Bible Plays for Children

By HOWARD BRUCE STEPHENS

The sacred stories of the Holy Scriptures are of immeasurable value.  They carry the message of the Good News, that God sent his only Son into the world to be our Savior.  These sacred stories contain intrinsic power within themselves to convey their message directly into the heart.  Handle carefully, they are alive

• Language: English
• Publisher: Hands Be Strong, Inc.
• Release date: May 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9780974268040

Book preview

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my parents:

Howard and Wilma Stephens

And to all who labor to transmit their faith to the next generation.

Preface

This collection contains over one hundred complete Bible Plays for Children. Each play provides a sample lesson plan that can be easily adapted for your Christian Education environment. The play Ruth is Faithful is used as an example in introduction.

Bible Plays for Children has also been created online with an easy-to-use table of contents so that you can quickly locate a specific play or a specific script. Each teacher’s guide provides a scene outline, scripture, props, player information and the associated script along with supplemental information about the Bible story. The online resource can be located at this URL:

https://bpc.handsbestrong.com

The Bible Plays for Children have been ordered based on the books of the Bible beginning with the New Testament followed by Old Testament.

May God continue to richly bless your ministry.

H B Stephens

Epiphany, 2011

Introduction

We write this to make our joy complete. (1 John 1:4)

The sacred stories of the Holy Scriptures are of immeasurable value. They carry the message of the Good News, that God sent his only Son into the world to be our Savior. These sacred stories contain intrinsic power within themselves to convey their message directly into the heart. Handle carefully, they are alive and give life!

Telling the sacred stories begins at home, where the child's first teacher is their parent and their first textbook is the Bible.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land that the LORD swore to give your forefathers, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. (Deuteronomy 11:18-21)

As the body of Christ, the Church, we also shoulder the responsibility of teaching these truths. In some traditions, the baptismal service includes a question to the congregation, Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ? The answer is clear and strong:

 "We will!"

The sacred stories are not being told to our children. The prophet Hosea writes, My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6) It is our generation that sustains the transmission of our faith and it is our responsibility to tell our children. Our Lord said, … when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth? (Luke 18:8) Our purpose is clear and our mission is right. We have been given the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us, therefore we cannot delay. Tell the Good News! The Kingdom of God is here and now! Change your mind and believe the Gospel. Amen.

Bible Plays for Children provide another way communicating the sacred stories to our children. Hearing the story or reading the text has tremendous value and should not be discounted in any way, however acting out a story takes the message even further into the heart. Children learn by imitation and are innately capable of role-play. A child with a toy truck becomes a firefighter, with a small doll assumes the role of a caregiver, or with a simple stick becomes a Major League baseball player.

Christian Education

In the time and space provided by most churches for Christian Education there is a unique opportunity to communicate with our children the sacred stories of Scripture. Within the environment of a normal classroom simple props and imagination can transport a child to the manger in Bethlehem, to the side of Jesus feeding the 5000, or to the empty tomb where Jesus was buried, but now is alive again and forevermore. The capacity for learning while acting out the story cannot be overemphasized. It is a powerful teaching tool. Children learn by doing.

The Dialog

The dialog in Bible Plays for Children has a dual purpose. The primary importance is to remain as close to the Scripture as possible. The reason for this is that in learning their lines of dialog the students are placing God’s word in their hearts. As the psalmist writes, I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (Psalms 119:11)

Later in life when the student reads the Scripture, the Holy Spirit will bring those words forward and make them alive and real. They will be able to immediately respond to the text because the Word of God, as phrased in the King James English, is quick or alive. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The second purpose in the dialog is to use every day speech in the context of children. For example, Let us go to the house of the LORD. (Psalms 122:1) could be taken to a child's level of speech, Let's go to church. There is a delicate balance in altering any words of Scripture. Remember our audience is the young child and the amazing energy of the story itself conveys its own power to communicate and transform.

If these plays are used as part of a regular Christian Education program, then a suggested learning exercise is to divide the speaking parts of the text among your students to take home for the week. The student’s assignment is to read over their part of the play each day and to become familiar with their part as well as the entire story. In the relaxed environment of the home, family members can be a significant help by reading the play with the student. When the group returns to perform the play, the students will be better prepared and they will be able to hear, understand and apply the Word of God.

