Nick does the right thing

A Time Such As This

Esther 1:1–10:3

Susanna: Nick! Nick! You’ve got to come quick!

Nick: (Playing video games) What’s the problem?

Susanna: Your friend, Nathan, is about to be creamed by the school bully, Muscles Malone, because Nathan wouldn’t give up his paper route money. You have to save him!

Nick: (Shrugs) I don’t really see what I could do to help.

Susanna: What do you mean, you don’t see what you could do to help? What is wrong with you! You could at least go out there and stand up to that bully with Nathan. Then maybe he’ll leave him alone.

Nick: Susanna, Muscles was shaving when he was in fifth grade. You don’t mess with guys like that. Usually I just pray that they move away and become someone else’s problem.

Susanna: We don’t have time for that. You’ve got to help Nathan right now!

Nick: But Muscles isn’t trying to pound me. If I go out there, I’ll just be sticking my nose in business I shouldn’t stick it in. Besides, I’d like to live longer than until I’m just 14.

Susanna: But Nathan is your friend. You should help him just because of that.

Nick: That’s true. He is my friend. (Thinking about it.) I’ll really miss him when he’s gone.

Susanna: (Shocked) That’s terrible! Nathan won’t be gone if you do something to help him.

Nick shrugs again and keeps playing his game.

Susanna: (Getting right in his face.) If you think that you can hide in here playing video games while your friend gets pounded and that it won’t matter, you’re wrong. Who do you think that bully is going to go after once Nathan is out of the way? Hmmm? Gee, who do I know who has a little lawn mowing business on our street that Muscles could exploit? Hmmm. Oh, I know. It's you.

Nick: Okay, okay. You made your point. If I don’t help Nathan and Muscles creams him, I'll probably be the next target. You’re right. I’ll go down and help my friend.

Susanna: I knew you’d see reason! Let’s get out there and show Muscles he can’t push anyone on our street around anymore.

Nick: (As they’re leaving) What kind of parents name their child Muscles, anyway?

The lost sheep search and rescue operation

The Lost Sheep

Sally: Sally Scoop here on the scene covering the Lost Sheep Search and Rescue Effort that has been mounted by the local community in an effort to recover one sheep which has somehow gotten out of its sheep pen. Let’s see if we can interview some of the searchers to see what is being done to recover the lost sheep.

(Sees a scientist with some kind of weird electronic gadget.) Excuse me. Are you part of the Lost Sheep Search and Rescue Effort?

Scientist: (Pushes up glasses and talking in nerdy voice.) Sort of.

Sally: What do you mean?

Scientist: I’ve created the Lost Sheep Early Detection Sonar 3000. It is capable of locating every sheep within a range of 100 miles.

Sally: That’s amazing! Is it working?

Scientist: Of course it’s working. According to my readings, this room is full of sheep. It’s only a matter of time before I find the one that’s lost.

Sally: (Looking around and seeing lots of kids but no sheep.) Hmmm. I think you better keep working on it.

Scientist: You think so?

Sally: Definitely. (Points to another searcher who is blowing into a whistle that doesn’t make any sound.) Let’s see what she’s doing. Excuse me, I’m Sally Scoop with the local news station. Are you helping with the Lost Sheep Search and Rescue Effort?

Whistler: Of course I am. Can’t you tell?

Sally: Not really. What are you doing?

Whistler: This whistle is a special ultrasonic sheep caller that was passed down through my family. Only a sheep can hear it when I blow into it.

Sally: And how does this affect a sheep?

Whistler: It will make the sheep come to me. I’m going to blow into it now, so stand back. When the sheep hears this baby, it’ll probably stampede. (Whistler blows hard on the whistle, and then crouches and covers head because expects to be run over by the sheep.)

VO: MOOOOOOO! MOOOOO! (From backstage)

Sally: That sounds like a cow.

Whistler: Let me try that again. (Blows hard, then takes cover.)

VO: QUACK! QUACK! QUA-A-A-A-ACK!

Sally: That sounded like a duck.

Whistler: Well, I’m still working out the bugs. Why don’t you go talk to someone else for awhile? (Starts shaking the whistle and looking into it to see if there’s something caught in it.)

Sally: (Walking up to normal person.) Excuse me, are you with the Lost Sheep Search and Rescue Effort?

Shepherd: Yep.

Sally: What special technique are you using to find the lost sheep?

Shepherd: I’m going out to look for the sheep

Sally: You’re kidding! All these other people had all this special equipment and techniques to get the sheep to come to them. You’re just going to go out and look for the sheep?

Shepherd: Yep.

Sally: Why?

Shepherd: Because I’m the shepherd, and that’s what shepherds do. I care about every sheep. I don’t want even one to be lost. Even though it’s not easy or convenient, I’m going to look until I find the one lost sheep.

Sally: What if you don’t find the sheep right away?

Shepherd: It doesn’t matter. I won’t give up until I find the one that’s lost.

