015A. Jesus Equips Harvesters to Announce His Kingdom

Faithful  Fretter 

 

Prompter

Shout a brief line, and Echoes repeat it.

Echoes

Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.

`Faithful

Hello. My name is Faithful. 

Jesus sent us disciples in pairs to Israel’s towns to announce His Kingdom. Oh! Here comes my coworker, Mr. Fretter.

Fretter

Mr. Faithful, I am leaving now, while the weather is good. Goodbye!

Faithful

Wait, Fretter! Jesus told us to go in pairs. We must go together.

Fretter

Okay, grab your raincoat; it might storm.  Better take extra socks, too.

Faithful

Not so fast! Jesus said not to take extra clothes. 

Faithful

You are in too much of a hurry. 

Jesus said to pray first for harvesters.

Fretter

Yeah, and we’ll need God’s help to face those wolves, too.  Jesus said we would be like lambs among wolves. 

What kind of wolves did He mean?

Faithful

We will soon find out.

Fretter

Wait, Faithful. 

I will fill these bags with dried fish and bread, and get some money.

Faithful

No, Fretter! Jesus said to let our hosts feed us.

Fretter 

Oh, that is right. 

Faithful

We start out.

On the way, friends beg us to stay with them and play games.

Fretter

Faithful, let us spend a day or two with my friends here. 

My aunt lives nearby. 

She serves her visitors delicious kosher food.

Faithful

No! Jesus said not to greet people on the way.  Let us not allow anyone to sidetrack us. 

We can stop by your aunt’s place on our way back.

 

 

Faithful

We travel on. 

Look, Fretter, here is the town that Jesus sent us to.

Fretter

Finally! Let us go sing in the town square and attract a crowd.

Faithful

No. Jesus said to find persons of peace. 

We are to stay with them, and eat what they give us.  He meant persons who will help us meet their friends,  so we can tell them about Jesus. 

Fretter

Well, I hope our peace person can cook. I am starved. 

What if the food isn’t kosher? 

These villagers have weird customs. 

Faithful

Jesus said to eat whatever they give us. 

Let us stop worrying about our own needs. 

We are to pray for the sick in Jesus’ name and announce His Kingdom.

Fretter

Oh, that is right, but what if we do not find a hospitable person of peace?

Faithful

Then we go elsewhere; Jesus said to shake the dust from our feet;  leave those who do not receive Him.

Fretter

That guy is building a fence around his house.  Maybe he is a man of peace.

Faithful 

Oh, no! He turned his dog loose to chase us away! 

Fretter

Now, after two more people reject us, we find a family of peace. 

Faithful 

Thank God! We stay in their home, announce that God’s Kingdom is near, and heal sick folk in Jesus’ name.

Fretter

Now we have returned to Jesus, and I tell Him joyfully,  “Lord, we cast tormenting devils out of people. 

That was exciting! Evil spirits yielded to the authority of Your Name.”

Faithful 

Jesus is not impressed. He tells us not to rejoice because demons are subject to us, but to rejoice because our names are written in heaven.