It is understood that you may or may not have speaking parts for all of the students, or the reverse could happen, where there might not be enough participants. Remember that having an audience is optional; everyone can be in the play. Also, multiple parts can be given to students. In these cases, it is helpful to have the student try to differentiate the roles by using a different tone of voice, by their actions, or by their costume. By all means, if there is an audience of parents or younger children, explain to your acting company that they must disregard their normal speaking voice and raise the volume level, pretending to be outside speaking to someone across the playground. The audience must be able to hear. It is helpful to remind your students to face the audience when speaking. Use an open stance when actors dialog, halfway turned to each other and halfway to the audience.

Casting

The teacher is encouraged not cast parts based on gender. In all of these stories, either girl or boy can play a part. The purpose of these plays is to teach, to help the student learn the sacred story, to hear the scripture in a different way, to experience the dialog, to see the interpersonal interaction, to obtain a different viewpoint and to communicate truth on a different level than normal reading or listening. The purpose is to learn by doing. You may ask, Can a girl play Jesus? Yes, absolutely! What better way to learn about our Lord than saying His words and imitating His actions?

It is sometimes helpful, especially with short plays, to have students swap roles. It gives everyone a chance to play their favorite part and also allows others to see how imagination of voice or actions can enliven and transform a character.

Properties

Props for these plays are very simple. Remnants of colorful cloth, obtained at most fabric stores, can be used to create scarves, headdresses and other simple costumes. Scarves are made using a square of material folded in a triangle and tied under the chin. Headdress followed the same pattern as a scarf but with a small loop of rope or wire loosely fitting on top of the head. A larger square of cloth with a hole in the middle for the head to fit through can become a beautiful garment or can be used with a belt for an added place to carry a pretend sword or bag of money.

The ideas for props are endless and heavily depend on the imagination of the students. For example, use a small piece of red cloth, bunched on the floor for a fire. Have the student sit around the fire and pretend it is very hot, holding their cold hands out to the flames to gather the warmth, rubbing them together.

Keep your props in a special box, closet or place that is designated for that purpose. Opening the prop box should be an event that allows the students to enter with their imagination.

Ages

Children of all ages will enjoy taking part in these plays. There are many parts that simply require the wonderful God-given gift of imagination that children seem to have in abundance. Share your heart and your thoughts with your students as they enter into the sacred story. Imagine being a disciple seeing Jesus walk on the water, heal the sick or feed the multitude. Imagine being a shepherd when angels filled the sky announcing the Messiah‘s birth. For children that are not of reading age there are many non-speaking parts that can engage your students in active learning.

You can also use these plays for storytelling. Storytelling is ageless. It is an effective tool, stimulating the imagination of the child as you build a foundation upon God’s word in their heart. All of the plays are dependent upon the teacher to first imagine the story, and then convey that image to the child. Listed in this book and beginning each script on the CD there is a scene summary that provides an overview of the play and is helpful in visualizing the major points of the story.

Bear in mind a worthy saying: Keep it simple and just tell the story. Remember that the sacred story carries its own power to transform the listener.

Acknowledgments

Special recognition, honor and thanksgiving to Canon, Double 16 Productions for the Show-n-tell that formed the foundation of this work. Upon the shoulders of these contributions, we humbly stand and gratefully acknowledge.

The scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Zondervan web page: http://www.zondervan.com

 The NIV text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio), up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses or less without written permission, providing the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible, do not comprise 25% or more of the total text of the work in which they are quoted, and the verses are not being quoted in a commentary or other Biblical reference work. This permission is contingent upon an appropriate copyright acknowledgment.

The cover graphic was created by Jim Sutton and used with permission. http://www.GospelGifs.com

Illustrations/graphics supplied by GospelGifs.com are copyrighted and used with permission.

Example Lesson Plan

This is an example lesson plan using the Bible play Ruth is Faithful. This play is printed in the book and also located online (https://bpc.handsbestrong.com) along with all of the other plays listed in the table of contents.

Open in prayer: It is always good to begin with prayer. Christ said, For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. (Mat 18:20 NIV) This helps remind everyone that this time and place are very special.

Introductions: Teacher's name and quickly take role.

Describe the goals for this session: In this section we will be learning about Ruth and how she was faithful. Ask the students a series of questions concerning faithful such as 1) what does it mean, 2) give an example, 3) how are you faithful.

