Zacchaeus Goes Out on a Limb

Children's Sermon: Zacchaeus Goes Out on a Limb (Luke 19:1-10)

Watch this video if you do not know the song: “Zacchaeus Was a Wee Little Man.”

How tall are you? I thought it might be fun to measure some of you and see how tall you are. (Take a few minutes to measure some of the children.) Well, some of you are rather tall and some of you are shorter than some of the others.

I can remember when I was the age of some of you. I wasn't very tall. Many times I had trouble reaching things that were up on a high shelf. Sometimes, I would have to stand on a footstool or pull up a chair to stand on to reach what I wanted. If there was a tall person sitting in front of me at the movie, I would have to lean from side to side to see around them or sit on my knees to see over them. 

What are some challenges people face when they’re short? What’s it like for you when you’re somewhere and you just can’t see? What do you do to try to see better?

I don't have to tell you about the problems of being short in a world full of tall people. You face that problem every day.

Today's Bible lesson is about a man who was very short. His name is Zacchaeus. You may know his story. You may have learned this song when you weren't much more than a baby:

Lead children in singing:

Zacchaeus was a wee little man,

And a wee little man was he.

He climbed up in a sycamore tree,

For the Lord he wanted to see.

And as the Savior passed that way,

He looked up in the tree,

And he said, "Zacchaeus, you come down!

For I'm going to your house today.

For I'm going to your house today.

When Jesus came by and saw Zacchaeus in the tree, Jesus looked up at him and called him by name. Jesus knew his name! And Jesus knows your name. 

Jesus said. "Zacchaeus! Come down quickly. I am going to be a guest in your home today." And Zaccaheus took Jesus to his house. The people could not believe that Jesus would go to the home of a man like that!

Lead children in acting shocked.

Jesus changed Zacchaeus. And Zacchaeus said, "I am going to give half of all that I own to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount."

Jesus forgave Zacchaeus and said, "Today salvation has come to this house. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."

Jesus knew Zacchaeus’ name. And he knew everything Zacchaeus had ever done. When Zacchaeus met Jesus, his life was changed. It doesn't matter if you are short or tall, Jesus knows your name, too, and Jesus knows everything about you.

Dear God, we know that when we meet Jesus, it will be a life-changing experience. Thank You that Jesus knows our name and loves us. In Jesus’ name, amen.