Sermon topic: The God who chases us. He seeks us. He wants us in the kingdom. He doesn't give up on us.
Synopsis: A once esteemed Adventist is so badly hurt by church members he leaves the organisation and, becoming so disillusioned, throws away his faith altogether. Jesus, always chasing the lost, coordinates three angels to preach their messages, and ultimately have him choose to turn his eyes back on Jesus, who is there to receive him immediately.
ANGEL 1: Well, hello there!!
ANGEL 2: Oh hi, guys!
ANGEL 3: We’ll this is looking like an intriguing mission, to need all three of us!
ANGEL 1: Yeah, I wonder what it’s going to be
ANGEL 2: Find out shortly, I guess.
ANGEL 3: So, what have you two be up to? Haven’t seen either of you in a millennium!
ANGEL 1: Well, yesterday I had a mission holding back a mud slide, until the village was cleared.
ANGEL 2: Oh, that’s a messy one!
ANGEL 3: Good thing your clothing’s made of light!
ANGEL 1: Ohhhhh yeah.
ANGEL 2: How about you?
ANGEL 3: Oh, just general traffic light duty for me yesterday, keeping things to a close shave.
ANGEL 1: And how about you?
ANGEL 2: I’ve just finished a stint on heaven’s worship team actually, playing drums.
ANGEL 3: Oh! No wonder you’ve been sent back to earth!
[Jesus enters right of stage]
Jesus: Good morning, angels!
3 ANGELS: Good morning, Jesus!
JESUS: I'm sorry to pull you all into another mission so soon, but we've got a case that just can't wait.
{norm slide shows} Meet Norm. He’s a life-long Seventh-day
Adventist, previously involved in his church, and avid reader of Record
magazine.
ANGEL 1: Sounds like one of our family. What’s the catch?
JESUS: Recently he had a falling out with another church member. For the past couple of months he’s stopped coming to church all together.
ANGEL 2: Well, that’s not too long. Surely he’ll come back, right Jesus?
JESUS: I’m not so sure, angels. Recent surveillance intelligence shows he’s running from me too, and Norm has started chasing immediate gratification and has fallen for some of the world’s enticing temptations that Satan has designed. It breaks my heart, angels, to see someone so committed becoming so disillusioned via some careless interactions from my family.
ANGEL 3: But why is he running from you, Jesus? What did you do?
JESUS: I have done nothing to cause the drift. The interactions he had at church with some over zealous followers has soured his experience in our church community so much that he’s started believing Satan’s lies, that life would be better without me. I want him back in our family, angels, as I do all of humanity. I need your help to get Norm back.
ANGEL 1: Sure Jesus! What can we do?
JESUS: First, I need you to help protect him from total destruction, but most importantly, see what you can do to prompt him to return to our family.
ANGEL 2: Prompt him?
JESUS: Yes, you know the rules, we can’t force anyone into our family. But we can invite.
ANGEL 3: We can do that - anything for you, Jesus! But where will You be?
JESUS: Like always, I’ll be chasing him. I’ll be right behind Norm all the way, ready and waiting for him to simply turn around.
{Music - starts – Goodness of God Chorus }
JESUS: I see we’re all in human consumes already, and now we have to move fast, Angels, he’s just left his house. See you in the field. Here he comes.
[Angel 1 to left of
stage. Angel 2 to right, 4 rows back
Angle 3 down centre aisle, 4 rows, Norm
enter right to left on floor.
Jesus follows In behind Norm casually]
[Angel 1 meets norm left of stage, Jesus following]
ANGEL 1: Norm! What are you doing out here? Worship God. Give him glory. Come back to church. There’s many people who would love to see you! Turn your life around.
[Norm leaves to right wall]
ANGEL 1: He’s coming your way - out wide!
[Angel 2 meets Norm 3 rows back on right side wall of audience, Jesus followed Norm]
ANGEL 2: Hey Norm, Fallen is this world you’re dropping into. Turn back to Jesus!
[Norm leaves]
ANGEL 2: He’s coming to you, in the centre!
[Angel 3 meets Norm
centre isle after Norm has just travelled
through audience isle 3, with Jesus tracking
along stage floor.]
ANGEL 3: Norm, stop! You’re making yourself a marked man. Think about what you’re doing - Jesus cannot save you if you don’t turn back!
[Norm stops, breaks down dejected, Jesus is behind]
NORM: There’s no hope for me. I’ve run too far from Jesus now.
ANGEL 3: No! Jesus has been chasing you all along.
Turn your eyes upon him….
He’s…. right behind you!
[Norm turns around slowly,
and looks up,
Jesus smiles warmly with arms out inviting to come in for a hug.
After two seconds, Norm
jumps into the hug for 5 seconds.
They walk back slowly onto centre stage area, with Jesus’ arm around Norm’s
shoulder.
Angels regroup faster
on stage, ending at front looking at
them approach.
Norm and Jesus stop on centre stage and, face to face, Jesus holds both Norm’s
shoulders
JESUS: Welcome home, Norm!
[Three angels High 5 each other than scatter]
[walk off left stage]
Performance: SPD Family Sabbath, August 22, 2026