Read the story: The story is read from a children's Bible and the pictures are shown. As the teacher reads the story, a helper (or the teacher) writes the person's name (from the story) on the board. Note: this list will later be used to match the names of the actors to the play's characters.

Pass out the script: Go over the roles of each character. Because of the time constraints (about 30-40 minutes) this play will only focus on the first scene in the story of Ruth. The teacher will assign roles and state that these may change depending who does the best job and who would like to try for a specific role. The narrator has the largest part and could be initially played by the teacher to get things going. For this play there are the following actors.

Players:

Narrator - The play’s catechist or teacher should be a good reader with a clear voice.

Elimelech - The husband of Naomi. He dies in Moab.

Naomi - A mother figure shares the main story line with Ruth.

Ruth  - Naomi’s daughter-in-law, she is central figure in the story with Naomi.

Chilion - The son of Naomi. He dies in Moab.

Mahlon - The son of Naomi. He dies in Moab.

Orpah - Naomi’s daughter-in-law.  She is from Moab.

Students read scene 1: This will give the students a view of what will happen. After the initial read through, ask if anyone wants to try to read that did not get a chance the first time or, depending on the size of the group, you could switch out the entire cast with new students. Repeat as necessary. Explain how it is so very important to speak with a strong voice so everyone can hear.

Blocking scene 1: The teacher will cast the initial group of actors. The stage area is then described to the students. In this first scene the stage is a road to Moab. On one side of the stage is their home in Moab. You will need a few props such as a bag to carry for their journey including some kitchen items such as cups or plates. Other props are optional (such as cloaks, veils, robes and headdresses) depending on the amount of time that you have. Walk through the play with the actors, showing how each part of the dialog works.

Run scene 1 : Assemble the remaining students into an audience. Clear the stage. Start the action. Keep it going. Repeat with different actors.

Closure: Gather the group together and discuss how Ruth was faithful. Encourage your students to read the remainder of the story of Ruth. Ask if anyone has something they want to pray about, and then close in prayer.

Ruth Is Faithful

Scene Summary

The play Ruth Is Faithful presents the lives of a family dislocated from their country during a famine…separated not only from their home but also from their loved ones…but finding an oasis of faithfulness in Ruth, a foreigner from Moab…then a story of romance and love…a transformation from bitterness into a life of joy.

Scripture - Ruth

The teacher is encouraged to read the book of Ruth to the students prior to working with the script. A key passage is the words of Ruth to Naomi: Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me. (Ruth 1:16-17 NIV)

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the HOLY BIBLE,

NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright©1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Players

Narrator – The play’s catechist or teacher should be a good reader with a clear voice.

Elimelech – [E lim e leck] The husband of Naomi. He dies in Moab.

Naomi – [Na o me] A mother figure shares the main story line with Ruth.

Ruth – Naomi’s daughter-in-law, she is central figure in the story in the story along with Naomi.

Boaz – [Bow as] The rich noble of Bethlehem who owns the field where Ruth picked to glean during harvest.

Chilion – [Chill eon] The son of Naomi. He dies in Moab.

Mahlon – [May lon] The son of Naomi. He dies in Moab.

Orpah – [Ore pa] Naomi’s daughter-in-law. She is from Moab.

Kinsman-redeemer – A man of Bethlehem who is the next of kin to Naomi’s husband.

Servants of Boaz – These people are farmers who work for Boaz, harvesting the grain.

Town Elders – These are the people Boaz calls to witness the transaction made between himself and the Kinsman-redeemer concerning Naomi and Ruth.

Special Props

Common items from the prop box such as cloaks, veils, robes and headdresses.

Household items, such as a plastic dish, cups and tableware.

A bag or pouch for carrying the household items.

Script – Ruth Is Faithful

[Opening scene is Elimelech, Naomi, Mahlon and Chilion walking across the stage. They are walking slowly because they are tired and thirsty.]

Narrator: In the days when the judges ruled, there was a famine in the land. Elimelech, his wife Naomi, and his two sons Mahlon and Chilion were traveling to the country of Moab.

Mahlon: But father, why did we have to leave our home in Bethlehem?

Elimelech: There wasn’t anything to eat.

Naomi: [to her sons] We have heard that there is food in Moab.

Chilion: I am so tired and thirsty.

Naomi: It shouldn’t be much further.

[They arrive at the other side of the stage and begin to arrange the chairs and table to form a home]

Narrator: They arrived in Moab and started a new home.

