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Lesson Presentation Idea

Road Trip Catechism 2.3

Let's Make An Exchange

The Introduction:

This skit is modeled after the old TV game show, "Let's Make A Deal." The host of that show was Monte Hall. Unless you choose to tone it down, the host of this somewhat sinister game show is "Monte Hell." "Darryl Merril" is in homage to Carol Merril, the long-time (and long-suffering) door-opener for Hall. The original show had costumed contestants qualify for a chance to pick a prize lurking behind one of three doors or, sometimes, boxes. The prize could have been a real prize or a booby-prize. To get contestants, the host would ask the audience to produce an artifact (a flower say) that could be used to make the initial deal. Contestants usually wore costumes or silly get-ups to the show. If this lesson is presented around Halloween (or even if it isn't), why not invite all of your students to come to the meeting in costume? And while doing your skit, encourage your "audience" to play along, cheering and booing at the appropriate places.

The Cast:

Monte Hell (a.k.a. The Devil), Contestant #1 (male), Contestant #2 (female), Jesus, Darryl Merril.

The Preparation:

1. Get three identical mid-sized boxes (the kind used to move books work well). Remove the top flaps. Place the boxes upside down on a long table (or altar if you are meeting in the worship space), with the open end facing down. Printing as large as you can, mark the boxes "#1," "#2," and "#3" respectively. Under Box #1 place a wooden cross. Under Boxes #2 and #3 place a crown (Burger King has paper crowns they give away).

2. Contestant #1 will need to have his Baptismal certificate.

3. Contestant #2 will need to have a recent picture of herself.

4. Jesus will need to have a dove, or a picture of a dove, or a piece of paper folded to resemble a dove.

5. Other props: monopoly money, a "teeny-booper" magazine (like YM or Seventeen).

The Skit:

MONTE HELL (overly sincere): Good Evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. Welcome to "Let's Make An Exchange"! The Game Show that offers you the deal of your Life. Or Death. Okay, let's find our first contestant. I'm looking for someone out there who has their Baptismal Certificate with them.

CONTESTANT #1 (jumps up): I do! I have it! (Continues jumping up and down excitedly.)

MH: All right! That's just great, sir. Please jump on up here and Let's Make an Exchange. (#1 joins MH at front.) And what is your name sir?

#1: (Give real name.)

MH: Now, we need our next contestant. Is there anyone out there who has a recent picture of themselves with them? We're looking for an 8"x10" glossy, but any photo will do...

CONTESTANT #2 (stands): Yes, I have one. Here it is!

MH: Wonderful. Wonderful. Our next contestant! Yes, come on up and join Contestant #1, and Let's Make An Exchange. (#2 goes to front.) And your name, ma'am?

#2: (Gives real name.)

MH: Now, lets see who our third and last contestant will be. I'm looking for someone who has with them a dove, or a picture of a dove, or a piece of paper folded to resemble a dove. (There is a pause.) Anyone? Anyone?

JESUS: Yes. I do. I have the dove.

MH (eyes Jesus suspiciously): Oh. You do. Okay. Hmmm. (MH thinks for a moment, has idea, face brightens, says excitedly): Great, great. You with the dove. Come on up here and Let's Make An Exchange! (Jesus approaches front) And you sir? What is your name again?

J: Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth.

MH (again overly sincere, syrupy): Ah, yes. Jeeeeesus. Of course. I should have guessed. It's so wonderful to have you with us. (MH smiles a big, fake, painfully exaggerated smile.) Well. Let's get on with it, shall we? Let's Make An Exchange!

MH: Contestant #1, tell me again what is that item in your hand?

#1: Why, it's my Baptismal Certificate from the day I was baptized.

MH: Just a piece of paper, huh? Well, what if I were to offer you ONE MILLION DOLLARS for that ol' piece of paper? (waves bills in #1's face)

#1: Well...

MH: What's your Baptism worth to you anyway? I mean it already happened didn't it? And such a long time ago.

#1: One million, you said? Well, sure. Why not. Here. (Hands certificate to MH; accepts one million.)

