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Wednesday, November 08, 2006

 

Free Script - Joshua Sends Spies to Jericho

This sketch is based on Joshua 2:1-14. It goes with a children's ministry curriculum written by Group. I'm posting it here primarily for archive purposes, but anyone is welcome to use and adapt it for their ministry. You can download an editable version of the script in my esnips folder:

Joshua Sends Spies to Jericho
Joshua Sends Spies...
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Joshua Sends Spies to Jericho

Cast: Teacher, Bumblemonkey, Spy, Rahab, King
Props: Spy gear (dark glasses, fedora, trench coat), Elvis jacket, Elvis hair, red cord/scarf, Manila envelop labeled TOP SECRET, Student Verse Cards, a notecard with “Message from the king” written on it, 1 Bible robe, Pirate accessories, 1 music stand


Teacher: (enters and talks to kids from podium stage right) Good evening, kids. My name is (your name) and I’m here to tell you tonight’s Bible story about spies! But first we need to review our key verses.

We’ll start with the older kids. Which of you older kids has the first key verse for tonight? You can stay right there. You’re going to help out our spies tonight by reading the key verse. Can you say it for everyone right now?

Kid 1: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Hebrews 11:6a.

Teacher: That was very good. Now let’s all say it together. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Which of you younger kids has the second key verse for tonight. Can you just stand where you are and say the verse for everyone?

Kid 2: “God’s mighty hand cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7

Teacher: Very good! Here is how we’re going to help our spies. Whenever they say “impossible mission,” you two stand up and everybody will say the verses with you. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” Then “God’s mighty hand cares for you.” Ready? Let’s practice.

Bumblemonkey: (entering suddenly) Arrrrgggghh!

Teacher: (deflated) Hi, Andrew.

Bumblemonkey: That’s Captain Andrew Bumblemonkey! Hey kids! Did you miss me? (wait for response) Well, I’m right sorry apologetic ‘bout being gone so long. Had to sail me sloop down the Guadaloop, savy. A big boat for a skinny shallow river. ‘Twere a right impossible mission. (stress those words)

Kid 1: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Kid 2: “God’s mighty hand cares for you.”

Bumblemonkey: Not bad, ye drogs. But keep yer ears to the wind.

Teacher: You’re going to have to pay close attention.

Bumblemonkey: So as to be ready to let go and haul with those key verses.

Teacher: Let’s begin our Bible story then.

Bumblemonkay: Aye, ma’am. The Bible is great, grand compass for flying the sheets.

Teacher: That’s right. (Andrew stands over her shoulder) Andrew?

Bumblemonkey: Captain Andrew Bumblemonkey, Ma’am!

Teacher: Could you at least stand over there.

Bumblemonkey: Oh, aye, Ma’am. (He goes to stage left.)

Teacher: Now, last week Joshua became the leader of the Israelites. And one of the first things he did was send spies to Jericho.
(King enters)

King: Well, hello everybody. I’m the king of Jericho. Thank you very much.

Teacher: You’re the king of Jericho, not the king of rock and roll.

King: A well I bless my soul What's wrong with me? . . .

Bumblemonkey: He’s a short-nippered squiffy, that’s what’s wrong.

King: Don’t be cruel to a heart that’s true. . . [I don’t want no other love]

Teacher: (cutting him off) So the king of Jericho was far, far away on the other side of town.

King: Wise men say only fools rush in… (The king half dances his way to sit down in the back row of kids while singing “Wise men say only fools rush in.”)

Teacher: (cutting him off again) Where no one could hear him singing. (King is silent.) And Joshua’s spies arrived in town.

Spy: (sneaks in very dramatically, hugging walls, etc.) Shhhh. Don’t make any noise. Joshua has sent me on an impossible mission. (Stress these last words.)

Kid 1: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Kid 2: “God’s mighty hand cares for you.”

Bumblemonkey: Impossible mission? (Spy runs away

Kid 1: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Kid 2: “God’s mighty hand cares for you.”

Bumblemonkey: Are you another short-nippered squiffy, mate?

Spy: (looking around suspiciously) I have an assignment from Joshua. (Opens a “top secret envelope” and reads the following letter)

Your mission—if you choose to accept it—is to travel to the impossibly dangerous city of Jericho, breach its impossibly enormous walls, and spy on its impossibly dangerous people. You may not survive. This message will self-destruct in five seconds.

