VBS, Rolling River Rampage, Day 3

 

While this Bible School theme is likely being used by many churches around the country, I thought I would catalog some of the special activities I did outside (but aligning with) the curriculum that was offered. My class was rising 4th graders, but I feel like most lower & middle elementary aged kids could appreciate the activities.

 Wednesday's Theme:

Wednesday's Bible Verse:  (Zacchaeus the Tax Collector)

19 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. ² A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. ³ He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. ⁴ So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. ⁵ When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” ⁶ So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. ⁷ All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” ⁸ But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” ⁹ Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Activity:I Spy. I had intended this to be a small activity that wouldn't take long, but everyone wants to have a turn at I SPY which stemmed from talking about how the people spied Zacchaeus in the top of the tree. Best laid plans.

 

Activity 2: Jesus Knows My Name. Since I spy lasted so long, I didn't get to my crafty project. My favorite part of the Zacchaeus story is that Jesus points to him and calls him by name. Even if we don't think we are significant, Jesus knows us so well, he calls us by name.  I fund some adult coloring capital letters on line and planned to have the kids write their names as fancy or crafty as they wanted. Since I ran out of time, I added it to their end of week packet (I made them a "yearbook" to take home).  I made this myself and since I only had 11 kids, and many of them have the same first letters, so it didn't take long.

Printables 

Story Page   
Word Search
Coloring Page 

Want to feel old?  Try and see if your kids remember the original Zacchaeus song. (They won't) Then, play it for them and watch their eyes roll. 

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