The Case of the Soggy Shoes

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Want to Tell Somebody?

Great introduction for a discussion on baptism
by Pastor Paul Anglemyer

This skit is a monologue which gets acted out by the character. Adding background music greatly inhances the skit.

Props:

Detective hat and jacket
Magnifying glass
Notepad and pencil
Banana
Cell phone
Sandwich with a plastic grasshopper in it
A ziplock with water in it

Hello, my name is Dirk Derango. I’m a detective, a private eye. My badge is the Bible and my partner is…the Holy Spirit (looks around as if trying to find him). Oh, you can’t see him but he’s always there.

It was about 11:00 AM when I rolled out of bed to start my day off early, when I received a call.

(Pulls banana out of pocket and puts up to ear) “Hello, this is Dirk Derango…Hello, hello! (Dirk Derango realizes that he has a banana and not a phone and quickly discards the banana while reaching in his pocket and taking out the cell phone).

Hello, yes this is Dirk Derango…you don’t say! Really…are you sure? I’ll be right on it!”

(Putting phone back into pocket) “It seemed that someone was walking around the Jordan Riverside Neighborhood with soggy shoes! Wet footprints and the sound of sloshing were being reported!”

This sounded like a case for Dirk Derango! So, faster than you can brush your teeth, gargle, and place a piece of bread in the toaster, I was on the case!

(Pulling the magnifying glass out of pocket and looking around) I was hot on the trail collecting evidence that would incriminate this soggy shoed culprit. I collected a sample from the puddles our soggy shoed mystery character left behind (pull out ziplock with water from your pocket). As I continued I found more evidence…a partially eaten honey and locust sandwich…(pull out sandwich with grasshopper from your pocket) it made me hungry!

The trail I was on led me right to the Jordan River. To my amazement I found hundreds of people gathered around the river. Some of the people were dripping wet, while others were taking off their shoes and socks and rolling up their pant legs getting ready to go into the river!

As I neared the rivers edge I saw a man standing in the middle of the river. He was yelling in a loud voice for people to come and be baptized. He also said the he was preparing the way for the Lord!

(Begin rolling up pant legs and removing your shoes and socks) I decided to question this man so I rolled up my pant legs, removed my shoes and socks and began to walk into the water

(Pull out note pad and pencil from your pocket and begin writing the answers to the questions) When I reached the man I asked a few questions. Your name please…he called himself John, John the Baptist. I asked him about his occupation, he said he was the fore runner to the Messiah… sounded like an important job!

I asked what he was doing. He said he was baptizing people. I asked if he had a license to dunk and he said Mark 1:2-3 It is written in Isaiah the prophet: I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way –a voice of one calling in the desert, `Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.’

As we walked out of the river together I looked down and noticed his soggy shoes! (Hold up a pair of wet shoes) Ahah…this was the man! Just then some guards came, so I let them handle the situation.

As I was walking home eating the rest of the honey and locust sandwich my partner…the Holy Spirit (Look around if trying to find him). Oh, you can’t see him but he’s always there, reminded me that it says in Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

So the case of the soggy shoes was closed and I could call my Pastor and tell him I would like to be baptized at our next baptismal service!

My name is Dirk Derango. I’m a detective, a private eye. My badge is the Bible and my partner is…the Holy Spirit (looks around as if trying to find something). Oh, you can’t see him but he’s always there. See you around sweethearts!