Bumblemonkey: Strike the deck, man! This be no fireship! (wads up the letter and throws it at the king. Then ducks as if it were going to explode. Wait a beat before saying next sentence.) Must be a dud.

Teacher: Moving right along. The spies went to visit the house of Rahab.

Spy: What does Rahab have to do with the impossible mission? (Rahab enters and stands stage center.)

Kid 1: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Kid 2: “God’s mighty hand cares for you.”

Rahab: (She is the “straight man” of the sketch.) I’m Rahab. What do you want?

Bumblemonkey: (Be sure not to read this as a double entdre.) Arggghhh. You be a lady of expansive sensibility.

Rahab: That doesn’t sound very nice. But you’re welcome to stay here.

Teacher: About this time, the King realized that Joshua’s spies had entered his city. (The king has unwrapped the note and read it. Now he waves it in the air indignantly.)

King: Look! Some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.

Teacher: The king sent a message to Rahab to find the spies.

King: (Handing a note to one of the kids) Hey you, take this message to Rahab.

Rahab: (As the kid approaches the stage) This looks like trouble, guys. You’d better go hide. (SPY and BUMBLEMONKEY go hide among the younger kids. Then Rahab reads the KING’s note.)

King: (Shouting to Rahab from his position in the audience) Bring out those men because they are spies, and I’m all shook up. [Hmmm-mmm-mmm]

Rahab: (Interrupting) I didn’t know they were spies. Besides they already left the city. Um, a few hours ago. I don’t know where they went.

King: I guess they just . . . returned to sender, address unknown. (Half dances his way out of the room. Then from the hallway, he shouts out.) Elvis has left the building. Thank you very much.

Teacher: So the king’s men left Jericho searching for the spies. And the gate of the city was closed for the night.

Rahab: You can come out now. (SPY and BUMBLEMONKEY stay in hiding.)

Spy: (suspiciously) Is it safe?

Bumblemonkey: Don’t question a jenny of expansive sensibility, man.

Spy: But we’re on an impossible mission. (SPY and BUMBLEMONKEY walk up and stand on either side of RAHAB.)

Kid 1: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Kid 2: “God’s mighty hand cares for you.”

Rahab: Do you want to please God?

Spy: (Removes spy sunglasses/hat and turns more serious.) Of course, we do.

Rahab: Then have faith. Like the kids have been saying. God’s mighty hand will care for you.

Teacher: And Rahab explained how she came to believe in God. She had heard about all of the miracles God had worked for the people of Israel.

Rahab: Please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you.

Spy: Rahab, you saved our lives, so we will save yours. (Puts spy sunglasses/hat back on and resumes “spy” persona.) But you can’t tell anyone what we are going to do.

Rahab: Go hide in the hills for three days, then go back to your camp.

Teacher: She asked for a sign so that the Israelites would not hurt her or her family.

Spy: Tie this red cord in your window. When we take the city, we’ll know not to harm you because we’ll see the red cord.

Teacher: Rahab’s house was part of the city wall, so she let the men down by a rope through the window. And they escaped from the city.

Rahab: Don’t forget to hide for three days!

Spy: Don’t forget to hang the red cord in your window!
(SPY and BUMBLEMONKEY step off to the side but don’t actually leave the room.)

Teacher: When the spies returned to Joshua they brought him an excellent report. They said, “The LORD has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.” (RAHAB moves next to teacher.)

Spy: (Delivers straight, stands next to RAHAB) And that’s how they completed their impossible mission.

Kid 1: “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Kid 2: “God’s mighty hand cares for you.”

Rahab: (Delivered straight) And God’s mighty hand did care for Rahab. She learned to have a strong faith in God.
(KING enters and stands next to SPY, BUMBLEMONKEY enters and stands next to KING. All the actors form an arc stretching from stage left: BUMBLEMONKEY, KING, SPY, RAHAB, TEACHER. )

King: (Delivered straight) Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Spy: God’s mighty hand will care for each of you too.

Teacher: But remember, without faith it is impossible to please God.

Bumblemonkey: (Still a dumb pirate) Arrrgggghhh! A strong faith in God will keep your sails full of spirit. Our God is a great grand creator, kids. Don’t you forget it! (Exit all except the teacher.)

Teacher: Kids, we hope you enjoyed the story of Joshua sending the spies into Jericho. His mighty hand takes care of us because he is a good God. That’s why we want to please him by standing strong in the faith. Believe in God. He is good. Good night!

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