Sleeping Lion [children's story]

A children's story about how God sometimes doesn't answer our prayers or give us what we ask for.

Have you ever played a game called Sleeping Lion? (How about in the Audience?)

What about Dead fish - that's the name I know the game by,  but lets go with Sleeping Lion as that fits what we're talking about today better.

So, to play Sleeping Lion you essentially have to lie down and not make a sound, not even a whisper, and if you can, not move either.

Normally if you do make a noise, or move, you’re out of that round.

Today, the winners who can keep quiet and still can each win a little box of Smarties. But if you get caught out making a noise, or moving a lot, you’ll only get one Smartie.

There’s one more catch.

Unwelcome Silence [Church welcome]

A church welcome to lead into a sermon about God sometimes being silent and not answering prayers

Good morning everyone!!! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)
I can’t hear you, Good morning everyone! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)
Nice. And Good morning to everyone watching online! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)
I can’t here you, Good morning to everyone watching online! (mic out to audience, waiting for response)
Silence.

I have something awkward I want to get out of the way before we go any further in the service.
It’s the issue of awkward silence. Is there anyone here who gets really uncomfortable in moments of awkward silence? (PAUSE……………………………………………………………………………)

Shepherd’s Warming [Christmas script]

A two-act drama, for 3 guys, to be run at the beginning and end of a Christmas program, church service or concert. The first act being just before Jesus was born and the second act somewhat mirroring the first act but in modem times.

ACT I

[Shepherds are dressed in stereotypical costume, no glasses or watches, with sandals and mid height wooden staffs. Hands-free microphones. Flickering ‘fan forced’ fire front centre of available stage place. Positions mentioned are from actor’s POV facing audience]

[Background sheep noises play quietly from sound desk audio. Stars on roof. Musicians darkened. Two shepherds stand behind fire, facing audience. Joe (stage right), Bart (Centre). A third Shepherd, Tom, walks in from stage left speaking the last few steps of his arrival]

TOM: Well, that’s the sheep locked up for the night.
I tell ya, there’s nothing like driving the sheep up that valley.

BART: Yeah, it’s a nice run. Here, I’ll take your rod.
[takes wooden rod and puts it off to left of stage, and returns during the next line]

TOM: Did you see the way I got the sheep over those rocks close to the creek? Wow-Wee I thought we’d end up IN the creek for a moment there.

JOE: Yeah, mate. No one can drive a sheep like you!

Line Up [Morning worship activity]

You need a space where everyone present can line up.
Give each person a pen and piece of paper to keep their own scores.

When people line up in the order asked, they score 1 point if they are the person on either end of the line, then, moving in, people get one extra point for every place closer to the middle they are - with the people in the center getting the most points.

Duelling Connections [mime script]

A play for three, on the concept of everyone begin wired differently and connecting to God in different ways, or, how different worship styles meets the needs of different people.
Use a Dueling Banjos background track edited to your choreography, or even better - played live for your choreography!

--

[Person one has a triangular prism attached to a string, attached to their waist.
Person two has a rectangular prism attached to a string, attached to their waist.
Person three has a cylinder attached to a string, attached to their waist.
The shapes can all be made of different materials, like a can for the cylinder and cardboard for the triangle.]

Music starts.

Each person shows their shape to the audience in turn.

A box is put on a high table or stool, and the audience sees one side with three triangle shaped holes facing them. (the other two sides with holes are hiding on the bottom and on the back)

Background Noise [script]

A play for three, introducing the topic of God seemingly being pictured as a 'bad guy' in the old testament.

--

[Mum Dad and Daughter sit around table with papers.]

Dad: So, lets quickly review the minutes of the last meeting:
•    It was agreed that I put a scheduled reminder in my phone so I put the correct rubbish bins out each week.
•    We need to stop playing our tubas after 10pm, as per the neighbour’s request.
•    And we never quite figured out who’s leaving the toilet seat up.

Rebecca: Dad, you’re the only guy in the house!

Dad: No, Toby is a guy to.

Rebecca: Since when do guinea pigs use a toilet?

Rule of Love [script]

A play for two, suggesting Jesus ruled with love - and that's a better idea then domination and revenge.
Has a science fiction theme and a fun list of song titles used as dialogue toward the end.

NOTE: This is a standalone script but also has the same characters as a preceding "Bible Heroes 2.oh" si-fi script that explores how the Bible heroes were only powerful because they had God's power behind them. 

--

X-on: Commander Zorg, I have those planet destroyer blueprints you asked for. 

