BACK MEMORIZE 4'?m3f Cults vs Scripture memory: tongues, the trinity LIZ -- (enters, crosses slowly) Assurance of salvation. AMY -- (follows) Ah, let's see. John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life." PAT -- (follows at a distance, listens) AMY -- Now, I've got one for you. Assurance of answered prayer. LIZ -- John 16:24 Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. AMY -- Oooo. I thought I had you. LIZ -- Your turn. God's provision. AMY -- (pause) LIZ -- I've got you, don't I. AMY -- I am not buying you dinner! (snaps fingers) I've got it! Philippians 4:19 "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." PAT -- (approaches) What are you two doing? LIZ -- Amy is about to buy me dinner. AMY -- In a pig's eye. (points to Liz) God's faithfulness. LIZ -- Lamentations 3:22 and 23 "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." AMY -- Oooo. PAT -- What's with all the Bible verses? And what do they have to do with dinner? LIZ -- Oh, we decided to get serious about memorizing scripture verses. So, we turned it into a weekly wager. AMY -- First one who fails buys dinner. PAT -- What's so important about memorizing scripture verses? LIZ -- I don't want to talk about it. PAT -- Why? What happened? AMY -- Elizabeth was embarrassed by a cult member a few weeks ago. LIZ -- I told you, I don't want to talk about it. PAT -- What happened? AMY -- Come on! It's a good lesson for all of us. LIZ -- Alright. This cult member came up to my door the other day and told me that Jesus was really an angel. PAT -- No, He's not. AMY -- Prove it. PAT -- Excuse me? AMY -- Give me a Bible verse that shows me that Jesus is not an angel. PAT -- I can't. AMY -- "like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." LIZ -- James 1:6. PAT -- What are you talking about? LIZ -- When I told Amy (points to Amy) about the incident with the cult member, she called me a "wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." AMY -- Well, you doubted your faith, didn't you? LIZ -- I didn't know! Noone every confronted me like that before! PAT -- So, is there a Bible verse that shows that Jesus was not an angel? AMY -- Only about a dozen. LIZ -- (points to Amy) The deity of Jesus. AMY -- 1 John 5:20 We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true--even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life. LIZ -- See, if Jesus is the true God, he can't be an angel. PAT -- Oh, yeah. AMY -- Tell her about speaking in tongues. LIZ -- Do I have to? AMY -- No, you could by me dinner instead. LIZ -- Alright. This same day that the cult member stumped me, this other person told me that every true believer speaks in tongues. PAT -- That's not true. AMY -- Prove it. PAT -- I see now why you two started memorizing Bible verses. That's embarrassing. AMY -- It's not only embarrassing. If you don't have scripture in your head for ready reference, people like that would get you to doubt your faith. LIZ -- I even stumped Amy on that tongues thing. So, Amy, what did Jesus say was the mark of a true believer? AMY -- John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you speak in tongues." PAT -- Hey, I know that verse. That's not what it says. AMY -- Well, what does it say? PAT -- John 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." AMY -- Not bad. Okay, what did Jesus say was the purpose for the power of the Holy Spirit? PAT -- I think I've just exceeded my limit. AMY -- Liz? LIZ -- Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will speak in tongues." PAT -- Oh, I know that verse too. That's not what it says. AMY -- What does it say? PAT -- Let's see. Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses." AMY -- Not bad. LIZ -- Unfortunately, when someone blindsides you to weaken your faith, you won't have anyone around to prompt you. PAT -- I don't want that to happen to me. Can I join you? AMY -- Join us for dinner? (points to exit) PAT -- (exiting) Sure. LIZ -- (follows) You're buying. PAT -- Alright. AMY -- (follows) Works every time. ©2007 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.fea.net/bobsnook email: bobsnook@fea.net BACK |