Sunday Morning Live!
Index of Drama Sketches from
Willow Creek Community Church
Volume 1:
"An Hour on Wednesday" (humorous with a serious ending)
Chris and Laura are a couple living in the fast track. Their
highly scheduled existence leaves them little time for each other.
When Laura reveals she is pregnant, Chris's machinelike response
is "February is bad," and Laura is hurt by his
insensitivity. While much of the sketch is comic, it moves toward
a poignant ending.
TOPICS: marriage,
damaging effects of a fast-paced lifestyle, workaholics
Volume 1:
"Feeling Opposition" (humourous)
Phil and Kate visit their lawyer friend to draw up a will. Kate
becomes very emotional as she envisions the will being needed (i.e,
she or phil dying). Phil, being "practical," tries to
convince Kate she's overreacting (as usual). As they comically
reach the point of actually signing the will, Phil gets a little
surprise that releases an "overreaction" on his part...much
to Kate's delight.
TOPICS: thinkers
versus feelers, marriage
Volume 1:
"Tired When Needed" (humourous)
Mr. Watson has locked himself up in a motel room to get away from
people and their demands on his time. However, Mrs Willoughby has
tracked him down to request his involvement in just one more
worthy cause. He tries reason, and then a direct "no,"
but nothing works with Mrs. Willoughby, until he cracks.
TOPICS: burnout,
saying "no," boundaries, pressure, stress
Volume
1: "I Don't Want To Fight You Anymore" (serious)
This monologue is a conversation between a woman and God. She
describes her frustration at obeying him and her struggles to be
the new creations he desires. To her, God seems to demand a lot.
She reminds God that she lacked a loving role model in her
earthly father who controlled her, and now she isn't sure she's
willing to let God control her life. But she's tired of fighting
and needs to find relief.
TOPICS:
relationship with God, giving up control, our value to God
Volume 1:
"Is 'Nothing' Sacred?" (humourous)
Sam is invited by his friend Mark to a meeting of a new religious
group that combines faith with science. As the meeting begins,
Sam realizes this is a bizarre "religion." The "Nihilo
Master" leads the members in the ritual, and he unveils the
meaning behind all of life and the source of everything that is a
big zero. Everything has come from nothing, everything is going
toward nothing, therefore everyone and everything is nothing.
This is the message of modern scientific "religion,"
and this humorous satire leaves the audience laughingly aware of
the logical outcome of such a world view.
TOPICS: evolution,
creation, modern science
Volume 1:
"Wonderfully Made" (serious)
This sketch is an interpretation of the statement in Psalm 139
that God knits us together in our mother's womb and has a plan
for our life. We see a child, Elizabeth, assigned qualities by
God while in her mother's womb. She knows she is loved and made
just the way God wants. However, once she is born, these feelings
change because her parents' aspirations for her are quite
different from what she was "told" in the womb. Their
"redirection" through the years physically and
emotionally stifles who Elizabeth was meant to be, and she grows
up a sad and confused child.
TOPICS: parenting,
self-esteem, affirming uniqueness, spiritual gifts
Volume 2:
"The Offering" (humourous)
It's time for the offering, and four people express their reasons
for giving or not giving. The first chooses not to give because
she doubts how wisely the church uses what it gets. The second
gives because of the recognition he might receive. The third,
driven by guilt, hates giving because she feels God is never
satisfied with what she offers. The fourth enjoys giving because
it is his opportunity to say thanks to God.
TOPICS: giving,
tithing, stewardship, motivation
Volume 2:
"A Nice Guy" (serious)
Glen has recently landed a job teaching at the school his friend
Bill attended as a child. When Glen takes Bill to see his
classroom, Bill remembers how he and his friends bullied another
kid from the class. The confession that ensues helps Bill deal
with the guilt he's been carrying for years.
