Christian Belief

The Baptist

Garth von Buchholz · 12 October 2024

Style

Dramatic monologue

Duration

20 mins

Scripture

Luke 1:57-80, Matt 3:1-17, Mark 1:1-8, John 1: 19-34

Summary

There are elements in this drama that are extra-biblical, particularly John's revelation about “light bending in water.” To anyone who even does a casual reading of the biblical account about John, it will be obvious that John had no such revelation. The John of this play, however, is a John who speaks to a modern audience so that he can articulate the magnificent knowledge he has received about the Messiah.

Script

Setting: A dark cell in Herod’s prison, Machaerus Characters: John the Baptist Scene: John the Baptist is in his prison cell at Machaerus, just before the events…

That Won’t Impress God much

Kathryn Westerveld · 21 December 2017

Style

Rap.

Duration

approx. 5 min

Actors

Min 3 / Max 5M

Summary

God is not impressed by how good we are. (with apologies to Shania Twain)

Script

Note: The Refrain is split by Voice 1 and Voice 2. The Verse can be read by the same person or multiple persons. To make it more visual, each person could hold something…

God is BIG, Real BIG

Blaine Dueck · 14 January 2016

Style

Dramatic.

Duration

4min

Scripture

Isaiah 40

Actors

3 M/F

Characters

3 Readers

Summary

In this dramatic reading, based on Isaiah 40, listeners are shown the greatness of God but also shown how God cares for them individually. It is through this amazing, mysterious contrast that they are encouraged to put their trust in God.

Script

1: God is big! ALL: Real BIG! 1: Who else has held the oceans in his hand? 3: Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? 2: Who else knows the weight of…

Another Case for Sherlock

Lyd Heywood · 21 April 2015

Style

Dramatic.

Duration

7min.

Actors

3M, 1F

Characters

Sherlock Holmes Dr Watson Mrs Hudson (Holmes's housekeeper) Inspector Lestrade Notes: I wrote this in 2014 for my youth group, ages 9 to 13 to perform for their parents. Four characters were speaking. But Sherlock Holmes had his script pasted to the inside of his newspaper, and Dr John Watson had his pasted to the inside of the black cardboard laptop, Mrs Hudson had hers on her tea tray, and Inspector Lestrade had his in his police notebook, so although there was a lot to say, and they had practicsd it a lot, at least they had the script in front of them in case they got stuck. There were also other characters (who didn't want a speaking part) who quietly mimed aspects of the resurrection story, on the other side of the stage, as they were referred to by Holmes and Watson. The mimers were all dressed in black (and with quiet shoes!) so as not to distract from the main action in Sherlock's drawing room.

Summary

Sherlock Holmes and Dr John Watson chatting at home an proofing through logic and deduction that Jesus rose from the dead.

Script

J: Evening Sherlock, had a good day? S: Oh, you know John, scouting around, always looking for a case to solve, no joy today though. Fetch me a cup of tea, Mrs Hudson…

Bread of Life

Jim Hatherly · 02 October 2014

Style

Dramatic monologue.

Duration

10min

Scripture

John 6: 24-35

Actors

1M/F

Summary

A piece of imaginative rambling… Have you ever tried to weigh God? And where do you find him if you can't see him? What links all our questions together?

Script

Character: Narrator Have you ever tried to weigh God? I tried it once. I put my Bible on the scale. My neighbour noticed what I was doing and said my Bible was too…

Who's On Stage?

John Wayne Samples · 31 July 2014

Style

Light-hearted drama.

Duration

10min

Actors

1M, 1M/F

Characters

The READER: normal in every way. The VISITOR: overacting with stereotypical Jewish accent. Props: Easily removable typical Biblical garb for the VISITOR. He also wears an easy-to-read West Virginia tee-shirt or sweatshirt underneath. Note: Works best with a congregation accustomed to standing for scripture reading, but will work without that tradition.

Summary

The congregation gets unceremoniously blind-sided during a routine scripture reading by a seemingly irreverent bible-time teacher with a modern day lesson about why we worship and read scripture. (The simple message is in why some worshipers traditionally stand for scripture readings, while the larger message goes to the core of the worship experience, and for whom worship is really intended.) Key words: Scripture / Respect / The Bible / Performing / Self-Righteousness / Worship / Audience.

Script

(The setting is normal for the standard scripture reading, up to and including the first line.) READER (To the congregation, which hopefully obliges). Would you please…

The Hollywood Trilemma

Rob Jones · 19 July 2014

Style

Dramatic.

Duration

23min

Actors

1M, 3M/F

Characters

Adrian (game show host) Christine Jessi Mr Hollywood

Summary

This one-act play is based on CS Lewis's trilemma, also known as 'Liar, Lunatic or Lord'. The plot involves three contestants in a game show, each based on Lewis's theory. Christine is a Christian, Jessi is self-centred, whilst Mr Hollywood is clinically insane and only speaks in lines from Hollywood films. The fourth member of the cast is the exasperated host. It was written for Kingham Hill School, UK. (Note: This is not the full script. To obtain the full script please contact the author, whose details are at the foot.)

Script

(Three stools are on stage: SL is a prettywoman who is looking very comfortable. C is a slightly older but more glamorous woman who pinpoints members of the…

What's in a Name?

Terri Savage · 12 July 2013

Style

Light-hearted.

Duration

5min

Actors

3F

Characters

Sadie, Missie, Becca Props: Table, 3 chairs, wallet size or 4X6 picture, 3 sodas with straws Setting: 3 friends sitting around a table having a conversation, sipping on sodas. Missie’s holding a picture, showing it to her friends.

Summary

When girlfriends talk about names, one questions the importance of a name, which opens the discussion for the ultimate Name.

Script

Sadie: So what’s his name? Missie: Kyle. Sadie: That’s not a bad name; don’t know that I’d want to name my son that. Becca: WHAT son? Is there something…

Body Parts

Jim Hatherly · 22 January 2013

Duration

8min

Actors

7M/F

Characters

actors with ‘body costumes’ to identify their component part of the larger body.

Summary

A drama / conversation starter / study group presentation / or part of a worship service based on 1 Corinthians 12: 12, 14, 26, 27 Style: Light-hearted

Script

Narrator: For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it with Christ. The body does not consist of…

The Bookshop

Daniel Carlson · 01 December 2012

Style

Light-hearted

Duration

5 minutes

Scripture

Psalm 119, 2 Tim 3:16

Actors

2 M/F

Characters

Customer Shopkeeper Setting: a bookshop

Summary

This light-hearted, humorous sketch was written for an all-age service about the Bible.

Script

Customer: Good morning. I’m looking for a book. Shopkeeper: You’ve come to the right place. This is a bookshop. Customer: Quite. Shopkeeper: …

Credo

07 July 2012

Script

Credo By John McNeil Summary A personal interpretation of the Apostle's Creed. Script I believe that there is only one God. He is my Father. He knows all about me,…

The Swell King

John Beavers · 23 January 2012

Style

Drama.

Duration

7min

Actors

3M 3M/F

Characters

DUKE OF EARL. Persona is ‘50’s greaser with Boston accent (i.e. “th” sounds are completely replaced with “d”). Doubles as narrator and “fourth wall” participant. KING – Sits. Very little talking. A variation would be to select a random person to take the place of the king and have the DUKE ad lib the exclamation about the daughter and thumb through book for the king. DA GUARD ATTORNEY DEFENDANT

Script

A king is faced with the dilemma of having to punish his own daughter for a crime against the law that he loves. He loves the law and he loves his daughter. He…