The Power of the Reasurrection: A Responsive Reading

 

The Power of the Resurrection

A Responsive Reading

 Reader One: Whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. 

 Congregation: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities

 Reader Two: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped

 Congregation: All things were created by him and for him.

 Reader Two: But made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness...

 Congregation: He is before all things, and in him all things hold together

 Reader Two: And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.

 Congregation: For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood shed on the cross.

 Reader One: I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ

 Congregation: For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the son he loves, in whom we have redemption the forgiveness of sins.

 Reader Two: Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him a name that is above every name

 Reader One: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings becoming like him in his death, and so somehow, to attain to the resurrection of the dead.

 Reader Two: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

 All: Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ.

The Fellowship of Suffering: A Responsive Reading

 

The Fellowship of Suffering

A Responsive Reading

 Reader One: The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 

 Congregation: This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel.  I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.

 Reader One: Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

 Reader Two: His intent was that now through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 Congregation: I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.  Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

 Reader One: For it seems to me that God has put us apostles on display at the end of a procession, like men condemned to die in the arena.  We have been made a spectacle to the whole universe, to angels as well as to men.

 Congregation: A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.  It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.  If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household.

 Reader One: We are fools for Christ...to this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless.  We work hard with our own hands.  When we are cursed, we bless.  When we are persecuted, we endure it.  When we are slandered, we speak kindly.  Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

 Congregation: All men will hate you because of me.  If the world hates you keep in mind that it hated me first.  If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.  As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.

 Reader One: But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.  And who is equal to such a task?

 Reader Two: Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

 All: For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Soul Anchor: Marketplace Skit

 

Marketplace

 Cast:

            Salesman

            Foreign Shopper

            Judgmental Shopper

            Guilty Shopper

            Distracted Shopper

 Setting: 

            A sales booth in a marketplace with a stack of Bibles.  Sign reads “Better Than” Bookstore.

 _________________

Salesman:  (to audience, as if they were part of a busy marketplace)  Ho, everyone, listen to me!  Are you hungry for something real?  Are you thirsty for something to satisfy your soul?  I have a product that is guaranteed!  (pause to show a Bible)   This is it!  It’s all right here!  This book tells you about a Savior for your soul!   I’ve tried Him myself.  I’ve never been so satisfied…

(Judgmental Shopper enters as Salesman continues)

Salesman:  I don’t care what you’ve tried before.  Jesus is better.  He can meet your need.  (pause)  No money, no matter!  This offer is free!

Judgmental Shopper:  Free! Then how can what you offer be worth anything?

Salesman:  My friend, if you will just give your time to this book you will see what I mean!  This product is so expensive that if you had to pay for it, even the richest could not afford it.

Judgmental Shopper:  (doubting)  You’ll have to tell me more…

(Foreign Shopper enters hurriedly)

Foreign Shopper:  (eager and interrupting):  Excuse me, sir, excuse me!  I have traveled a great distance to learn about Jesus.  We have nothing like Him where I live.  Our myths and superstitions leave us empty.  We offer sacrifices again and again, but we are sure our gods do not hear us.  We are afraid.  We have no purpose.  Everything is bleak!  I have heard you have answers.  Please tell me!

Salesman: (smiling) You’ve come to the right place, my friend!  This book tells you about Jesus.  He is all you need.  (hands him a Bible, then a few more bibles) Here is your Bible and I will send some for your friends.  Jesus really is Good News. 

Foreign shopper:  (relieved) Oh, thank you, sir.  You’ve made such a difference.  Our lives will never be the same!  (Foreign Shopper bows profusely and exits with his Bibles)

Judgmental Shopper:  (scoffing)  I see you will just give away your product to anybody.  Even the likes of a foreigner.  Ok, I’m a little bothered with my standing before God.  But how can a free product available to anyone do any good?

Salesman:   One taste and you will be convinced.  Jesus is better than anything else.

(Guilty Shopper enters)

Salesman:  (continuing both to audience and new shopper)  Jesus is better than any sacrifice you make or work you do.  He can remove your sin and its penalty and give you rest.

Guilty Shopper:  (desperately) Rest?  You have a product that will give me rest.  Please I must have it!

Salesman:  Jesus offered himself as a sacrifice, once for all, for the forgiveness of your sin and mine.

Guilty Shopper:  If only He could give me rest!  I toss and turn every night.  The things I’ve done!  I can’t get them out of my mind.  I can’t escape them no matter what I try.  Can He really forgive me?  Completely?  Can I rest in that?

(Distracted Shopper wanders in)

Salesman:  Jesus is the answer for all your sins.  Every sinful thought, every angry word, every wayward action will be cleansed and forgotten.  Nothing is better at giving customers true peace.  (hands Guilty Shopper a bible)  Jesus is better because he can give you rest.

 (Guilty Shopper takes the Bible and exits)

Distracted Shopper:  You seem to be doing a brisk business!  Everyone seems to be coming here.

Judgmental Shopper:  (to Distracted Shopper in a disgusted tone)  Everyone indeed!  I thought for a minute he had something, but it can’t be true.  He gives his product away- to guilty people, foreign people, anybody.  (to Salesman)  You show no deference to the discriminating shopper.   That’s no way to run a business! (exits)

Salesman: (to Distracted Shopper)  He’s right.  What I offer is free.  But if you need forgiveness and peace, and purpose, and joy, there is no better, no other, place to go.

Distracted Shopper:  (wanders about stage aimlessly, talking to herself)  I can’t say I couldn’t use a little forgiveness.  I’m not perfect… but who is?   On the one hand, I could use some peace.  On the other hand, I’d have peace if people didn’t bug me so much.  And everyone could use a little joy.  Of course, I’m pretty happy now… when I’m not thinking about my life.  Maybe I’ll try it.   How much is it?

Salesman:  (begins to pack up his wares and take down his sign)  Jesus is free, but you have to act now.  I don’t know how much longer I can offer this amazing deal.  You are only promised today.  (holds out Bible)

(Distracted Shopper continues to wander and mutter.  Salesman folds up his shop and begins to go)

Salesman:  I’m really going to need an answer.  I’ve got to go. 

Distracted Shopper:  Maybe I’ll try Jesus soon… (Salesman exits)   … or yoga!  (freezes)