Ten of my ten-minute “Parable Plays” are now available at Christian Publishers. Reading copies are available for $3.99, with Performance Pack prices varying, depending on the number of scripts required.
In these sketches, I have taken popular parables of Jesus and re-imagined them with contemporary settings. Many of them are comedies. All are easy to stage. Only a couple are overtly religious, but all bear a striking resemblance to the plot and themes of the original parables. They are suitable for performance or classroom study at churches and schools. The scripts all have previews available online, and include the original Bible passage and suggested discussion questions.
Here’s the line-up. Click on each title to link to the product page at Christian Publishers.
CALLED OR CULLED (Parable of the Sheep and the Goats) At a job interview, Billy boasts incessantly about his ambition, trophies, and karaoke skills, while Eunice shares about organizing a food drive, her family, and singing at the county jail. Guess who got the job?
DRAGNET (Parable of Casting the Net into the Sea) “And the winner is…?” The lure of an Alaskan cruise prize exposes the shady pasts of several sweepstakes entrants.
FINED (Parable of the Two Debtors) One library patron owes a 35¢ fine while the other, whose textbooks were water damaged in a flood, owes $350. When the librarian cancels both fines, guess who is more grateful?
HAMPERED (Parable of the Two Sons) Mom asks Nicole and Matt to do their laundry. Nicole agrees but doesn’t do it, while Matt says he won’t but ends up doing it anyway—and finds a gift card inside the dryer.
L3 (Parable of the Leaven) Which talk show guest is more successful: Rich Lucre, shamelessly hawking his book Sharing Is for Losers, or an unassuming military mom who accidentally creates an Internet sensation out of love for her daughter?
THE NEW DEAL (Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus) Uppity Heelwell chastises Stonebroke and his mangy mutt for stepping foot and paw on his ritzy property when both men suddenly die. Stonebroke gets pampered at Paradise Cove, while Heelwell ends up at the Hot Spot Hostel, where it’s hot—and hostile.
THE SHEPHERDESS (Parable of the Lost Sheep) While it’s great that 99 lambs are safe, Mary won’t rest until Agnes is brought back into the fold.
THE SHINDIG (Parable of the Prodigal Son) Cowboy Clem, who lived large and recklessly, returns to the ranch penniless and afraid. His hardworking brother questions why there’s a celebration for irresponsible Clem’s homecoming.
SQUATTERS (Parable of the Tenants) Two employees at a luxurious hotel ditch their responsibilities and lounge in a deluxe suite in the middle of their shift. When the boss’s son comes to investigate, they send him out to inspect the balcony railing with disastrous results.
VERDICT (Parable of the Persistent Widow) The Wild West is the backdrop for this courtroom drama. Widow Mite testifies about showing mercy to struggling customers at the dry goods store, but Magreedy wants her to pay!
I had a lot of fun writing these sketches, and was privileged to see them premiered at Colorado ACTS.
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