Examples Of Responsive Reading Of Scripture
The following examples all involve the congregation in the proclamation of Scripture. Each script is based on a portion of Scripture with some adaptation in order to highlight the dramatic qualities of the text involved.
The Lost Sheep
Background. This reading is based on the parable of Jesus in Matthew 18:10–14. The parable illustrates the value of human beings, especially of little children. Throughout Jesus' ministry, he interacted with children and noted that many of their characteristics are shared in some way with those who are a part of the kingdom of heaven. The parable of the lost sheep has been consistently overlooked as a parable about the significance of children! So we will underscore this point in the following reading.
Script/Participants:
Reader 1
Reader 2
Reader 3
Reader 4
Congregation
Position all four readers facing the Congregation. Readers 1 and 2 should stand together in front on one side the platform and Readers 3 and 4 should stand together on the other side. The Readers are in a teaching role in this reading. Their lines should be consistently read with the emphasis given according to the punctuation. For example, ellipsis (. . .) indicates a pause. This reading can sound fragmented, but with rehearsal the readers will be able to make these sentences smooth and will discover the delightful effect of several voices acting in cooperation to communicate a single thought.
Reader 1: This is a parable
Reader 2: about the kingdom of heaven.
Reader 3: The kingdom is …
Reader 4: like sheep.
Congregation: Sheep?
Reader 3: And a shepherd
Reader 2: And little children who are lost.
Reader 4: The kingdom is …
Reader 2: like wandering,
Reader 1: losing and looking,
Reader 3: finding and laughing,
Reader 4: maybe rejoicing!
Reader 3: Tell me,
Reader 4: what do you think?
Reader 2: A man was counting
Reader 1: his flock of sheep—
Reader 3: one
Reader 1: two
Reader 2: three
Congregation: four,
Reader 3: Seventy-two
Reader 1: Eighty-nine
Reader 2: Ninety-eight
Congregation: Ninety-Nine, One Hundred
Reader 3: No, … just ninety-nine!
Reader 2: One of them,
Reader 1: One of the hundred,
Reader 4: wandered off, got lost—
Reader 2: hopelessly lost—
Reader 4: in the hills—
Reader 2: in the world—
Reader 3: which left just
Congregation: ninety-nine.
Reader 4: A man owns
Reader 1: A flock of sheep
Reader 3: one hundred
Reader 1: to be exact.
Reader 4: But now it's
Congregation: ninety-nine.
Reader 2: He looks
Reader 3: for the one lost sheep.
Reader 1: He leaves the
Congregation: ninety-nine
Reader 2: on the hills or in the world—
Reader 4: … or wherever—
Reader 1: looks and finds
Reader 2: the wandering lost sheep.
Reader 3: This is the truth
Reader 4: about shepherds and sheep,
All readers: and God and people.
Reader 2: When the shepherd
Reader 3: finds the sheep,
Reader 2: he is so happy.
Our Majestic God
Background. Worship has everything to do with the object of our adoration. Christians see God as One who deserves worship. Whatever we do and say should bear in mind this truth, and attempt to build up one's faith in God as a reasonable and worthy object of worship. The biblical writers showed God's worthiness by enumerating his accomplishments and actions. Psalm 8 is a meditation on God majesty. It lists some of the reasons why we worship him. The contrasts between God and humankind underscore this majesty, and this reading is designed to emphasize those contrasts. We will be reminded that God is God and that any rulership we have is because of that fact.
Script/Participants:
Reader 1
Reader 2
Reader 3
Congregation
Readers 1 and 2 should stand together in front on one side of the platform and Reader 3 should stand alone on the other side. The Congregation should say their lines with feeling. The lines "Who am I?" and "I am wretched." should be said with passionate feeling.
Reader 1: O Lord—
Congregation: Our Lord
Reader 2: how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Reader 3: Majestic?
Reader 1: Excellent!
Reader 2: Powerful!
Reader 3: Authoritarian?
Congregation: Loving!
Reader 2: O Lord—
Chorus: Our Lord!
Reader 1: Yahweh!
