e God’s Word (Skit)
By Cheryl Rogers
© 2010 Cheryl Rogers, Tampa, FL
https://www.songsfromtheword.com/NewChristianBooks
Extracts from the Authorized Version of the Bible (The King James Bible), the rights in which are vested in the Crown, are reproduced by permission of the Crown’s Patentee, Cambridge University Press.
I Can See God’s Word (Skit) is based on a story by the same name, written by Cheryl Rogers, and published in I Can See Christian Storybook Treasury.
Characters:
Jake – Jake is an emotional boy being raised by his mother. His dad died when he was a baby, so his grandpa was the only dad he ever knew. His grandpa died five years ago, leaving Jake the worn black Bible he always carried with him. Jake is wearing casual clothes.
Ned – Ned is Jake’s friend at school. He offers to let Jake copy off his paper during math tests. Ned is wearing casual clothes.
Sammy (non speaking) – Sammy is friends with Ned and Billy. He regularly copies from Billy’s paper during the math test. Sammy is wearing casual clothes.
Billy (non speaking) – Billy is known as the smart kid who knows it all, but he doesn’t seem to know cheating is wrong. He regularly lets Billy and the others copy from his paper during math tests. Billy is wearing casual clothes.
Mrs. Stevenson or Mr. Stevenson if a male is cast in the part. This is the math teacher who catches the boys cheating during a math test. She (he) is wearing clothes acceptable for a schoolteacher.
Jake’s Mom – Jake’s mom is an emotional woman who is struggling to raise her son alone following the deaths of her husband and father. She is wearing casual clothes. Gramps: Jake called his grandpa Gramps. He died five years before the skit begins, but the audience hears the voice of an old, frail man from behind the stage.
Set: Two chairs are on the stage when the skit begins. One is facing the audience; the other is positioned sideways. A math book is under the seat facing the audience.
Props: A black Bible and math book, plus two more chairs.
Stage directions are italicized.
The skit begins with Jake sitting on a chair facing the audience with an old black Bible on his lap.
Gramps from behind the stage: When I die, Jake, I want you to have this. This is the most important thing I can share with you. It is the basis of my faith, and my knowledge of the living God.
Jake shakes his head and whispers: Gramps. Clutching the Bible with both hands. I miss you gramps. He pauses. I wonder what you’d say now.
Jake begins talking to the audience.
Gramps and I spent many long hours together fishing at the lake near his house. Gramps would get me out of bed early in the morning when ‘the fish were bitin’ and he would row his small boat to his favorite spot on the lake. Mom slept in, so she would be ready to make us man-size breakfasts when we got back, whether we caught fish or brought home fish tales.
Jake smiles a little.
The worms always were squirming and my little fingers were slow to put the bait on the hook. ‘Let me help you,’ gramps would say, as he reached over and put the worm on the hook.
We both looked forward to our fishing trips.
You see, Gramps was the only dad I ever knew. My dad died when I was a baby. My memories of him were the photos my mom placed on our mantel: Their wedding picture and the picture of dad, mom and I shortly after I was born.
Gramps was always there to share stories of when HE was a boy: stories about camping and boating and fishing, stories about the family and, most of all, his joy in knowing Jesus Christ as his Savior.
It was hard to believe he was gone. I knew he wouldn’t be happy about what happened at school today.
Jake’s mother from behind the stage, shrieking, If you are going to cheat, read grandpa’s Bible. It’s already marked for you.
Jake: Jake looks at the audience again and begins speaking.
Billy and Sammy and Ned had been cheating on the math tests for some time. Billy was the brain and Sammy and Ned needed help – like me. Sammy sat behind Billy and Ned sat behind Sammy. Whenever there was a test, Billy positioned his paper so Sammy could read over his shoulder. Sammy positioned his paper so Ned could read over his shoulder. I sat behind Ned and struggled. I usually got a “C” or a “D.”
Then on Monday Ned saw me in the school library trying to study for the math test.
The lights dim, then switch onto Ned as he enters the stage.
Ned: Whatcha doing?
Jake: When the light go out, Jake quietly slips the Bible under his seat and retrieves a math book, which he opens and begins reading.
Studying for the math test. He looks up at Ned like it was a pretty dumb question. After all, they will be taking a math test soon. What do you THINK I’m doing?
Ned: Why don’t you just do what I do? I always get an “A.”
Jake: What’s that?
Ned: Don’t tell anyone. He pauses and lowers his voice. I copy from Sammy. Sammy copies from Billy. You know he knows it all. Would you like to join the club?
Jake: He is stunned and doesn’t know quite what to say. He mumbles. I’ll think about it.
Ned: Well, don’t wait too long. Let me know BEFORE the test. I don’t want you tapping on my back or anything.
Ned exits the stage.