MH: Okay, great! Our first deal. And of course, you can always make more deals in our final round. Let's keep going. Contestant #2, what have you there?

#2: This? Why it's just a picture of sweet little old me.

MH: And what a picture it is! To me it says: Youthful. Attractive. Smart. But you know, it's just too bad it's not going to last. You'll be getting older. It won't be long before your looks begin to fade. And not much longer after that your mind will slow. So what if I were to tell you that in exchange for your soul--er, I mean your picture-I'll give you (shows teeny-bopper magazine) ETERNAL YOUTH!

#2 (gasps): You mean?

MH: Yes, you'll never have to worry about getting old, never have to worry about the effects of age, never have to worry about pesky things like sickness and death. From now on, you'll look exactly like the objects--er, I mean young women--in this magazine. All you have to do is give yourself--that is, your picture--to me.

#2: Wow. That's a deal I can't afford to pass up. But for some reason I feel like I'm giving myself away.

MH (eerily): Oh, don't mind that. It's just a gut-feeling. It'll pass.

#2: Well, alright. Here you go. (Hands picture of self to MH, who snatches it, and gives magazine to her in exchange.)

MH: Great! Great! It's nice to have you. I mean, it's nice to have you, um, here on the show with us. And of course, you'll want to be here for our final round.

MH (somewhat icily): Now, contestant #3. Jesus was it? (Jesus nods.) I don't really want your dove. Never really liked birds. But, I have an idea. I'll give you all of the power in the world, full control of everything, if you--I must be crazy to be making a deal like this--if you bow down and worship me.

Jesus: Get away from me, Satan.

MH (abrubtly): Very well then. No Deal. (Brightening quickly) But there's always the final round! Maybe, Jesus, you'll get yours in the final round. (Laughs maniacally)

MH: Now, contestants, you know how the final round works. We have some wonderful prizes under some of the boxes you see before you. I know what's udner the boxes; I'll try and make a deal with you to trade what you have for a chance to win what's under one of those boxes. Here we go. Jesus. Let's start with you. (smiling twistedly) I'll trade you that lousy bird for what's under box #1. What do you say.

J: Mr. Hell. I have a deal for you. I'll take what's under box #1 if you give Contestant #1 his baptism back and Contestant #2 her self back.

MH (obviously anxious for Jesus to take what's under box #1): Fine, fine. Always thinking about your neighbor, aren't you? Okay, #1 can have his baptism back and #2 can have her self back. (hands back the baptism sertificate and the picture) Now will you take what's under box #2?

J: Not yet. First, Contestant #1 gets what's under box #2 and Contestant #2 gets what's under box #3.

MH: Fine, fine. It's theirs. Now, how about getting you what's under box #1. Darryl Merril. Show Jesus what he's won. (Darryl lifts box #1) Yes, Jesus, you've just won--a cross! Yes, you could have had all the power in the world if you'd only bow down to me, but instead all you get is an excruciating death on this cruel cross. How do you like that, Son of God? Huh? How do you like that?1

J: I'll glady take the cross, Satan. Because of my taking the cross--Darryl (Darryl Merril lifts boxes #2 and #3), my friends here each win a crown of glory. (Darryl puts crowns on Contestants #1 and #2).

MH: So what.. Put a crown on your own head, Darryl Merril. See if I care. All that matters is that I have you dead, Jesus. That's all I care about. You in the grave forever and ever (laughs maniacally).

J: Guess again, brimstone breath. You think death can hold me? I'll be raised again after three days, and I'll reign in glory with my friends here.

MH: Wait a minute. That's not fair. No body ever told me about that. Raised again? What kind of a deal is that? Why, that way, everyone wins! Everyone wins except me! What Does This Mean?!!

Contestants #1, #2, and Darryl Merril (together): This means that Jesus "has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person. He has purchased and freed me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death. He has done all this in order that I may belong to him, live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in eternal righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he is risen from the dead and lives and rules in eternity. This is most certainly true."

THE END