Reader 2: Adonai!
Reader 1: Savior!
Reader 3: Creator?
Readers 1 and 2: Creator of all the earth!
Reader 1: You have set your glory—
Reader 2: not only in the earth—
Reader 1: not only in the heavens—
Congregation: but in our hearts!
Reader 2: Your glory
Congregation: is our hope
All Readers: and salvation.
Reader 1: From the lips of children and infants—
Reader 2: though their words of weakness—
Reader 1: through their words of innocence—
Reader 3: you have ordained praise.
Reader 1: Out of the mouths of children
Reader 2: comes openness,
Reader 3: comes tolerance,
Chorus: comes praise!
Reader 1: So a little child shall lead them.
Reader 3: When I consider the heavens,
Reader 2: the work of your hands—
Reader 1: when I think about
Congregation: things bigger than I—
Reader 1: the moon and stars,
Reader 2: the Milky Way,
Reader 1: the unknown that you have set in place—
Congregation: who am I,
Reader 2: that God would think of me?
Reader 3: Who am I,
Reader 1: that God should care for me?
Reader 2: Who am I,
Reader 1: that I should be crowned with glory and honor?
Congregation: I am wretched
Reader 2: and naked
Reader 3: and blind.
Reader 1: Yet I am crowned with glory and honor.
Reader 3: God has made us rulers
Reader 2: over His created works.
Reader 1: Under our feet are the flocks of the hills,
Reader 2: herds of the pasture,
Reader 3: beasts of the field,
Reader 2: birds of the air,
Reader 1: fish of the sea.
Reader 3: O Lord—
Congregation: Our Lord!
Reader 3: O Lord are we that glory?
Reader 2: The lost coins that were found?
Reader 1: The pearls that were purchased?
Reader 3: The treasure that was uncovered?
Reader 1: That you have set us above the heavens?
Reader 2: How majestic is your name in all the earth.
Reader 3: All of us are—
Congregation: because God is!
Promise for a New Year
Background. Some have seen the "Day of the Lord" as so much pessimistic talk or doomsday-ism. Others have taken heed, reformed, and then been disappointed. Their expectations were dashed when God did not carry out what their prophet or interpretation had suggested. In the Old Testament, the "Day of the Lord" was a notion that summed up all expectations of God's people about his deliverance. Christians, too, have always seen profound meaning for the salvific action of God in judgment. Judgment is after all a declaration that God's people have chosen the right side of the controversy between good and evil. In this reading we see judgment as a promise of deliverance.
Script/Participants:
Reader 1
Reader 2
Reader 3
Congregation 1
Congregation 2
Congregation 3
Congregation 4
The Congregation should be arbitrarily divided up by the worship leader. Obviously, it is crucial that people know clearly what part of the Congregation they will be in if they are to fully participate.
Reader 1: Hear this—
Reader 2: this is the word of the Lord!
Reader 3: Listen to this—
All Readers: All you church people!
Reader 1: Tell it to your children—
Reader 2: let your children tell it to their children—
Reader 3: and let their children tell it to the next generation.
Reader 1: A nation has invaded my land—
Reader 2: a nation powerful and without number—
Reader 3: a nation with the teeth of a lion—
Reader 1: a nation with the fangs of a lioness.
All Readers: Joy has withered away.
Congregation 3: Mourn!
Congregation 1: Wail!
Congregation 2: Spend the night in sackcloth!
Congregation 4: Declare a holy fast!
Congregation 1: Summon all who live in the land!
All: Cry out to the Lord!
Reader 1: The day of the Lord is near!
Congregation 3: Blow the trumpet in Zion!
Congregation 4: Sound the alarm!
Reader 1: At the very sight of this army, nations are in anguish—
Reader 2: every face turns pale!
Reader 1: God's soldiers will rush upon the city.
Congregation 3: Let all who live in the land tremble—
Congregation 1: For the day of the Lord is coming.
All: It is close at hand.
Reader 1: With a noise like that of chariots—
Reader 2: God leaps over the mountaintops!
