Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Cleaning House

Scripture Reference: Exodus 13:17-14:31
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. – Deuteronomy 6:5
A lesson in our new life in Christ and not looking back.

Cast:
OZZIE – a mischievous little monster
MR. MIKE – the teacher who sets him straight

Props:
none

(OZZIE enters "dying" while MR. MIKE is on stage.)

OZZIE: Aaaah! I think I'm dyin'!

MR. MIKE: What's the matter, Ozzie?

OZZIE: Well, I was cleaning my room…

MR. MIKE: I've seen your room. I can understand why you think you’re dying.

OZZIE: (indignant) It wasn't my room, Mr. Mike.

MR. MIKE: Sorry, Ozzie. Please finish your story.

OZZIE: So I was cleaning my room, and I found a candy bar under my bed.

MR. MIKE: What kind of candy bar was it?

OZZIE: I'm not sure. The wrapper was off.

MR. MIKE: Well, what kind of candy bar did it look like?

OZZIE: I couldn't really tell. It was all covered with dust bunnies and was sorta weird green color.

MR. MIKE: I bet that looked disgusting.

OZZIE: You think it looked disgusting? It tasted even worse!

MR. MIKE: Ozzie! You didn't really eat that candy bar did you?

OZZIE: (reluctantly) Just a little bite.

MR. MIKE: Ozzie! That was dangerous. You have no ideas how long that had been under your bed. You shouldn't have even taken a little bite.

OZZIE: I know that now.

MR. MIKE: I'm glad. We don't want anything bad to happen to you.

OZZIE: Well, I better get going.

MR. MIKE: What are you off to?

OZZIE: Um. Um. I'd rather not say.

MR. MIKE: Ozzie! You were going to take another bite of that yucky old candy bar. Weren't you?

OZZIE: (ashamed) Yes.

MR. MIKE: Why in the world would you go back for another bite of that disgusting candy bar?

OZZIE: I know it's gross, but it's better than nothing.

MR. MIKE: Better than nothing? Ozzie, I'm sure your mom has all kinds of good food for you to eat.

OZZIE: Maybe, but what if she forgot to go to the store?

MR. MIKE: Don't go back to something bad. Trust your mom to take care of you.

OZZIE: Yeah, you're right, Mr. Mike. I'll throw that candy bar away and get something different to eat.

MR. MIKE: That's a good fellow.

OZZIE: I think I saw a purplish banana under by bed. (disappears)

MR. MIKE: Ozzie!!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Do This in Remembrance – Part 2

Scripture Reference: Exodus 12:1-13:16, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

A lesson in remembering God's power and deliverance.

do this in remembrance of me. - 1 Corinthians 11:24Cast:
ELIJAH – a mischievous little student
MR. JEFF – the teacher who sets him straight

Props:
Communion elements

(MR. JEFF is addressing the class, which includes ELIJAH.)

MR. JEFF: Just like the Passover was a way of remembering the miracles God had performed and His salvation, we celebrate Communion to remember our salvation through Jesus Christ. In 1 Corinthians 11:24, "do this in remembrance of me."

ELIJAH: I love doing Communion.

MR. JEFF: That's great, Elijah. Do you remember who started Communion?

ELIJAH: Hmm. I don't remember, but I love doing Communion.

MR. JEFF: Jesus started it the night He was betrayed. He gathered all of the disciples and gave them a new meaning to the bread and wine of the Passover meal, so they'd remember His sacrifice.
Elijah, do you remember what the bread means?

ELIJAH: Hmm. I don't remember, but I love doing Communion.

MR. JEFF: The bread represents Christ's body broken for us (break bread). Broken by the beating of the soldiers, and broken on the cross. Broken because He loves us that much.
Do you remember what the wine stands for, Elijah?

ELIJAH: Hmm. I don't remember, but I love doing Communion.

MR. JEFF: The wine, or juice, represents Christ's blood poured out (pour juice) for the forgiveness of our sins.
Do you remember anything about Communion, Elijah.

ELIJAH: I remember the bread and juice.

MR. JEFF: Those are the things to help us remember Christ's sacrifice. If you don't remember, then it's just snack time.

ELIJAH: I guess I'm just a rotten kid.

MR. JEFF: No, you aren't.

ELIJAH: But I don't even remember about Communion.

MR. JEFF: That's okay. Learn today about it. Then when you celebrate Communion today and in the future, you can remember about Christ's sacrifice.

ELIJAH: I can do that.

MR. JEFF: I am sure you can, and I am sure all of you can. Now, let's celebrate Communion together.