[They are busy working around the house. Then Elimelech walks off stage. There is a pause then Naomi and the two sons begin to cry.]

Narrator: Later, Naomi’s husband, Elimelech, died.

[Ruth and Orpah enter on the opposite side of the stage making small talk to each other. Mahlon and Chilion go to meet them. They hold hands and bring them back to Naomi]

Narrator: The sons married women from Moab. One was named Orpah and the other was Ruth. They lived and worked in Moab about ten years.

[They are busy working around the house. Mahlon and Chilion walk off stage. There is a pause, then Naomi, Orpah and Ruth begin to weep and cry.]

Narrator: Both Mahlon and Chilion died.

Naomi: [crying] Why has this happened to me? First my husband dies and now my sons.

Orpah: I am so sad. What are we going to do?

Naomi: There is nothing left for me here in Moab. I have heard that there is food again in Bethlehem. I will return to my home.

Narrator: Naomi, Orpah and Ruth gather their belonging and begin to leave.

[They gather up their household things and put them in a bag. Then they walk slowly to the center stage]

Naomi: Go back, each of you, to your mother's home. May the LORD show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. May the LORD grant that each of you will find rest in the home of another husband.

[They give each other a tearful hug]

Orpah: We will go back with you to your people.

Naomi: Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Return home my daughters. Start a new life. It is bitter for me, because the Lord's hand has gone out against me!

Narrator: At this they wept again. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law good-by, but Ruth stayed with Naomi.

Naomi: Look, your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her.

Ruth: Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me.

Narrator: When Naomi realized that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. So the two women went on until they came to Bethlehem.

[They continue to the opposite side of the stage. This ends the first act of the play. The stage can then be reset to Bethlehem on stage left. The townspeople of Bethlehem have gathered. Naomi and Ruth enter from stage left and proceed to the center stage.]

Narrator: When they arrived in Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them.

Town Elder: Can this be Naomi?

Naomi: Don't call me Naomi. Call me Mara, because the Almighty has made my life very bitter. I went away full, but the LORD has brought me back empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.

Narrator: Naomi returned from Moab accompanied by Ruth, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.

[They setup their home at a center stage table and are busy putting things in order.]

Ruth: [speaking to Naomi]: Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor.

Naomi: Go ahead, my daughter.

[Naomi turns her back to the audience as Ruth goes out to stage right and begins picking up grain off of the floor.]

Narrator: She went out and began to glean in the fields behind the harvesters. As it turned out, she found herself working in a field belonging to Boaz, who was from the clan of Elimelech.

 [Boaz comes into Bethlehem]

Narrator: [Pause] Just then Boaz arrived from Bethlehem and greeted the harvesters.

Boaz: The LORD be with you!

Harvesters: The LORD bless you!

[Boaz looks across the stage at Ruth gathering grain]

Boaz: [to the foreman] Whose young woman is that?

Foreman: She is the Moabitess who came back from Moab with Naomi. She said, 'Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves behind the harvesters. She went into the field and has worked steadily from morning till now, except for a short rest in the shelter.

[Boaz goes over to Ruth]

Boaz: [to Ruth] My daughter, listen to me. Don't go and glean in another field and don't go away from here. Stay here with my servants. Watch the field where the workers are harvesting, and follow along after them. I have told them not to touch you. And whenever you are thirsty, go and get a drink from the water jars they have filled.

Ruth: [bowed to Boaz] Why have I found such favor in your eyes that you notice me--a foreigner?

Boaz: I've been told all about what you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband--how you left your father and mother and your homeland and came to live with a people you did not know before. May the LORD repay you for what you have done. May the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge, richly reward you.

Ruth: May I continue to find favor in your eyes, my lord. You have given me comfort and have spoken kindly to your servant--though I do not have the standing of one of your servant girls.

[The harvesters begin to gather around a table to eat a meal. Boaz goes back across the stage to join them.]

Narrator: At mealtime, Ruth was invited to join them.

Boaz: Come over here. Have some bread and dip it in the wine vinegar.

Narrator: When she sat down with the harvesters, he offered her some roasted grain. She ate all she wanted and had some left over.

[Ruth leaves the table and begins working again in the field.]

Boaz: [to the harvesters] Even if she gathers among the sheaves, don't embarrass her. Rather, pull out some stalks for her from the bundles and leave them for her to pick up, and don't rebuke her.

