Turned Around (052823)

SCBC Young People: While NBT is going to be fun for you and, we trust that God will work in your hearts, I want to encourage you to think about the children who attend who likely have never heard these truths before. Pray for them. Encourage them. Allow them to respond.

Has anything exciting ever happened in your town?

(Allow response.)

Maybe a circus or a fair or even the President came to your town! What do people usually do when something exciting is going to happen?

(Allow response.)

They might put posters up or show what is happening on TV. They could even post it on the Internet. But somehow people find out about the exciting event.

Something exciting was happening in Jericho and it seemed like the whole town knew about it!

Slide 1

Even this man (point to Zacchaeus on flashcard) heard what was going on. This man was a tax collector. He collected money from the people and gave it to the Roman government.

At the time this man lived, tax collectors were often hated because they cheated the people by taking more money than they were supposed to and keeping some of it for themselves.

That’s how they became rich.

Note: Some of the young people might actually believe that this is ok. An illustration of this fact would be the increased looting that has been taking place around the country.

Slide 2 (Bible Map)

This tax collector lived in Jericho (show on Bible Map) about 2,000 years ago.

Slide 3

Day after day he would do his job. But he was also taking money from people and getting rich. He probably didn’t have many friends. This tax collector ignored God in his life and put himself first. One way he showed he was putting himself first was by stealing from the people. This man was a sinner—but he wasn’t the only one.

Maybe you put yourself first too. You don’t care if other people need help. You are most concerned about what happens to you. That is selfishness.

Maybe when you see something you want you just take it, thinking no one will ever know. God calls these things sin.

Sin is anything you think, say or do that disobeys God’s laws.

In the Bible God says, “Do not steal” and “Do not lie.” When you disobey these rules (laws) of God, you are sinning. You are born wanting to sin.

The Bible says:

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Everyone in the world has sinned—that means you.

Note: This is a major truth that needs to be understood by the children!

God is the only one who has not sinned—He is perfect (holy)!

Yes, there is a God! He created the entire universe! He created you and me!

Note: This is also a major truth that needs to be understood by the children!

Genesis 1:1 KJV 1900

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Question: If one of the children says that they do not believe that there is a God, how will you respond?

Note: Answers in Genesis provides many resources to be able to effectively provide an answer to the question, Is there really a God?

Because He is true to His own holiness, He must punish sin.

Romans 6:23 (KJV 1900)

For the wages of sin is death...

Note: This may be a truth that the children may have difficulty with. Some of them may have “gotten away with” a lot of sin and never been caught or punished. They need to know that God will never allow them to “get away with it!”

Your sin separates you from God right now. God created you to be close to Him but your sin keeps you far away from Him.

If your sin is not forgiven, you will be separated from God forever in a place of punishment called Hell.

Revelation 20:15 KJV 1900

And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Note: The truth about Hell may be one that the children need to understand. If they don’t believe in a God, then they likely do not believe in a literal Heaven or Hell. In fact some may have been taught that Heaven and Hell are here on this earth.

Being selfish and looking out for yourself first are sins.

Slide 4

You have sinned and so had this tax collector. He was stealing and looking out for himself. But that day he heard about something exciting! Jesus was coming to town!

Who is Jesus? Have you heard of Him before? (Allow responses.)

Jesus is God the Son. He came to Earth as a baby and after He grew up to be a man, He spent three years teaching people about the one true God and that God’s way to live is the best way.

Jesus also did miracles—things only God can do. Jesus made blind people see, crippled people walk and even brought dead people back to life! Some even said Jesus was the promised Savior who would rescue His people.

Note: It must be emphasized that Jesus is God and not simply a good person.

Everyone was talking about Jesus and what He was doing. Now people were saying Jesus was coming to Jericho!

Like many people in town, the tax collector left his house to go see Jesus as He was passing by. There were so many people! He tried to get closer to the road. There were still too many people! He stood on his tiptoes to try and see. But he couldn’t! He was too short!

Stand up on your tiptoes like you’re trying to see over the crowd. (Do with children.)

Now what? He couldn’t get to the front and he couldn’t see above the crowd because he was just too short.

Slide 5

Suddenly he had an idea. He looked up and down the street. Then he saw it. It was perfect! He ran as quickly as he could to the sycamore tree and scrambled up the branches. This was the perfect spot to watch for Jesus. Jesus would walk right under the tree and the tax collector would get to see Him!

Here comes Jesus! He’s walking down the road with His disciples (followers). Act like you’re shading your eyes to see Jesus coming. (Do with children.) The tax collector was getting so excited! This was the miracle worker so many people had talked about! Jesus was getting closer and closer to the sycamore tree where the tax collector sat.

Slide 6

Now Jesus was right under the sycamore tree! Instead of continuing to walk down the road Jesus suddenly stopped. I wonder what He’s doing! the tax collector may have thought. He didn’t have to wonder long. Jesus stood under the tree, looked up with kind eyes and said, “Zacchaeus (Zack-KEY-us), come down!” Say that with me! (Say with children.) “Today I must stay at your house!”

Zacchaeus was shocked. How did He know I was in this tree? And how does He know my name? I’ve never met Him before! And He wants to stay at my house? Nobody ever wants to come to my house!

