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Christian Drama Sketches & Books

• Comedy • Monologues  • Reader's Theater   

• Poems •  Drama • Instruction Manuals

All sketch books are downloadable and most of the individual sketches are downloadable without having to download the entire book.

This saves you time and money.

Below you will find a huge assortment of sketches.  These Christian sketches have been performed by hundreds of actors through the years.  Some are Christian comedy about marriage, teenagers, church life and some are more serious on just about every subject you can think of.  There are also a number of Christian monologues, but visit our monologue page for a look at some very powerful scripts.

New For 2010

Dollar Bill and Big Ben

(A comedy puppet sketch about tithing and financial giving) 

Two of the most touchy subjects to talk about are finances and tithing.  Pastors sometimes find it challenging to bring up the subjects.  So, we let the puppets say things that would otherwise be hard to say or communicate from the pulpit alone.  The sketch deals with finances and giving and helps the pastor move through the process a little easier now that the ice has been broken through the use of this sketch.  This script has some good comedy lines but ends with a strong message about giving.  Another sketch that works well with the giving idea is called Dr. Newheart, which is found on our site at howitiller.com/sketches.htm.

Cast: 2 Puppets – You can also make your own.  Nobbies and Hobby Lobby have material to make your own puppets.

Big Ben:  An oversize 100 dollar bill – He speaks with sophistication and clear diction. 

Dollar Bill:  A regular size 1 dollar bill – Speaks with a regular to thin voice.  Be careful not to manipulate the voice so much that the audience can’t understand you, but the voice needs to be quite different than Big Ben's.

6.99 Download Dollar Bill and Big Ben

Grandparent's Day 2010

Marbles and Scruples

(A Delightful Sketch for Grandparents Day) 

A young granddaughter is visiting her grandpa at a nursing home when she asks him if he has ever lost his marbles.  He tells her about the games of marbles he played when he was a kid at school during recess.  Eventually, he discovers why she has asked the question and then relates to her a wonderful story about losing your marbles but more importantly about not losing your scruples.  This often-comical sketch threads its way down the road of questions and answers until a very heart warming hug brings the conversation to a touching conclusion.  Your grandparents will love this story and the whole audience will be historically and emotionally enlightened.

This could be a wonderful sketch for Grandparent’s Day, Family Friendly Event or Senior Citizen appreciation night.

            *All the names used to describe the marbles and the game are historically real and accurate.

 Cast: 1 M, 1 F

Grandpa

Jordan – 10 to 12 years old.  It can vary, but not too old. Actually, two adults could play the roles, but one just acting like a 10 to 12 year old

Running time 7 minutes

$6.50 Marbles and Scruples download    email us for a sample

Father's Day

What a Man Really Wants…or Whatever

(A reader’s theater comedy dedicated to Father’s Day or men’s event) 

Written with the same feel as, “What a Woman Really Wants…or Else.”  This is another fun reader’s theater for Father’s Day or Men’s event.  The comedy and the light heartedness of the sketch are to be performed with tongue-in-cheek.  I know that all wives truly love their husbands and the sketch is to be done as a spoof.  Even though the comedy pokes fun at our father’s and men in general, the ending brings a balance to how we all feel about our father’s and how diligent men feel about God.   

Reader’s theater is not memorized, but dramatically read in character with all the neat little nuances and facial expressions in comedic timing.  This sketch has a wonderful message at the end that encourages healthy marriage relationships and commitment. 

Cast:  4 readers

1 – Male

2 – Female

3 – Female

4 – Female

Props:  4 microphones and stands.  The pages are hand held.

Running time:  5-6 minutes

$6.50 Download What a Man Really Wants...or Whatever

Going Up a Level

(The Angels want a sneak-peek)

The character in this monologue is encouraging the church to go to the next level in commitment and evangelism.  Church leaders are stressing the importance of saints being more evangelistic and dedicated to living the life outside of “the church atmosphere”.  This monologue addresses some of those issues in a creative way.  The scripture support is 1 Corinthians 13 and the book of Ephesians.  Ephesians reminds us that we are God’s workmanship and Corinthians encourages us to minister in love.  Informative, with a touch of comedy.  Great sermon set-up about growth.

Cast:  M/F

Foreman or Engineer        

Props:  Blue prints, hard hat

Running time:  4-5 minutes

Scene starts as a track of construction sounds is played in the back ground.  An excited engineer/construction foreman enters with a set of blue-prints in hand.

