Scripture Reference: Proverbs 3:8
Cast:
DAD – dad/announcer
MELISSA – sister
ELIJAH – brother
DALTON – brother
Costume:
Either casual clothes or pajamas.
Props:
Cereal box with label for WISDOM, milk, bowl, spoon.
(MELISSA is sitting at the breakfast table when DAD enters.)
DAD: Hey, Melissa. I have something new for you to try for breakfast.
MELISSA: What is it?
DAD: It's called "Wisdom". It says on the box:
This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
(pours bowl) Enjoy!
(DAD exits. ELIJAH and DALTON enter and sit down.)
ELIJAH: What's this stuff?
MELISSA: Some cereal. Supposed to be good for you.
ELIJAH: Did you try it?
MELISSA: I'm not gonna try it, you try it. (slides bowl to ELIJAH)
ELIJAH: I'm not gonna try it. (slides bowl back to MELISSA)
MELISSA: Let's get Dalton!
ELIJAH: Yeah!
MELISSA: He won't eat it. He hates everything. (slides bowl to DALTON)
(DALTON looks at the bowl, takes a bite, like it, and keeps eating.)
MELISSA: He likes it!
ELIJAH: Hey, Dalton!
DAD: When you bring Wisdom home, don't tell the kids it's good for them. You're the only one who has to know.
Scripture Reference: Matthew 25:21A retelling of the Parable of the Talents.Cast:
CALEB – Smallest monkey; feels he is inadequate to serve God.
MAX – Biggest and strongest monkey; works hard but tends to be prideful.
BOOGER – Big and strong; does not take good care of himself.
MR. WISEMAN – Wise man of the jungle; helps monkeys carry out the Creator's plan.
ROSIE – A very small, pink monkey who loves to swing.
Props: none
PART 1
(The scene opens with CALEB and MAX on stage talking.)
MAX: So you got a box from Mr. Wiseman, too?
CALEB: Yeah, I did.
MAX: And was your full of bananas?
CALEB: And a Bible. Did yours have a note in it?
MAX: Yeah, it said he was going to be away for a couple of weeks and to take care of the bananas. What do you suppose that means?
CALEB: I am guessing that is why he put the Bible in there. To help us figure out what to do with the bananas.
MAX: The Bible?!? There's nothing in the Bible about bananas.
CALEB: Maybe not, but I think I'm going to take a look anyway. Just in case.
MAX: Well, you do whatever you want to do. I'm going to seal it all up and keep it at the top of my tree for safe keeping. Are you ready for football practice?
CALEB: I sure am. I have some new plays I want to go over with you guys.
MAX: See you at practice, coach.
CALEB: Don't forget the coconut.
(MAX and CALEB exit in opposite directions.)
PART 2
(Scene opens with MR. WISEMAN entering.)
MR. WISEMAN: Hello, boys. I'm back.
(MAX and CALEB enter.)
MAX: Hey, it's Mr. Wiseman.
CALEB: Welcome back.
MR. WISEMAN: Thanks, boys. Did you get the packages I left you?
MAX: Yes, sir. It is safe and sound in the top of my tree. I'll go get it. (MAX exits.)
CALEB: Er… uh…
MR. WISEMAN: What's the matter, Caleb? Did you get the box?
CALEB: Yes, sir, but…
MR. WISEMAN: But what?
CALEB: I got the box. I HAVE the box. It's just that the box is… empty.
MR. WISEMAN: Empty?
CALEB: I'm sorry. You see Booger got hurt and was having trouble gathering food for his family, so I gave him the bananas. I mean, he HAS to feed his family doesn't he?
MR. WISEMAN: I see. And what about the Bible?
CALEB: Ah, the Bible. It's like this: Rosie was asking me lots of questions about God and my relationship with Jesus. She doesn't have a Bible of her own, so I gave her the one from the box.
MR. WISEMAN: I see.
CALEB: I'm really sorry. I was reading the Bible you left, and it said that we are suppose to help the sick and share the Gospel with others, so I…
MR. WISEMAN: Caleb, you aren't in trouble. You are a good and faithful servant. You took care of the contents of the box exactly as I instructed. I am very proud of you.
(MAX enters looking upset/confused.)
MAX: I just don't get it.
MR. WISEMAN: What's the matter, Max?
MAX: I don't understand what happened to the bananas. I sealed up the box real tight and put the box away. I didn't let anyone get near it. But now the box is full of brown, gooey bananas. Ick! They're gross.
MR. WISEMAN: What did you expect, Max? You don’t take care of bananas by locking them away. They aren't any good to anyone that way. Did you look at the Bible I left you?
MAX: No, I sealed it away, too. I guess it's not very useful either locked way.
MR. WISEMAN: Very true, Max. Did you know that God's gifts are like bananas?
MAX & CALEB: (Looking at each other) Huh?!?
MR. WISEMAN: If you lock God's gifts away and don't use them, they don't do anyone any good. You have to use them to serve others.
CALEB: Just like I read in the Bible!
MR. WISEMAN: Exactly. I have brought another box of bananas home with me. Would anyone like to help me give them away.
MAX: I'd love to give some bananas away.
CALEB: Let's go.
(CALEB, MAX, and MR. WISEMAN exit together.)
Scripture Reference: Philippians 2:3
A skit about using our gifts in service to God.
Cast:
CALEB – Smallest monkey; feels he is inadequate to serve God.
MAX – Biggest and strongest monkey; works hard but tends to be prideful.
BOOGER – Big and strong; does not take good care of himself.
