THE RIGHT THING
MAIN POINT
Believers have an inner conviction to do the right thing. Sometimes we receive applause
for doing it and sometimes we are persecuted for doing it. Either way, we are still called
to do it. Paul is a great example of a believer who stuck to his convictions, followed
through on his calling, no matter how much he had to suffer. On each of his missionary
journeys he suffered great triumph and great loss. Was he tempted to quit or tempted to
stray from doing the right thing? Sure. But he persevered, and we need to do the same.
CHARACTERIZATION
Janine is a likable woman in her thirties. She's someone that the
audience can relate to. She has a good heart and strives to do what is right.
Mother is like Janine and can be played by a woman in her thirties as
well. She isn't a June Cleaver, but wants her daughter to learn right from wrong at an
early age.
The characters of Jesse and Liz are typical footloose
and fancy free college students. They don't need to actually be in their late teens or
early twenties-- just dress and act like it.
The cashier doesn't show us much of her personality. She's just there to
do her job, as is the bagger, who can be a person of any age, young or old.
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
Make sure there is an obvious break when Janine goes in and out of a scene. When she plays
a young girl, don't overdue the baby talk or childish actions. Pick a logical place and
position for actors left in the scene to freeze so that it is clear to the audience that
the scene is over. In the grocery store scene, make sure the audience can see the bagger
and is aware of his mistake before Janine tells us. Since you are working with three
separate scenes, make sure you keep the pace moving so that the sketch doesn't drag in the
middle. If there isn't enough room to create the three separate scenes described, actors
can actually enter and exit for their scenes behind Janine. Also, if props are a problem,
they can be mimed. Just make sure that you are consistent ... if you have props have all
of them; if not, mime all of them.
RELATED SCRIPTURES
Romans 7:18-25 (spirit is willing, flesh is weak); 1 Peter 5:8-9 (resisting the devil);
Galatians 5:16 (walk in the Spirit, not desires of the flesh); Romans 6:14, sin has no
power over us. The description of Paul's journeys in Acts and Thessalonians are related as
well.
RELATED THEMES
This script will work well with the theme of temptation, ethics, honesty, and courage.
RELATED SERMON
See "The Paul Principle"in the May-June 1998 issue of Homiletics. To
order, call 1-800-922-2144.
