Message in Drama

Servant 3 (common dress, a little sloppy)

The Set

Designed for churches with a little or a lot of room. Ample space is needed for three or four chairs and a table if possible (to represent a conference room). A means to enter and exit stage left and stage right preferred. A sanctuary or theater with a center aisle accessible from the area used as a stage is ideal.

Wireless microphones are preferred, but most scenes are soliloquy or one-to-one conversation and microphones could be mounted or shared. Based on size of the worship area and the project ability of the participants microphones may be omitted altogether.

The nature of the set (tables and clipboards) also lends itself to the participants having scripts in front of them if they don't feel comfortable with memorization.

Preparation

While there are hopefully some entertaining moments in this dramatic portrayal of this most familiar parable; it is presented as a message, or sermon if you prefer. In that regard, all that desire to partake of the sermon delivery should be involved in sermon preparation. All prepare for sermons differently, but here is one method recommended over the course of two weeks.

Day

1 Meet, pray, have the director read the scripture once. Announce that this is the message. Do not hand out scripts or reveal the nature of the play. Read the scripture aloud again. Ask participants what they heard. Read it once more. Ask participants what they feel. Now introduce the play and even walk through it with the director or directors talking and walking through all the parts. Take your time on this next step as you will ask for two commitments. The first is the commitment to read this scripture (Matthew 25:14-30) every day from now until the message is delivered. The second is that each person that accepts a part commits to practice times. Take time at the front end of this process to remind all participants that the greater the level of commitment, the greater the level of enjoyment--and they will enjoy delivering this message.

Send all home with scripts and assignments.

Days 2-3 Read scripture and study parts independently

Day 4 One hour meeting. The first half is for pray and the reading and listening to the scripture. The second half is for rehearsal.

Day 5-8 Read scripture and study parts independently

Day 9 One hour meeting. The first half is for pray and the reading and listening to the scripture. The second half is for rehearsal. During this second half, let the cast ad lib with only one restriction--they must be faithful to the message of the ten talents. Incorporate good ideas but keep the rhythm of the message and stay on topic.

Days 10-13 Read scripture and study parts independently. Perhaps a rehearsal the evening before, but the script itself is simple enough that it does not have to be over rehearsed. The daily reading is the most important part of this preparation.

Day 14 The group meets early and prays alone and then later than morning prays with the pastor, elders, deacons, or other church members. The group prays that whatever enjoyment the group has in delivering this message as a performance be accepted by God as an offering pleasing to him.

Final note: Have a blast! You will have people's attention and you will be delivering good news. It doesn't get much better than this. No one will go to sleep during this sermon!

Logistics

Sets and costumes are minimal, but consider delivering this on a fellowship meal Sunday. People are going to want to talk about this for more than a few seconds at the door. Here's the real bonus with the fellowship meal--all that reading over the last two weeks needs more than a few lines by each participant to do its work. The conversation at the meal will be a multitude of sermons, Sunday School lessons, and insights that are only beginning to percolate.

1 & 2 look at each other and laugh. Servant 2 defers to servant 1 with a hand gesture.

Servant 1: We’ve made it something of a habit. Doing our best with whatever we have.

All three stand. 1 & 2 smile and are eager to see their master. 3 stands but does not make eye contact.

Master: I will be away for some time. I have divided our valued accounts according to your abilities.

The master gives a large stack of files to servant 1, pats him/her on the shoulder and sends on his way. Servant 1 moves to stage left.

The master gives a medium stack of files to servant 2, pats him/her on the shoulder and sends on his way. Servant 2 moves to stage right.

The master gives a single file to servant 1, pats him/her on the shoulder and sends on his way. Servant 3 remains motionless, but directs his attention to each of the other servants as they speak. He shows worry with each remark they make (do not detract from the character speaking, but live the role of a person t hat lives in fear).

Servant 2 is reading and making notes. He is not distracted by anything around him (and is not making a distraction)

Servant 1 (phone): Of course I know there are risks. Don’t you know that’s what makes it exciting!

Servant 1 (phone): Flight 1851 departing at 8:25 p.m. I knew you could do it. See you in a couple weeks.

Servant 1 (aloud to audience): This could be my head on a chopping block if it doesn’t work out.

Servant 1: No! I’m not talking myself out of this. I have prepared most of my life for a time when I would have just such an opportunity. I didn’t know exactly what it would be, but that doesn’t matter. I am ready to put my talents to the test.

Action shifts to Servant 2 (Servant 3 follows action but does not overshadow what’s going on)

Servant 2 (aloud to audience): The figures add up. I can make this work. It’s going to take some extra time, and I may have to cut some expense in a couple places, but this could work.

