The True Light Zone
Christian Skits from the Spiritual Dimension
Copyright © 2014 Fran D. Lowe
ISBN 978-1-886068-87-2 (eBook)
Graphic design by Candy Abbott
Published by Fruitbearer Publishing, LLC
P.O. Box 777, Georgetown, DE 19947
302.856.6649 • FAX 302.856.7742
www.fruitbearer.com • info@fruitbearer.com
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Printed in the United States of America
Christian Skits from the Spiritual Dimension
Fran D. Lowe
You’re traveling through another dimension—a dimension not only of love but of joy and peace; a journey through a wondrous kingdom whose boundaries are that of hope. That’s the signpost up ahead—The TRUE LIGHT ZONE!
To my wonderful husband, Mark, who has encouraged me from the very start to develop the creativity the Lord has given me. And to the Lord Jesus Christ, who died on the cross to give me new life. He is the inspiration for these skits.
1. An Appointment with Death
2. The Best Gift
3. Black Books
4. Blood on My Hands
5. The Comfortable Pew
6. Four Stars
7. A Friendly Game of Cards
8. God’s Bucket List
9. Masks
10. The Perfect Stranger
11. Runaway
12. Salt and Light
13. Soul Scanner
14. Weights of Gold
15. Whose Side Are You On?
NARRATOR, a la Rod Serling
GEORGE STEVENS, an up-and-coming businessman in his thirties
DEATH, a distinguished man in a black suit
TWO ANGELS
ANDY EDWARDS, an athletic young man
ASSORTED DEMONS
SCENE DESCRIPTION: No scenery is necessary for this skit, which makes it ideal for either a church setting or street evangelism.
PROP LIST: Cell phone; appointment book
(George Stevens, an up-and-coming businessman, is talking on his cell phone with a stockbroker, and pacing up and down the sidewalk.)
NARRATOR: Witness George Stevens, a business consultant more preoccupied with the shifting sands of fortune than the permanency of everlasting treasures. He’s soon to discover the precious time he has lost and the consequences of his inaction, in the True Light Zone.
STEVENS (pacing): I don’t care what time it is, Tom! I want to know about American Consolidated. Do you think I should sell? You know it’s been losing points on the Dow for weeks . . . . Well, you sound optimistic . . . . How can you be so sure? (DEATH, a clean-cut middle-aged man in a black business suit, taps him on the shoulder. Stevens ignores him and continues talking. Death waves his hand over the cell phone, and it instantly goes dead.) Hello, hello! Tom! (slaps the phone) What’s wrong with this thing?
DEATH: George Stevens, I presume?
STEVENS: Yeah?
DEATH: We have an appointment.
STEVENS (half-smiles): I don’t think so. You must have the wrong George Stevens.
DEATH (looks in his black book): Let me see. George Stevens . . . You live on 2830 Pine Street . . . . Wife’s name is Nancy . . . three children; James, Austin, and Jordan . . . . You’re a business consultant.
STEVENS (pales): Yeah, that’s me. Look, guy, who are you?
DEATH: Oh, I’m known by many names. I’ve been called the Grim Reaper, the Last Enemy, the Great Equalizer, and so on.
STEVENS (sarcastically): You’re Death? Yeah, and I’m Santa Claus. Now, if you’ll excuse me . . . (He starts to call Tom back, but Death grabs his wrist in an icy grip and won’t let go. Stevens begins to shiver and drops the phone.) What do you think you’re doing?
DEATH: I guess I have to prove my identity to you. (He goes up to ANDY EDWARDS, an athletic young man, and touches him on the shoulder. The young man instantly collapses on the ground and dies. Two angels dressed in white carry him off. Death shakes his head and scratches a name out of his book.) Andy Edwards . . . He’s on the right side of the book . . . a Christian . . . Too bad!
STEVENS (teeth chattering): What’s too bad?
DEATH: I have no power over Christians. Angels instantly escort them into God’s presence after I touch them. They only die once.
STEVENS: Doesn’t everyone?
