Tool Time
Scene I
by Peggy Baldridge
THE FACTS: This three-skit drama was used for a leadership rally at our church. The three skits were all related to leadership and these three key words..."Shape" (Scene I - Your tool should be the right shape for the job)..."Sharp" (Scene II - Make sure your right tool is ready to be used)..."Share" (Scene III - Don't do it all yourself. Share the workload.) We went pretty far with this one as we cranked up a leaf blower, Tim actually road a lawn mower on stage, and we rigged a clothes dryer with a fog machine going inside the exhaust to give it the appearance of smoking after Tim repairs it. Following this show, our pastor (The creator of "Shape, Sharp, & Share) reviewed these keywords and how they affect our ministry areas. We used a theme song and an applause sign and also played "Mission Impossible" at a high volume while Tim was riding the lawn mower on stage. As our leaders left, we handed out a green carpenter's pencil (Flat) with those 3 keywords. Our people are still talking about it. The intention was not only to get a message across, but this was to be a gift for our leaders who work very hard. We had around 100 in attendance. If you have a group of people you appreciate, this show may be for you!
Theme: Any kind of leadership needs the right tool for the right job. Anything but the right tool have negative effects.
Scripture: He picked up five smooth stones from a stream and put them in his shepherd's bag. Then, armed only with his shepherd's staff and sling, he started across to fight Goliath. I Samuel 17: 40
Intro: (Heidi enters in overalls and tool belt.) "Does everybody know what time it is?"
The sign or name "Tool Time" should be on power point.
Heidi: Let me introduce you to the host of our show Tim "the Toolman" Taylor.
Tim: (Enters stage wearing tool belt). Thank you Heidi. (Heidi goes to side of stage and paints her fingernails.) And this is my assistant Al Borlin.
Tim: This week on our show it is "Nat'l Lawn Care Week".
Al: That's right Tim. Winter is almost over and before we crank up those mowers and blowers and weed wackers, we want to make sure everything is in working order.
(Tim goes behind silver table - weed wacker is on table). Tim: Let's make sure our string is fully loaded. Heidi could you hand me that nut wrench?
Heidi: I'm sorry Tim, I can't, my nails are still wet.
Tim: I have just the right tool to take care of that. (Tim picks up the leaf blower)
Al: I don't think so Tim.
Tim: (He starts the blower, goes in a circle since the power is too much for him. Al ducks, papers fly all over. Tim heads over to Heidi and she is trying to hang on and then Tim blows her overboard. (A mattress was behind a rail that no one could see and Heidi fell over the rail and onto the mattress safely.) Tim heads off stage with blower still running. Heidi crawls out of drum pit, without being seen and heads backstage.
Al: (Holds up sign.) That's "Tool Time PO Box...(Use your own church address) Al exits.
(Next scene is in Tim's backyard.) (Wilson is behind fence.) (Tim re-enters without tool belt - up side steps and stops in front of Wilson's fence.
Wilson: Heidi Ho Neighbor. Tim: Hi Wilson, is that you? Wilson: I saw your show today Tim. How is Heidi doing? Tim: Oh, she'll be okay. They were wrapping her arm in the ER when I left.
Wilson: I can't believe you tried to dry her nails with a lawn blower Tim. That was not the right tool for that job.
Tim: Well, I was thinking Haw Haw Haw(Tim's manly growl), more power and it would dry them in seconds.
Wilson: This reminds me of a story written by Paul in the book of Romans about 57 A.D. He was preparing for his visit to Jerusalem and was writing to the Christians in Rome. Apparently Paul had finished his work in the east, and he planned to visit Rome on his way to Spain after first bringing a collection to Jerusalem for the poor Christians there.
Tim: What does this have to do with my show today Wilson?
Wilson: I'm getting there Tim. In chapter 12, verses 4-6, Paul said "Just as each of us has one body with many members and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according the grace given us."
Tim scratches his head and has a look of confusion as he listens to Wilson.
Wilson: What that means, Tim, is that every tool has a different function and you have to be sure to have the right tool for the right job.
Tim: So what you're saying is I should not have used the leaf blower on Heidi?
Wilson: There you go good neighbor.
Tim: Uh. Thanks Wilson.
Wilson: Any time, neighbor. (Wilson goes down behind fence.)
(Tim goes in the house. Jill is getting laundry out of the dryer and hanging it up.)
Jill: Hi Tim.
Tim: Wilson just told me that Paul went to Rome to find out about his body parts and that I used the wrong body part on my show today.
Jill: (Looks confused.) Tim. This dryer is not working right. The clothes are not getting dry all the way and I have to hang them up to dry. What use is a dryer if the clothes don't get dry? (Jill walks out with laundry basket.)
Tim: I wonder if the lawn blower would work? (Tim goes out the door.)
THE END
Study Questions
What tools did Saul want David to use in I Samuel? Were those the tools that David needed? Were those the tools God wanted him to use? (I Samuel 17)
Are there times that we too easily obey other's ideas and thoughts instead of using the tools God would have us to use or even praying about it? (ie. A pipe organ in contemporary worship, or an electric guitar in liturgical worship.)
Like Tim, can you think of a time you used the wrong tool for the job at home, at school, in leadership?
©2004 by Peggy Baldridge
www.freechurchskits.com