Sally: Wow! That’s real love! You heard it here, folks. The shepherd loves his sheep so much that if one is lost, he goes out and looks and doesn’t give up until he finds it.

Are you listening for God's instructions?

Follow Dad’s Instructions

(Susanna comes on stage with a deck of cards, kneels down at the table on stage and starts to build a house of cards. She isn’t having any success when Nick comes on and watches her.)

Nick You’re doing that wrong.

Susanna Don’t you have something else to do, like booby trapping my room, or picking on Knuckles McFeeny, the neighborhood bully. (As they talk she keeps trying and failing to get the cards to stand.)

Nick No, I’m taking a break. (Pauses as he watches her) You’re doing it wrong again.

Susanna (Frustrated.) You can leave now.

Nick I’d rather stay here and watch you. You know, building a house of cards isn’t easy. Especially the way you do it.

Susanna Oh? So now you’re Mr. House of Cards Builder? What makes you so smart?

Nick I’m not smart. Well, I am, but the reason I just know how to do build a house of cards is that Dad showed me how. When I follow his directions, I can get started on a pretty cool house.

Susanna (Tries again and fails.) Uuuggghhh! Why don’t you find someone else to bother?

Nick There’s no one else home to bother. However, if you let me stick around, I can show you how to make a card house by following Dad’s instructions. How about it?

Susanna Okay, Mr. Know it all. Tell me how to do it.

Nick Great! First we should find a better table to work at. You want to make sure it won’t shake if you happen to bump into it a little. There’s a good one in our nice cool basement in Dad’s workshop. Let’s go.

Susanna And you can do this?

Nick Sure all we have to do is follow Dad’s instructions and you will have success every time. Come on. I’ll show you. (Exit with cards.)

I Can't Keep It To Myself!

I’ve Got Good News

Acts 8:26–39

Susanna: I can’t believe I finally won the Great Chocolate Chip Cookie Bake-off. I’ve been trying to do that for three years.

Susan: Hi, Susanna.

Susanna: Look at my certificate. I just won a bake-off.

Susan: Wow! That’s great news. Your family will be so excited. Did you tell Nick yet?

Susanna: (Face falling.) Nick? Not likely.

Susan: But he’ll be so excited that you won! How could you not tell him?

Susanna: Well, let me see. Maybe because last week he put maple syrup in my shampoo bottle and I didn’t figure it out until I didn’t get any suds. Maybe because the week before that he used heat sensitive invisible ink to write “KICK ME” on the back of one of my t-shirts as a joke. Maybe because...

Susan: Okay, okay. I get the picture. He’s been a little busy lately.

Susanna: Let’s just say that if it had been a Great Goofy Tricks on Your Sister contest, Nick would have won.

Susan: When you have good news to share, you should tell other people about it.

Susanna: But what if Nick doesn’t care about my good news?

Susan: You should tell him anyway. Don’t decide that he won’t like it in advance. Share! And you might be surprised anyway.

Susanna: Why is that?

Susan: Brothers tend to appreciate sisters that can bake prize-winning cookies.

Susanna: You’ve got a point.

Nick: Did I hear someone mention cookies?

Susan: See what I mean?

(All exit.)

A True Gift

The Sacrificial Cookies

Luke 21:1–4

(Nate is holding a bag of cookies, very excited that he has them.)

Nate: I love double chocolate Oreo cookies. These are my favorite.

Susan: Hi, Nate. What’s in the bag?

Nate: Double chocolate Oreo cookies. They’re my favorite.

Susan: Oooo. I love cookies.

Nate: (Considering.) You know, Susan, I love these cookies, but I’ve got a whole bag of them. Would you like two?

Susan: Thank you, Nate. I’d love to have two cookies. Thanks!

(Nate shares a cookie and leaves.)

Susan: I love double chocolate Oreo cookies. Since I already had lunch, I think I’ll go get a big glass of milk to eat these with.

(Susanna walks in, looking upset.)

Susan: Hey, Susanna. What’s wrong?

Susanna: Oh, I forgot my lunch at home. I’m so hungry! I can’t wait for school to be over so I can go home and eat something.

Susan: That’s terrible! (Looks at cookies in her hand.) Susanna, I know it isn’t much, but I have two cookies. You could eat them. It might help a little until you can eat at home.

Susanna: I don’t want to take the only two cookies you have.

Susan: That’s okay. You’re my friend and I’m happy to share what I have with you.

Susanna: Thank you, Susan.

Susan: In fact, I was just going to get some milk. I’ll get some for you, too.

Susanna: Great!

(Kids exit)

Teacher: When Nate gave Susan two cookies, was he making a big sacrifice? (No.) It was nice of him to share with her, but he still had lots of cookies left.

When Susan gave her only two cookies to Susanna, was she making a big sacrifice? (Yes.) Susan gave all that she had. She didn’t hold anything back from her friend because she wanted to bless her.

Today’s story is about a widow who gave everything she had to God.

Be A Blessing on Mother's Day!

