A Bridge Across

SCRIPT SUMMARY

Script Title

A Bridge Across

Authorship

Theme

Jesus’ death bridges the gulf between sinners and a holy God.

Characters

Mom (or Dad)

Michael (or Michelle)

Costumes

Hiking gear

Props

Backpacks, walking staffs, water bottle, binoculars, boulder

Setting

At the rim of the Grand Canyon. Idea: Project photographs of the Grand Canyon on a screen behind the actors.

INTRODUCTION

Note: This script can stand alone without the introduction. However, if you are using this script as part of a teacher training session, this introduction may be helpful in making a connection to the audience.

Sharing God’s plan of salvation with someone else can be a challenge and, when that person is a child, the challenge can seem even more daunting. How do you communicate important spiritual truths in a way that a child can understand? Fortunately, it’s not as hard as it seems. Most children don’t spend a lot of time rationalizing their behavior or intellectualizing faith like adults do. Maybe that’s why Jesus told His disciples that they would need to become like children to enter the kingdom of heaven. This skit shows one way of presenting scriptural truth on a level that kids can understand and embrace.

DRAMA

MOM (or DAD) and MICHAEL (or MICHELLE) are catching their breath after a hike to the rim of the Grand Canyon. Both have backpacks on their backs and walking staffs in their hands. Michael is drinking from a water bottle.

MOM: (a little breathless) There it is, the Grand Canyon. (pause) Okay, let’s go home!

MICHAEL: Funny, Mom.

MOM pulls out the binoculars and begins scanning the horizon while Michael stands on the boulder and leans, dangling his water bottle as if over the edge.

MICHAEL: How far did you say it is to the bottom?

MOM: (still looking through binoculars) About a mile. It’s 277 miles long and 18 miles wi…. (glancing his way, then doing a double take) Michael, are you crazy? Get down from there!

MICHAEL: Get a grip, Mom. I won’t fall.

MOM: (trying to conceal her concern) It’s not you I’m worried about; it’s my water bottle. Now get down.

She pulls him off the boulder, takes the bottle from him and takes a drink. He grabs the binoculars from her and begins looking around.

MOM: You know, every time I see this place, I can’t help but praise God.

MICHAEL: You said the same thing about the Amoco station five miles back.

MOM: Yeah, well, you were pretty glad to see a bathroom too, Mister. (pause) No, this canyon reminds me of how my life used to be before I met Jesus. It was like God was over there, 277 miles away, and I was stuck here. There was this giant gap between Him and me.

MICHAEL: Really? I thought you and God were best buds?

MOM: Not always. No, I knew God loved me, but I also knew He was perfect. I knew my sin was keeping us apart.

MICHAEL: (acting shocked) Mom! You sin?!?

MOM: (playing along) I know it’s hard to believe, now that I’m perfect and all. (serious again) Hey, Michael. Let’s say you were going to try to jump across this canyon, and you had to choose between using your skateboard or a motorcycle. Which would you choose?

MICHAEL: The motorcycle, I guess. But neither one would work. Either way I’d be just as dead.

MOM: Yeah. That’s what I figured, too. About getting across the canyon to God, I mean.

MICHAEL: Huh? Mom, you’re not making sense again!

MOM: Sorry. It’s just that I realized no matter how hard I tried, I could never be good enough. Was I ever glad to find that bridge!

MICHAEL: (scanning the horizon again with the binoculars) There’s a bridge across the canyon? Where?

MOM: I’m talking about Jesus, silly. When Jesus died on the cross, He made a way for us to reach God, kind of like a bridge across the canyon of our sin. He took the punishment for my sin so I could become God’s child. It sure was great to cross that bridge and know God forgave me because Jesus died in my place. (pause) So, Michael, what do you think?

MICHAEL: (looking out at the canyon again) I think it’s awesome, Mom.

MOM: I was talking about Jesus and the cross.

MICHAEL: So was I.

They exit arm in arm.

CONCLUSION

Note: This script can stand alone without an introduction. However, if you are using it as part of a teacher training session, this conclusion will be helpful in drawing conclusions for the audience.

Jesus used stories and parables to teach people about God and His kingdom. Don’t be afraid to do the same when you’re talking to children about God’s plan of salvation.