Gods Covenant Series

God's Covenant
 Promises a blessing for obedience to particular commandments.

God's Fidelity
Seen through various covenantal experiences in Scripture, and what that fidelity means to our lives.

The Dynamics
The 5 sketches (approx. 7 minutes each) feature:

• Members of an ice hockey team
• The coach/team owner
• Two players
• The goalie from an opposing team
• A player agent

Through silliness, they demonstrate themes of:

• Grace
• Change
• Order
• Rebellion
• Renewal

Cast: 5 m or f

• Coach, owner of the team
• Slapshot, veteran player
• Boomer, a young rookie
• Stretch, goalie on an opposing team
• O'Brien, player agent

Bible Reference: Genesis 9:8-17

Set:

• bare with some hockey items as available

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song: none

Lighting: standard

SFX: none

Props:

• hockey sweaters, gloves, pads as available

Costumes:

• hockey related

Special Instructions:

Segment 1: Genesis 9:8-17 Covenant & Grace Foundational sermon God has chosen to shower forgiveness and love on us not because of anything we do but because this is what he chooses.

Segment 2: Genesis 17:1-8, 15-19 Covenant & Change As God makes a covenant with Abram and Sarai. We are fundamentally changed once we've experienced God's fidelity.

Segment 3: Exodus 20:1-17 Covenant & Order God's fidelity brings change but also order as well. The commandments are God's gift to those who have experienced God's fidelity.

Segment 4: Numbers 21:4-9 Covenant & Rebellion We rebel against God's fidelity as too constricting, too smothering. There are consequences when we do, but God has provided Jesus as the means to return to membership in the covenant.

Segment 5: Jeremiah 31:31-34 Covenant & Renewal God offers us renewal of his covenantal fidelity in Jesus. Jeremiah says it is a new covenant and it is new in form, but it is not new in content. It is the same fidelity God promised in the rainbow, expressed in a new way.

Time: 30

Segment 1

Genesis 9:8-17 - Covenant & Grace
Foundational sermon: God has chosen to shower forgiveness and love on us not because of anything we do but because this is what He chooses.

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Setting: Coach and Slapshot come on stage, meant to be the dressing room.

Slapshot: Whew! Some game last night, Coach! Those guys on the Ice Demons team are a tough bunch—hard checking, fast skating!

Coach: Yes, they are, Slapshot. It was a good game, a close game, but our guys were deserving of the win.

Slapshot: We were so. It's like I always say, Coach—when you lace up the skates, pull the Angels hockey team sweater over your head, you just figure on doing your best.

Coach: As coach of this hockey team, I do appreciate that everyone puts out an honest effort.

Slapshot: For sure, that’s true. Of course, some of us maybe pull just a little more weight than some others, but hey, that’s just the way it is.

Coach: Well, some hockey players are more gifted than others, but as you say, that’s just the way it is. And everyone is on the team for a purpose.

Slapshot: By the way, Coach, that was real decent of you. That bonus check is sure gonna be welcome.

Coach: Was glad to do it, Slapshot. There was a bit of jingle in the pot after paying bills at the end of the month. I wanted to share with the players.

Slapshot: Real decent, like I say. Playing here in the minor leagues isn’t like the NHL with their gazillion-dollar salaries. Extra dollars are welcome.

Coach: Well, glad to see it's appreciated.

Slapshot: Coach, like maybe this isn’t my place to say this, but maybe you are a bit too good to some of the benchwarmers.

Coach: Benchwarmers?

Slapshot: Yeah, like the fourth-line guys, rookies, the over-the-hill guys.

Coach: What do you suggest, Slapshot?

Slapshot: Well, for instance, the bonus you handed out—everyone got that, right?

Coach: Yes, they did, Slapshot.

Slapshot: See, like, that’s just it. Maybe some of the players down lower on the totem pole didn’t deserve it—or maybe they should only get half of what us core guys got.

Coach: Core guys?

Slapshot: You know, those of us who are the nucleus of this winning team—the heart and soul, so to speak.

Coach: Heart and soul?

Slapshot: Yeah, the muckers, the grinders, the scorers—you know, the guys that get it done for the team, day in, day out.

Coach: The guys that get it done?

Slapshot: You know, the ones you can count on. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I know that you are the boss, but...

