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AVOID HOSTILE TAKEOVERS – written by Tanis Harms
TOPIC: strive for unity to present gospel
SCRIPTURE: Ps.133:1, Jhn 17:23, 1 Cor.1-3, Eph.4:3
Style: allegory/conversation: as people hold
. a project meeting, 3 people try to
. takeover to do it their way
Cast: LEADER, 7 PEOPLE (this can be altered
. to fit another amount of actors)
Set & Props: whiteboard or corkboard on stand,
. pieces of white paper with tape,
. one piece of yellow paper with tape,
. pieces of black paper with tape,
. (or thumbtacks – this may work better)
. (optional) long table, chairs
SCRIPT:
(PEOPLE all stand, or sit down around a conference table.
There are pieces of white paper on the table already.
PERSON 4 carries in a yellow piece of paper.
PEOPLE 1-3’s faces need to be seen by congregation.
PEOPLE 1&3 have snuck pieces of black paper in with them.
LEADER enters and stands beside whiteboard.)
L Welcome everyone. Let us begin our meeting.
. I am very excited to get this project started.
. We are hoping to reach many people through this
. venture. So this is the premise that we have
. come up with.
(LEADER tacks white paper up in the center of the board.
Except for PEOPLE 1-3, ALL nod or react positively.)
L We are looking for other ideas that will compliment
. this plan of action, as well as for others to
. step up and help carry this out.
(PERSON 5 gets up to tack a white paper beside the other
then steps back to examine it.)
P 5 Well, I for one, am very excited. I think if
. we were to proceed with this, this other idea
. that we have - would fit in very nicely. As you
. can see, they seem to work together quite well.
. 2
(Except for PEOPLE 1-4, ALL nod or react positively.
PERSON 5 sits back down while PERSON 4 gets up
tentatively and puts up their yellow paper.)
P 4 I was kind of hoping that we could fit in this idea.
L Hm, that is interesting. But I think for now
. that idea may distract us from our goal.
. What you think everyone?
P 6 Yeah, perhaps put that one on the shelf for
. another time.
P 4 Well, I’m certainly hanging on to it. I feel
. very passionate about this idea.
(PERSON 4 takes yellow paper down and returns to seat.
PERSON 7 gets up and puts a white paper on the board,
then sits back down.)
P 7 I can totally see myself helping out in that area.
. It is one of my gifts. And I really look forward
. to serving in that capacity.
L Awesome! Anyone else?
(PERSON 6 goes to put up 2 pieces of white paper.)
P 6 I know I can contribute resources over here.
. And - I would love the opportunity to head up
. this aspect of the project.
(PERSON 6 returns to seat while PERSON 4 gets up again
with their yellow paper. As PERSON 4 speaks, s/he moves
the yellow paper to different positions on the board.)
P 4 Well, if you are able to do that, certainly we can
. work this idea in somehow.
P 6 I’m giving as much as I can already, I just think
. that would really push things too much.
L We really don’t want to burn anybody out.
. And we do need to be mindful of our budget.
P 4 But what if I do this, and we put it over here?
. 3
L Again, this would be dividing our efforts,
. and taking away from our goal. As you can see,
. it conflicts with this ministry over here.
(LEADER points to a white paper already on the board.
PERSON 4 takes yellow paper and sits back down.)
P 1 Well, who put you in charge?
L (unsure) Ahhh, you - all - did.
P 2 (mumbling to P 1) I didn’t vote for him.
(PERSON 1 gets up and approaches the board to tack up
a black piece of paper, and stays up there.)
P 1 Look, this is how I see it. We spend far too much
. time, money and energy on all - of this stuff.
. This - is what is important to me.
P 3 I agree. You can add my two cents to that.
(PERSON 1 puts up another black paper. LEADER and
PEOPLE 4-7 all balk in wonder, not knowing how to react.)
P 2 And you can get rid of that one idea over there
. completely. I don’t have any time for that.
L But - we have enough volunteers for that,
. even without you.
P 2 Oh, then why do I always feel like I’m being put
. on a big guilt-trip for not helping?
L We only ever try to encourage people to serve.
P 7 Perhaps you are feeling guilty for a good reason.
. God wants us all to serve. God designed all of us
. with gifts and talents and blessed us with resources
. so that we will build up the body - together.
L Yes, but again, we certainly try not to GUILT anyone
. into doing anything. We want people to serve with
. the right motives, with joy and love-
(PERSON 3 goes to tack black paper onto board.)
. 4
P 3 (returns to seat) Look, I come here expecting
. to have certain ministries available to me.
L And who is going to do that one?
P 3 You can figure that out. There are lots of people
. in this church who can do that, I’m sure.
P 6 But if everyone has your attitude, then there is
. really no one.
P 2 See! Guilting us into doing stuff!
(PERSON 1 begins to fill up the board with black paper.)
P 1 So if you would all see it MY way, you’d see that
. it makes the most sense.
L Listen, we have now gone way off track.
P 1 Says you.
(LEADER removes all black papers.)
P 6 Actually, our constitution says! And if you are
. a member, then you have agreed to support
. the constitution, with the stated doctrines.
. These should never change.
L Look, nothing should be done MY way, but everything
. should be done God’s way. If you disagree with
. the doctrines and constitution, and are unwilling
. to work within that, and unwilling to work as part
. of the body, then why are you here?
(PERSON 1 shakes a finger at LEADER.)
P 1 Hmmmm, well, I’m certainly going to look into this!
L Please do. And pray. Pray for unity.
. (as P 1 storms off, LEADER turns to ALL)
. You know, we all should have been praying for unity
. right from the beginning. Let's do that right now.
(ALL bow in prayer.)