DEATH (shakes his head): There is a second death for non-Christians. Those are the ones I like—the ones I can take to Satan, my master. (He looks at Stevens with expectation, rubbing his hands with glee.)
STEVENS: Now, wait a minute!
DEATH: You’re on the other side of the book, so that means you’re coming with me. (Death starts a tug of war with him.)
STEVENS: What do you mean? I believe in God.
DEATH: Satan and his demons believe too, and tremble in fear.
STEVENS: But I’ve been going to the same church for years, every week! I tithe . . . . I even give to the missions fund every Christmas.
DEATH: So what? You’ve never trusted in Jesus and given your life to Him. Instead, you’ve devoted all your time and energy to money and things. Your greed has cost you your soul. Tonight, I’ve come to take you to hell.
STEVENS: This can’t be true! I’ve always been a good person. Only evil people go to hell. I’ve heard that all my life.
DEATH (laughs): That’s one of the best deceptions my master uses to blind this whole city. Everyone thinks they’re saved because they go to church and do good things. I love it! (He touches Stevens on the shoulder, who collapses in a heap. The demons drag him off.)
NARRATOR: Jesus said, “What does it profit for a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?” George Stevens gambled his soul away for all the toys the world could offer him, and now he’ll spend all of eternity regretting those greedy choices. His jarring revelation came a little too late for him . . . in the True Light Zone.
NARRATOR, a la Rod Serling
JEAN, a frazzled “supermom”
AUNT BETTY
VOICE OF JESUS
SCENE DESCRIPTION: This is a simple scene that can be performed in the church sanctuary. All that’s needed is an armchair and a floor lamp.
PROP LIST: Writing tablet and pencil
(A living room with an armchair and a floor lamp. JEAN is putting the finishing touches on her “to do” Christmas list.)
NARRATOR: Witness Jean Stanton, a frazzled housewife making out her lengthy shopping list for that hectic but festive time called the Christmas holidays. She will soon discover the most important part of the celebration, after taking a short sleigh ride through the True Light Zone.
JEAN (taps forehead with a pencil): Hmm, now let me see . . . . I have a hundred dollars to spend. (groans) Every year it’s the same. Christmas sneaks up on me before I know it. Then I always have to pick through the leftovers after the shopping feeding frenzy like a scavenger bird. (sighs) I might as well get started. (writes) Jason . . . needs a steam shovel to clean up his room. I know what he really wants—the keys to that new Corvette he keeps drooling over. He needs good clothes for school! (writes) Two pairs of pants and some underwear! Stacy . . . (writes) wants us to get a wide-screen TV so she can brag to her friends after school. She doesn’t need to spend hours watching TV! Her grades are awful! I think I’ll get her that new book on studying—Making the Grade without Straining Your Brain. Last but not least, John . . . wants those golf clubs from the pro shop. He can’t play at all with the ones he’s got, so he says. He always gets me things like vegetable slicers and food processors for Christmas. I’ll fix him! (writes) A tool kit would be perfect for all those honey-do jobs I want him to finish. There! That should do it—for my family! Now, for my friends. (taps forehead with her pencil) My problem is, I just don’t know what they want . . . . I know! I’ll get them gift certificates at Fleecy’s! That’s my favorite store. They’ll love it! Whew! That does it! (She puts the list in her purse.)
JESUS: What about Me?
JEAN (freezes): Who said that? (laughs nervously) Is that you, John? Come on out! I don’t have time for games. (She looks all around the room.)
JESUS: Jean, it is I, the Lord.
JEAN: Oh, great! Now I’m hearing things. I AM tired.
JESUS: You should be. You’re wearing yourself to a frazzle getting ready for Christmas, just like you do every year.
JEAN (laughs nervously): I’ve got the loudest conscience in town. (looks around) Really now, who’s there?
JESUS: After so many years of knowing Me, Jean, don’t you recognize My voice? I’ve been calling to you for days, but you’ve been too busy to hear. I had to get your attention at a quiet moment, and that time is now.
