Teach Them Jesus with Building Bricks
Jesus and Zacchaeus: Kindness
Luke 19:1-10; Romans 2:4; Colossians 3:12; Titus 3:4-5 New Testament PrincipleKindness
Zacchaeus was a rich chief tax collector in Jericho, and everyone knew he cheated people. When Jesus came to town, short Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to see Him. Jesus stopped, looked up and called him by name – "Zacchaeus, hurry down, for I must stay at your house today!" The crowd grumbled, but Zacchaeus welcomed Jesus with joy. Jesus' kindness changed his heart, and he gave half of everything to the poor and paid back four times what he had cheated. Kindness means treating others with love, even people no one else wants, because Jesus was kind to us first.
Kindness is treating others with love and care, especially people who are left out. We can be kind because Jesus was kind to us first, while we were still sinners.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Colossians 3:12 BSB
The Big Story · Redemption
Sin made people lost and far from God. Jesus came "to seek and to save the lost," going first to people everyone else had given up on, and His kindness brings us home.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- A map of where it happened
- Object lesson: Who's in the tree?
- Bible Kitchen (taste the story): Figs for everyone
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Called by name
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Preschool (ages 3–5)
Jesus was kind to me first.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Climb up, come down, Color the tree
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: with friends, with brothers and sisters
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Zacchaeus was a tax collector who cheated people, and no one liked him. He climbed a tree to see Jesus. Jesus stopped, called him by name and said, "I must stay at your house today!" People grumbled, but Jesus was kind to him anyway. Jesus' kindness changed Zacchaeus' heart, and he gave to the poor. Jesus was kind to us first, so we can be kind to others.
Memory verse
“Clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Adapted from Colossians 3:12
Start here
Do "Who's in the tree?" Ask, "If nobody in town liked this man, would Jesus like him?" Say, "Let's find out what Jesus did!"
Bible story 6 min
Jesus was walking through the city of Jericho. A big crowd was with Him.
In Jericho lived a man named Zacchaeus. He was a tax collector. He took money from people for the government, and he took extra for himself. He was very rich. People did not like him at all.
Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. But he was short, and the crowd was in the way. So he ran ahead and climbed up a tree.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
Build the tree and the house 10 min
You’ll need: A tub of building bricks, Baseplates, Minifigures or small brick people
- Pairs build the sycamore tree and Zacchaeus's house from the build guides.
- Hide Zacchaeus in the tree. Walk Jesus by and call, "Zacchaeus, hurry down!"
- Walk them both into the house together and say, "Jesus was kind to me first!"
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector in Jericho, was known as a cheater. When Jesus came through town, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to see Him. Jesus stopped, called him by name and said, "Hurry down, for I must stay at your house today." The crowd grumbled, but Jesus' kindness came first, and it changed Zacchaeus' heart – he gave half his possessions to the poor and repaid those he had cheated. Kindness means treating people with love, especially those others reject, because Jesus was kind to us first.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Kindness first, Called by name
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, at home
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
In Jericho, Jesus singled out the most despised man in the crowd – Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector – called him by name and invited Himself to his home, provoking the crowd's grumbling. Jesus' kindness came first; Zacchaeus' transformation came after, as he gave half his possessions to the poor and repaid fourfold. As Paul says, "God's kindness leads you to repentance." Christian kindness reflects the Son of Man who came to seek and save the lost, going first to those others reject.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: The order of grace, Kindness first
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, online and on screens, with friends
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons from this story
Same Bible story, a different principle.
More lessons on Kindness
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Seeing God's WorldSalt and LightMatthew 5:13-16; Jeremiah 29:4-7Jesus told His followers, "You are the salt of the earth" and "You are the light of the world." Long before, God told His people in Babylon to seek the good of the city and pray for it. Christians don't hide from the world or blend into it. We do good and show Jesus' love so people see it and praise our Father in heaven.New TestamentKindness
The Church BeginsDorcas Helps PeopleActs 9:36-43; Mark 5:35-43Dorcas loved Jesus and was always doing kind things, like making clothes for widows. When she got sick and died, her friends sent for Peter. Peter prayed, and God brought Dorcas back to life, and many people believed in Jesus.New TestamentKindness
Before He Finished Praying: Rebekah at the WellGenesis 24:1-67Abraham sent his oldest servant on a long journey to find a wife for his son Isaac from his relatives. When the servant reached the town with his ten camels, he prayed by the spring, "LORD, show kindness to my master." He asked God to show him the right young woman, one who would offer water to him and his camels too. Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out. She gave him a drink and hurried to water all ten camels. The servant bowed and worshiped God, who had led him all the way. God is kind and keeps His promises, and He helps us be kind too.Old TestamentKindness
With MusicKindness in a Song: David Plays the Harp for Saul1 Samuel 16:13-23; 1 Samuel 18:10-11; Ephesians 4:32King Saul was troubled and upset inside. God had chosen young David to be the next king, and God sent David to play the harp for Saul and help him feel better. David used God's gift to be kind, even to the king he would replace. God is kind to us, so we can be kind to others.Old TestamentKindness
David and Mephibosheth2 Samuel 9:1-13; 2 Samuel 4:4; 1 Samuel 20:14-17King David remembered his promise to his best friend Jonathan. He found Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, who couldn't walk, gave him back his family's land and invited him to eat at the king's table every day. God shows that same kindness to us, so we show kindness to others.Old TestamentKindness
Kings and ProphetsRuth and NaomiRuth 1:1-22; Ruth 2:1-23; Ruth 3:1-18; Ruth 4:1-22When Naomi lost everything, God showed His kindness through Ruth and Boaz, and Boaz became the family's redeemer, pointing to Jesus, our Redeemer.Old TestamentKindness