BIBLE NEWS BROADCAST CHARACTERS
Anchor One:
Anchor Two:
Sponsor:
Good News:
***NEWS CHARACTERS***
News Reporter:
Guard:
Town’s Person:
***SPORTS CHARACTERS***
Sports Reporter:
Cushi:
Two or Three Friends:
Candace:
Abigail:
Starter:
***WEATHER CHARACTERS***
Weather Reporter:
Kezia (Egyptian Woman):
BIBLE NEWS BROADCAST PLAY
Anchor One: Good evening. This is ________________ and __________________ reporting for Bible News. A young shepherd boy defeats the giant Philistine in our leading story. David, a ruddy youth, too young for the army, was sent by his father to take food to his brothers serving in the army of Israel. When the Philistine giant, Goliath, defied the armies of the living God, David was heard to say, “Is there not a cause?” He ran toward the giant with a sling and five smooth stones as he shouted, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied. This day will the LORD deliver thee into mine hand;… that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel.” (I Samuel 17:45-46) The Philistine army fled once they saw that their champion was dead.
Anchor Two: On foreign soil three men were thrown into a fiery furnace in Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar demanded the furnace to be heated seven times hotter after his anger grew hotter when three Hebrew children refused to bow and worship his golden image. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. King Nebuchadnezzar rose to his feet and exclaimed to his counselors, “Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” (Daniel 3:25)
Anchor One: We have just received breaking news from Jerusalem. It seems there has been a prison break from Jerusalem’s maximal security facilities. You may recall that our most honorable, King Herod, has for some time been attempting to rid our country of some extremely nuisance character, the followers of the one time proclaimed King of the Jews who was known to most as Jesus of Nazareth. In recent days one of these men who was known as James was apprehended and eventually put to death for crimes of treason against Caesar and that of inciting religious heresy among the Jewish people. Since his execution, our King had been successful in having another one of this band, the one who calls himself Peter, searched out and was in prison waiting for a similar fate as befell James.
However, it seems that last evening he was able to make his escape, although he was held in prison while waiting for the conclusion of the days of Jewish celebration, by four companies of soldiers. According to reports received there were two soldiers, one on either side of him, as well as soldiers posted at the prison entrances. With such security in place it would seem impossible for one to escape but somehow he was able to evade all the security set in place by the soldiers of King Herod.
We go live to Jerusalem where we are getting mixed stories as to what happened during the escape.
***NEWS REPORT***
News Reporter: Coming to you live from Jerusalem, there is yet much confusion as to what happened here last night. I have with me one of the guards that was stationed beside this man Peter to insure his safe keeping. Sir, can you tell us what happened last night in the prison?
Guard: I’m not quite sure. We were all resting and he was there beside me as he should have been.
News Reporter: Are you referring to Peter the escapee?
Guard: Yes, he’s the one. It was really a rather quiet night. The only thing that could be heard was from the distance, the sound of muffled voices, it almost sounded like a group of people praying.
News Reporter: Praying? Why would anyone be praying at that time of night?
Guard: I thought it may have had something to do with the Jewish holidays. So I thought nothing was out of order. King Herod had always tried to give the Jews leeway in their form of worship. The next minute, I looked over and he was gone. The chains that held him bound were loosened, the doors of the prison were opened, and he seemed to have disappeared.
News Reporter: Thank you, sir. As I said, there are conflicting reports. I would like to ask one of the town’s people who happened to be passing by during that time to explain what he saw. (Speaking to Town’s Person.) Friend, in your opinion, what do you think happened here last night?
Town’s Person: It was a miracle if I ever saw one. I saw angels.
News Reporter: Angels? Sir, had you spent the evening with a bottle of wine, which had distorted your reasoning?
Town’s Person: No. My mind is as clear as a bell. I tell you what I saw was angels. It was the angels that opened the doors and loosened the chains. It was the angels that brought Peter out of the prison. I know what I saw.
News Reporter: Why do you suppose the soldiers of Herod did not stop this escape?
Town’s Person: There was nothing they could do. Why… there was a light so bright that I doubt they could see what was happening. When the soldiers finally came out, he was gone and they did not have a clue, which way he went.
News Reporter: There is one more strange event which has just recently come to our attention. It seems that there was a maid by the name of Rhoda who claims that she had been in a house down the road where a multitude of people had gathered to pray for Peter. She claims he appeared at the door of the house. In the beginning she thought it was an angel, but later decided it must be Peter and she let him in.
Anchor One: Were the soldiers able to apprehend him again?
News Reporter: No, they looked for him, but were unable to find him. The soldiers said there was no evidence that the people praying had anything to do with his escape, therefore they were unable to press charges against them. It is sad to report that things did not end so favorably for the guards. Herod had them executed for not fulfilling the order of the King. Live from Jerusalem, this is _______________ reporting, now back to you.
Anchor One: Thanks for that report. It seems we may never know what really happened last night in Jerusalem, or will we?
Anchor Two: In sports tonight, __________________ is reporting at the scene, as the Big Race is about to take place. Are the three runners ready to run the race?
***SPORTS***
Sports Reporter: In Sports today… the day we have all been waiting for. Some have called it the race of the century. Brought to us today by Hebrews 12:1. Here’s a word from our sponsor.
Sponsor: Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
Sports Reporter: In the first position is Cushi, clearly the one who is favored to win today. Cushi, tell us, how have you prepared to run this race today?