Coach: Yes, Slapshot, I am the boss. But tell me, which players do you think should be excluded from the bonus?

Slapshot: Hey, listen, you are the big guy, the boss—it’s your call. No one will ever say peep about your call on things.

Coach: But you feel it necessary to say something about it.

Slapshot: Hey, look, I’m just suggesting—looking out for your interest, me being one of the veterans on the team and all.

Coach: Veteran. Now you’re saying a team veteran—not over the hill, right?

Slapshot: Exactly. There’s a lot of years left in us vets, for sure.

Coach: I sure hope so, Slapshot. But tell me, who do you figure are some of the over-the-hill guys on the team?

Slapshot: Well, let’s face it, Benson is way past his glory years in hockey.

Coach: I’m sure Clancy Benson would agree he has lost a step over the years. What about the fourth-line guys? Which do you suggest not get the bonus?

Slapshot: Coach, listen, it’s not my place to say, but one that comes to mind is young Ridley. I mean, he pretty much just rides the pines at all the games.

Coach: Yes, I realize Kurt Ridley doesn’t get much playing time. I see that as a necessary part of his development—watching, learning, being with the veterans on the team.

Slapshot: Exactly, Coach. I’m with you all the way on that. And guys like me—we help guys like Ridley a bunch. But what I’m saying is, no need to pay Ridley a bonus. If the money’s burnin’ a hole in your jeans, just give Ridley’s share to the key guys.

Coach: Key guys?

Slapshot: Yeah, key guys like me.

Coach: Guess if we go with your idea, we will have to develop a plan for separating the key guys from the rest, huh? Like guys who score the goals, get the assists, log the most ice time—that sorta thing. I just happen to have those stats here. You might be interested in seeing them. (takes papers out of his pocket, leafs through, reads) Let’s see, where’s Slapshot Sullivan in here? Goals scored... 2... Assists... 1... Looks like that would put you in the bottom 3 on the team. Wow, behind both Clancy Benson and Kurt Ridley, matter of fact.

Slapshot: Hey, wait a bit there! It ain’t just stats! A hockey team needs character guys to be successful!

Coach, continues to thumb through papers: Hmmmm. I see that you are in the bottom 25% for minutes played too—you do ride the bench pines a lot.

Slapshot: Hey, listen...

Coach: No, you listen! I decided to provide a bonus, and I did it because that’s what I chose to do—no other reason. It's not because of what you players have done, not what you deserve, not what you earned. I did it because I happen to love this hockey team, and I care about my players. Now I have just one question, and that is... do you have any questions?

Slapshot, embarrassed: None.

Coach: Why am I not surprised? Let's go practice.

(Actors offstage)

Segment 2
Genesis 17:1-8, 15-19
Covenant & Change
As God makes a covenant with Abram and Sarai, he changes their names. We cannot
remain the same once we've experienced God's fidelity, but we are fundamentally
changed.

Slapshot and Boomer (Tony) come on stage, fresh off the ice from a triumphant hockey
game, very excited

Slapshot: Woohoo! Now that was for sure some kinda game! You played good for
a kid, Tony!

Boomer: Thanks. It was so good, wasn’t it Slapshot!

Slapshot: Good? It was triple awesome is what! Kid, let me tell you something,
anytime you line up against the Frozen Lightning hockey team and come
out with two points it's as though you’ve won the Stanley Cup!

Boomer: I gotta phone my mom, tell her that I scored my very first hat trick in the
majors.

Slapshot: Don’t blame you kid, scoring three goals in any hockey game is some
achievement, but in your first season in the league, and against the Frozen
Lightning, why that’s way awesome. And that last goal in triple overtime
was some beauty! Your mom will be proud, for sure!

Boomer: Mom was always there for me, hauling me to early morning practices,
buying me hockey gear when I know she couldn’t afford it. She was Mom
and Dad to me all those years growing up.

Coach and Stretch come on stage

Coach: Good game guys!

Slapshot: Wasn’t this kid awesome Coach? Three goals against Stretch Martin,
trophy winner as the best goalie in the league last year.

Coach: Speaking of Stretch Martin, want you to meet him. Stretch, this here is
Tony Phillips, the kid who beat you for three goals tonight.

Stretch, shakes Tony’s hand: Hey kid, just wanted to compliment you on a fantastic game tonight!