More information about
FILLING-IN-THE-BLANK
MAIN POINT
It doesn't matter what the fault is. If it's something negative,
chances are we tend to see it more clearly in others than ourselves. We tend to think
every sermon applies to someone else in the church; every Scripture reading, to someone
else's excess; every caution, to someone else's vulnerability.
Once in a while we need to be reminded that while Scripture was not written exclusively to
us as individuals, its application should start there. In fact, if we can't apply it to
ourselves first, we have no business applying it to others.
That means starting with the presupposition that none of us is above gossip, deceit,
jealousy, greed and selfishness. And our own faults are the only ones we can do much
about.
CHARACTERIZATION
Keith is not stupid, he's just laid-back and relaxed. He
doesn't trouble himself with tiny disputes and grants himself an expansive benefit of the
doubt. But he doesn't usually extend that benefit to others. To Keith, everybody else
needs to fix his or her problems. Still, he weakens a little at the end and shows us hints
of introspection.
Teri is much more tortured in her thinking. While Keith is not as good as
he hopes he is, Teri is not as bad as she fears she is. She tends to see everything in
extreme detail and is troubled by the complexity of life and the deceitfulness of the
human heart. She wants to get everything right.
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
1) The term "filling-in-the-blank" is the hook to
this piece. Don't worry about explaining it ahead of time. Though your audience may be
confused the first couple times they hear it, they'll quickly figure it out.
2) While Keith and Teri are newlyweds, that doesn't come out in the
dialogue. You could play them as a dating couple if that fits your audience better.
3) Blocking is a cinch since the actors remain seated the whole time. The
food provides an interesting touch of realism and should actually be consumed during the
sketch.
RELATED SCRIPTURES
Jesus' illustration of the speck of sawdust in the eye (Matthew 7:1-5) fits
well here. So does the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. (Luke 18:9-14). See
also Deuteronomy 30:11-14 on accountability to obey and James 1:22-24 on obeying the word.
RELATED THEMES
Use this sketch before any sermon or teaching time to prepare people to hear God's
word. The topical link is not as important as the wake-up call to listen and apply God's
word. It's best if the one teaching or preaching uses it not to add guilt to people but to
gently show how we all tend to dismiss God's teaching as intended for someone else.