Narrator: Ruth gleaned in the field until evening. Then she threshed the barley she had gathered. She carried it back to town, and her mother-in-law saw how much she had gathered. Ruth also brought out and gave her what she had left over after she had eaten enough.

[This concludes the second act of the play. The stage is clear except for Naomi and Ruth’s home at the right center. Ruth goes back to Naomi and sits down at the table and shows her the large bowl of grain. The other side of the stage will be used for Boaz’s threshing floor.]

Naomi: Where did you glean today? Where did you work? Blessed be the man who took notice of you!

Narrator: Then Ruth told her mother-in-law about the one at whose place she had been working.

Ruth: The name of the man I worked with today is Boaz.

Naomi: The LORD bless him! He has not stopped showing his kindness to the living and the dead. That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers.

Ruth: He even said to me, 'Stay with my workers until they finish harvesting all my grain.'"

Naomi: It will be good for you, my daughter, to go with his girls, because in someone else's field you might be harmed.

Narrator: Ruth stayed close to the servant girls of Boaz to glean until the barley and wheat harvests were finished. And she lived with her mother-in-law.

Naomi: My daughter, should I not try to find a home for you, where you will be well provided for? Is not Boaz, with whose servant girls you have been, a kinsman of ours? Tonight, he will be winnowing barley on the threshing floor. Wash and perfume yourself, and put on your best clothes. Then go down to the threshing floor, but don't let him know you are there until he has finished eating and drinking. When he lies down, note the place where he is lying. Then go and uncover his feet and lie down. He will tell you what to do.

Ruth: I will do whatever you say.

Narrator: She went down to the threshing floor and did everything her mother-in-law told her to do.

[Naomi turns with her back to the audience. Ruth begins to straighten her dress and hair. Then leaves the stage. The harvesters come back on stage with Boaz. They are eating at a table.]

Narrator: When Boaz had finished eating and drinking and was in good spirits, he went over to lie down at the far end of the grain pile. Ruth approached quietly, uncovered his feet and lay down. In the middle of the night something startled the man, and he turned and discovered a woman lying at his feet.

Boaz: Who are you?

Ruth: I am your servant, Ruth. Spread the corner of your garment over me, since you are a kinsman-redeemer.

Boaz: The LORD bless you, my daughter. This kindness is greater than that which you showed earlier: You have not run after the younger men, whether rich or poor. And now, my daughter, don't be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All my fellow citizens know that you are a woman of noble character. Although it is true that I am near of kin, there is a kinsman-redeemer nearer than I. Stay here for the night, and in the morning if he wants to redeem, good; let him redeem. But if he is not willing, as surely as the LORD lives I will do it. Lie here until morning.

Narrator: She lay at his feet until morning, but got up before anyone could be recognized.

Boaz: Don't let it be known that a woman came to the threshing floor. Bring me the shawl you are wearing and hold it out.

Narrator: When she did so, he poured into it six measures of barley and put it on her. Then he went back to town and Ruth came to her mother-in-law.

[Ruth goes back to Naomi with her load of grain]

Naomi: How did it go, my daughter?

Narrator: She told her everything Boaz had done for her.

Ruth: He gave me these six measures of barley, saying, 'Don't go back to your mother-in-law empty-handed.'

Naomi: Wait, my daughter, until you find out what happens. For the man will not rest until the matter is settled today.

Narrator: Meanwhile Boaz went up to the town gate and sat there. When the kinsman-redeemer he had mentioned came along Boaz asked him to sit down also.

Boaz: Come over here, my friend, and sit down.

Narrator: Boaz went and found ten of the elders of the town. They all sat down together.

Boaz: [to the kinsman-redeemer] Naomi, who has come back from Moab, is selling the piece of land that belonged to our brother Elimelech. I thought I should bring the matter to your attention and suggest that you buy it in the presence of these seated here and in the presence of the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, do so. But if you will not, tell me, so I will know. For no one has the right to do it except you, and I am next in line."

Kinsman-redeemer: I will redeem it.

Boaz: On the day you buy the land from Naomi and from Ruth the Moabitess, you acquire the dead man's widow, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property.

Kinsman-redeemer: [shaking his head] Then I cannot redeem it because I might endanger my own estate. You redeem it yourself. I cannot do it.

