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THE INTROSPECTIVE SAMARITAN

MAIN POINT
We’re all a mixed bag of motives.  Any reflective person can see that even our best efforts are marred by our secret conspiring to see what we’ll get out of the deal.  But we can’t let that awareness be debilitating.  We’re still responsible, despite our weakness, to do the right thing.  This tongue-in-cheek look at the temptation to seek glory stands in whimsical contrast to what Jesus told us plainly to do.  Sometimes it’s right just to obey, and trust God to help us handle the outcome— whether we’re noticed or not.

CHARACTERIZATION
This sketch requires four readers of either gender.  (Since reader 2 mouths the actual words of the man, it might work best for this person to be male.)  These are narrators, or team storytellers. They should have an easy, natural pace, and make good eye contact with the audience.

DIRECTOR'S NOTES
1) Follow the normal rules of Reader’s Theater. Make sure the lines are delivered with eyes on the audience. 

2) When not reading, keep the script up, but eyes down.
Make sure the transitions are tight for a nice seamless feel from line to line.

3) Practice entering, getting seated, and lifting scripts into position with a fair amount of synchronization. Although you don’t want to look like toy soldiers, at least look like you’re working together.

RELATED SCRIPTURES
The obvious starting point here is Luke 10 and the story of the Good Samaritan.  Other instances of kindness include the poor widow in Luke 21, the early church in Acts 2 and 6, Dorcas in Acts 9, and Cornelius in Acts 10.  Imperatives to serve others  can be found in Matthew 20:26 and Galatians 6:10.

RELATED THEMES
Besides the link to serving others and doing the right thing, this script can be used to discuss pride, motives or obedience.