Vital Signs

This series of five comedic sketches serves as lighthearted sermon openers, designed to prepare the audience for a message on the vital signs of a believer’s faith. The sketches take place in a hospital setting, featuring a humorous yet misguided Dr. Perry, who consistently misinterprets medical procedures, creating absurd situations that highlight the importance of accuracy, awareness, and true understanding—both in medicine and faith. Through Dr. Perry’s mishaps, the sketches illustrate the necessity of checking "spiritual vital signs" in one's life, just as doctors check for physical health indicators.

Each segment can be performed in any order and follows Dr. Perry’s interactions with fellow medical professionals and patients. The humor provides a light-hearted entry into the deeper sermon message about assessing one's faith and aligning with biblical principles.

Biblical References and Themes

These sketches connect to key scriptural truths about spiritual transformation and self-examination:

1. Colossians 3:1-5 – "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."
   • Connection: Just as a doctor examines a patient for vital signs, believers must examine their own spiritual health, ensuring their hearts and minds are set on Christ.
2. Galatians 2:20 – "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
   • Connection: A true believer’s "vital signs" reflect Christ living in them. Dr. Perry’s misunderstandings highlight the importance of having the right foundation in knowledge, just as Christians must be rooted in Christ rather than a superficial understanding of faith.

The humor in Vital Signs underscores a serious message: just as medical professionals must check physical symptoms to diagnose and treat a patient, believers must examine their spiritual lives for signs of a thriving faith. Are we displaying the evidence of Christ's work in us, or are we just assuming we are "spiritually healthy" without real transformation?

Time: 6 – 8 per sketch

Cast: 4

Set:
none other than desk, chairs

Costumes: hospital garb

Props: hospital equipment as available

Sample of script:

Scene:

(Dr. Nick is going over medical records, examining an X-ray. Nurse Rhonda and Dr. Perry enter, engaged in conversation.)

Dialogue:

Nurse:
Well, I don’t understand, Dr. Perry. Why did you order an ablation for Mrs. Donaldson in 408? I mean, she is showing no symptoms of…

Perry:
Well, Nurse Rhonda, she felt that she wanted to lose some weight, so I…

Nurse (overwhelmed):
Let me get this straight… You ordered an ablation to help Mrs. Donaldson lose weight?

Perry:
It’s no big thing, just a little tummy tuck.

Nurse:
A tummy tuck?! An ablation is a procedure to treat abnormal heart rhythms. A tummy tuck is an abdominoplasty!

Perry:
Now it all makes sense! I bet that’s why they have all those wire thingies hooked up to her now, huh?

Nurse:
How could you do that? How could you make that kind of mistake?

Perry:
Well, I looked it up in my Handy Dandy Doctor Guidebook on my computer. Guess I clicked the wrong entry under “A.” (thinks) Wow, guess that explains the wild look in Mrs. Donaldson’s eyes when I visited her in her room, huh?

(Dr. Nick looks up, clearly frustrated.)

Nick:
Dr. Perry! Just who I wanted to see!

Perry:
Hey, Doc Nick! I am nothing if not supportive. How can I assist you, Doctor? Need a second opinion on muscular interaction or a cure for the common cold?

Nick:
What I want is to ask you why our emergency room is backed up around the block with your patients who are supposedly all waiting for full upper body casts. I just checked the records—you have done 273 full body casts this month alone. In the previous twelve months, the entire hospital staff only reported 18 full body casts!

Perry (amazed):
Wow! 273, you say? Those suckers sure are getting popular!

Nick:
And what’s more—I can’t find even one X-ray showing broken bones on any of these patients! (hands X-ray to Perry) Here, look. Can you see any signs of broken bones?

Perry (studying X-ray, confused):
The bones would be the black blotches that show up on the X-ray thingie, right?

Nurse: If you can’t even tell what is a bone on an x-ray how could you possibly know if the bone is broken?

Perry, confused: Broken? There’s broken bones?

Note: This is one of five short comedy sermon starters (each 6-8 minutes long) centered on the theme of "Vital Signs." The Christian message is delivered through the sermon, with the drama serving as a lighthearted way to engage the audience. The sketches explore the importance of looking for "vital signs" in a believer’s spiritual life.

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