Dialogue Sermon

The following is the complete text of a "dialogue sermon" which is actually for three voices, a man, woman, and prophet. It is based on Ezekiel 37:1-14. The only staging required is a place for the man and woman to sit as they converse with the prophet. The idea was to make as direct a connection between the text and the congregation as possible.

"A Cure for Dry Bones"
By Jim Freeman
Pentecost, 2001

Man: No, no, no…you mean the femur. That's the long bone in the thigh. We’re skeletons for crying out loud. How many times do we have to go over this?
Woman: Who asked you? It's bad enough to be a stack of bones in the middle of a valley full of bones. At least we could talk about something else now and then.
Man: (Exasperated.) Oh, I don't know why I even bother! (Sees Prophet enter.) Hey, who's that?
Woman: I don't know. He's certainly not one of us.
Prophet: (Entering) Hello.
Woman: Hello.
Man: How are you?
Prophet: Fine, thank you. And you?
Woman: Don't ask. He was just giving me a another lecture on physiology.
Prophet: I'm sorry I missed it.
Woman: No you're not. (Stage whisper.) I didn't understand a word of it.
Man: I'm sure he's not at all surprised. (There is an awkward pause, then to Prophet.) So what brings you here?
Prophet: Funny you should put it that way.
Man: Funny? Why?
Prophet: I got the distinct impression that you might know something I didn't.
Woman: Not us. But why exactly are you here?
Prophet: Well, you could call me a facilitator…or a prophet.
Woman: Prophet, huh? That sound's important.
Prophet: It has its moments. So what keeps you two busy?
(Man and Woman glance at each other.)
Man and Woman: Busy?
Woman: Hello! We're bones. We don't do anything here.
Man: Look at us all. (Indicates the congregation.) Don't we look about as peppy as a psalmist in exile?
Woman: Hey! That was pretty funny.
Man: (A la Elvis.) Thank you, thank you very much. If only we could get out of here and get some fresh air, you know, put some life back in ourselves.
Woman: Even if we are an archeologist’s dream come true we really don't enjoy being here.
Man: This place is dead. There's no life. It's like we're an afterthought.
Prophet: You seem a little disillusioned, bitter even.
Man: Ha! Look around. We're all just sitting here watching, waiting for something to happen.
Prophet: Humm…I see what you mean. And it's funny you should mention that, because there I was minding my own business when I got word that I needed to rush right over here and…(Trails off.)
Woman: And what?
Man: Yeah, what were you supposed to do when you got here?
Prophet: (A little unsure.) Prophesy.
Man: Prophesy? Well, I guess that shouldn't be too big a deal, huh?
Prophet: If you call being God's spokesperson no big deal, yes.
Man: At least you get to move around. We're stuck in a heap.
Prophet: Right. By the way, my name is Ezekiel. What are your names?
(Woman and Man share confused glances.)
Man and Woman: Names?
Woman: Hello! We're bones, we don't have names. (To Man.) He's definitely not from around here.
Prophet: No. I guess not. (To change the subject.) So, you think it would be good to get away from here?
Man: Well, at least we could get some fresh air.
Woman: And sunshine.
Man: Not to mention a change of scenery.
Prophet: Well, what if you did get out of here? Would your lives be what they should be?
Man: What do you mean? We're okay.
Woman: Yeah, apart from the fact that we're calcium-dependent, we're fine.
Prophet: I didn't ask about your nutritional needs. I asked if your lives would be what they should be.
Man: That sounds a little judgmental.
Prophet: Good, it was supposed to be.
Woman: I didn't think being judgmental was in.
Prophet: I'm a prophet. Judgmental is one of the things I do best.
Woman: Oh, good point.
Man: So why all the interest in how we'd do on the outside? What's in it for you?
Woman: Do you really think we've got a chance to get out of here?
Prophet: Yes, by God's grace, just as soon as you're ready. But you still haven't answered my question. When you get outside, then what?
Man: Well, I don't know. I guess we'll go about our lives. And enjoy the fresh air.
Woman: And sunshine.
Prophet: As dry bones.
Man: Hey, that's a little personal, fella'.
Woman: Yeah! Hello!…
Prophet: I know, I know. You're bones. Hello! But I'm talking about something much more significant. I'm talking about dry bones as a way of life, of living as though nothing matters, nothing at all. Of solving every problem by going outside to get some fresh air. (To Woman.) And sunshine. (Points to congregation.) You see, every one of them will leave, must leave in a little while, and they will face a whole range of situations, important decisions, contact with a variety of people. But first they must be made ready.
Woman: Made ready? How?
Prophet: My message today, what I'm supposed to prophesy, is that God is preparing you and them, and me too for that matter, preparing us and restoring us, so that we can live as God's people. You may be sitting here now, but in a little while you will be doing all sorts of things in all sorts of places, and God will make that possible. Let me tell you a story that is going to happen some day to a man named Peter.
Man: Going to happen? What do you mean?
Prophet: I mean I'm a prophet so futuring is something I do pretty well. Any way, this man Peter and his friends know that they have an important job to do, but for a while all they will be able to do is a lot of sitting, a lot of waiting. Then, when the time is right, they will all tumble out into the road, raising such a ruckus that folks will think they are drunk.
Woman: Will they be?
Prophet: No, they will be Spirit-filled. And they will bring the fresh air and sunshine of God's good news into the dank, dark lives of hundreds of people that day. Peter himself will preach the sermon of a lifetime. But it won't happen without God picking Peter and his friends up, making them over. Then, what a difference they'll make.
Man: What will be so bad about the lives of the folks in those days?
Prophet: You mean why will they be like dry bones?
Man: Right.
Prophet: For a lot of reasons. Some of them won't realize how bad things are in their lives until they are shown a better alternative. Some of them will make bad decisions or choose to go in the wrong direction. Some of them will feel overwhelmed by events in their lives and will turn inward. And some will be basically okay, just needing a little push to get going. There are all sorts of reasons why people can come to resemble dry bones.
Woman: Enough with the dry bones metaphor already. You're giving me a complex.
Man: (To Woman.) Let him finish.
Prophet: That's all I wanted to say, really. There is one more thing though.
Man: Oh? What's that?
Prophet: I'm supposed to tell you to get up. And by God's grace you will. And you'll be filled with breath and made whole again. And your bones will no longer be dry, but alive and vital.
Man: So we are really getting out of here today?
Prophet: Yes! You are. Stand up and give it a try.
(Man and Woman begin to stand, stiffly and tentatively.)
Man: Well, thank you Mr. Prophet.
Woman: Yeah! Thanks. I'm feeling better already.
Prophet: I'm glad! (He takes Man and Woman by the hand.) Now get out there and live as God's people. (He raises their hands high.) And know that it is God who has restored you.