$4.50  Download, "Going Up a Level"

The Cycle

(A Fun Reader’s Theater About the Non-stop Events of Life)

 The Cycle, is an excerpt from the full length play called, Time…When the Ticking is Done.  It’s a great stand alone piece with comedy and rhyme.  This piece can be performed anytime.  It encompasses many subjects about life yet at the same deals with headline news events that happen while everyday life happens.  It works well in a marriage retreat or family friendly event like dessert theater or comedy night.  It could also be a perfect sermon set-up about the rapture and the end of time. 

Normally, a reader’s theater is staged so that the readers are sitting or standing abreast.  In this piece feel free to have the readers move so as to emulate the theme itself.  Or for that matter you can make the piece a traditional dialogued piece where everyone learns the lines as we did when we performed it in the full length play.  We’ve included some movement notes in the script.

Cast: 4 Readers       Running time about 5 minutes

  $ 5.00 Download "The Cycle", reader's theater or dialogued drama

Email us for a sample teaser at howitiller@aol.com

The Cycle from, "Time...when the ticking is done", performed while on tour in Sacramento, California

Cast the Stone

(An Excerpt from, The Opening of the Hand)

Howi C. Tiller

The scene is the woman caught in the act of adultery.  The actors are playing four men who have caught a woman in the act of adultery.  The woman and Jesus are imagined by the audience.  To add a very surreal feel to the sketch we played the characters with white masks and white stones in our hands.  The masks were cut down to only cover the top half of the face so our mouths were exposed.  Cast the Stone is a very stylized piece of the biblical record, but powerfully works to bring the thoughts of the Pharisees to light.  They wanted to catch Jesus in a corner and prove to the people that Jesus was here to break the law of Moses.

A special sound track during this scene can help to add the appropriate emotion.

Cast: 4 M

Epiphras

Damon

Seranitus

Barek                        Running time about 6 minutes

  $5.00 Download "Cast the Stone".  View a performance of Cast the Stone below.

"Cast the Stone" Video clip

Thou Art the Man

(An excerpt from “The Dance of the Broken Bones)

Howi C. Tiller

David may have thought that he was going to get away with what he did to Uriah and his sin with Uriah’s, wife, Bathsheba.  He may have thought he wouldn’t have to take the blame or be uncovered as having fault, but God knew and sent his prophet, Nathan to confront David.  The mercy of the Lord shows powerfully through this wonderful story.

The setting is King David’s chambers. The two chairs are positioned like throne seats.  As the scene opens, Nathan has just arrived and entering into David’s presence.  As the scene opens King David and Bathsheba are stage left in the shadows when they hear someone coming from stage right.  It is Nathan the prophet.  David sends Bathsheba away quickly.  Nathan delivers God's message to David.

This would be the ultimate sermon set-up or sermon crescendo

Cast:   King David, Nathan the prophet

$7.00 Download this powerful script of Nathan and King David

"Thou Art the Man Part 1 video clip", excerpt from the full length play, "The Dance of the Broken Bones".

Thou Art the Man Part 2 video clip

Caleb, a Son of Judah

(A man of destiny and faith)

Moses choose twelve men, (One from each tribe that exited Egypt) to spy out the promised land.  The land was described as land that flowed with milk and honey.  After forty days of exploring the land, ten of the twelve men said that there wasn’t any way to conquer the land.  However, Joshua and Caleb came back with a different opinion.  They were both convinced that they would conquer the land.  This sketch picks up at that very moment where Caleb is standing before the other men of Israel and trying to convince them that they must go up at once for they could certainly take the land.  This moment was a pivotal one as the men voted not to take the land and God had them wander in the desert for forty years.

This monologue could certainly become an appropriate sermon set-up.  It would also be appropriate for a men’s conference or event.

  $3.25 Download Caleb, a Son of Judah

The Lions of Babylon

(Monologue)

     Darius is now king of what once was ruled by Nebuchadnezzar.  Under the rule of Nebuchadnezzar this kingdom was known as Babylon.  At the time of our story, Darius is the ruler of that part of the dream interpreted by Daniel as the shoulders of silver, called Medo-Persia.  Daniel and others have lived long enough to see two kingdoms come into power.  It is at this time that Daniel along with two other men have been elevated to President, a high position of leadership.  These Presidents were over one hundred and twenty princes.  The character in this monologue is one of those Presidents.  He is condescending toward Daniel and instrumental in getting the decree passed that would have anyone who bows to anything or anyone except Darius, put to death in the den of lions.  The decree would last for thirty days. The message in this story is to show that when we do the consistent devotion to God, that he honors that obedience.  When we do the little size things, God can do the God size things.