Reader 1: Like a crackling fire consuming stubble—
Reader 3: God's mighty army is drawn up for battle!
Reader 1: At the very sight of this army, nations are in anguish—
Reader 2: Every face turns pale!
Reader 1: God's soldiers will rush upon the city.
Reader 3: They will run along the wall.
Congregation 2: They will climb into the houses—
Congregation 4: Like thieves they will enter through the windows.
Reader 1: The Lord thunders at the head of his army.
Reader 2: His forces are beyond number,
Reader 3: and mighty are those who obey his command.
Reader 1: Return to me with all your heart—
Reader 2: with fasting and weeping and mourning!
Reader 3: Rend your hearts and not your garments.
Congregation 1: Return to the Lord your God—
Congregation 3: for he is gracious and compassionate—
Congregation 1: slow to anger—
Congregation 4: abounding in love.
Congregation 1: He may turn
Congregation 2: and have pity
Congregation 3: and leave behind a blessing.
Reader 1: Blow the trumpet in Zion!
Reader 2: Declare a holy fast!
Reader 3: Call a sacred assembly.
Congregation 1: Gather the people!
Congregation 2: Consecrate the assembly!
Congregation 3: Bring together the elders!
Congregation 4: Gather the children!
Reader 1: Let the priests weep
Reader 3: between the temple porch and the altar.
Reader 2: Let them say,
Reader 3: "Spare your people, O Lord."
Reader 1: Then the Lord will be jealous for his land
Reader 3: and take pity on his people.
Reader 2: Then the Lord will satisfy you fully.
Congregation 3: Be glad, O people of Zion!
Congregation 2: Rejoice in the Lord your God!
Reader 1: He has given you the autumn rains in righteousness.
Reader 2: He sends you abundant showers.
Congregation 4: We will eat
Reader 3: until we are full
Congregation 1: We will praise the name of the Lord your God.
Reader 2: He has worked wonders for you.
Reader 1: Never again will my people be shamed.
Reader 3: Then you will know that I am in Israel,
Reader 1: that I am the Lord your God,
Reader 2: that there is no other.
All Readers: Never again will my people be shamed.
Reader 1: And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
All: There will be deliverance.
The New Heart
Background. The Scriptures are Christ-centered from beginning to end. The message God sends his believers is wrapped up in the promise for divine deliverance. The Old Testament narrative presents God as a delivering God. The New Testament interprets these delivering acts as the divine activity centered in Jesus Christ. With this deliverance from enemies, powers, and places comes deliverance from the "old man of sin," or depravity and evil desires. A new heart is promised to those who wish to be delivered. This new heart does not simply empower believers to reach their goals, it alters these goals. In this reading we meditate on the new-heart theme of Ezekiel 11 and 36.
Script/Participants:
Reader 1
Reader 2
Reader 3
Congregation
The Congregation is responding as the people who have gone astray. They have been beaten by the enemy, and they are sitting in captivity. They have been humbled. The Readers are giving the message of God to the people.
Reader 1: Hear what the Sovereign Lord says.
Reader 2: I will gather you from the nations.
Reader 3: I will bring you back from the countries,
Reader 2: where you have been scattered
Reader 1: and return your land.
Congregation: What will we do, Lord?
Reader 1: You will return to the land.
Reader 2: You will remove all your vile images
Reader 3: and detestable idols.
Congregation: But we love them, Lord.
Reader 2: I know.
Reader 1: I know.
Reader 1: But in my faithfulness to you
Reader 2: I will give you an undivided heart,
Reader 3: I will put a new spirit in you,
Reader 2: I will remove your heart of stone,
Reader 1: and give you a heart of flesh.
Congregation: What good will that do?
Reader 1: Because of that you will follow my decrees
Reader 2: and you will find it more natural to be careful
Reader 3: to keep my laws.
Reader 2: For you will be my people.
Reader 1: And I will be your God.
Congregation: What if we don't want that?
Reader 1: For those whose hearts are devoted to their vile images
Reader 2: and detestable idols,
Reader 3: I will bring down on their heads what they have done.
Congregation: Is that a threat?