Narrator: Now in earlier times in Israel, for the redemption and transfer of property to become final, one party took off his sandal and gave it to the other. This was the method of legalizing transactions in Israel.

Kinsman-redeemer: [taking off his shoe and giving it to Boaz] Buy it yourself.

Boaz: [to all the people] Today you are witnesses that I have bought from Naomi all the property of Elimelech, Chilion and Mahlon. I have also acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon's widow, as my wife, in order to maintain the name of the dead with his property, so that his name will not disappear from among his family or from the town records. Today you are witnesses!"

Town Elders: We are witnesses. May the LORD make the woman who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel.

Narrator: So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Later, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David.

The End

Supplemental Information

There was a welfare system instituted by God through Moses for the poor in the land of Israel. When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the LORD your God.' (Leviticus 23:22 NIV) The story of Ruth illustrates these laws in action as Ruth is allowed to glean after the harvesters. If one of your countrymen becomes poor and is unable to support himself among you, help him as you would an alien or a temporary resident, so he can continue to live among you. Do not take interest of any kind from him, but fear your God, so that your countryman may continue to live among you. You must not lend him money at interest or sell him food at a profit. (Leviticus 25:35-37 NIV) There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore, I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. (Deuteronomy 15:11 NIV)

A Good Name

It is one thing to have a good name, but a different matter altogether to have a life corresponding to that name. Elimelech’s name implies God is King, and expressive name given him by godly parents when the nation followed the Lord. But Elimelech belied the name he bore, for had he truly believed that God was King, he would have stayed in Bethlehem in spite of the prevailing famine.

But one might argue that it was a wise thing to do to leave a famine-stricken land for another land where there was plenty of food for his family. Surely that was a journey any father would undertake to have his dear ones from starvation. But Elimelech was a Jew and as such had the promise,

In the days of famine ye shall be satisfied.

Had he firmly believed in the sovereignty of God, Elimelech would have remained in Bethlehem, knowing that being in need can never throttle God. Had he not declared that bread and water for His own would be sure? Alas, however, Elimelech did not live up to his wonderful name! In going down to Moab, he stepped out of the will of God, who had forbidden His people to have any association with the Moabites. In Moab, Elimelech and his two sons found graves. Yet God overruled such a wrong move, for as the result of it, Ruth the Moabitess returned to Bethlehem with Naomi, who was to become the ancestress of our blessed Lord. [From All the Men of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer]

Reflection questions

Why did Elimelech and Naomi leave Bethlehem?

Where did they go to live?

What happened to Elimelech?

Naomi’s two sons married two women from Moab. What were their names?

Why did Naomi want to return to Bethlehem?

Who stayed behind in Moab?

Who went with Naomi?

How did Ruth get grain so that they could make bread?

Who owned the field where Ruth went to gather grain?

What did Boaz say to Ruth when he first saw her in the field?

What did Naomi tell Ruth to do at the end of the harvest?

What did Boaz do when he learned it was Ruth lying at his feet?

Who did Boaz take to be his wife?

What was the name of their first child?

The Magi Follow The Star

Scene Summary

The Wise Men Follow The Star presents the thrilling story of how a star guided the Magi in their search for the Baby King of the Jews. Scenes include: the Magi studying the stars…they take gifts and begin their journey…their arrival at Jerusalem…they meet King Herod in his palace…the alarmed king asks priests and scribes where Christ should be born…Herod tells the Magi to go to Bethlehem…the star leads them to the right house in the little town…they present their gifts to the Young Child and worship Him…God reveals the wicked king’s plans through a dream…they take another route home.

Scripture - Matthew 2:1-12

Players

Narrator – The play’s catechist or teacher should be a good reader with a clear voice.

Magi 1, 2, and 3 – These are the main players of the story and as with any of these characters, can be cast to either female or male.

Herod – The king should be gruff and surly.

Temple Priest – Played very arrogantly and with a snobbish attitude.

Joseph – A strong and silent type, with watchful care for the child

Mary – A small part, a single line.

God – An offstage voice that warns the Magi in a dream.

Special Props

Gifts from the Magi can be simple items that are golden in color, treated with special honor.

A baby for Mary to hold.

Script – The Magi Follow the Star

Narrator: Night after night Magi watched the skies. They knew just where to look for the brightest stars and the big and little dippers. [pause] One night, they saw a new star!

