Ground Rulz: Week 3

Kindness

This resource provides you with a lesson plan, a drama script, songs, activities to teach this lesson effectively, with opportunities for the children to be active in the learning process. You will be provided with lesson plans and extra materials for either a "stand alone teaching experience" or if you are teaching this as part of a whole module. Choose the resources that best suit your situation.

Aim: To teach the children that if you treat people with kindness, you can soothe even the meanest person.

Bible Text: Luke 19:1-11

Background Notes: We already know a little bit about tax collectors from week 1. This tax collector was particularly wealthy; he was probably a type of regional director, which would have meant that he was responsible ... Show More We already know a little bit about tax collectors from week 1. This tax collector was particularly wealthy; he was probably a type of regional director, which would have meant that he was responsible for other tax collectors in the area. Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus’ dinner with Matthew and his friends (fellow tax collectors) and wanted to check this guy out. Not being too popular he would have had a bad time in the crowd with people poking and pushing him. Because he was short, he decided to go ahead and climb into a tree. I’m sure Zacchaeus just wanted to get a look at this guy, not speak to him, but watch how he was with others. He wouldn’t have been a person who trusted people too easily, so he was happy to watch from a distance. As he watched Jesus come toward him, he must have seen something he liked, because when Jesus stopped and spoke to him, he jumped down gladly. Remembering that his standing in the community would not have been too high, I can imagine he enjoyed rubbing it into everyone’s face as he and Jesus went to his home. But throughout the night he saw something very different in Jesus; acceptance and kindness he had never seen in others. Jesus treated Zaccheaus as an individual and spent the time to get beyond the surface with love and kindness and won him over. Zacchaeus was so changed that he gave away half of what he owned and aimed to repay people back 4 times what he had cheated them out of. See what kindness and love can do to people.

You Will Need: THINGS TO BRING: A series of games and equipment for each station, Containers for each group, 100s of Points. (toothpicks, beans, paper), Whistle for starting and stopping each game, Prize for winners and smaller prizes for everyone else (minties), Shorts - with the word “Kindness “on it, Cushion and slimy stuff to put on the bench for main drama, Practical Jokes for the drama - For the character of Ben - Plastic, string, whoopee Cushion and slimy stuff to put on the bench, Mannequin/ shirt and patch and actor for Drama spot, Barrel / pens and paper.