Summary: A dramatic presentation of the Parable of the Sower.
Style: Dramatic. Duration: 6min
Actors: 1N, 4M/F, +C
Scripture: Luke 8:5-9
Resources: 4 actors, a few children, and 1 narrator; 4 tan T-shirts, large paper heart, cell phone (off), wallet, very long grocery store receipt.
Production note: Each actor represents one seed; the narrator reads the Bible passage in the
background to coordinate with the action; each actor wears a tan T-shirt; actor #1 has the heart
Script
Act One
[Action happens behind the screen in silhouette. Action FOLLOWS
reading]
[screen to white]
Narrator: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed,
[Seed One]
Narrator: Some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.
Actor #1: [In a crouching position beneath the screen facing screen, and Ac-tors #3 & 4 grab him by the collar and sleeve stand him straight up, and pretend to carry him off screen]
[Seed Two]
Narrator: Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.
Actor #2: [Rises up quickly from crouching beneath screen to face screen;
then, rocks side to side slowly while slowly returning to a crouch]
[Seed Three]
Narrator: Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.
Actor #3: [Rises up quickly from crouching beneath screen to face screen; Actors #1 & 2 crouch beside #3 and rise up after him... when standing, they
reach over and pretend to choke him... Actor #3 slowly sinks back to a crouch-ing position, and Actors #1 & 2 follow him down until all are off screen]
[Seed Four]
Narrator: Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”
Actor #4 [Rises up quickly from crouching beneath screen to face screen;
slowly spreads arms out and up]
Screen to black...
Act Two
[Action happens in front of screen; all 4 actors stand side-by-side facing audience, action happens FOLLOWING reading]
Narrator: When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God...
[Seed One] - [Holds paper heart to chest for all to see as he/she enters stage, and holds it there until reading is done]
Narrator: Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil
comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.
Actor #1: [tears the heart in half, throws it down, and walks smartly off stage]
[Seed Two]
Narrator: Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with
joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.
Actor #2: [smile widely, extend arms out as if joyful... lower arms and pretend to hear something... look around as if to see what you hear... wander around the stage and in the aisles searching, ultimately leaving the room]
[Seed Three]
Narrator: The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as
they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.
Actor #3: [Pretend to talk on cell phone, look at wrist watch as if late, take out wallet pull out a long grocery receipt and look shocked, talk on phone more, look at watch... walk out doing this]
[Seed Four]
Narrator: But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good
heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
Actor #4: [Stand and smile and look up to heaven; children run out and gather around you and you put your hands on them, welcoming them, you and chil-dren walk out of room together.
Narrator: “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
Curtain
.....................
Author: Fred Lane, email:
This script is free for use without modification to all churches and Christian groups. No admission or fees beyond church donations may be collected for as-semblies where it is used without prior permission of the author.