How did Jesus know Zacchaeus’s name? (Allow response.)

Jesus knew Zacchaeus’ name because Jesus is God the Son—He knows everything! He knew all about Zacchaeus’ selfishness and stealing.

Yet He loved Zacchaeus and wanted Zacchaeus to know Him.

Jesus, God the Son, loves you and wants you to know Him too.

Note: This is the main point of this lesson!

1 John 4:10 KJV 1900

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

God is love! God knows everything about you and loves you anyway. He made you and loves you. God made everything in the whole world.

What’s your favorite thing that God made? (Allow response.)

God is love and He is perfect. Everything He does is right and good.

God wants you to know Him and how much He loves you!

Jesus loved Zacchaeus and wanted Zacchaeus to know Him.

Jesus wanted to spend time with Zacchaeus—no one ever wanted to spend time with Zacchaeus!

Note: Some of the children may feel this same way. No one likes them. They don’t have any friends.

The Bible says Zacchaeus hurried down from the tree and happily invited Jesus to his house. Let’s pretend to hurry down the tree like Zacchaeus did.

(Do with children.)

Teachers: Be conscious of your audience. Acting the story out may be appropriate; it might not be appropriate.

What a big day for Zacchaeus! Jesus, the one everyone was talking about, was coming to his house. Jesus knew him and cared about him!

Not everyone was happy though. There were many people who knew Zacchaeus had gotten rich by stealing money from them.

The Bible says, (read Luke 19:7).

Luke 19:7 KJV 1900

And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

The crowd was upset and grumbled because Jesus was showing love to someone they called a sinner. And he was a sinner but the people didn’t realize they were sinners too. Jesus reached out in love to Zacchaeus, even though Jesus knew all about Zacchaeus’ sins. He wanted to forgive Zacchaeus in spite of what Zacchaeus had done or what others thought.

Slide 7

Jesus wants to forgive you too. When God made the first people, He designed them to have a close relationship (friendship) with Him. And they did!

But their relationship with God was broken when they sinned. Since that time everyone has been born with sin and is separated from God.

But God promised to send someone to save the people in the world from sin so they could be forgiven. The Savior is Jesus!

The Lord Jesus Christ came to save sinners. He came to Earth as a baby and grew up to be a man. He did something no one else could do—He lived a sinless life! He could do this because He is the Son of God.

Not too long after Jesus met Zacchaeus, Jesus was arrested by men who didn’t like His teaching. He suffered greatly then they nailed Him to a cross, where He died.

The Bible says, (read 1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 KJV 1900

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Jesus dying on the cross made it possible for your sin to be forgiven. He was buried but on the third day Jesus came alive again! Many people saw Him after He came alive. Then after 40 days Jesus went back to Heaven, where He is now with God, His Father, ruling over all.

Because Jesus did all that for you, you can be forgiven of your sin and no longer be separated from God.

Jesus wants to forgive your sins!

He also wanted to forgive Zacchaeus. Jesus knew everything about what he had done. But now, Jesus offered forgiveness to Zacchaeus!

Slide 8

Zacchaeus met Jesus and his life was turned around!

How do we know this? He promised to give half of everything he owned to the poor. Wow!

But Zacchaeus didn’t stop there.

He said, “If I have stolen anything from anyone, I will give back four times what I took.” He was also making things right with the people he had stolen from.

Jesus had made a huge difference in Zacchaeus’ life and other people could see it!

Note: It may be important to emphasize the truth that Zacchaeus wasn’t saved because he did these things; he did these things because Jesus had changed him!

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

If you’ve believed in Jesus as your Savior, others should see the difference God makes in your life.

Maybe before you trusted Jesus you were mean to other kids. Or maybe you stole things. But when you believe in Jesus as your Savior, He begins to change your life!

What does God change?

You begin to realize that some of the things you’ve been doing are sin. If you let Him, God changes your thoughts so you begin to think things that please God. He changes the way you act, so you act in a way that pleases God. You will start to want different things in your life because you are seeing life God’s way instead of your own sinful way. Instead of responding in a mean way or stealing, God helps you change to live your life for Him and not yourself. God even changes the things you want for your future!

Slide 9 - God Can Change You

Say with me, “God can change me!” (Say with children.) Does this happen all at once? No. When you believe in Jesus, God the Holy Spirit comes into your life. He is the one who helps you think, act and want things differently.

As you read your Bible and learn to follow God’s instructions He will help you become more like Jesus.

The Bible says, (read 2 Corinthians 5:17).

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV 1900

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

When you believe in Jesus, you are no longer separated from God! You are made new on the inside because you are right with God! He will help you so others will see the difference God makes in your life.

Slide 10

Jesus made a huge difference in Zacchaeus’ life. Other people were noticing the big change that happened to Zacchaeus. He was turned around!

Jesus told the surprised people that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’ house— Zacchaeus chose to believe in Jesus and follow His teachings!

Jesus also told the people why He had come to Earth. He said,(read Luke 19:10).

Luke 19:10 KJV 1900

For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

He came to look for and save all those who are lost in sin.