A Short Man

Luke 19:1-10

People crowded the streets to see Jesus.  Zacchaeus wanted to see, too, but he was too short.

So he climbed up a tree.

As Jesus was passing by, he looked up and said, “Zacchaeus, come down.  I want to come to your house.”

Zacchaeus scrambled down the tree.

Zacchaeus was a tax collector.  His job was to get the tax money from the people and give it to the king.  Nobody liked him.  He was surprised but happy that Jesus wanted to come to his house.

A crowd of people stood outside the house.  They grumbled, “Why is Jesus in there?”

Zacchaeus told Jesus, “I will give money to the poor.  And I will pay back anyone I have cheated.  In fact, I will give them back more money than I took.

Jesus was happy that Zacchaeus was going to make things right.

Discussion Questions

• Why was Zacchaeus in a tree?  He wanted to see Jesus but he was to short to see over the crowd.

• What did Jesus say to Zacchaeus? He told him to come down from the tree because he wanted visit is house.

• What was Zacchaeus job?  Tax collector.

• Was Zacchaeus honest when collecting money? No

• Did the people like him?  No

• What did Zacchaeus do to make things right? He gave money to the poor and paid back the people he cheated.

Prayer

Dear God,  thank you for the story of Zacchaeus.  Thank you for teaching us to be honest.  Amen

Memory Verses

“‘Love your neighbor as yourself”  Leviticus 19:18

Cooking: Gingerbread People 

Ingredients: (makes about 2 dozen) 

1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup dark molasses
1/4 cup water
2 3/4 cups flour, plus extra flour 3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon 

Guide Your Child To:               

Beat the sugar, shortening, molasses, and water in a large bowl. Add flour, salt, ginger, baking soda and cinnamon. 

Chill the dough in the refrigerator at least 1 hour. When you remove the dough from the refrigerator, preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 

Place some dough on a piece of aluminum foil.
Pat the dough flat, putting flour on his hands to keep the dough from getting too sticky.
Cut a figure out of the dough using a person-shaped cookie cutter, and remove the excess dough. Place the foil with his cookie on it onto the baking sheet.
Let you bake the cookies at 375 degrees for 6 to 8 minutes. 

Talk About: 

• Who made people?
• How are you like other people? 
• How are you different?
• How was the person in the story special or different? 
• Did God still love him? 
• What happened?