HOUSE AND HOME (61075)
by Jeff Arthurs

GENRE: Reader’s Theatre
TIME: Four to five minutes
CAST BREAKDOWN: Four readers
THEME: Home; Community
CHURCH YEAR SEASON: Any
SUGGESTED USE: Worship Service

SYNOPSIS: This fast-moving and light-hearted overview is a plan on the ways we use the words “house” and “home.” It gradually becomes more serious as the readers explore the biblical metaphor of “home” as the dwelling place of God with the church being a “spiritual house,” etc.

CHARACTERS: Varied

PROPS: None
COSTUMES: Black clothing
SOUND: Four cordless microphones
LIGHTING: General stage
SETTING: Bare stage
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: John 14:2, 2 Corinthians 5:2, Galatians 6:10, Psalm 23:6, 1 Peter 2:5

DIRECTOR'S TIP:
This script demands creativity and flexibility. Blocking and gestures will help communicate the ideas of the sketch while making it fun. For example, in the third set of speeches, appropriate gestures could be used as follows:

The White House – raise your index finger as in making a speech
The neighbor’s house – point or nod over the shoulder
The dog house – a sad or guilty look with palms up

Have fun!

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ALL: House.

1: H

2: O

3: U

4: S, E

ALL: House.

1: A dwelling.

2: A domicile.

3: A place where people live.

ALL: House

2: The White House.

3: The neighbor’s house.

4: The dog house.

ALL: House

1: A structure,

3: A residence,

4: A building.

2: A coffee house.

4: A farm house.

3: A fraternity house.

4: A woman’s place is in the house . . .

3: And in the Senate.

1: H

2: O

3: U

4: S, E

ALL: House.

1: A term denoting not only a structure,

2: But also an abode.

4: A place where families dwell.

ALL: Home.

1: Home is where the heart is.

4: Home is the place you hang your hat.

2: Home is the place where when you have to go there, they have to take you in.

3: Home sweet home.

4: (singing) Home, home on the range!

2: Home for the holidays.

1: There’s no place like home, there’s no place like home.

4: Home run! (Others give him a look. He tries again.) Home Depot? Homer Simpson?

ALL: (singing) Be it ever so humble there’s no place like home.

1: House and home.

4: Home and house.

1: Terms that suggest the dwelling place of God:

3: In my Father’s house are many mansions (John 14:2).

2: Terms that suggest the eternal abode of the believer:

4: We know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands (2 Cor. 5:2).

3: Terms that suggest the church, the family of God:

4: We are members of the household of faith (Gal. 6:10).

2: Terms that suggest security:

1: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).

3: Terms that suggest God’s purposes:

1: You also like living stones are being built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:5).

2: House and home,

1: Home and house.

3: We have a home,

2: We shall have a home,

1: We are a home,

4: Because he left his home.

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Performance and photocopying rights:
Your purchase of this script grants your church unlimited use of these sketches within your programs and worship services. You may photocopy the script for each cast member in your church. Scripts and performance rights are not transferable between churches and cannot be resold. You may not use the sketches for any commercial or fundraising purpose, and usage rights do not extend to video, radio, television or film.

Copyright © 2002 by Jeff Arthurs

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