Cushi: I am ready. I have my friends here with me. (Two or three friends stand with vocal support during the interview.) They believe I can win and are ready to stand along the way and cheer me to the finish line. I also have the shoes. I paid 20 gold pieces for these shoes and they are the best. With friends who believe in me, and the best shoes, I know I can win.
Sports Reporter: In the second running position is Candace. Are you ready, Candace?
Candace: (Dressed more for a party, than a race, with bright clothes and high heels.) I am ready. I hope this color looks good on TV. I know how important it is to look your best… with the news cameras all around.
Sports Reporter: What about those shoes…
Candace: Oh, these shoes. I’m so glad you noticed. Aren’t they the greatest? It’s the latest fashion. Everybody, who is anybody, has at least 3 pairs.
Sports Reporter: But, I meant, those shoes… will you be able to run in those heels?
Candace: Well… wait a minute… I have an important call to make. (Takes a cell phone out to text.)
Sports Reporter: You have to send a message now?
Candace: Yes, you see, Esther is my best friend in the whole wide world, and she is going to Shushan the palace, to appear before the king and she may be chosen to be the new queen. If she gets to be queen, I just know she will let me come live in the palace with her.
Sports Reporter: Moving on, here is our third runner, Abigail. What do you think are your chances to win, Abigail?
Abigail: Well, I don’t know. I am ready to run with patience. But first, I need to lay a few weights aside. (She begins taking things out of her pockets and laying them to the side… such as cell phone, game boy, wii remote, softball, Sudoku book, radio and DVD.) I believe it is important to focus on the race and finish the course.
(The friends go ahead and stop Cushi with pep talk when he gets to them.)
Sports Reporter: The time has come. The runners are on the starting line. (Candace is still trying to send her text message. Cushi is waving his arms up and down for cheers.)
Starter: On your mark, get set, go! (Shoots his toy gun.)
(As the runners race around the room, two people step up and hold a strand of crepe paper for the finish line.)
(Candace runs awkwardly, in high heels, texting as she goes. Cushi works to get attention as he runs, slowing down for his friends to cheer. Abigail runs patiently and steady around the track and comes in first, followed by Cushi, and Candace finally comes in just finishing with her text at the finish line.)
(At the finish line.)
Sports Reporter: Abigail, you have won the race. What was your secret?
Abigail: Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
Friends: Oh man, Cushi, you told us you would win. We’re ‘outta here. (They start off.)
Cushi: Hey, wait guys… (He follows after.)
Sports Reporter: Well, Candace, you finally made it to the finish line. How does it feel to come in…
Candace: (Phone message sounds.) Wait… this is Esther… Yes!… she was chosen to be the new queen… my very best friend in the whole wide world is going to live in the palace… wait a minute… there’s more… No, I can’t go live in the palace with her… What??? (She walks off crying loudly.)
Sports Reporter: That wraps it up today folks. Now, a final word from our sponsor.
Sponsor: Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
Anchor Two: What an exciting time we live in. I can’t imagine anyone moving at a faster pace. Now it’s time for the weather. We join ___________________ in Egypt to get the story of the strange weather they have been having.
***WEATHER***
Weather Reporter: You have heard of it raining cats and dogs, well some say it has rained frogs. We are reporting live from Egypt, where frogs covered the land. We are talking with Kezia, who lives about a mile from the Nile. Tell us, Kezia, when you first noticed the frogs.
Kezia: I woke up one morning to the croaking sound all around me. Then I noticed that there were frogs all in my bed. I nearly screamed. When I stepped out of bed I felt them squish under my feet. I went to bake our bread and they were in my kneading-troughs. There were even frogs in the oven. There were frogs everywhere.
Weather Reporter: I have never seen that many frogs before. Where did the frogs come from?
Kezia: They came from the Nile River. Some say the God of the children of Israel sent the frogs in anger because Pharaoh won’t let the people go so they can worship.
Weather Reporter: That’s interesting. Do you believe that the frogs were sent by a god?
Kezia: That’s what people are saying. Not just “a god” but “The God”. A man named Moses, and his brother, Aaron, have been talking with Pharaoh to demand that he let the children of Israel go and worship. Moses told Pharaoh, “There is none like unto the LORD our God.”
Weather Reporter: I don’t see frogs now, did God send the frogs back to the river?
Kezia: No, the frogs all died. They died in the houses, and they died in the fields. We gathered them all together in big heaps and the smell was just awful.
Weather Reporter: Did Pharaoh let the people go?
Kezia: No, and the frogs were not all. The dust became lice and then swarms of flies blew in like the wind. Pharaoh still would not let the people go. Many of our animals and even our people have become sick and died from pestilence.
Weather Reporter: The weather has been the worst it has been since the great flood. Tell us more about it.
Kezia: Moses stretched his hand up toward heaven and thunder rolled across the sky. Hail fell and fire ran along the ground. Our gardens are ruined and many trees are broken. Then Moses held up his rod and the east wind brought locusts that ate all green plants that were left from the storm. I don’t know what we will eat this year.
Weather Reporter: Could things get any worse?
Kezia: Oh, after a strong west wind carried all the locusts to the Red Sea, Pharaoh still would not let the children of Israel go. Moses stretched his hand toward heaven and a thick darkness fell all in the land of Egypt for three days. The darkness was so fearful, we were afraid to move for those three days.
Weather Reporter: What more could happen in the land of Egypt? Will Pharaoh let the children of Israel go to worship the one and only God?
Anchor Two: With all the bad news, it is good to hear some good news. Here is _____________________ with our Good News for today.
Good News: Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."
Anchor One: Thank you for joining us tonight. Good night and may the Good News be yours.
