Sun 01 July 2018

[ Introduction: leader picks child to knock on bin, everyone calls 'come out Stinky!', Stinky comes out singing his intro tune ]

STINKY: Hello little monkeys!

LEADER: Hello Stinky! How are you feeling today?

STINKY: Ah! Today, I'm feeling good.

LEADER: Ok, good.

STINKY: Yes, I'm feeling very good.

LEADER: OK, very good.

STINKY: Yes, I'm feeling so good, I want to challenge you to a competition -- to show you how good I am!

LEADER: Oh, OK, I like a challenge. What are you thinking?

STINKY: Staring competition! You and me, here, now.

LEADER: OK. One, two, three -- go!

[ Maybe Stinky and leader face each up close for effect. After a while, leader blinks. ]

LEADER: Argh! I blinked. OK, you win!

STINKY: Haha! I'm so good, I'm the best!

LEADER: Well done Stinky. Now, I wanted to read something to you. It's in the Bible...

STINKY: Wait! I'm feeling so good, I want to challenge you to... a breath holding competition!

LEADER: Oh, OK. One, two, three -- go!

[ After a while, leader takes a breath. ]

LEADER: Ah, OK Stinky, you win again...

STINKY: Haha! I'm so good! That's why everyone loves me! I'm so glad I'm not like people who have to blink and breathe all the time! God must be so glad I'm in this church!

LEADER: [Rolls eyes] Hey Stinky, I've got a challenge for you! Can you read this from the Bible?

[ Slide: Bible Passage ]

STINKY: Ha! I'm really good! Of course. I'll just do some vocal exercises first, so my reading is really good...

[ Stinky does some crazy vocal exercise sounds, while leader waits impatiently. ]

LEADER: OK, ready?

STINKY: Uhm, I'll just clear my throat now, so my reading is really, really good.

[ Stinky does increasingly awful coughing noises. ]

STINKY: OK, I'm ready now.

LEADER: OK, great!

STINKY: Uhm... Mr Nathan, I forgot something.

LEADER: What?

STINKY: I don't know how to read.

LEADER: Stinky! After all your showing off!

STINKY: [Sad, anxious, ashamed] Oh, no! Now no one will like me because I'm not good enough. Whoa! Even God won't love me now! Whoa! [wails away]

LEADER: Ok, OK, stop. I'll read it, and you better listen because this will help you.

[ Slide (verse): If you put yourself above others, you will be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be honored. Luke 18:14b (CEV) ]

STINKY: See Stinky? This is what Jesus told people who thought they were better than others. But Jesus says it is better to humble yourself,

LEADER: You mean to admit when you are not good at something.

LEADER: So it was good to finally admit you couldn't read. But what Jesus is talking about here is to admit that you are not perfect, that actually you need forgiveness, you don't have to boast and prove how good you are. God wants us to admit to him that we need Jesus. To say sorry, and ask for forgiveness.

LEADER: So God loves me even when I can't read. God loves me even when I say the wrong thing sometimes.

LEADER: Yes! God wants to forgive us, he loves us. Let's see our Bible Bite:

[ Slide: Bible Bite: It's great to say sorry to God, he loves to forgive us. ]

LEADER: So you don't have to prove yourself to God, ok. I hope that helps.

STINKY: Oh, yes! I better go now. Bye bye little monkeys!

Category: scripts Tagged: Humility Repentance Forgiveness