Mother’s Day Surprise

Susan creeps on stage. She is dressed in camo and covered with squirt guns and supersoakers. As she stealthily looks around, Susan comes up and taps her on the shoulder.

Susan: Hi, Susanna. What are you doing?

Susanna: (Jumping.) AUUUUUGGGHHH!

Susan: Watch out! It’s just me.

Susanna: Sorry. I’m looking for Nick. This is it. I’m finally getting him back.

Susan: With squirt guns?

Susanna: Oh yeah. This one has ketchup. This one has mustard. And this one? Maple syrup. I can’t wait.

Susan: But Susanna, how could you do that on Mother’s Day?

Susanna: I’m not doing it to my mom. I’m doing it to Nick. And anyway, it’s perfect. He’ll never see it coming on a holiday like today.

Susan: You shouldn’t do that to your mom on Mother’s Day.

Susanna: She’ll look back in a few years and laugh about it.

Susan: But don’t you think it will make her Mother’s Day a lot harder? She’ll have to correct you, and she’ll have to keep Nick from getting you back, and it just won’t bless her at all to have her two kids fighting.

Susanna: Oh. I never thought of that.

Susan: Remember Timothy in the Bible? He was so thankful for his mother and his grandmother. They took care of him.

Susanna: My mom takes care of me.

Susan: They made him food.

Susanna: My mom makes me food.

Susan: They gave him clothes.

Susanna: My mom gives me clothes.

Susan: They told him about God.

Susanna: My mom tells me about God, too. (Starting to sniffle because she’s so touched.)

Susan: Don’t you want to bless and honor your mom on Mother’s Day after she’s done all for you?

Susanna: (Pretend crying) I feel so awful. I can’t believe I was going to do that to my mother. (Blows nose with honking sound.)

Nick: (Walking past.) What’s wrong with her?

Susanna: Oh, nothing. She’s just having a great Mother’s Day.

Nick: Right. (Keeps walking)

Can I Take Your Temperature?

One Bad Bug

2 Kings 5:1–27

Susanna comes on stage and is looking for a book and some other things.

Susan: Hi, Susanna. What are you doing?

Susanna: Waiting on my brother when I’d rather be out with my friends.

Susan: Why are you waiting on Nick?

Susanna: Because Mom said that I have to.

Susan: I guess that’s a good reason.

Susanna: He’s got a cold so mom told him to stay in bed. I’ve been running back and forth for him all day!

Nick (VO backstage): Susanna! Where’s my comfy pillow?

Susanna: See what I mean? It’s like I’m some kind of slave.

Susan: I’m sure he appreciates what you’re doing for him.

Susanna: Susan, are you kidding me? This is Nick we’re talking about.

Nick VO: Susanna! I want some orange juice. Hurry up!

Susan: Well, maybe he won’t appreciate you fully today, but someday he’ll look back and be thankful for what you did.

Nick VO: Susanna! Take my temperature again. My feet are cold and my head is hot.

Susanna: I don’t think he’s likely to live that long. AUUUUUGGHH! (Looks like she’s about to pound Nick.)

Susan: (Grabs her arm) Don’t do it, Susanna. You know, there was a slave girl in Bible times who worked for her master Naaman. Even thought she was a slave, she was kind and helped him.

Susanna: Really?

Susan: Naaman had leprosy.

Susanna: Is that worse than a cold?

Susan: Oh, yeah! It was a skin disease. Lepers were avoided because no one else wanted to get what they had. But Naaman was pretty important because he was a successful captain of the army.

Susanna: What did the slave girl do?

Susan: This girl had been kidnapped from Israel, so she told Naaman’s wife about the prophet Elisha who could heal Naaman from the leprosy.

Susanna: What did Naaman do?

Susan: He got permission from his own king to go to the king of Israel. When he arrived, the king of Israel was so upset to learn that he was supposed to get Naaman healed, that he tore his clothes because he thought that Naaman’s king was just looking for an excuse to get upset with him and go to war. You don’t get requests to get people healed from leprosy much when you’re a king.

Susanna: Uh oh.

Susan: Elisha heard about it and sent for Naaman. He knew how powerful God was, and he wasn’t concerned.

Susanna: Did he heal Naaman?

Susan: He didn’t actually talk to Naaman. He just sent a messenger out of the house to tell Naaman to go wash in the Jordan seven times. Naaman was mad. Elisha didn’t even come out and wave his hands over him or anything, and Naaman didn’t believe it would help to wash in the muddy Jordan, since there were cleaner rivers than that.

Susanna: What did he do?

Susan: One of Naaman’s servants pointed out that if Elisha had asked him to do something hard, he would have done it, so he should just wash in the Jordan. It was worth it to obey. Naaman washed in the Jordan and came out with brand new skin.

Susanna: And all because a little servant girl was kind.

Susan: Never underestimate the power of serving other people.

Nick: Susanna! Where’s that comfy pillow and orange juice?

Susanna: Guess you’re right. It’s good to serve others, whether they’re grateful or not. (Calling to Nick) I’ll be right there!