Reader 2: Yes—
Reader 1: You could look at it that way.
Reader 1: Or you could be wise and learn from it.
Reader 2: It could be seen as information.
Congregation: Explain yourself, Lord.
Reader 3: You could see it as a promise—
Reader 2: A promise—
Reader 1: of deliverance!
Congregation: Of deliverance?!
Reader 1: When my people lived in their own land
Reader 2: they defiled it
Reader 3: by their conduct—their actions—
Reader 2: So I poured out my wrath.
Congregation: We know!
Reader 1: Of course, you know.
Reader 1: Which do you detest more—
Reader 2: my wrath?
Reader 3: or my actions?
Reader 2: There is a connection, you know—
Reader 1: between your hardship and your wickedness
Congregation: We are learning, Lord.
Reader 1: Because of your unfaithfulness to me
Reader 2: you tested my faithfulness to you.
Reader 3: And I let you know
Reader 2: what it would be like
Reader 1: to live without me.
Congregation: We are thick between the ears, Lord.
Reader 1: You lived without me
Reader 2: and you got beat up
Reader 3: by the world.
Congregation: Yes!
Reader 2: The world without me,
Reader 1: is not a friendly place.
Reader 1: Everybody knows you now!
Reader 2: Yes—everybody knows you now!
Reader 3: They all know that you are my people
Reader 2: and because you were unfaithful
Reader 1: you lost your land.
Congregation: Everybody knows us now.
Reader 1: But it was not the witness I wanted—
Reader 2: I wanted them to know my faithfulness-
Reader 3: Not your faithfulness—
Congregation: So, what now, Lord?
Reader 2: Will you try again—
Reader 1: Now that you have learned?
Reader 1: I will take you out of the world
Reader 2: and gather you back to your own.
Reader 3: I will sprinkle you clean,
Reader 2: I will remove your heart of stone,
Reader 1: I will give you a heart of flesh.
Congregation: What will we do?
Reader 1: You will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds—
Reader 2: you will loathe those sins you commit—
Reader 3: you will know my faithfulness—
Reader 2: you will act out of your new heart—
Reader 1: You will be my witnesses.
Congregation: And everybody will know you through us!
New Things
Background. God clearly cares about our need to feel the freshness of life. Scripture has much to say about "new" things. We can look at new in two ways. We may see the idea of being "brand" new, that is, never before in existence. I go to the shoe store, I buy a pair of "new" shoes. These are different from the other shoes I own. They are "brand" new. Or we may understand new as "renewed," or made over. You go to the shoe repairman and he resoles your shoes. They are now new shoes, that is, they have been remade or made over. In Scripture the great promises are new in this latter sense of renewed. The new covenant is actually very old, given to our first parents. But being renewed with each generation and finally renewed in Jesus, it is "new." In this reading we review many of the new things that biblical writers mention. This reading is for any occasions when renewal is emphasized—the new year, resolutions, Easter, Christmas—or when sermons stress repentance, new birth, and other like ideas.
Script/Participants:
Reader 1
Reader 2
Congregation 1
Congregation 2
Congregation 3
Congregation 4
The Readers should be positioned at separate microphones and face the audience. They can stand next to each other or at opposite sides of the platform. The Congregation needs to be divided into four equal parts. You simply do this before reading as if you were leading a round.
Reader 1: Every teacher of the law—
Reader 2: who has been instructed
Reader 1: about the kingdom of heaven—
Reader 2: is like the owner of a house,
Reader 1: who brings out of his storeroom
Reader 2: new treasures as well as old.
All Congregation: New treasures?
Reader 1: I am revitalizing everything,
Reader 2: said the voice from the throne!
Reader 1: Write this down,
Reader 2: for these words are trustworthy and true.
All Congregation: What is this? A new teaching?
Reader 1: Yes! and with great authority!
Reader 2: He even gives orders
Reader 1: to evil spirits and they obey him.
Reader 2: In his great mercy
Reader 1: he has given us new birth
Reader 2: into a living hope
Reader 1: through the resurrection
Reader 2: of Jesus Christ from the dead.