TOPICS: sin,
confession, the haunting past, freedom from guilt
Volume 2:
"For Better or Worse" (humourous)
It's 11.00pm, and Steve's asleep on the couch. Paula heads for
bed when suddenly Steve wakes up and wants to "you know what."
What ensues is a humorous but also honest look at the frustration
Paul experiences from being "the last thought of the day."
TOPICS: marriage,
romance, sex, relationships
Volume 2:
"No More Womb" (serious)
This sketch examines the issues facing children today. The scene
opens on a set of fraternal twins who are still inside the womb.
After some prenatal sibling rivalry, the twins grow increasingly
concerned about what they'll confront in the world outside. When
they learn of the threats they will face, such as AIDS and abuse,
they end up preferring the womb over the world.
TOPICS: the world
children face, fear of the unknown, future, anxiety, worry
Volume 2:
"Great Expectations" (serious)
It seems as if Kathy and Greg's endless prayers have finally been
answered. In a few hours they will be parents. Then,
unexpectedly, the birth mother changes her mind about the
adoption. Kathy and Greg are again left childless and wondering
why God hasn't answered their prayers.
TOPICS: unanswered
prayers, disappointment, storms of life
>Volume
2: "These Parts" (humourous)
One day a stranger appears in These Parts who tells an impaired
family they can be whole. He offers them the gifts of sight,
hearing, and the use of both arms. When the family consults the
"experts," they discover such promises are impossible,
and the stranger is killed. Even after he returns to life, he is
rejected. Only the child remains and receives him.
TOPICS: the
Resurrection, Easter, basic gospel message
Volume 3:
"Life Cycle" (humourous)
Two women--a believer and an unbeliever--are riding exercise
bicycles in a gym and begin talking about the daily routines of
everyday life. In the midst of the conversation, the believer
mentions that she attends a Bible study, a group of 6 who get
together to discuss parenting issues. As the unbeliever shows
interest and begins asking about church, the Christian becomes
nervous and excited, almost at a loss for words. After the
conversation, she thanks God for the opportunity to share a bit
and thinks of the possible outcome of building this vital
relationship in the coming weeks.
TOPICS: witnessing,
lifestyle evangelism, small groups, church attendance
Volume 3:
"Confessions of an Ad-Aholic" (serious)
This sketch begins with a husband and wife discussing the mess
they've gotten themselves into by giving in to advertising over
the years. They recall the early days in their relationship where
they saw an ad for a beautiful new car and felt compelled to buy
it--starting a trend toward unnecessary spending. Then they
recall the later years when they were in serious financial
trouble, simply because they didn't resist the temptation to
spend beyond their means.
TOPICS:
temptation, lust, desires, addiction, financial freedom, debt,
shopping
Volume 3:
"Up on the Roof" (humourous with a serious ending)
An executive goes up to the roof of a building to see why the TV
reception is so poor--only to find that a homeless woman has made
a home for herself and is using the TV antenna as a clothesline!
The happy-go-lucky woman is oblivious to his demands to vacate,
and instead tries to show him what a good view can be had from
the top of the building. In the ensuing conversation, this busy
executive talks about his demands, pressures, and deadlines. She
senses his "busyness" in life and encourages him to
slow down. As he begins to appreciate her laid back approach to
life, he listens to her advice: "just fight one battle at a
time."
TOPICS:
homelessness, poverty, compassion, work, management, stress,
strangers.
Volume 3:
"Keeping Tabs" (humorous)
A wife desperately keeps track of everything they are given and
feels that she must repay everyone, so they can be "even."
The husband tries to explain that she is going to extremes, but
can't convince her.
TOPICS: giving,
gift, generosity, gratefulness, thanksgiving, kindness, records
Volume 3:
"One Step Up, One Step Down" (serious)
This is a narrated story of a man who has a happy life, but
unfortunately gets tempted to go higher and higher on the
corporate ladder of success. But as he gets more and more "successful,"
he realises that in reality he has paid the price by losing his
relationships, values, and family-the things which were at one
time his real source of satisfaction in life.