Zorg: [very sad] Just stick them over there.

X-on: Sir? What’s up? You look terrible - and not in an ‘evil villain’ kind of way.

Zorg: Everybody hates me

X-on: Sir, that’s not true!... Not everybody knows you!

Christian Drama Honour

Pathfinder Christian Drama honor scripts!

See:

• www.gcyouthministries.org/honor/christian-drama/ 
• wiki.pathfindersonline.org/w/AY_Honors/Christian_Drama

 

Here are some scripts I wrote specifically for completing the Christian Drama Honour, designed for a large group of Pathfinders where it's unknown exactly how many kids you'll have to act on the day, but all can be included:

• Bible Heroes 2.oh [a science fiction themed look at the Bible hero's power coming from God]

• Leaving Slavery...Again [Skit for a large group of kids about Moses, Pharaoh, the plagues and crossing the Red Sea]

Some additional scripts which have a reasonable number of cast, that can be generally adapted to the number of kids you have on the day, all generally contributing a few moments of their own each, include:

• Tough Job

• Compassionisation

• Joseph Forgives

 

 Note: there are also Puppets Pathfinder honors out there! 

Is Drama Appropriate in Church?

If done thoughtfully - DEFINATELY!

It may well be the only form some will come to understand a concept!

Any Drama should be prepared and presented to enhance the theme of the day and be dedicated to the glory of God and helping others to see his love!

We're aware Ellen G White had some things to say about 'drama' in the church. Here's a good look at the issue through the eyes of the White Estate to put her words into context. Click here and also here

Tips for Casting Christian Dramas, Skits and Plays

Here's a collection of tips to consider when casting for Christian dramas and skits.

Talent Discovery

Try to involve new cast though the year you've never tried before. This not only gets more people involved but also acts like a secret audition for when you have a larger more important role in the future - you can picture who is capable of such role, having seen them in action before.

Auditions

Auditions are probably a daunting thought for most church members but might be needed to know if someone is going to be able to bring the character to life as needed. Instead of asking for auditions or tryouts, cast the people you think might be good in a smaller skit earlier - and see how they perform without them knowing they are actually auditioning for a larger part in the future!

More dramas

You may be blessed with many casting options but with few chances to utalise them, compared to other rosters in the church. Two ways to include people more regularly are. 1. Write skits that have a larger cast. 2. Ask your pastoral team if you can have a drama featured once a month, for example, to introduce a theme of the month.

Pray

Pray for God's leading in selecting a cast. Ask him to 'close doors' if who you're casting is not the best option.

Understudies

Rarely is an understudy needed, but every now and then people have to pull out at the last minute. Of course, to have someone ready to be able to jump straight in to replace them is ideal, but that's not always very practical for every production, for starters it's not fun for understudies who never get on stage.

If a production is a significant one, it's best to have an understudy plan. Most skits probably don't need one, for the production often isn't THAT important (not the main event of the gathering), or someone could step in fairly easily with the short lines.

Having the option to hid lines that someone can quickly step into a role and use the prompts is useful. See our line hiding ideas.

It's possible that the writer/director of the skit (yourself) often acts in the production too. That's a lazy way to cast and remove a bunch of effort in finding someone willing and organizing rehearsals with them etc. But if you get sick.... it's over. Best, if possible, to keep yourself as the understudy to jump into any role that can't be fulled at the last moment.

If you are running a skit multiple times, you could have two people who take turns each time. That would give you an understudy who can step in.

Perhaps you can have a stage hand involved in rehearsals, and THEY could step in in case of emergency.
So you could 'cast' your stage hands as capable actors as a secret understudy. On the flip side, stage hands (who trigger sound effects or help move props) could be a way to have non-actors involved in a production. Like kids or partners or actors.

Nervous knock-backs

It could be a good potential cast member says "no" simply because they are nervous.
You can share our tips about learning lines, and dealing with nerves with them.

KNOCK-BACK STORY: I once was a lead role for a two act skit during a Christmas concert of 1000 audience - and got COVID 40 hours before performance. Looking for a replacement I got 15 knock-backs before a "tell me more..." reply. It as unprecedented to have so many knock-backs, and the 'yes' was from someone outside my usual circle, as if it took all the 'no's to make me search wider. So.... Why this guy and not me? Because he could deliver the lines better? Maybe. Because someone knew him, and only he could reach them? Maybe. To grow him, or myself? Maybe. To lead him somewhere?
I need to ask God why that person was needed for that moment when we all get to Heaven.