All Congregation: New birth?
Reader 1: He told them a parable:
Reader 2: Do you pour new wine
Reader 1: into old wineskins?
Reader 2: If you do,
Reader 1: the skins will burst,
Reader 2: the wine will run out
Reader 1: and the wineskins
Reader 2: will be ruined.
Reader 1: We don't sew patches of unshrunk cloth
Reader 2: on an old garment.
Reader 1: If we do, the new piece
Reader 2: will pull away from the old,
Reader 1: making the tear worse.
Reader 2: New wine must be poured
Reader 1: into new wineskins
Reader 2: so we may become a new creation!
All Congregation: May we know this new teaching?
Reader 1: Christ is the mediator of a new covenant,
Reader 2: that those who are called
Reader 1: may receive
Reader 2: the promised eternal inheritance,
Reader 1: now that he has died as a ransom
Reader 2: to set them free from their sins.
All Congregation: A new covenant?
Reader 1: In the same way,
Reader 2: after the supper he took the cup, saying
Reader 1: This cup is the new covenant in my blood
Reader 2: poured out for you.
All Congregation: New covenant!
Reader 1: At the place where Jesus was crucified,
Reader 2: there was a garden.
Reader 1: And in the garden a new tomb,
Reader 2: in which they laid him.
Reader 1: We were therefore buried with him
Reader 2: through baptism into death,
Reader 1: so that just as Christ
Reader 2: was raised from the dead
Reader 1: through the glory of the Father,
Reader 2: we too may live a new life.
All Congregation: New life?
Reader 1: He opened a new and living way
Reader 2: through the curtain of his body.
Congregation 1: A new way!
Reader 1: Therefore,
Reader 2: he is a new creation!
Congregation 2: A new creation!
Reader 1: The old has gone,
Reader 2: the new has come!
Congregation 3: The new!
Reader 1: We are now created to be like God
Reader 2: in righteousness and holiness.
Reader 1: As believers
Reader 2: you have put on the new self.
Congregation 4: The new self!
Reader 1: Which is being renewed in knowledge,
Reader 2: in the image of its Creator.
All Congregation: Renewed!
Reader 1: A new command I give you:
Reader 2: You may now love one another!
Reader 1: As I have loved you,
Reader 2: so you may love one another!
Congregation 1: We don't need to hate anymore?
Congregation 2: We don't need to criticize anymore?
Congregation 3: We don't need to be judgmental anymore?
Congregation 4: We don't need to act like babies anymore?
All Congregation: We may now love—all the time??
Reader 1: Neither circumcision
Reader 2: nor uncircumcision
Reader 1: means anything—
Reader 2: Works of the law mean nothing—
Reader 1: What counts is a new creation.
Reader 2: His purpose was
Reader 1: to create in himself
Reader 2: one new person—
Reader 1: To be made new
Reader 2: in the attitude of your minds.
All Congregation: A new attitude!
Reader 1: In keeping with God's promise,
Reader 2: we are looking forward
Reader 1: to a new heaven and a new earth—
Reader 2: the home of righteousness.
Reader 1: Whoever has an ear,
Reader 2: hear what the Spirit says!
Reader 1: Whoever overcomes,
Reader 2: I will give a new name.
All Congregation: A new name!
Reader 1: To those who overcome
Reader 2: I will give the city of my God,
Reader 1: the new Jerusalem,
Reader 2: and I will write on them
Reader 1: my new name.
Chorus: His new name!
Reader 1: Go, stand in the temple courts,
Reader 2: and tell the people the full message
Reader 1: of this new life.
Congregation 4: All right!
Congregation 3: Amen!
Congregation 2: Yes!
Congregation 1: OKAY!
All Congregation: We will!
Reader 1: And I saw
Reader 2: a new heaven
Reader 1: and a new earth,
Reader 2: for the first heaven
Reader 1: and the first earth
Reader 2: had passed away.
Congregation 1: Praise be
Congregation 2: to the God
Congregation 3: and Father
Congregation 4: of our Lord
All Congregation: Jesus Christ!