TOPICS: success,
prosperity, loneliness, priorities, sacrifice.
Volume 3:
"Driven" (serious)
A husband and wife are driving to a banquet where he will be
honoured with a reward. AS they drive along, she begins to
explain how she is afraid of him and how he has become so
uncaring toward her and the children. He becomes increasingly
angry, denying that what she is saying is true. The scene ends
with her getting out of the car, and in total frustration he lays
on the horn.
TOPICS: marriage,
conflict, frustration, anger, love, change, fear
Volume 4:
"Security Check" (serious)
Roy is nervously pacing at what appears to be an airport terminal.
Periodically we hear names being called over the loudspeaker. He
is soon joined by a woman named Sue. Although they do not know
each other, they begin to talk. In the course of their
conversation we discover they have died and are now on the
outskirts of heaven waiting for their names to be called. Roy
proudly sifts through hid duffel bag full of "trophies"
his life's accomplishments believing they are his ticket to get
in. Sue sits empty handed, relying on the fact that the price has
already been paid by someone else. Suddenly, Sue's name is
called, and she heads off excitedly. Roy is left waiting,
clutching his trophies, still hoping to hear his name.
TOPICS: salvation,
works vs. grace, basic gospel message
Volume 4:
"Richard 1992" (serious)
Richard's college-age son, Zach, enters the living room just as
Richard settles in with a late-night snack. Tension fills the air:
Zach got thrown out of his mother's house because he had a girl
in his room. Richard is recently divorced and chastises his son
for his violation of the rules just as his own live-in girlfriend
enters. Awkward greetings are exchanged, and she exits. The
conversation now crescendos as father and son express their
accumulated lifetime of rage. After all is said and done, Zach
angrily sums up: "We sure don't have much, do we?" This
sketch is actually the last in a four part series, although it
stands well on its own.
TOPICS: life in the
nineties, family problems, hypocrisy, relationships, tension
Volume 4:
"A Problem of Perspective" (humourous)
A tired working couple with an infant return home. In the few
moments they talk before supper, their exhaustion and unmet needs
create a tension exchange. The scene freezes, and a counselor
appears. He asks each to retell the events of the last few
minutes from his perspective. The scene is replayed twice-and
just like in life, it's hard to believe they're describing the
same situation!
TOPICS: tension,
relationships, marriage, conflict, opinions, perspective, truth-telling,
bias
Volume 4:
"Catch-22" (serious)
Chris, who is contemplating an abortion, confides in her friend,
Nancy. The ensuing dialogue explores the difficulty, agony, and
deep emotions associated with this issue. In a surprise twist,
Nancy admits that years ago, she had an abortion herself-and
still suffers from the guilt. Because the women are both
Christians, the discussion is especially difficult-Chris feels
that no matter what she does, she will be condemned by her
Christian friends. The drama offers no pat answers, but it is a
good introduction to this sensitive and important social issue.
TOPICS: abortion,
high cost of sin, guilt, condemnation, social issues
Volume 4:
"Plane Talk" (humourous)
Two strangers are talking on an aeroplane, one a believer and one
a skeptic. Suddenly the pilot announces an engine failure and
Bill, the skeptic, goes into a panic. He begs God for help in a
desperate but comical way. The captain comes back on the
loudspeaker to announce the crisis has passed, and Bill once
again assumes his "got-it-all-together" facade. "There
are no atheists in foxholes"-or in many other everyday life
crises!
TOPICS: God's
presence, everyday faith, trust in God, confidence
Volume 4:
"The Plate Spinner" (humourous, with a serious ending)
Hank Spinner's life is becoming overwhelming. At first,
everything is hunky dory. He keeps his boss, Mr. Hunky, and his
wife, Dory, quite happy (represented by his spinning imaginary
plates on wooden poles each character holds). He is further
challenged when Peachy, his daughter, and Keen, a new account,
require his attention. Add to those obligations Okey, a health
club trainer, Dokey, a counsellor, and his aging parents, Nitty
and Gritty, and Hank now has a "Hunky Dory, Peachy Keen,
Okey Dokey, Nitty Gritty" life. Keeping all those plates
spinning has him on the verge of a breakdown!