Jake: Sure, sure. Talking to the audience. I KNEW cheating was wrong. I knew mom wouldn’t approve. But I was getting farther and farther behind. He is obviously trying to justify himself. I didn’t think I could EVER catch up. I HAD to earn at least a “C” to continue playing basketball on the school team. And Billy and Sammy and Ned were getting away with it.
Why not me? He shrugs his shoulders.
The lights go out briefly, then shines on Ned carrying some books and walking across the stage towards Jake.
Jake: He stands up and walks up to Ned. Count me in.
Ned: Nodding. Gotcha.
Jake: Turning to face the audience again. It was THAT easy.
The lights go out, giving Jake and Ned time to get into the two seats on stage. Jake is in the last seat, which he turns to the side. He slips the math book under the seat along with the Bible. Two others boys, Billy and Sammy, enter the stage with their chairs. They place their chairs directly in front of the other two. All four chairs are in a line, one behind each other, facing the side of the stage. Billy is in the first seat, followed by Sammy, Ned and Jake. All boys appear to be working on a test. Sammy is looking over Billy’s shoulder. Ned looks over Sammy’s shoulder and pretends to be writing with bold strokes so the answers can be read from a distance. Jake sits up in his seat a bit to look over Ned’s shoulder. He then pretends to be writing the answers.
Mrs. (or Mr.) Stevenson: She (he) is walking back and forth by the boys, obviously keeping tabs. Okay, time’s up. Everyone turn in your paper. Billy, Sammy, Ned and Jake -- I would like you to stay after class.
Jake: Turning to face the audience. She caught us! Wouldn’t it be my luck?
The lights dim and Ned, Sammy and Billy grab their chairs and exit the stage. When the lights are out, Jake stands up and rotates his chair to face the audience again. He sits down.
Jake: Mrs. Stevenson called each of our parents on the phone and we were suspended for one whole week! Needless to say, I was put on probation from the basketball team. I was wondering how I could be so stupid when a small voice said:
Gramps, quietly from behind stage: Let me help you.
Jake: He reaches under the seat and retrieves the black Bible. Tears came into his eyes. He wipes an eye and begins turning the pages of the Bible absentmindedly. He stops, puts his index finger under the words and begins reading out loud slowly from the Bible.
The Word was God.
All things were made by him.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Gramps from behind the stage: Jake, this is why I read the Bible so much.
Jake keeps reading.
Jake: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) ...
Gramps from behind the stage: Jesus is the Word of God.
Jake flips through the Bible, looking for notes Gramps left him. He stops again, obviously finding something of interest.
Gramps from behind stage: Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
This is how he saves us, Jake.
Jake: With a look of understanding. He is noticeably excited. Gramps read the Bible so much because God used his Word, as it was written there, to change him! He uses the word of God to save us from the affects of the first man and woman’s sin!
Gramps from behind stage: Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Gramps pauses.
We NEED to change, Jake. The Holy Spirit leads us and teaches us through the Bible.
Jake continues to flip through the Bible. He stops again, finding another interesting passage, Romans 10:13, the one Gramps had taught him when he was a little boy.
Gramps from behind stage: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Jake: I remember gramps teaching me this. He closes his eyes and says a prayer. I call upon you now, Lord. Save me. Save my soul. Save me from this mess that I am in.
There is a loud knock.
Jake’s mom: Jake, are you all right? You’re awfully quiet in here. She enters the room.
Jake: Mom, I’m sorry I disappointed you.
Jake’s mom: She says resignedly: We all make mistakes, Jake. The important thing is to learn from them and not repeat them – at least if we can help it. She smiles.
Jake: Somberly. I have been reading grandpa’s Bible and I have been learning a lot of things.
Jake’s mom: Yes, he put a lot of wisdom in there for you. We knew you were too young to understand all these things when he was alive.
Jake: But I am old enough now?
Jake’s mom: Quietly. Yes. It looks like it is about time.
Jake: Yes. I think I can sleep now. I feel a whole lot better.
Lights rise slowly. The projector shows the Scriptures below on the screen so the youths can read it along with gramps.
Gramps from behind stage:
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
“And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. ” John 5:39,40 KJ/AV
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:15-17 KJ/AV
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11 KJ/AV
About the Author
Cheryl Rogers came to know the Lord through a devastating illness. When she surrendered her life to him, he healed her!! A former newspaper reporter, she currently publishes New Christian Books Online Magazine, a free publication with book announcements and book excerpts, digital book news and features.
Also by Cheryl Rogers
I Can See Christian Storybook Treasury is a unique ebook that helps to defeat doubt in children as they grow. It contains stories for toddlers through teens on important question of faith such as how can I believe in a God I cannot see, where is God, why did Jesus come to Earth and why did Jesus have to die.
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