     As in all our monologues we try to encourage the actor to not just tell the audience the story, but to show the story as much as it makes sense to do and still be believable.

 Running time 6-7 minutes

  $5.49 Download The Lions of Babylon

Howi compiled 78 of his sketches written up through 11.08

The Howi Tiller Sketch Book 2008

78 Journeys of Life

God has used these sketches to melt the hardest of hearts and stir the coldest of souls to come to him.  They are sharp.  The words have been prayed over and rewritten more than once.  The actor with the right heart and motivation will use them skillfully.  The actor is empowered to be more than just a mouth piece, but an anointed dramatist.  Not an entertainer, but a messenger.   Take your audience on a journey.

Download all 78     $59.00

Note: This collection includes almost all of the sketches on this site, even the signatures series.  A huge mix of comedy, monologue and dialogue.  This book will be your best friend for the up coming drama events for years to come.  However, because life doesn't stop, we are constantly writing and adding new sketches to the site that will not be in this

2008 book.

Easter Sketches  (Click to see other Easter products)

A Life of Swords and Thorns

(Do What You Know to Do…He Will Do the Rest)

A Powerful Easter Message From Mary's Point of View

Jesus was crucified and his body was taken from the cross as the sun was going down.  In keeping with the Sabbath, the disciples had just a short time to anoint his body.  The job was not done to the standard that was deserving of the Lord.  On the morning of the third day the Bible speaks of Mary Magdalena, Joanna and other women preparing to go to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with precious spices and ointments. The sketch also allows Mary to reflect back to the day when she brought the baby Jesus into the temple and an old man named Simeon approached her and Joseph.  Simeon shared with them how he was promised by God that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ.  Simeon also told Mary about a day to come where the sword would pierce her soul.

Cast: 3 F     Mary the mother of Jesus, Magdalena, Joanna   Running time 8-9 minutes

Download A Life of Swords and Thorns $4.50

He Opened His Hands

(An Easter excerpt from the full length play,

The Opening of the Hand )

Cast:   Centurion, Malchius, Talmus, Caspin

Four soldiers are conversing about the crucifixion.  Jesus has just been crucified by these soldiers and two of them are disturbed by what they saw.  Malchius is callused to any of it and wants to do away with all of them, especially, Barabbas.  Talmus is a bit indifferent and not definitive either way, just doing his job.  The younger soldier, Caspin is very moved and has many questions.  The Centurion of course is also very moved.

Caspin:  Sir, I have to ask.  It was loud out there…the earth was shaking, but –

Centurion:  Caspin, I don’t know…I don’t know…was the earth shaking or was it your heart pounding so fearfully hard that you didn’t know if it was the ground moving or your legs giving away to fear?  

   Download for $5.00    Not in Howi Tiller sketch book

 “He Opened His Hands” can be an accompaniment to a larger performance or a powerful and moving stand alone 9-10 minute sketch.   You can read more about the full length play, "The Opening of the Hand" on the Drama Page

The Witness

(An Easter Themed Sketch.)

The Bible records that witnesses were hired to speak lies about Jesus while he was on trial.  The Sanhedrin would have been breaking the law by having a trial at night, but that didn’t stop them.  Howi takes poetic license to paint a picture of a private meeting where two scribes are trying to get a man to lie against Jesus.  This man was blind, but Jesus healed him.  The man will not submit to their wishes and the Pharisees accuse him of never being blind and that he made it up to get money from the people. 

 Cast: 3M 

Epiphras - Pharisee

Aseph – Was blind but now sees – common man

Gomel: – Pharisee

 Setting:  Room in the temple somewhere    Running time:  6-7 minutes

  $3.00 Download                           * Not in the Howi Tiller Sketch Book 2008

I Stood Silent

(Immediate moments after Jesus' trial)

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were members of the Sanhedrin council.  They were Pharisees and elders of Israel and part of the group that accused Jesus of blasphemy.  No doubt they were not in favor of the judgment that was spoken over Jesus that took place illegally.  I’m sure their lots were votes of dissention against the council.  It appears they embraced Jesus’ teaching in a way the other members did not.

            Joseph begged for the body of the Lord and offered his tomb for Jesus to be laid in.  The monologue called "Obvious" is Joseph at the cross if you wanted to have another sketch follow, "I Stood Silent.". 