TOPICS: pace of
life, impossibility of staying in control, stress, pressure,
responsibilities
Volume 5:
"Because I Love You" (serious)
A husband and a wife begin an argument when a letter arrives. It
is from the man with whom she had an affair four years ago! The
husband confronts the situation, claiming the affair is not over.
The discussion ends in a bitter standstill, with the husband
saying that the only reason he doesn't leave is because he loves
her.
TOPICS: marriage,
conflict, adultery, forgiveness, trust
Volume 5:
"Prayer Group Therapy" (humorous)
The scene is set as a prayer support group. There is a leader and
four members. There is a discussion of prayer, then each prays
aloud with his or her own style. As they pray, a few of them
start condemning each other over the genuineness of their
prayers, creating mayhem in the group. At the end, the quiet man
decides to leave, and the group leader applauds his decision!
TOPICS: prayer,
small groups, uniqueness, patience
Volume 5:
"Wait Until Half Time" (humorous and serious)
A husband is watching his basketball game, but doesn't want to be
disturbed by his wife who wants to talk. She offers to invite her
friends over, but he says they push religion on them by inviting
them to church and giving them books to read. Immersed in the
game, he said he doesn't want to talk about God...he'll "wait
until halftime."
TOPICS:
witnessing, evangelism, receptivity, resistance, talking about
Christianity
Volume 5:
"Family Values" (serious)
A mother comes to a cult centre for the purpose of rescuing her
daughter from the cult. But the young girl explains that it is a
better way of life and decides she does not want to go back. In
the end, she walks off with a cult member and leaves her mother
behind, broken-hearted.
TOPICS: religion,
cults, brainwashing, dedication, loyalty, losing a child
Volume 5:
"Check Mates" (humorous)
A husband and wife begin to argue over how the other is spending
too much money. As they discuss the problem, they conclude that
their credit cards are to blame. They finally decide to cut up
all but one of their credit cards in a grand effort to solve
their financial difficulties. But in the end, they wind up
destroying only one card each!
TOPICS: financial
freedom, money, spending, discipline
Volume 5:
"In...We Trust" (serious)
This drama consists of a man giving a monologue. He talks about
his son's driving habits, and how he can't seem to trust him in
other ways. Then he begins to discuss his marriage problems, and
how he can't even trust his wife. He concludes that he can't
trust anyone, not even God.
TOPICS: faith,
trust, uncertainty
Volume 6:
"A Serf's Tale" ( )
TOPICS:
Volume 6:
"Lonely At The Top" ( )
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Volume 6:
"Just Looking" ( )
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Volume 6:
"Pulpit Talk" ( )
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Volume 6:
"Reality Therapy" ( )
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Volume 6:
"Reason Enough" ( )
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Volume 7:
"Baby Talk" ( )
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Volume 7:
"Missing" ( )
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Volume 7:
"The Prodigal" ( )
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Volume 7:
"Meternal Measures" ( )
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Volume 7:
"Hungry Children" ( )
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Volume 7:
"Heart Failure" ( )
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Volume 8:
"The Waiting Room" ( )
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Volume 8:
"True Colours" ( )
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Volume 8:
"Pastor General" ( )
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Volume 8:
"The Warrior" ( )
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Volume 8:
"War And Peace" ( )
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Volume 8:
"Buy One, Get One Free" ( )
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Volume 9:
"The Story of Rachel" ( )
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Volume 9:
"Guess Which God" ( )
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Volume 9:
"Sister Act" ( )
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Volume 9:
"I Always Will" ( )
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Volume 9:
"Livin' In Adverse City" ( )
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Volume 9:
"Time Flies" ( )
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