Based on Luke 9:51-62.
Download a PDF of the skit Don’t Forget Your Umbrella.
Joe is a good guy, a good Christian, and has a great desire to share God’s Word. Unfortunately, Joe doesn’t have much success, and he wants God’s help in taking out his troubles on those who have rejected him and his attempts to share God’s Word.
(Person 1 is a businessperson. He crosses stage quickly while talking on cell phone. Joe approaches the person quickly and walks and talks with the same fast intensity.)
Joe: (speaking quickly) Hi, I’m Joe. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about where you are going to spend eternity?
Person 1: (stopping suddenly, Joe stops too. Person 1 speaks into his phone) Hold on. Some jerk is interrupting me. (to Joe) Seriously? You can see I’m on the phone. What do you think you’re doing? I don’t have time for this. Get away from me, you moron. Go. Shoo. Right now. (Joe, backs away, person 1 quickly leaves)
Joe: (to himself) Well, excuse me for trying to give you something better to work towards then your own self-serving ways.
(Person 2 enters pushing stroller, she stops to tend to child who is fussing, Joe approaches her.)
Joe: Hi, I’m Joe, would you like any help? I’m great with kids, and I’d love to be able to share some Bible stories with you and your child.
Person 2: Get away from me, you weirdo. I don’t want your help. I’ve never even seen you before. Don’t try and talk to me about your little stories either. You come near my child again and I’ll call the police!
(Person 2 quickly pushes stroller away)
Joe: Wait! I wasn’t… Sheesh! What kind of person does she think I am? (Once woman is out of earshot he hollers back at the woman) You’ll be sorry you didn’t talk to me in 10 years when that little hooligan is the terror of the 7th grade! (speaks to self) Trust me, I know 7th grade hooligans. What an awful year that was for me.
(Persons 3 and 4 enter laughing and throwing a ball back and forth to each other. Joe goes over to introduce himself)
Joe: Hey, you guys playing catch?
Person 3: You’re pretty quick there, aren’t you, Captain Obvious?
Joe: Oh, no, you must have me confused with someone else. My name is Joe.
Person 4: Oh really? You know what, Captain? Whatever it is you’re selling, we don’t want any of it.
Joe: No, you don’t understand. I’m not selling anything. And I’m certainly not a captain. I just want to tell you about the love of Jesus.
Person 3: Look, Joe, we’re meeting a bunch of other people for a game here in a little bit. So, why don’t you do us all a favor and go love us a little less. Okay? Thanks.
Joe: But I just want to know if you know how much Jesus loves you.
Person 4: You need to leave us alone now, Joe, otherwise my friends Bam-Bam and Thumper (flexes muscles and makes fists), are going to show you a little love. Take a hike.
(Joe backs away, turns around, crosses to opposite side of stage. Person 3 and 4 exit laughing at Joe.)
(Tom enters, Joe doesn’t see him.)
Joe: (Muttering) Bam-Bam and Thumper. Humph. I wish I could go all Old Testament on them. They’d be sorry when it starts to rain fire and brimstone on their ball game. Not even a cast iron umbrella would help them.
Tom: Hey, Joe, what’s going on? You’re looking a little frustrated right now. What’s up?
Joe: (with frustration) Hey, Tom. I’ll tell you what’s wrong. I came out here today to just talk to people, to try and share the love of God with them, but people are being completely unresponsive. The first guy was too busy, and he actually shooed me away. The next lady needed help with her baby, and she threatened to call the police on me. And Hans and Franz over there just threatened to beat me up. I mean, what is this? It’s like its 7th grade all over again. But they’re the ones who will be sorry. We don’t know the day or the hour, but they better hope it’s not today. Cause, if they don’t turn, they’re gonna burn. You know what I’m talking about? They better get sanctified or chicken fried. Am I right?!
Tom: Whoa, whoa, settle down there, Judge Judy.
Joe: And that’s another thing, why can’t anyone call me by my name? I’m Joe, not Judy, Joe!
Tom: (calmly) Okay, I’m sorry, Joe. I can see you are upset and I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry. (pause) Are you okay?
Joe: (pause) Yeah, I’m alright. It’s just so frustrating. All I wanted to do was help people. I just wanted to share the Gospel with them. Is that so wrong?
Tom: No, Joe, there’s nothing wrong with sharing the Gospel. In fact. there’s nothing better than to be able to share the Gospel with someone. But you understand it’s not always going to be easy, right?
Joe: I do now.
Tom: Yeah, I guess you do. You know, sometimes people are just not ready to hear about the Gospel. Jesus even told His disciples it’s not going to be easy. Some will want to hear it, and others, well, they just think they’ve got it all under control already. Can I ask you something else? I overheard you as I was getting here. Did you really want God to rain fire and brimstone down on those guys?
Joe: It’s not like they don’t deserve it. They were jerks.
Tom: I’m not saying that. They may deserve it. But that’s kind of my point. They deserve it. You deserve it. I deserve it. We all deserve it, don’t we? After all, we are all sinners in need of a savior.
Joe: Yes, but we are sorry for our sins. They are not.
Tom: Are you sorry for your sins? All of them? Including being judge, jury and executioner to those guys?
Joe: I get it now. “Judge Judy”. Ha, that’s funny. Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’s because of the Father’s great love for us that He sent His son to die for all of us, even the unrepentant people of the world.
Tom: That’s right. You know, just because you didn’t have success in sharing your faith with them…
Joe: (Joe interrupts Tom) Sharing my faith with them? I barely got to share my name with them.
Tom: Don’t worry about it. Just because you didn’t get the chance to share the Gospel with them doesn’t mean they won’t listen to the next person. Maybe we just need to be persistent. Who knows, with the help of the Holy Spirit, maybe these people will be responsive to hearing the Gospel the next time someone approaches them.
Joe: I know you’re right, Tom. It’s still frustrating, though. I just want to quit and let God sort it all out in the end.
Tom: Don’t quit now, Joe. What does the Bible tell us in 1 Peter? “Always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” And this next part is important, too, “But do this with gentleness and respect.”
Joe: Alright. I’ll stop calling down fire and brimstone on people and keep showering them with love instead.
Tom: There you go. That’s what I like to hear. Come on, I’ll buy you a soda. My treat. And who knows, maybe we’ll get another opportunity to talk to someone about that hope that we have inside of us.
Joe: Sounds good, Tom. Thanks, man. You’re alright. No matter what everyone else says about you, you’re alright.
Tom: What are you talking about? Who’s talking bad about me?
Joe: Gotcha!
Tom: Very funny. Come on; let’s get out here before we need a cast iron umbrella.
(Both exit laughing with each other.)
End scene
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