Monday, January 18, 2010

Do This in Remembrance – Part 1

Scripture Reference: Exodus 12:1-13:16, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34

A lesson in remembering God's power and deliverance.

Cast:
OZZIE – a mischievous little monster
MR. MIKE – the teacher who sets him straight

Props:
Sombrero, maracas

(OZZIE enters singing while MR. MIKE is on stage.)

OZZIE: ¯ ¡La cucaracha, la cucaracha, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah! ¯

MR. MIKE: You look very festive, Ozzie.

OZZIE: Hola, Mr. Mike. I just got back from Mexico where I bought this sweet sombrero and maracas.

MR. MIKE: You look very handsome.

OZZIE: Gracias, Mr. Mike. I had such a great time, I bought these, so I could remember my vacation.

MR. MIKE: Where in Mexico did you go?

OZZIE: (pause) I don't remember, but I had a great time! ¯ ¡La cucaracha, la cucaracha! ¯

MR. MIKE: Did you do anything fun in Mexico?

OZZIE: (pause) I don't remember, but I had a great time! ¯ ¡La cucaracha, la cucaracha! ¯

MR. MIKE: Did you try any yummy Mexican food while you were there?

OZZIE: (pause) I don't remember, but I had a great time! ¯ ¡La cucaracha, la cucaracha! ¯

MR. MIKE: Ozzie! Do you actually remember anything from your trip to Mexico?

OZZIE: (hopefully) I remember my sweet sombrero and maracas.

MR. MIKE: Those are the things you bought to remember your trip. If you don't actually remember your trip, then they are just a hat and a couple of rattles.

OZZIE: (sadly) I'm a bad little monster.

MR. MIKE: No, you aren't.

OZZIE: But I don't even remember my trip.

MR. MIKE: Ask your mom & dad to tell you about it. Then when you see your sombrero and maracas, you can remember your trip.

OZZIE: That's a swell idea, Mr. Mike. I'm going to find them right now.

MR. MIKE: That's a good fellow.

OZZIE: Bye (disappears then reappears) Now where was I going? I forgot.

MR. MIKE: You can't have forgotten already.

OZZIE: Just joking. (disappears singing)

MR. MIKE: Ozzie!

Monday, January 11, 2010

Serving God

Scripture Reference: Exodus 4:18-11:10

A lesson in serving God.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. – Deuteronomy 6:5Cast:
D.B. – a good albeit not very bright bunny
MR. MATT – the teacher who sets him straight

Props:
none

(D.B. enters while MR. MATT is on stage.)

D.B.: Hi, Mr. Matt.

MR. MATT: Hey, D.B. What's up?

D.B.: I need your help, Mr. Matt.

MR. MATT: What do you need?

D.B.: Well, I have been reading in the Bible about serving God, and I really want to do that.

MR. MATT: That's great! Serving God is a very special and rewarding thing.

D.B.: But I have a big problem.

MR. MATT: What's that?

D.B.: Should I serve God a peanut butter & jelly sandwich?

MR. MATT: No, that's not…

D.B.: Oh, is He allergic to peanuts?

MR. MATT: That's not it…

D.B.: Because I have a friend who just smells peanuts and his blows up like a balloon. (starts floating like his head is a balloon)

MR. MATT: No, D.B.…

D.B.: Well, of course not. He is God; He does not have allergies.

MR. MATT: Right.

D.B.: It is because if He tried to talk to someone in a still small voice, His tongue might stick to the roof of His mouth and the person would only hear mmm mmm mmm mmm.

MR. MATT: No, D.B.!

D.B.: They why, Mr. Matt? Would He rather have a bologna sandwich?

MR. MATT: It is because that's not what it means to serve God.

D.B.: (confused) Oh?

MR. MATT: To serve God means to be obedient and do what He call you to do.

D.B.: But what if He asks me to do something very hard?

MR. MATT: Especially if He asks you to do something very hard. It is easy to something that is, well, easy. It takes faith and perseverance to so something hard.

D.B.: Hmm. So making a peanut butter & jelly sandwich is too easy?

MR. MATT: Something like that.

D.B.: So He wants me to sell everything I have and move to Africa to be a missionary?

MR. MATT: Not necessarily. God wants you to use the gifts He's given you and to take advantage of the opportunities to serve he provides.

D.B.: So if my gift is making peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, and I have an opportunity to make one for God, it would be okay if I did?

MR. MATT: (relenting) Yes, D.B.

D.B.: Thanks, Mr. Matt.

MR. MATT: You're welcome, D.B.

D.B.: Bye, Mr. Matt.

MR. MATT: Bye, D.B.