JEAN: Now? But I have to go shopping tonight! If I don’t, all the best stuff will be gone.
JESUS: Excuses, excuses! Don’t worry, I’m sure Sears won’t run out of underwear and tool kits.
JEAN: Oh, You heard. Well, there’s more stuff that I’ve got to do besides shopping—and You know John won’t lift a finger. I have to do all the party planning, cooking, decorating, and gift wrapping. He’s the one who gets to have all the fun.
JESUS: But don’t you see? In all the hustle and bustle, you’ve forgotten what the meaning of this season is all about.
JEAN (mechanically): Oh, you mean, when You came to earth to be born of a virgin in the manger. How could I forget that?
JESUS: Why did I come?
JEAN: To take away the sins of the world. You know, Lord, we’re doing a musical at church with those lines in it. I’m playing Mary.
JESUS: I know all about it. (She starts to speak.) And that you’re a chairman on all those committees.
JEAN: But, Lord! Look at all I’m doing for You. Someone has to pull their weight in that church, and I’m it. They need me!
JESUS: When I walked on this earth, everyone came to Me with their needs. But I only did what the Father wanted Me to do.
JEAN: I remember reading that.
JESUS: There were times My Father told Me to leave the crowds and go away to the mountains to pray and spend time with Him.
JEAN: That must have been a tough decision to make. I mean, all those hurting people . . .
JESUS: Yes, but My desire was, and still is, to do My Father’s will. That’s what I want for you as well.
JEAN (holds out hands): But I’ve been working myself to the bone for You!
JESUS: You know, Jean, a lot of people want to serve Me, but only a few want to spend time with Me, just enjoying My presence. They are the ones who hear My voice and obey. During their time with Me, I also fill them with My strength to do everything I tell them.
JEAN: Well, maybe I’ve been too busy . . . . But I’d really have to adjust my schedule! It’s so packed right now.
JESUS: My yoke is easy and My burden is light for you, my daughter. You’ve been taking burdens on yourself I never meant for you to carry.
JEAN: But I’ve been offering all this time and effort as a gift to my family and church.
JESUS: The best gift you can give them is the peace and strength that comes from spending time with Me. If you do, you won’t get stressed out.
JEAN: All that sounds good to me. I really want to do that.
JESUS: Don’t put it off! You’ll hear people telling you to wait until after the holidays to spend time with Me, when it’s less busy. But I know you too well, Jean. In January, you’ll be teaching at the mid-winter Bible conference. In February, you have to get ready for Valentine’s Day. In March, it’s the Easter pageant.
JEAN (tearfully): You’re right, Lord.
JESUS: How about now? (Jean hears a knock at the door. AUNT BETTY, an older woman in her sixties from her church, enters. They hug each other.)
AUNT BETTY: Are you ready to go shopping?
JEAN: Aunt Betty, I’d rather go tomorrow.
AUNT BETTY: But the sale’s over today! We’d better get a move on, too. In an hour, the best stuff will be picked over.
JEAN: I know, but there will be other stores having sales later.
AUNT BETTY: Well, when you called me fifteen minutes ago, you seemed to be really chomping at the bit to get down there. (concerned) Are you feeling all right? You look kind of pale.
JEAN: You may think I’m crazy, but I’ve just been having a conversation with my Lord and Master.
AUNT BETTY: Oh, what did your hubby say?
JEAN: Not John! Jesus, the Lord.
AUNT BETTY: You mean a real conversation, like we’re having right now?
JEAN: Yes. I heard Him very clearly.
AUNT BETTY: It had to be someone playing a joke on you. God doesn’t do that anymore.
JEAN: I know it had to be the Lord. I didn’t tell anyone besides you that I wanted to go to Sears, but He mentioned it in our talk.
AUNT BETTY: Well, what did this “voice” say?
JEAN: Jesus said He wants me to spend more time with Him.
AUNT BETTY: Why?
JEAN: He said He wants to fill me with His strength to do His will.
AUNT BETTY