Welcome!
How does it feel when someone remembers your name?
Sunday school · Ages 7–9
Zacchaeus climbs a tree
Luke 19:1–10
Mainline Christian
Welcome each child by name. Ask the question and let two or three children answer. Say: Today we meet a man that nobody wanted to be friends with. But Jesus knew his name.
Zacchaeus lived in Jericho.
His job was collecting tax money. He was very rich.
Nobody liked him.
Sometimes he made people pay too much. He kept the extra money.
Jesus is coming!
A big crowd filled the road. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus.
Up the tree!
Zacchaeus could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a tree.
Zacchaeus, hurry and come down!
Jesus stopped, looked up, and called him by name.
Zacchaeus was so happy!
He hurried down and welcomed Jesus to his house.
The people grumbled.
“Why is Jesus going to that man’s house?”
Zacchaeus changed.
“I will give half to the poor. I will pay people back four times as much!”
Jesus came to find the lost.
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Luke 19:10
Jesus knows your name.
Jesus loves you. We can welcome others, like Jesus welcomed Zacchaeus.
I wonder…
I wonder how Zacchaeus felt when Jesus called his name.
I wonder…
I wonder who feels left out today, and how we could welcome them.
Question 1 of 7
What was Zacchaeus’s job?
Zacchaeus was the boss of the tax collectors in Jericho.
Question 2 of 7
Why did Zacchaeus climb a tree?
He was short, and the crowd was in the way. From the tree he could see.
Question 3 of 7
What did Jesus say to Zacchaeus?
Jesus said, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
Question 4 of 7
How did Zacchaeus feel when Jesus came to his house?
The Bible says Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus joyfully.
Question 5 of 7
Why did the people grumble?
They did not think Jesus should visit him. Jesus went anyway, because he loved Zacchaeus.
Question 6 of 7
What did Zacchaeus do after Jesus came?
He gave half of his things to the poor and paid people back four times as much.
Question 7 of 7
What does this story teach us about Jesus?
Jesus saw Zacchaeus, called him by name, and came to his house. Jesus loves you too.
Great job!
You finished all 7 questions.
Our memory verse
“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
Luke 19:5
Make Zacchaeus in a tree
- Trace your hand and arm on brown paper.
- Trace your hands on green paper.
- Cut out and glue your tree.
- Tape a small Zacchaeus to a stick.
- Slide him up through the leaves!
Hurry and come down!
- Sit in a circle.
- One person walks around the outside.
- Tap a friend: “(Name), hurry and come down!”
- Say “Welcome!” and walk around together.
- The new friend takes the next turn.
Let’s pray
Dear Jesus, thank you for knowing my name. Help me share with others and welcome people who feel left out. Amen.
Speaker notes