MR. WISEMAN – Wise man of the jungle; helps monkeys carry out the Creator's plan.
ROSIE – A very small, pink monkey who loves to swing.
Props:
none
(The scene opens with CALEB mumbling to himself and looking sad when MR. WISEMAN enters.)
MR. WISEMAN: Hello, Caleb. Why so sad?
CALEB: Huh? Oh, hi Mr. Wiseman (sighs)
MR. WISEMAN: What's eating you, Caleb?
CALEB: Well, I have this flea on the back of my….
MR. WISEMAN: No, no, no. I mean what's wrong? You look like you've lost your best friend.
CALEB: It's that Max again. He thinks he's so special just because he's big and strong.
MR. WISEMAN: What happened now?
CALEB: They're playing coconut football again, and Max is the quarterback – as always. He says I'm too small. And he never throws the ball to me, because he says I drop it all the time.
MR. WISEMAN: Do you drop the ball all the time?
CALEB: Yeah, but I still want to play. It's just not fair.
MR. WISEMAN: God gives us each different gifts. Yours may not be catching a coconut, but I bet there are other things you could do. God has made each of for a special purpose.
CALEB: I suppose.
MAX: (enters) I can't believe we lost again.
MR. WISEMAN: What happened?
MAX: Those Cheetahs are just too fast. We can't score, and we can’t stop them from scoring.
CALEB: The problem is that you're running a nickel defense. A 3-4 defense is more effective against a running game.
MAX: What?!?
CALEB: And you shouldn't have Rosie playing tailback.
MAX: But she has a tail.
CALEB: That's not what makes a good tailback. She's fast enough, but she's too small to block. She should be playing wide receiver.
MR. WISEMAN: Sounds like Caleb knows a lot about football, Max.
MAX: He sure does. I'm really sorry I was so mean to you before, Caleb. My pride got in the way. Would you please come back and be on our team?
CALEB: I thought I was too small.
MAX: You are too small – to play. We need you to be our coach. You have great ideas. We really need you, Caleb. Please say you'll do it.
MR. WISEMAN: Sounds like a great idea.
CALEB: Hmmm, let me think… I'll do it!
MAX: Great! What do we need to do next?
(CALEB and MAX exit together.)
CALEB: (as they are leaving) Next time we play the Lions, we should use the "smashmouth" offense and….
MR. WISEMAN: Have fun stormin' the other team, boys. (exits)
Scripture Reference: 2 Timothy 2:21
A lesson in being ready for service.
Cast:
CALEB – Smallest monkey; feels he is inadequate to serve God.
MAX – Biggest and strongest monkey; works hard but tends to be prideful.
BOOGER – Big and strong; does not take good care of himself.
MR. WISEMAN – Wise man of the jungle; helps monkeys carry out the Creator's plan.
ROSIE – A very small, pink monkey who loves to swing.
Props:
Trash and dirt for BOOGER at the beginning of the skit
Bubbles, dust, etc. to make it appear that BOOGER is getting cleaned up
(The scene opens, MAX is sniffing the air, and MR. WISEMAN enters.)
MR. WISEMAN: What's the matter, Max? You look like you've smelled a skunk.
MAX: A skunk would be an improvement. Something around here is really stinky.
BOOGER: (enters covered in schmutz) Hi, guys. What's up?
MAX: (walks over, smells BOOGER, and faints)
BOOGER: Max?!?
MAX: (returns and addresses MR. WISEMAN) I think we found our skunk.
BOOGER: What are you talking about?
MR. WISEMAN: Look at yourself, Booger. You're a mess. When was the last time you took a bath?
BOOGER: What do you mean? I took a bath on my birthday.
MAX: Yeah, but your birthday was 4 months ago!
MR. WISEMAN: Booger, the Bible tells us that "your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit". You should take better care of yourself.
BOOGER: You're right. I haven't fell very good lately, and I haven't felt like I am serving God as well as I could.
MR. WISEMAN: Booger, I think it's time you get cleaned up.
(CALEB appears, and he and MAX drag BOOGER down. The kids then only hear a struggle with possible puffs of dust and/or bubbles rising to indicate that BOOGER is getting cleaned up. MR. WISEMAN offers words of encouragement.)
MR. WISEMAN: I think he's done, boys.
BOOGER: (reappearing cleaned up) What's the big idea! Why I… (looking down at himself) Hey, I look pretty good. And I feel MUCH better.
MR. WISEMAN: I'm glad, but you know it is even more important to be clean on the inside.
BOOGER: (jumps back in fear) I don’t want Max and Caleb to do all that to my guts!
MR. WISEMAN: (laughing) Don't worry, Booger. I'm not talking about dust and muss inside of you; I'm talking about sin in your heart. Sin makes you gunky on the inside and keeps you from being able to fully serve God. The Bible says that if you will make yourself "clean from evil things," then God can use your "for special purposes."
BOOGER: How do I do that? Does it hurt?
MR. WISEMAN: Sometimes it hurts a little bit at first, but it feels great in the end. You need to spend time with God, ask for His power to overcome sin, ask for His forgiveness, and forgive others.
BOOGER: I can do that.
MR. WISEMAN: That would be a great start. Once you are clean inside and out, God will be using you for might things. Then instead of Booger, we'll be calling you "Bigger," because God will be using your for bigger and bigger things.
BOOGER: Can you help be get started?
MR. WISEMAN: It would be a joy. Come with me, and we will look at my Bible.
(BOOGER and MR. WISEMAN exit together.)
