Only the Very Best
by Craig Castleberry
Scripture: "See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright- but the righteous will live by faith..." Habakkuk 2:4
Theme: Sometimes we may not be so ready to serve the Lord in every situation, to step out by faith
Cast: Rachel, Jeff, Tiffany
Props: 2 small tables, 2 telephones, maybe a flower vase. (Part of the humor in this skit may be to change the look of the table for Tiffany by having her bring in a different vase of flowers before she sits down / Maybe even have the change of props under the table and she can change them while answering the phone / Have fun with it!)
(A girl, Rachel, sits at a table with a phone and notepad - Another telephone on a table is opposite the stage from the other table)
(Scene opens as Rachel is calling their youth group to encourage them to get involved in youth choir)
Rachel: (Talking to herself out loud) I guess the first call is always the toughest. Let's see, how about calling...Jeff. (Dials his number)
(Jeff walks to the phone on the other table and picks up the phone)
Jeff: Hello?
Rachel: Hi Jeff, this is Rachel.
Jeff: Oh, hi Rachel. How did you do on the Math Quiz today?
Rachel: (Face turns to stone) Don't ask. (Then a smile comes back across her face)
Jeff: ooops. Sorry.
Rachel: Anyway, I wanted to call and let you know that our church is starting a new youth choir next Sunday!
Jeff: Oh really? (Not sounding too excited)
Rachel: Yes and I was hoping you would be in youth choir for the very first rehearsal!
Jeff: Well, is it going to be good?
Rachel: (Puzzled look) I am sure it will be.
Jeff: Well, it's just that anything that I am in, it needs to be good, or I don't want to do it. I have an image to uphold.
Rachel: (Looking more puzzled) It won't even be BAD if we don't have ANYONE show up.
Jeff: See, at my last church we had over 100 members in the youth choir and it was one of the best in the country.
Rachel: But, I am sure even THAT choir was the size of our choir here when it just started out.
Jeff: Maybe so, but I wasn't in it then.
Rachel: I just think we should step out on faith, and when we do, our choir will be blessed and God will handle the rest.
Jeff: It was cool to be in choir at my last church, but here...here it is different.
Rachel: Jeff, I do have one more thing I needed to share with you.
Jeff: What's that?
Rachel: GO BACK TO YOUR LAST CHURCH! (She hangs up the phone with a crash. Regaining composure after a pause, she looks at her notepad and picks up the phone.)
Rachel: Hello, Tiffany?
Tiffany: Hi, Rachel!
Rachel: Have you ever been in a really big youth choir before...like at your last church?
(Tiffany looks at the phone like that was the craziest question)
THE END
Study Questions
Were Jeff's desires upright? Rachel was living by faith and even her faith was challenged by Jeff who exhibited little faith.
What was Jeff's problem? Who was Jeff really wanting to serve? God? Man? His desire to look good and be a part of the best was a desire to look good...for people. Rachel's desire was to live by faith and knew God would bless their new group.
Is you "quest for the best" such that is eliminates walking by faith? Is it the only excuse you have? Just remember that the largest and the biggest and the best were all started by a handful of people who had faith...and were willing to step out and risk their own reputation for the cause of Christ.
The Twist: Jeff's lack of faith almost extinguished Rachel's own faith and desire to serve. Still, what did she do next? She picked up the telephone! Jeff was willing to risk God's reputation by not joining and Rachel was willing to risk her own. You do the math? Where do you fit in?
Some people look back at their old church and think their current church should be like their last church. All churches are different because God has put them together differently. So why do we sometimes make a habit of trying to make our church like another? Most likely, it is just another excuse to excuse ourselves from service.
Challenge: Think of some things your church does really well and just thank God for all of it!
©2004 by Craig Castleberry
www.freechurchskits.com