip of masking tape (big enough to fit both feet on but not too much bigger). Have them go around the room and set their tape down somewhere, at least an inch or two away from others.
Then, blow up a balloon (or a few if you have a big group). Tell the kids you are going to see how long they can keep the balloon from hitting the ground. They can move however they want, but their feet must not come off the masking tape. If a child’s foot comes off the tape, they must leave the game.
Time it, or count the number of hits the balloon takes. Play a few times to try and beat the previous number, and/or add multiple balloons to make it more difficult.
Memory Verse
God didn’t come to help the perfect, he came to help everyone! Just like Zacchaeus was a little lost with his priorities—and lost up in the tree!—we are lost, too. But God sees us, and he has come to save us!
Luke 19:10
"The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost."
Small Group Questions
What was Zacchaeus’ job?
Tax collector
Why did the people hate tax collectors?
They stole money
How did the tax collectors stealing money affect the people?
They were poor
Who came to town?
Jesus
Where did Zacchaeus go to see Jesus?
Up in a tree!
What did Jesus tell Zacchaeus to do?
Come down and invite him to dinner
How did Zacchaeus change after meeting Jesus?
He gave back what he stole
What does Luke 19:10 say?
“The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.”
How have you been like a Zacchaeus?
Answers will vary
What do you need to change after deciding to follow Jesus?
Answers will vary
Small Group Activity | Tree Verses
Objects Needed: brown construction paper, green construction paper or leaves, markers, white cardstock.
Go on a scavenger hunt to find fifteen leaves per child (or cut fifteen leaves per child out of construction paper.
Have students cut a tree and branches out of the brown paper and glue to the cardstock. Use the sharpie to write one word from the verse on each leaf, then glue the leaves to the tree in any order. Have kids practice reading the Bible verse on their tree—a reminder of how Zacchaeus was up in the tree to listen to Jesus!
Words For This Week
This is included with every lesson I create, and is designed as a printout for you to give to parents after class.
Today’s Scripture: Luke 19:1-10
Memory Verse: The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost . – Luke 19:10
——————
This week, we learned about Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was very disliked because he was a tax collector—and people didn’t trust him! But Zacchaeus knew he wanted to be closer to Jesus. Jesus didn’t care that Zacchaeus wasn’t well liked—Jesus loved him anyway and chose to eat with him! Jesus loves us so much that he literally gave his life for us. So there is absolutely nothing we can do to take his love away. He knows us better than we know ourselves – so before we even make that bad decision, act unkind or say bad things – he is already aware of what we’re going to do and it doesn’t change his feelings about us even in the slightest!
Key Thought:
It doesn’t matter who you are, Jesus came to save you!
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