            Nicodemus met with Jesus at night and asked him questions.

            In this sketch, Joseph and Nicodemus are discussing the way Jesus’ trial was handled and their own shame for standing silent when it mattered most.  This could be a perfect set-up for the Calvary scene.      Running time 6-7 minutes

Cast: 2 M

Joseph of Arimathea – Elder in Israel

Nicodemus – Elder in Israel 

  Download for $6.50      * Not in the Howi Tiller Sketch Book 2008

Like a King, Like a Lamb

(Barabbas in prison) 

Barabbas is in a prison cell when he hears the iron doors to the cell next door to him open, someone shuffled in and then closed.  He doesn’t know it, but it’s Jesus.  He has been beaten, and put in prison.  Barabbas doesn’t know it, but he is to be set free and Jesus crucified in his stead.  Howi, again uses poetic license to create a moving, believable story in Like a King, Like a Lamb.  The main production is a monodrama except when the soldier appears for just a few lines at the end. 

 Cast: 2 M

Barabbas

Soldier

$3.50 Download    *Not in the Howi Tiller Sketch Book 2008

The Betrayal - This is a perfect monologue for the Easter season.  It can stand alone or be an addition to a full program.  Caiaphas reflects back to the moment when he was visited by Judas and set up the moment when Judas betrayed the Lord Jesus.

Cast: 1 Male       Running time about 9 minutes

Someday, Came Today $7.50 One of the most powerful sermon set-ups or sermon follow-ups.  This monologue is about the thief at the cross who reached out to Jesus.  We can hypothesize about his past, but what a miraculous day for someone who didn’t deserve it.  Christ’s love is wonderfully shown in this event at Calvary.  Even though the event is historical, Howi brings a modern application through the breaking down of just the one line that Jesus said to the thief.  “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.”  Never will those words have a fuller and more relative meaning then when they come alive through this monologue.   Running time 8  minutes

Someday, Came Today Sermon Outline  $4.50  Howi has written the sermon outline that parallels the monologue and brings the spiritual application to life.  The actor can perform the piece before or after your message.  You can use the outline message as a discussion starter or to bring a more visual emphasis to this subject.

The Perfect Lamb $5.00 Another powerful sermon set-up or follow-up.  We know that Abraham took Isaac to sacrifice on the mountain of Mariah.  God supplied the sacrifice.  What we don’t know is, ‘where did that ram or sheep come from?’  Was it a wandering sheep from a nearby herd?  Howi uses a little poetic license to tell the story of the perfect lamb that God supplied to Abraham for the sacrifice.  There are many parallels to Christ and Calvary woven through the script.  This monologue can be performed at any time of the year.   Running time:  6 minutes

Are You a King? $3.00  Sometimes you aren’t looking for a full length play, but you’d still like just enough drama to weave in the traditional Easter story.   This script records what it might have sounded like when Jesus was brought before Pilot and Herod.  Howi uses just a little poet license.  Great for Easter or any time.

General Subjects

The Emmaus Disciple

(Cleopas, a Witness of Pentecost Monologue) 

The day of Pentecost was the birth of the church in Jerusalem.  Peter stood up that day and preached the first message that thrust the church into existence.    I have taken one of the disciples from the book of Luke chapter 24 verse 18, called Cleopas, that the Bible records was on his way to Emmaus with another disciple after Jesus’ resurrection.  On their way Jesus appeared to them, but they did not recognize him.  They talked with him as they walked and when they arrived to their home in Emmaus, the men asked Jesus to eat with them.  As Jesus began to break bread, their eyes were opened and knew that it was him.  I have taken a little poetic license to have Cleopas also on the hillside when Jesus ascended away into the heavens and there in the upper room on the day of Pentecost.  This monologue is a good mix of history and natural revealing of what the Bible says happened on that day.  Historically, according to the book of Acts, the Old Testament celebration of the feast of Pentecost was going on in Jerusalem.  Because of this thousands of people were there from other countries and regions.   Cast:  1 M  Running time about 7 minutes  

   $4.00 download monologue

Thankfulness

Return to Give Him Thanks

(The leper who returned to give thanks)

Luke 17 records the story of the ten lepers that Jesus healed.  All ten men were healed, but only one came back to thank the Lord for his healing.  Howi uses the scriptural events and poetic license to show us a moving story of the Samaritan leper who was healed by Jesus and came back to thank him.

(A Thanksgiving themed monologue for any time of the year.)

