PARTS

NARRATOR 1

NARRATOR 2

MAN

JESUS

QUESTIONER

SEVERAL PEOPLE TO PANTOMINE SCENES

Narrator 1: The scripture reading is from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 1 verses 21 to 28.

Narrator 2: Jesus and the disciples went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, Jesus entered the synagogue and taught. Everyone was astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out…

Man: What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are; you are the Holy One of God!

Narrator 1: But Jesus rebuked him saying…

Jesus: Be silent, and come out of him!

Narrator 2: And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

Narrator 1: Everyone there was amazed, and they kept on asking one another…

Narrator 2: What is this? A new teaching – and with such authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.

Narrator 1: At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Narrator 2: Here ends the reading of Scripture.

Questioner: That was really weird. Some of the stuff in the Bible is really strange! It sounds more like a bad horror movie.

Narrator 1: What do you mean?

Questioner: Well, that whole unclean spirit thing – and casting it out – and the yelling and rolling around – it’s just weird. We don’t have things like unclean spirits in this millennium. I mean, I have some pretty odd relatives, but I wouldn’t call them possessed by unclean spirits. Don’t you think it’s weird?

Narrator 1: Well, maybe a little. But the Bible is full of stuff I don’t understand – I bet the Bible is full of stuff even most ministers don’t understand.

Narrator 2: Maybe we don’t have stuff exactly like that happening these days, but I think there are still lots of evil spirits out there.

Narrator 1 and Questioner: You’ve been watching too much TV!

Narrator 2: No, think about it. I think in our time there are lots of things that are pretty awful and need to be cast out.

Questioner: Like what?

Narrator 2: I’ll show you….look….

(At this point have several people act out scenes of drug use, violence, stealing, prejudice, put-downs, etc.)

Narrator 1: I never thought about it like that – but you’re right…all that stuff is like evil spirits that need to be cast out…drugs, violence, stealing, prejudice, put downs…but Jesus isn’t around to cast them out.

Narrator 2: No, but Jesus’ spirit is, and we are Jesus’ followers, so we can do things to cast those evil spirits out in his name.

Questioner: Like what?

Narrator 2: Like education.

Narrator 1: You’re right. I use to be scared of people who were different from me, especially if they didn’t talk like I do – then I learned about other people in other cultures and met some people who were very different from me, and found out they were cool, not scary.

Questioner: Yea, OK, like the more I learn about drugs, and see how they mess up people I know, the less I want to do anything that might get me addicted.

Narrator 2: And there’s other ways we can cast out the evil stuff with Christ’s help…

Questioner: Like being kind instead of mean?

Narrator 1: Or speaking up when we see something mean happening.

Narrator 2: Yea, like that, see...

(At this point have several people act out scenes of people being helpful and kind)

Questioner: OK, so I guess that thing in the Bible isn’t that weird.

Narrator 2: What are the evil spirits in your life? What can you do in the name of Jesus to cast them out?

THE END

Deepening Faith: Youth Ministry Resources and Some Miscellaneous Advice

Rev. Lizann Bassham, Front Porch Spirit Press