ELEMENTARY KIDS & FAMILIES date
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MY ELDEST SON ASKED, ‘IS GOD SAD?’ Inspire (for parents) Grandpa was an avid sports fan—any sport and every sport! When our family walked through his front door, Grandpa would be on the edge of his seat, eyes glued on the game. His enthusiasm was contagious as he passionately shouted and cheered for his favorite players. This was always fun to witness, until one particular day. Grandpa was extremely irritated with “his” team, and his anger gave way to a stream of curse words. We sat silently in shock. I certainly did not want my three- and four-year-old sons to hear this language, especially from their grandfather! To make matters worse, Grandpa felt no remorse. According to him, anger justified his language. On the drive home, I told the boys that I was sad Grandpa used bad words. My eldest son asked, “Is God sad?” “Yes,” I replied, “God is sad. God knows what Grandpa said. In fact, God knows everything about us. Since He created us, He knows us even better than we know ourselves. He knows all the wrong things that we do, either on purpose or by mistake,
and He loves us anyway. God loves us for who we are, and He knows what we can be.” We decided to pray for Grandpa. In that sweet moment, we prayed Grandpa would know his language was not pleasing to God, and that God would help him change. We also prayed that Grandpa would know how much we loved him, and how much God loves him even more! We were thankful that God seeks and saves all who are lost.
Gettinukge 19S:1t–1a0rted
by Sue Funkhouser
Scripture: L (Zacchaeus) s the Lost s Seeks and Save Main Point: Jesu ur family to ned to allow yo sig de is ce ur so This re your children d’s Word before Go in e tim ve ha is for parents to cause God’s plan attend church. Be their children’s iritual nurturers of be the primary sp iritually, your sp as you grow at th ow kn we faith, spiritually as well. children will grow
Equip (for parents) Equip is additional background information that will help you introduce this Scripture passage to your children this week. Zacchaeus was lost. He was the chief tax collector, which meant he was most likely a very wealthy man. The Roman Empire hired tax collectors to collect money for their vast empire. They did not give their tax collectors a salary for this work—probably because they expected the tax collectors to collect more than the required tax and keep the extra for themselves. Because Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector, he would be entitled to a cut from all of the collectors beneath him. Because tax collectors were well known for shady dealings, they were thought of as scoundrels—lowest of the low. And for Jews, Zacchaeus was especially good-for-nothing. He was a Jew working for the Gentile Roman government that Jews greatly resented. It is clear in the Mosaic law what was required of men like Zacchaeus. Leviticus 6: 2–5 says that if someone cheats a neighbor out of something, he must return it and add one fifth of the value as a trespass offering. But Exodus 22:1 states that if a man steals something and is unable to return what he stole, he must pay back four times what he stole. Because Zacchaeus’ heart had been changed by his encounter with Jesus at Jericho, Zacchaeus declared he would do all that the law required—and more. He said he would “give half of [his] possessions to the poor, and if [he had] cheated anybody out of anything, [he would] pay back four times the amount” (Luke 19:8). After Zacchaeus made this declaration, he repented and turned from his sinful life. “Jesus said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house … For the Son of
“For
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BER wor God s VER l o d SE o n e t h a l ov e who and o t he g d the s h a e ve r b n l y S o a ve h i e t e r l l n o t p e l i e ve n , t h a s t s e nal life. rish buin him ” Joh t ha n 3: ve 16
Man came to seek and to save what was lost’” (vv. 9–10). Truly, an encounter with Jesus is enough to forever change the heart of one who is lost.
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(for parents & kids) This week, JUST FOR FUN, have your children choose their two favorite toys and bring them as you gather to read The Big God Story. Have them hold onto the toys while you read Luke 19:1–10 together. Ask your children what part of this encounter between Jesus and Zacchaeus surprised them, why he climbed a tree to see Jesus, or why Jesus noticed him and called him down. Explain to your children that after Zacchaeus met Jesus, he gave half of everything he owned to the poor. Next, ask them how they would feel if you asked them to give away one of their two toys. Discuss together how it might feel to give away things you love. Remind them that Jesus didn’t ask Zacchaeus to do this, he did it on his own because he was so grateful that Jesus saved him. Tell your children that what they just heard is part of The Big God Story, and they will learn more in church this week about Zacchaeus and how God seeks and saves the lost.
© 2012 David C. Cook. TruResources are developed in partnership with ROCKHARBOR Church and a national network of family and children’s ministry leaders. All rights reserved.