Once I was fixated on a youth playing a role (fixated = writing the script while pictureing them playing the role). Only he said he couldn’t because he had other duties on that day. I asked the youth pastor for any ideas and (without prior knowledge of my asking) they immediately suggested the same guy, even though admitting not having seen him act. I thought God was after this 'kid' for the role, so got the Youth Pr to rearrange his duties so he could act, and he nailed it! Why him specifically. Not sure yet.

Tips for Writing Christian Dramas, Skits and Plays

 COMING SOON

Some tips on writing Christian Dramas.

 

• Find out as much as you can about the theme your drama is meant to service.
• Research. If doing a script about a Bible story, it's very easy to think we know the story, but often there are myths and variations in the casual re-telling of well known Bible stories. Make sure you go back to the Bible and get a refresher on exactly what is written. To some degree minor facts being wrong won't matter, especially considering you're probably creating an imagined set of actions and dialogue, but in getting facts right you not only help teach the actual story, but the scholars in the room will be less distracted without seeing common misconceptions shared. So, while the overall message is the most important part of your script, getting key facts rights is what can take your script to a higher level.
   
• When you have several cast members on stage at once and have a series of  dialogue lines to go back and forth with in conversation, it may flow better when you limit blocks of back and forward conversation exchanges to two people, rather than having many people involved in the conversation jumping in with their one line - it's harder to remember when to come in with their line, and it also may not flow as smoothly.

• It can be fun to occasionally have everyone pipe in with a line one after the other, starting logically and getting more ridiculous or end on with eh final comment being majorly unexpected for a laugh.
  CAPTAIN: Someone is going to have to go out of the submarine and clear the propeller for us.
  COOK: Can’t be me, I’ve got some pancakes cooking.
  CLEANER: Can’t be me, I have to clean up after the pancakes.
  MECHANIC: Can’t be me, I’m eating pancakes
  NAVIGATOR: Can’t be me, I’m allergic to pancakes.
  

• You could occasionally break the fourth wall for effect. "The fourth wall is the implied plane that marks the “edge” of the onstage action. Actors break the fourth wall by acknowledging the existence of the audience."
  eg when it's apparent something funny or naughty is about to happen, and the actor knows and will make it happen, they can turn and grin mischievously to the audience, with a double eyebrow rise, before moving into the action.
• Include the occasional cultural reference (TV movies commercials) as long as they are not too distracting. Also include the occasional local reference, about someone in your church, for a giggle - but do so with respect and thoughtfully.
• Include a layer for kids, and also a layer for adults to muse on, a layer on the topic.
  
• Are there enough clues for most of the audience to follow along and confidently know what is going on? The first few lines could be spent setting the scene and catching up the audience where and what is happening. Of course you may also on occasion want to keep things a mystery or even misdirect the audience until the end - but usually try and and drop on character names early, state where they are and what they are doing. A narrator with a few lines at the beginning, and even end, is the simplest way to do such thing, but don’t always use that method.
• If your teams is a true store, like a Bible story, never start with ‘once upon a time’ which is a catchphrase for a fictional story. Use ‘many years ago…’ kind of terminology.
• Are there any key actions that cannot be seen by all the audience, making them miss a key point or story element?
• If writing for someone else, be sure to show them a draft you are confident meets the brief the first time. They may lose faith in your script and go elsewhere if they think you’re not on the same page.
• Write to the right age group
• Write to the capabilities of available cast. Often it’s good to have the cast members in mind as you write - helping you picture how the dialogue and actions will come across.
• Consider if having background sound fx will enhance you drama. Country sounds. Office sounds etc. but not if it will be distracting.
• Consider if background music will suit. Emotional or rousing. Work hard to match the action with the music’s changes in melody either by adjusting the script or editing the music by cutting out sections or repeating sections.
• Are there any opportunities for dropping in any sound FX connected to actions happening. Breaking glass, baby cry, siren etc. 

Spread the Word - [4-act script]

A 4-act serial drama for young kids - with a farm theme, and Jesus parables, and encouraging kids to share Jesus with their friends.

CAST:

Walter: - Doubter, directionally challenged, likes to point at what he sees.

Alex: - Open minded, joker, LOVES cats.

Chris: - Lead character, an enthusiastic sharing Christian.

Libby:  - Sweet, inquisitive, helpful. Has Wooden box of lettuce.