Cast: Male

Running time: 6-8 minutes depending on interpretation of actor and musical underscore    $3.00

All Aboard!  $9.00

(The Last Trip to Faithful)

 © Copyright 2008 Howi C Tiller

            This play is about the last trip to Heaven or Faithful.  The scene is a train station or depot.   Many people have made the trip, but this trip is the last one.  The conductor who is a type of the Church is speaking about the past passengers and who the first passengers were.  Many years have come and gone and the last trip has finally arrived.

            As the play opens the conductor enters and walks down the board walk and looks at his watch from time to time. He acts excited and a little melancholy at the same time. This is the last trip that the train called, “Wonderful”, is going to make to the city called Faithful. 

            The sketch has a very moving ending as a long lost loved one comes home just as the train enters the station. 

 Perfect as a complete sermon or as a father/son or mother/daughter event

            This can be an era or period piece.  It might be interesting to portray the scene as happening in the early 1900’s.  It can be anytime…you decide.  Have fun with it.

Cast: 2 M

Conductor – Older 40’s or 50’s

Son – 20’s

Or the script can be done by female actors as well.  The message doesn’t change.

2 F

Conductor – Older 40’s or 50’s

Daughter – 20’s       Running time about 16-17 minutes

 Good News Can't Wait   $3.00 Years ago, news and communication traveled in a very austere way compared to today’s internet.  One way for news to travel was by Pony Express.  It was faster than a stage coach because it was just one rider riding as fast as he could from post to post.  This sketch plays off that character and parallels the Pony Express rider with someone who preaches the gospel.  The historical connection is that many people went west to find fame and fortune, but lost everything in the process.  Many people think that success is just over the hill or greener pastures are to be found somewhere other than where they are.  With that concept in mind, the character in this monologue brings the importance of good news to new light.  This sketch can be performed anytime and works well as a sermon set-up.     Cast 1  Running time 7 minutes

8 Complete sketch books listed below with a great mix of comedy, monologue and dialogue that you can buy as a whole complete work.  Many sketches are available as a single.  Some of the monologues are in Spanish.  View the monologue page, too.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to reach us at howitiller@aol.com.

"Whose Fault Is It, Anyway?"

•  Teens  Not What It Seemed - A person is sitting alone in a room or cafe.  You wave or gesture toward them but they don’t respond.  What do you do?  Do you go over and say they are rude, talk about them to your friends so you look cool or do you think they think they are cooler than you and don’t want to be bothered by you?  Well, it’s none of the above because things aren’t always what they seem.  Great teen discussion starter.

   

   Download the above script only $4.50

  • A Follower Enough to Build An Ark, Leader Enough to Save His Family - (Monologue)  A modern look at the story of Noah.  Just as Noah tried to convince the world to prepare for the flood, this monologue strives to communicate to others today to make the right choices.  The audience doesn't realize it is Noah until almost the end of the monologue.  6-7 minutes

   Download the above script only $4.75

  • Obvious - (Monologue)  There are  many monologues about Calvary, but most are from Mary's or Caiaphas' point of view.  This one is from the perspective of the man who begged for the body of the Lord, Joseph of Arimethea.  This isn't revealed to your audience until the last line.  Powerful stand alone monologue or to compliment a larger production. 5-6 minutes

             Download the above script only $5.00

  • Laughter - (Monologue)  This comical look at one of the greatest events of the Bible fits well in a woman's retreat of conference.  Sarah over hears the conversation that her husband, Abram is having with the three visitors from heaven.  7 minutes

             Download the above script only $5.75

• Father and Daughter  "The Tip" - A young girl visits her father at his work where he is a waiter and gives him a tip.  A surprise ending makes this sketch one you'll want to do for Father's Day. 7 minutes

• This Is The Day-Sometimes life would be better if we didn't see all the negative faces that people wear to work or everyday life.   It's interesting to see how one bad attitude can rub off on everyone in the room. But put a happy blind person in the middle and see what takes place, especially if the situation takes place on a crowded elevator where someone is very late to work.  Comedy situation with a message.

          Mother and Daughter  "Perfume of Maturity" - A young girl gets into     her mother's special perfume without permission. Her mother explains to her why the perfume is so special. A good lesson learned about what's appropriate and expectations concerning early teenage girls.

•  $4.50

Easter Theme "The Betrayal" - This is a perfect monologue for the Easter season.  It can stand alone or be an addition to a full program.  Caiaphas reflects back to the moment when he was visited by Judas and set up the moment when Judas betrayed the Lord Jesus.