"K" is for Know

A to Z Blogging Challenge: "K" is for Know

Writing Exercise: Write what you "know". What are you passionate about? What are you an authority on? What are your memories? You know the interesting details! So, write!

I’m passionate about acting and using drama to share Jesus. Here is a skit I wrote for church. Two great guys at church acted it out at a dinner about friendship.

True Vine
by Dawn M. Hamsher

Scene Description: Gander Mountain Fishing Dept.  2 men, who know each other from church, run into one another.
Actor(s):  2 men, 1 scripture reader
Props/Set: Fishing gear, clothes rack with jackets

Scripture reference: John 15:1-8, Mark 2:1-12 (stay in Christ and forward His kingdom)
 

Mike: Hey Jeff!, Haven’t seen you in long time!  How’s it goin’?

Jeff: (shake hands) Things are good.  How are you doin’?

Mike: Great!  How’s the girlfriend?

Jeff: Sarah’s good.  We’ve been dating two years now.

Mike: Wow, has it been that long?  (Jeff nods)  Hey, I haven’t seen you at church lately.  You were coming every week.  What happened?

Jeff: Oh, I’m taking a break.  People started asking me to do things.

Mike: What things?

Jeff: Like be a greeter or asking me if I want to work with the youth.

Mike: Well, you’d be good at those things.  You’re friendly and with you being a soccer coach, you’re good with kids.

Jeff: Yeah, I know, but I just want to go to church and then go home.  That’s it.

Mike: But, you’re not going to church right now.

Jeff: Yeah, well they shouldn’t be so pushy…and Pastor Dick keeps preaching about serving and growing spiritually.  I think its enough to just go to church.  I don’t want to volunteer or be pressured.

Mike: Do you want to grow closer to Jesus?

Jeff: (offended) I believe in Jesus!  I know he died for my sins.  I’m saved.

Mike: You didn’t answer my question.

Jeff: What? Do I want to get closer to Jesus?  Yeah, I guess so.  But them asking me to do stuff is a big turn-off.

Mike: Ok, I hear ya, but I want you to consider something…from the Bible.  You know the part when Jesus says, “I am the vine, you’re the branches.  Those who remain in me will produce much fruit.”

Jeff: Yeah, I’ve heard that.

Mike: Well, it applies…to you and me.  It goes on to say, “Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers.”

Jeff: Mike, you don’t need to preach to me.  I believe.

Mike: Yeah, but you’re a good friend and I want you to have what I have.

Jeff: Have what?

Mike: It’s hard to put into words.  I used to just come to church with Carrie.  She wanted me to come, so I humored her.  She needed God, not me.  I went about a year like that…just going.  Then one Sunday, something the pastor said hit me like a ton of bricks.  He was talking about the story of the paralyzed man.  Jesus told the man, “Stand up, take your mat, and go home, because you are healed!”.  It’s like my eyes opened and I realized I was that man, going through life, not really living.  All of a sudden, I felt alive and I wanted more.  I started going to the Men’s Bible Study, the one at 6am on Wednesdays and I started reading the Bible.  I couldn’t believe how the Bible applied to my life.  Eventually I began helping with the ministry on Thursday Night, cooking food.  I didn’t just jump into serving God.

Jeff: I didn’t know all that about you.  I figured you had always been gung ho for church stuff.  You said you joined the Men’s Bible Study? (Mike nods)  I might like to try that.

Mike: That’d be great.  I think you’d like it.  I hope you consider coming to church too.  You don’t need to focus on serving right now.

Jeff: Yeah, I think I’d like to just learn more and hang out with the guys.  I’ve never really studied the Bible.  Maybe something will hit me, like it did you.

Mike: I’m sure God will speak to you when it’s time. 

Jeff: (notices his watch) Hey, I better get going.  Sarah’s going to wonder where I am.  I was just supposed to run and get my fishing license.

Mike: Yeah, I got to go too. See you Sunday?

Jeff: Yeah, I’ll be there.  (waves)

Scripture Reader: The Bible says, ”I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.  You have already been pruned for greater fruitfulness by the message I have given you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful apart from me.  For apart from me you can do nothing.  Anyone who parts from me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers.  Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.  But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!  My true disciples produce much fruit.  This brings great glory to my Father.”

Are you stagnant and luke-warm like Jeff?  Jesus calls you to grow in him and allow him to mold you into His likeness, and to bear fruit.  If you would like to begin growing closer to Jesus, you can talk to the pastor, join Bible Studies, read the Bible, fellowship with other Christians, serve in different ministries and share Christ with others.  God calls you not only to believe, but to take it further.  Jesus is the vine, but you are the branches.  What are you going to do as His branches?  Produce fruit or wither away?