Servant 2 (aloud to audience): I will have to make a couple adjustments on the home front, but my family knows that I have been hoping and praying for just this opportunity.

Servant 3 slowly turns to where Servant 1 was and makes hand and arm gestures of disbelief at what has happened. He turns back to where servant 2 was and repeats the process. He slowly turns to the audience and rolls his head and eyes skyward.

Servant 3 drops to the floor and puts his head in his hands. He slowly looks up at the audience.

Servant 3 (aloud to audience): What a disaster. If I mess this up, I’m done for. There is no way that this can turn out good. I know how the boss works. Sometimes he/she gets profits where he/she didn’t even invest. This is it for me. I’m done.

Servant three again puts head in hands (crying) for a few seconds, then looks up.

Servant 3 (aloud to audience): That’s it. That has to be it. I’ll play it safe. Maybe those other two yahoos will mess up so badly, no one will even notice me. I had better go and lock this up.

Servant 3 stands and starts slowly shaking his head up and down (this is being resigned—not enthused about his course of action).

Servant 3 turns away from the audience and towards the stage and jumps backwards.

Servant 3 starts to run down the center aisle to get away but stops and looks back after three steps.

Servant 3 (aloud to audience): SAVE YOURSELVES! RUN AWAY. MICE WITH CLIPBOARDS. RUN AWAY. RUN AWAY.

Both mice find pieces of bread or crackers staged a various spots. Both begin to eat.

Mouse 2: Well trust for one. Did you see how everyone was trusted with something?

Mouse 1: Bravo! They expected at some point to be trusted with greater responsibility and…

Mouse 1: so they got ready for that day. Sometime my enthusiasm gets the best of me.

Mouse 1: We will get to the third in a moment. What else did you notice about the first two?

Mouse 2: But they were determined to produce a return with what had been trusted to them.

Mouse 2: Could it be that we have beady little eyes, get into everything that’s not in a metal tin,

Mouse 1: That sounds like why people don’t like us, but not a reason to be afraid of us.

Mouse 1: Logically, that might be a reason for concern, but I don’t know it would create fear of just

Mouse 1: I could have gone through the entire day without being reminded that I am always subject to

Mouse 1: Thank you so much. I won’t forget, but those would be reasons for us to be afraid.

Mouse 2: No, they live in the same world we all do. They even talked about the risks.

Mouse 2: I think some fear is good. You know those devices where the cheese is up on a metal lever

Mouse 2: Most of the time, but a couple times I was in a bind and carefully removed the cheese.

Mouse 2: No, I’m not a mouse trap junkie. I would just as soon get my chow when somebody goes to

answer the doorbell and leaves their PB&J on the counter for a couple minutes. They never

Mouse 2: In the present situation, the two that acted without fear set out with urgency and purpose.

Mouse 1: Now we’re talking fine dining. I know this place that has a 5^th Sunday potluck meal like your

Mouse 2: What N is for is for No Fear. Fear is real but it should govern our lives. No Fear.

Mouse 2: Yes, but we are mice with clipboards and walking would have been so much easier.

The master enters stage right and Servant 1 enters stage left. When servant one sees the master, he runs toward him and starts showing him what he has accomplished.

The master smiles and nods approval. Finally, the master opens his arms and the servant enters them.

Servant 1 then stands to the right (stage rear) of the master (sharing in his joy).

Servant 3 now enters. He approaches slowly and cautiously. He starts to hand his master his file, but pulls back and starts pantomiming excuses. Finally, he shows the master the file.

The master is not pleased and looks at narrator (who is yet to make an appearance). He goes to the third servant and takes the file from Servant 3 and gives it to servant 1. Then moves out of the action to the rear of the pulpit or wherever the scripture will be read.

The cast assembles in the choir area or in a front pew and listens to the narrator.

Narrator: In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus describes the Kingdom of Heaven in many ways. One such way was in Chapter 25:14-30. We know this as the Parable of the Talents

14 "Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them. 15 To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more. 17 So also, the one with the two talents gained two more. 18 But the man who had received the one talent went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master's money.

19 "After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five more.'

21 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

22 "The man with the two talents also came. 'Master,' he said, 'you entrusted me with two talents; see, I have gained two more.'

23 "His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'

24 "Then the man who had received the one talent came. 'Master,' he said, 'I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

26 "His master replied, 'You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest.

28 "'Take the talent from him and give it to the one who has the ten talents. 29 For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

Permission to use this script is granted to all that call Jesus Lord and perform this to glorify God.