Magi 1: This must be a special star.

Magi 2: We have studied the stars for years. I wonder what this means.

Magi 3: This must be the star of the new Jewish king. I have read that God has promised to send the Jews a special leader.

Magi 1: Let’s go and worship him!

Narrator: Early the next morning they got ready. They took their finest clothes and best gifts. They climbed upon their camels for the long trip. [pause] Day after day they traveled. Over hills they went. They went across the desert sands. At last, they came to a city.

Magi 2: This must be Jerusalem, the capital city of the Jews.

Magi 3: Yes, this is Jerusalem.

[scene change into Herod’s throne room]

Magi 1: [bowing to Herod] Where is the new king of the Jews? We have traveled far to worship him and to bring him gifts.

Herod: [slyly to himself] I am the king of the Jews. There is no other king but me. I wonder how I can find out more about this new king child. [out loud to a servant] Call the ministers, teachers and leaders from the temple. Tell them to come here quickly.

Temple priest: [comes in before Herod and bows] Many years ago God promised to send a savior. It is written in our scriptures.

Herod: Where is this new king to be born?

Temple priest: The king of the Jews is to be born in Bethlehem of Judea.

Herod: [smiling to the wise men] The new king is to be born in Bethlehem. [slyly] When you find him, come back and tell me so that I can come and worship him too.

Narrator: The Magi bowed to Herod and quickly left the palace.

Herod: [scowling] If I find anyone who wants to take my place. [angry] I’ll get rid of him!

[scene change to the Magi on the road]

Magi 1: This is the road to Bethlehem.

Magi 2: [excited] There is his star! What joy!

Magi 3: [also excited] It is moving!

Magi 1: Look, it is stopping above that house. It must be the place where the child is.

Narrator: Carefully they brushed the dust from their fine clothes. They unpacked their gifts for the child king and walked slowly towards the house.

Magi 1: [knocking on the door]

Joseph: [somewhat surprised] Please come in.

Magi 2: We have come to see the child.

Narrator: They bowed low before the child Jesus. They opened the gifts they had brought. One brought gold. The others brought sweet smelling perfumes.

Mary: I hardly know how to thank you for the lovely gifts.

[scene change, they leave the house]

Narrator: That night, at the Magi thought about the wonderful child that God had sent. When they slept, God spoke to them in a dream.

God: [offstage voice] Don’t go back to king Herod. He wants to harm the child.

Narrator: The next morning they got up and started home in a different direction. They were glad that God had warned them not to return to king Herod. [pause] For a long time they thought about God sending Jesus to be the savior.

The End

Supplemental Information

Very little information is given in the Scriptures about the Magi or wise men who followed the star from the East to find the Baby King. Probably they were astronomers and astrologers. They would be looking for ways that the stars directed the events in history. Probably, they were not Jewish. They were what we now call astronomers. They studied the moon, the stars and planets night after night. They also studied history. They read about the Jews and the things that happened down through the years.

There were Magi in many countries. We cannot be certain of their country of origin. Some early historic references indicate that they may have come from Arabia. But there is a possibility that they came from within the kingdom of the Chaldaeans, which lies in a wide upper arching arc from Jerusalem to Babylon. This was a well-used trade route of the day, and it is possible the wise men or Magi traveled at least part of this route.

Because they knew Jewish history, they knew that God had promised to send a Savior King. When they saw this special star, they believed that this King had been born. They decided to go and search for this new King.

We do not know the number of Magi who made the trip. Some historic sources indicate there may have been 12 men; others refer to three. Because three gifts were mentioned, traditionally three Magi have been considered to be the number. Probably they did not expect to find this new king in the capitol city of Jerusalem, but they did expect that the current ruler would know where to find him, so they went directly to king Herod.

Herod was known as a wicked ruler. Herod would do anything to get power. He even had some of his own sons jailed and killed on false charges. The Jews hated him because he was so cruel. King Herod was very angry when he heard that another king had been born that might take his place as king of the Jews. He called in his own priests and counselors to find out if such a thing could be possible. They told him that a Savior King would be born in Bethlehem. Herod pretended that he wanted to worship the baby King as well, but he had already made up his mind to kill the child if he could find Him. The Magi brought gifts to the Savior King: gold, frankincense and myrrh. These were some of the most precious items from their country; they brought them as a special honor.

