POY! SKIT GUIDELINES
- In a small group, participants might simply read their lines, or glance at their lines to get the idea so they can speak in their own words.
- Most POY! skits require no practice in advance.
- Have any small children play a brief part. Most scripts have an optional part for children, listed last under Participants.
- Most scripts have a Narrator who should read the script beforehand to see how to keep moving the story along.
- It is not necessary to employ costumes and objects, unless the skit recommends such.
- It is not required to have an audience watch the skit. All present may participate.
- Scripture and paraphrases, if any, usually appear in bold.
PARTICIPANTS
Peter, who also serves as Narrator
Girl
Pharisee
Voice (of Jesus)Prompter (Optional). Prompter shouts a brief line and Companions repeat it.
Companions (Optional): children and all adults that want to take part. Make sure Companions know who the Prompter is, and that they are to repeat Prompter’s words.
SCRIPT
|
Peter |
I am Peter. Jesus is teaching us as we walk along, warning us about ceremonial washings, the type of man-made rules that Christians should avoid. Let’s watch what happens. (Walk a few paces, groaning.) Lord, can we stop for a while and rest? We’re all tired and hungry! |
|
Girl |
I have some bread. Take it. (Pretend to hand bread to Peter who pretends to eat it.) |
|
Pharisee |
(Shout, off to one side) Hey! Who’s that man you people are following? |
|
Peter |
He’s Jesus of Nazareth. You should follow Him, too. Come join us. (Walk toward Pharisee.) |
|
Pharisee |
Stay there! (Gesture halt with hands). Speak to me from there! I’m a Pharisee and I won’t be seen associating with you common, unwashed people! |
|
Peter |
Can I help you? |
|
Pharisee |
Help me! Ha! I’ll tell you what to do. Stop following that treasonous revolutionary! He breaks God’s law and violates our sacred traditions! |
|
Peter |
Oh, no! He teaches us to obey God. What law has He broken? |
|
Pharisee |
He lets you eat without doing the ceremonial washing first. I saw you! Just now! |
|
Prompter & Companions |
We’re defiled! We’re defiled! |
|
Voice |
Pharisee, why do you yourselves disobey the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: “These people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.†Listen, it is not what enters into the mouth that defiles a person, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles a person. |
|
Prompter & Companions |
Oh no! Folks are leaving! |
|
Peter |
Jesus, the Pharisees were offended by your statement. |
|
Voice |
Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. |
|
Peter |
Explain the parable to us about what defiles a man. |
|
Voice |
What goes into the mouth passes into the stomach, and is eliminated, but the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart and defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, thefts, and lies. These things defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile him. |
DISCUSS
What was the main point of Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees, which we should consider?
(Good answers:
People try to gain favor with God by following petty, man-made rules.
Jesus does not want us to impose or follow man-made rules that conflict with His commands.
Men’s rules become harmful legalism when they cancel God’s grace.
Legalism follows meaningless policies instead of being guided by God’s Holy Spirit.)
[…] Jesus rebuked men who let traditions replace God’s laws […]