SCRIPT TITLE

Slam Dunk

AUTHORSHIP

CHARACTER

Dad (or Mom) and Jack (or Jill)

COSTUMES

Modern-day casual. Dad has white baptismal robe over street clothes.

PROPS

Clothes hanger

SETTING

The day before Dad’s baptism

SUMMARY

Baptism is a picture of our cleansing from sin by Christ’s death on the cross and our rebirth to new life through Christ’s resurrection.

BIBLE BASIS

Matthew 3:13-17

THEME

Baptism

KEY VERSE

“And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

INTRODUCTION

One of the most important things that Jesus did before He began teaching and preaching, even before He chose His 12 disciples, was to be baptized by His cousin, John. We sometimes call him John the Baptist, because John encouraged people to be baptized to show that they wanted to repent – to stop sinning and start obeying God. John was surprised when Jesus came to him to be baptized. Jesus wasn’t a sinner. He was God’s perfect Son. Why would Jesus need to be baptized? But, Jesus insisted that John baptize Him anyway. Ever since that day, people who love Jesus and want to follow His example get baptized. But, why is it important for Jesus’ followers to be baptized? Let’s find out.

DRAMA

As action begins, DAD is trying on a white baptismal robe over street clothes. JACK enters.

JACK: Hey, Dad, isn’t it a little early in the year to be trying on costumes for the Christmas play? Where’s the halo?

DAD: This isn’t an angel costume, Jack. It’s my baptismal robe.

JACK: I thought your bathrobe was blue and kind of shaggy.

DAD: Not bathrobe, baptismal robe. It’s what you wear when you’re going to be baptized. Did you forget?

JACK: Oh, yeah. You’re being baptized in church tomorrow.

DAD: So, what do you think?

JACK: As long as you don’t wear your Scooby Doo underwear, I think you’ll do fine.

DAD: Funny! (begins to take robe off, returning it to a hanger) I meant, what do you think about me getting baptized?

JACK: It’s okay, I guess.

DAD: Just okay, huh?

JACK: Well, yeah. I mean, people get baptized at church all the time. Last summer, there was this big group of people who got baptized at Bryant Lake, right in front of the swimmers and lifeguards and everything! Some of my friends at school were baptized when they were babies. What’s the big deal?

DAD: Well, being baptized was a big deal in Bible times. It showed that a person truly wanted to stop sinning and start obeying God. And, what about Jesus? He didn’t start teaching and preaching and doing miracles until after He was baptized.

JACK: Why did Jesus need to be baptized? He didn’t have any sin to be sorry for.

DAD: You’re right. Jesus told John the Baptist that it was the proper and right thing to do. Jesus wanted to please God the Father in everything He did.

JACK: And being baptized made God happy?

DAD: Yes. When Jesus came up out of the water, heaven opened up and the Spirit of God rested on Him. Then God said, “This is my beloved Son; with him I am well pleased.”

JACK: So, is that why you’re gonna be baptized? To make God happy?

DAD: I guess you could say that. Now that I’m a follower of Jesus, I want to do what pleases Him. But, there’s more to baptism than that.

JACK: Really? Like what?

DAD: Well, baptism shows that my sins have been washed away because Jesus died for me.

JACK: So, being baptized washes away your sins?

DAD: No. Jesus did that when He died on the cross. Baptism is like a picture of that.

JACK: I don’t get it.

DAD: I have a picture of you in my wallet, right?

JACK: Right.

DAD: But that’s not you. It’s just a picture, something to remind me of you when I’m not with you. Baptism is like a picture that reminds us of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

JACK: What does being dunked in water have to do with Jesus dying on the cross?

DAD: Tomorrow, when the pastor lowers me into the water, I’ll be thinking about how Jesus died in my place and was buried for three days in the tomb. Then, when the pastor raises me up out of the water, I’ll be thinking about how Jesus rose from the dead to give me new life.

JACK: Oh! Now I get it.

DAD: There’s even more! Being baptized will help me remember that my old life of sin without Jesus is over -- dead and buried -- and my new life with Jesus has begun.

JACK: Whoa! I guess there is more to this baptism thing than I thought.

DAD: Yeah. Pastor Jim says that being baptized is kind of like sending the whole world a birth announcement.

JACK: A birth announcement?

DAD: Yeah. When you were born, your mom and I sent everyone we knew a card with your picture, telling them that you had been born, how much you weighed, and how excited we were that you had finally arrived.

JACK: Okay….

DAD: The Bible says that, when you become a Christian, you’re an entirely new person. You’ve been born again. So, being baptized is like announcing to the universe that a new child of God has been born!

JACK: Man, I hope that doesn’t mean I need to get you a present or something.

DAD: Nope. Just be there to watch. That’s all.

JACK: Okay, Dad. So, are you nervous?

DAD: A little.

JACK: Yeah, you never were much of a swimmer.

CONCLUSION

The next time you see someone being baptized, remember that it is a picture of Jesus’ death and resurrection. When you see the person being lowered down into the water, remember that Jesus died and was buried in the tomb for three days. Then, when you see the person being raised up out of the water, remember that Jesus rose again from the dead! If you have given your life to Jesus and want to follow His example by being baptized, talk to your Small Group Leader and your parents about it.

PRAYER POINTS

* Thank you, Jesus, for the way that baptism helps us remember Your death and resurrection.

* Jesus, please help us all follow Your example by being baptized.