Before they left, God warned them in a dream that Herod was going to try and harm the Child, so they should return home another way. God told Joseph in a dream to take Mary and the Baby to Egypt until the cruel king Herod had died.

John Is A Special Messenger

Scene Summary

The play John Is a Special Messenger presents the important ministry of John the Baptist. Scenes include: an angel appears to Zechariah in the Temple…Zechariah and Elizabeth delight in their small son…John becomes a preacher in the wilderness…crowds come to hear him…he baptizes believers…he tells a tax collector to stop cheating …he tells a soldier to stop asking for payoffs…he preaches repentance …Jesus attests to John’s greatness.

Scripture - Matthew 3:1-3, 11:1-19; Mark 1:2-8; Luke 1:16-17, 76-79; 3:2-18; 7:18-35

Players

Narrator – The play’s catechist or teacher should be a good reader with a clear voice.

Gabriel – God’s messenger.

Zechariah – John’s father.

Elizabeth – John’s mother.

John – A person that is outgoing, bold and energetic.

Person 1, 2, 3 – People curious about John.

Tax Collector – Not a respected person in Bible times.

Soldier – A person that commands respect and authority.

Messenger – One of John’s followers.

Jesus – God’s One and Only Son.

Special Props

Common items from the prop box such as cloaks, veils, robes and headdresses.

A staff and rough clothes for John.

Script – John is a Special Messenger

Narrator: Zechariah was a priest. Every six months he served God in the temple in Jerusalem. Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth were very old. They did not have any children. One day, it was his turn to offer incense on the golden altar. The angel Gabriel appeared to him. Zechariah was startled and very afraid.

Gabriel: Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. Many of the people of Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous--to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

Zechariah: How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.

Gabriel: I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.

Narrator: Zechariah could not speak. He went to the people waiting outside the temple, but could not speak to them. Zechariah went home. Sometime later, Elizabeth had a son, and they called him John.

Zechariah: [excited] Praise God! I can speak again. John will be a special messenger.

Elizabeth: We must take good care of him so that he will grow up and serve God.

Narrator: When John grew up, he lived in the desert and became a preacher. Even though he lived in the wilderness, people came from distant cites to hear him talk about God.

John: [to the crowds] Be sorry for your wrongdoing. Ask God to forgive you. Then begin to do what is right. God will help you.

Narrator: When someone asked God to forgive them, John would baptize them in the Jordan River. Many people were sorry for their sins and asked for God’s help. John baptized them because they understood that they had done wrong and had changed. Now, they would do what God wanted.

John: Repent! Be sorry for your sins! Ask God to forgive you! Begin now to obey God.

Person 1: What shall I do to obey God?

John: If you have an extra shirt, give it to someone who needs it. Give some of your food to the poor people that have nothing to eat.

Tax Collector: I’m a tax collector. How can I obey God?

John: Do your job well. Do not overcharge the people. Do not ask the people for more tax money than they owe. Be fair and stop cheating the people.

Soldier: How can a soldier obey God? I must do what my commander says.

John: Don’t lie about people. Don’t tell people that you will hurt them to give you things. Be happy with the pay you get.

Narrator: John answered hard questions. Soon people began to wonder who John really was.

Person 2: Do you think John is the Messiah, the person God promised to send?

Person 3: He does speak words of God.

John: I am not the Messiah. The Savior is greater than I am. I am not worthy to unfasten His shoes. The Messiah will come very soon.

Narrator: Sometime later, Jesus was teaching the people when two messengers came.

Messenger: John wants to know if you are the Savior God promised to send?

Jesus: You have seen sick people become well, blind people see, the dead are raised. Go and tell John what you have seen.

Narrator: When the messengers had gone, Jesus spoke to the people about John.

Jesus: There is no person greater than John. He came ahead of Me to tell people to stop doing wrong things and to obey God.

The End

Supplemental Information

John was an Israelite.  His father, Zechariah, was a priest. His mother’s name was Elizabeth. There were priests in her family, too. She was a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus.  John was related to Jesus. The two families did not live near each other, though, so Jesus and John may not have known each other until they were grown.

John grew up in the wilderness. He wore cloths made of camel’s hair and a leather belt. He ate food that he found in the desert, too. God gave John a special job to do. He became a preacher. Even though John did not wear fine clothing like others wore in the cities, great crowds of people came to hear him. He always told the people to be sorry for their sins and ask God to