ZwPI8cfkGod’s River of Grace Cancels Religious Legalism
About 20 minutes, applies John 1:17 and Revelation 22:1
Participants (No need to memorize lines; the aim is to relive sacred events, not perform)
  Lori
  Victor
  Julie
  Tino
  Jason
  Prompter         Shout a brief line and Echoes repeat it.
  Echoes            Children and all adults who want to take part. Echoes need no script.
Lori |
I am Lori. Victor and I have married, and life is a paradise, |
Prompter & Echoes |
Gloom! |
Lori |
What’s wrong, Victor? |
Victor |
The shop downsized. I’m out of work. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Oh no! |
Lori |
I hope you find work soon. |
Victor |
Really? Wow! Okay, tomorrow I’ll go find a job. |
Prompter & Echoes |
But he finds no work! |
Victor |
Lori, three weeks have gone by, and no luck. |
Lori |
I’m afraid God is punishing me; |
Victor |
Not just you; I’m ashamed of how I’ve lived. |
Lori |
Good idea! I’ll get ready. |
Victor |
You go on ahead, Lori. I’ll come later, |
Prompter & Echoes |
But the address has a wrong number! |
Lori |
Hello! Is this where you meet to meditate? |
Julie |
Oh, you must mean our fellowship meeting. Come in. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Something’s different about this! |
Lori |
I’m Lori. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Joyful testimonies of salvation! |
Tino |
Tonight we look at God’s river of grace. |
Lori |
I like the way they share things about God’s grace |
Prompter & Echoes |
They weep and laugh! |
Julie |
Praise God! |
Prompter & Echoes |
Amazing grace! |
    Lori |
Julie, I hope they don’t expect me to speak. |
Julie |
Talk only if you want, Lori. |
Tino |
Let’s read about grace in Romans 5. |
Julie |
Here’s a Bible, Lori. I’ll help you find Romans 5. |
Tino |
Notice verses 20 and 21. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Amen! |
Lori |
I like the way everyone discusses God’s river of grace, Julie. |
Julie |
I love the promise in Isaiah 55:1, “Come, all who are thirsty, |
Prompter & Echoes |
Drink freely! |
Toni |
The meeting is over. Help yourselves to the cookies. |
Lori |
Julie, why do you call yourselves the Sanctity Society? |
Julie |
Oh! They meet next door. You came here by mistake! |
Lori |
Then it’s the luckiest mistake I ever made! |
Julie |
Look. They are leaving that house now. They look sad! |
Prompter & Echoes |
Tense and unhappy! |
Lori |
Good night, Julie! |
Victor |
What do you mean, Lori? What did you drink at the meeting? |
Lori |
Oh no! I learned about God’s wonderful grace, Victor. |
Victor |
The Sanctity Society teaches that we must do many things |
Prompter & Echoes |
How negative! |
Victor |
But there’s also good news, Lori. |
Lori |
Wonderful! |
Victor |
Let’s go to your group next week, and learn about God’s grace. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Infinite grace! |
Lori |
At the next meeting we discuss the meaning |
Tino |
God forgives all who receive the good news about Jesus. |
Victor |
It’s too good to be true, Tino. In my heart, I know it is so. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Born again! |
Tino |
Since you’ve repented and trust in Christ, you should be baptized. |
Lori |
Jason has a list of things we’d have to quit doing to be baptized. |
Victor |
The apostles baptized new believers at once; |
Lori |
Oh! Here comes Jason to your house now, Tino. |
Victor |
Hi, Jason! Meet our small group leader, Tino. |
Jason |
So soon? No one can be baptized until they |
Tino |
Victor and Lori are newborn in Christ, Jason, |
Prompter & Echoes |
So Victor and Lori qualify! |
Lori |
Tino baptizes Victor and me, and we feel happily assured. |
Victor |
Jason, we know we have to grow in Christ. |
Tino |
Yes. Paul dealt with believers’ wicked sins in 1 Corinthians |
Jason |
James said that faith without works is dead. |
Tino |
You have the cause-and-effect backwards, Jason. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Saved to serve! |
Lori |
At our next meeting, Julie takes me aside. |
Julie |
Lori, you look troubled. What’s wrong? |
Lori |
I’ve lost the joy I had. The river of grace dried up for me. |
Julie |
You don’t know the struggles I had as a very new Christian. |
Tino |
I have a proposal. |
Victor |
But I’m so inexperienced! I’ll make mistakes! |
Tino |
Yes, you might make almost as many mistakes as I did |
Prompter & Echoes |
Wonderful! |
Prompter & Echoes Tino |
That’s pure gold! |
Lori |
Victor begins leading a group; |
Victor |
It’s easier than I thought, Lori. |
Prompter & Echoes |
Many more find God’s grace! |
Victor |
Lori, God’s grace flows through the spiritual gifts |
Prompter & Echoes |
Our tiny group is now a church! |
Lori |
What are the required ministries that you mentioned? |
Victor |
They include to shepherd, correct, heal, show mercy, |
Lori |
Here comes Jason. Oh! He looks upset. |
Jason |
No need to go to work today, Victor. My shop burned down! |
Victor |
Oh, no! |
Jason |
Totally. Nothing but ashes. It ruined all my equipment. |
Lori |
Sit, Jason. We’ll pray, and I’ll bring you some chili that I just made. |
Victor |
Tell us, Jason, how can we help you? |
Jason |
You can’t. God did it to me! |
Lori |
No. Satan did it. |
Jason |
Lori, bring matches. |
Lori |
Okay. Here. But why do you want matches? |
Jason |
See this list? I will burn it up. |
Prompter & Echoes |
He burns it up! |
Jason |
My dad taught me these prohibitions; |
Lori |
I don’t know whether to weep or laugh for joy! |
Prompter & Echoes |
She does both! |
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