Jumping Out Of The Box Series

***Open with skit – Adaptation of “A Day in Court” from The Idea’s Library: Drama, Skits, and Sketches pg. 32-33***

(The prosecutor and the defendant are seated at the front on opposite sides.)

Narrator:

The following are the closing statements from a very important case that has been going on in the Supreme Court for a long time. We are asking you today, to serve as jury and make a very difficult choice. You will hear first from the prosecutor and then from the defendant.

Prosecutor:

(Throughout his speech, the defendant looks sad and embarrassed) Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have amble evidence (hold up a folder stuffed with papers]) as to why the defendant, Mr. Spike “Mad Dog” Madison, should not be allowed near my clients, the people of the First Church of Boston, much less on their property. I have evidence that that he was a drug user and that he lied and cheated his way in and out of everything. He also has a short temper, which he displays to his friends and family quite regularly, as well as his foul mouth.

My client, the church, hold a very high moral standard for their congregation. The entire community looks up to them. They do service for people who was poor and needy. They open their doors to young and old, rich and poor alike. They have an image that they need to uphold that, no doubt, will be destroyed if the defendant is allowed to worship with them. People will begin to gossip about them and they will loose their standing in the community.

On top of all of that, Mr. “Mad Dog” (sarcastically) here does not seem to be able to follow the rules of the church when he is there. My clients, all come dressed nice on Sunday’s and they do everything they are supposed to do – they come to church dressed in their Sunday best, they pray at the rights times, they listen well to the sermon, they stand and sing when they are asked to, they put money in the offering plate. The defendant here can not seem to get any of that straight. They ways he approaches God and defies the church is absolutely inappropriate and he should be banned from being able to participate. I rest my case. (The prosecutor returns to his seat, smirking at the defendant.)

Defendant (Mr. “Mad Dog”):

(Approaches jury rather sheepishly and shy, looking down as he begins to talk) Well, I don’t really know what to say to all of that. I wish I could deny al of it, but the truth of the matter is that most of it is true. (The prosecutor smiles largely). I did use to use drugs. I still have a temper that comes out and I do use bad language sometimes. But…I guess all I can say is that I am different now. Before I didn’t care about doing all of those things and now, now I am really trying to stop doing all those things, that’s why I want to do to church. I am really sorry for what I have done.

I am sorry too that I have not followed the rules. At the moment I just can’t afford nice clothes so I wear the best I have. During the music, I like to just sit and listen rather than sing. Sometimes it moves me so much that I just have to kneel down and pray or cry. Truth is, I really don’t care what people think. I just want to be close to God the best way I can. I don’t think it matters to Him, so why should it matter to them? (The prosecutor shakes his head and kind of laughs). Jesus died for me just the same he died for anyone else, that’s why I think I should be allowed to go to church and approach God, even if it may be a little different. Yea, that’s what I think. Thanks.

After hearing the two arguments, what is your ruling? Do you side with the prosecutor or do you side with the defendant, Mr. “Mad Dog?” (Let them respond and give their thoughts)

As we continue to look at jumping into a relationship with Christ tonight, I want to ask a very simple question that was portrayed in this skit. That is, is there a right way to jump into a relationship with God? Is there a right way and a wrong way to approach Jesus? Some people, like the prosecutor, would tell you yes, absolutely. You need to be in church, all dressed up, every Sunday. You need to have a smile on your face all the time. You need to do all the right things and say all the right words, and you have to say them the right way and at the right time.