Eliza: - Strong skeptic from upbringing, but comes around. Has basket of big carrots

A Bird puppeteer: dressed in white (light colours) with black raven ‘puppet’
(cardboard cut-out with flappy wings, if not a puppet)

If God Didn't Know You [Devotional]

Can you imagine if our God DIDN’T actually know us.
One day you could be walking along and there is God, sitting at a park bench, on his phone, scrolling funny cat videos.

You pause and blurt out “Oh... my God!”

God kinda looks up, and goes, ‘hey’ in a deep Hemsworth kind of voice, and goes back to his phone.

You’re all 'deity stuck' but decide to go up to take a selfie with God but your phone battery’s flat.

Guest Speaker Interview Questions

Here's some options for inviting your guest preacher up the front for a get-to-know-you interview during a church welcome.

• Tell us where you grew up and where you’re currently ministering?
• Do you have a family?
• What sporting team do you most love? (Do you play? Anyone in the audience play?) 
• Do you play a musical instrument? (anyone else here play one?)
  
• What one food would you specifically like to see growing on the tree of life? (Anyone in the audience like to see that?)
• Do you collect anything? (Anyone else collect the same thing?)
  
• Finally, why did you become a pastor?

Standard Church Welcome [Visitors, online and in person]

Good morning everyone and welcome to [your church]

Particularly if this is your first time here, a special welcome to you for having the courage to step into an unfamiliar place,
and we pray that you feel right at home here and manage to catch a glimpse of God’s love for you today.

And we’d also like to welcome all those watching online, who haven’t joined us in the building for whatever the reason may be. We pray you will feel God sitting by your side as you watch today.
Why not put a message in the chat telling us where you’re watching from.

And to the rest of our family, welcome back, and make sure you go and say G’day to someone you don’t know before you leave church today.

 Have a blessed Sabbath everyone! 

The Father 5000 - replacing the irreplaceable [Father's Day skit]

A fun drama skit on the theme Father's Day and how you can't really replace a father.
A follow-up mothers day skit, "The Family 5000" here: scottpublished.com/2023/04/the-family-5000-replacing-irreplaceable.html

 
[Presenter] Good morning everyone! As most of you will be aware, tomorrow is Father’s Day.
This is a day where we celebrate our dads, and the love and efforts they put into their family.
Unfortunately, for various reasons, there are many people who don’t have a loving father. But be assured. . . you do have a loving Father in heaven who is waiting for you.
But until then, for those who just can’t wait until we get to heaven, we would like to introduce the latest and greatest father replacement technology money can buy - the Father 5000!!!!
[Father walks on with fanfare soundtrack, which turns into shopping music]

[Father] Hello.... every....body!

[Presenter] The Father 5000 is built so life-like, it not only has a receding hairline. 

[Father glances sideways at presenter]

Presidential Pitch [Morning workplace worship about future joy]

 Presentation: South Pacific Division Morning Worship - May 23, 2022
(written for a specific workplace situation, but could be adapted for a different location or for kids...)

[Greatest showman Music starts – Enter from back of room, Dark-glasses, suit wearing entourage of 2 or 3 follow. Photographer leads in front taking photos along the way. Takes some photos from the front seat for the first minute. Stand up front, entourage either side behind speaker. wit for end of intro music "...this the the moment you've been waiting for".]

Good morning, everyone

As most of you will be aware, there is a General Conference Session coming up soon.

At this session, there’s a possibility that our President may perhaps be elevated to the GC president role.
In this case, we’ll need to find a new leader for the SPD.

This morning, I’d like to put forward my name as a potential replacement for our President should he vacate his position in the coming weeks.

Now, I know what you’re probably thinking “I should have worn a tie this morning for my new boss - because first impressions are everything.” 

Baptism Battle Cry [a spoken word piece during a slideshow of baptismal candidates]

 Performance: Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church - May 21, 2022

This dates been on the calendar, marked since before time began.

A day of celebration for three who choose the might of the light, over darkness. To serve the great I Am.

Today, arrived that date, angels gathered, none were late.

And one by one they went, into the watery grave, for but a moment, before being raised, for the save.

David Attenmother [Mother's day skit admiring mothers]

Performance: Castle Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church - May 7, 2022

Narrator speaks like David Attenborough

Baby Excuses [where do babies come from?]

Written for a gender reveal party.

NOAH:
Hey Hope,
You know how we’re going to have a new baby brother or sister soon?
Do you know where baby’s actually come from?

HOPE:
Haven’t they taught you that in school yet? Well…..
maybe it’s best to ask an adult.
Go an ask someone here.