. all rights belong to Tanis Harms –
. refer to www.church-skits.com
OBEDIENCE BEFORE SACRIFICE – written by Tanis Harms
TOPIC: obedience
SCRIPTURE: 1 Samuel 15:22
Style: allegory/conversation: kids realize
. that their parents would prefer
. their obedience over any gift,
. which parallels God’s desire from us
Cast: KIDS 1–5 (you can reassign lines
. depending on how many actors you have)
Set & Props: building blocks
NOTES: - If this is for Mother’s or Father’s Day,
. you can just use “Mom” or “Dad” wherever
. both are used. Remember to change verbs.)
. - have ALL KIDS talk out to the congregation
. even if it feels weird not to talk
. directly to KID 1 who is usually
. standing behind them.
SCRIPT:
(KIDS 2 – 4 are busy building a castle with blocks.
KID 1 walks out, shoulders slumped forward.)
K 1 I am so tired of being punished.
K 2 So why don’t you just decide –
. to obey Mom and Dad?
K 1 It’s not that easy.
K 3 Ah, yeah, it is.
K 1 Well, for instance, I see you building a castle,
. and I just want to – knock it down.
K 4 Why?
K 1 (shrugging) Why not?
K 5 We’ve worked so hard on this.
K 2 You know that would make us angry.
. And that would make Mom and Dad angry.
. Then you would get punished again.
. 2
K 1 It’s just fun to knock things down.
K 3 So why don’t you build your own castle –
. and then knock down your OWN castle?
K 1 Where is the fun in that?
K 4 So you DO like to be punished.
K 1 I do not.
K 5 Maybe you don’t know HOW to build a castle.
K 1 I do so!
K 2 Well, if you did build a castle,
. and someone ELSE knocked it down,
. how would you feel about that?
K 1 I would be angry.
K 3 So – not only do you like to be punished,
. but you also like to be angry?
K 1 Er!
(KID 1 begins to pace in the background,
while KIDS 2 – 5 continue to build.)
K 2 (finally, without turning around)
. What are you doing?
K 1 I’M – THINKING!
K 3 Thinking about what?
K 1 How I can do what I want
. and not get punished.
K 4 Interesting.
K 1 (stops on the spot)
. And – I’ve got it!
K 5 You found a loop-hole?
K 1 I just have to get Mom and Dad 3
. a really nice present.
K 2 You mean – a bribe?
K 1 Yeah! I suppose it is a bribe.
K 5 (sing-song-like) I don’t know...
K 3 It would have to be a REALLY nice present!
K 4 And even then!
K 5 (again) I don’t know...
K 1 No really, I think this could work.
K 2 Just how rich are you?
K 1 I’ve got money.
K 3 Money that you get from Mom and Dad???
K 1 It’s the THOUGHT that counts.
K 4 So... THINK about that...
. You don’t want to think about anybody’s feelings,
. but you do want to think about how to bribe
. Mom and Dad, so you don’t have to think.
K 5 Huh?
K 4 And you THINK you can use Mom and Dad’s money
. to buy them something, so you can try
. to make them feel GOOD that you are being BAD.
K 5 Huh?
K 1 Er!
(KID 1 paces again, while KIDS 2–5 go back to building.)
K 1 Well then, I’m going to get a REALLY good job
. so that I can get them a REALLY good present
. with my own money. Like a car!
K 2 Wow! That’s going to be a LOT of work.
. 4
K 3 Wouldn’t it just be simpler to – obey them?
K 1 But I still want to do what I want to do.
K 4 So what kind of job ARE you going get?
K 2 I did A LOT of chores before I could
. save up enough to just buy an old iPod.
K 1 Er! (paces again.)
K 3 So let me ask you something.
. (KID 1 stops pacing to listen.)
. Let’s say Mom and Dad were mean to you.
K 1 But they’re not.
. They’re very loving and kind.
K 3 Okay, but let’s just say
. they WERE mean to you.
. And they REALLY LIKED
. to do mean things to you.
. If they gave you a few presents,
. would that make it all better?
K 1 No... what they did would still hurt me.
K 5 Mom and Dad always say –
. that the best present
. we could ever give them –
. is to obey.
K 4 Mom and Dad would rather have us obey
. and get along than get tons of presents.
K 1 But what is the point of all that?
K 2 When we ALL obey,
. we feel better about ourselves.
K 5 And - we ALL get along.
K 3 And then everybody gets to have fun.
(KID 1 stands with folded arms and studies the castle.)
K 1 (finally) Hey, you know... 5
. if you use THIS piece, like this,
. it can work like a door.
. (bends down and moves a block in place)
K 5 That’s awesome! Thanks.
K 1 No problem.
K 2 I hear Mom and Dad calling us.
. We better go.
(KIDS 2 – 5 all exit. KID 1 stops to study the castle.
Nodding approval, KID 1 exits in the same direction.)