Spirit Litany

Voice One: When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues as of fire, appeared among them and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit…

ALL: Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.

Voice Two: In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth…

MEN: a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.

ALL: And God saw that it was good.

Voice Three: The angel said to Mary,

Voice Four: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born to you will be holy; he will be called

ALL: Son of God.

Voice Five: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.

Voice Six: While Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. Then Peter said,

Voice Seven: “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

ALL: Spirit of God, descend upon my heart…

Voice One: Jesus said,

Voice Four: “The advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything…

Voice Five: When the Advocate comes whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father will testify on my behalf.”

Voice One: John said to them,

MEN: “I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Voice Six: Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice. At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks…

WOMEN: Give heed to my reproof; I will pour out my thoughts to you; I will make my words known to you.

Voice Six: Does not wisdom call, and does not understanding raise her voice?

Voice Seven: On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;

Voice Eight: beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries out:

WOMEN: “To you, O people, I call, and my cry is to all that live.”

ALL: Holy Spirit, truth divine, Dawn upon this soul of mine…

Voice Three: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.

Voice Two: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

WOMEN: To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit

ALL: for the common good.

Voice One: To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom,

Voice Two: and to another the utterance of knowledge by the same Spirit.

ALL: to another faith

Voices Three and Four: to another gifts of healing

Voices Five and Six: to another the working of miracles,

Voices Seven and Eight: to another prophecy

ALL: to another the discernment of spirits,

MEN: to another various kinds of tongues,

WOMEN: to another the interpretation of tongues.

ALL: All these are activated by one and the same Spirit who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Voice One: In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.

ALL: In those days I will pour out my Spirit.

Where Can We Go?

The following is the text of the poem I read during worship on Sunday evening.

Where Can We Go?
By Jim Freeman
(For the Mo-Ranch Worship and Music Conference;
June 16, 2007)

When we come to ourselves,
where can we go?
If we feel like we’ve outlasted our usefulness or outstayed our welcome,
where can we go?
If we’ve fallen on hard times,
or fallen away,
or fallen by the wayside,
where can we go?
If we’ve lost our way or turned away,
lost our will or lost our nerve to do God’s will,
where can we go?
If we’ve lived to ourselves and not to God;
if we’ve made poor choices based on bad judgment;
if our human-ness has pulled us away from God’s desires for our lives;
where can we go?
If the dark night of the soul finds us grasping for what is right;
if the glaring lights of false prophets leave us aching for what is true;
where can we go?
We can go to the only place where we have ever been truly welcome;
we can go where our return is celebrated with waiting, open arms.
When we come to ourselves we can go beyond ourselves.

We can go to God.
©2007 James D. Freeman

My wife, Debbie, suggested the following structure if using the poem as a litany of confession. I think its a neat idea.

LEADER: When we come to ourselves,

ALL: where can we go?

LEADER: If we feel like we’ve outlasted our usefulness or outstayed our welcome,

ALL:where can we go?

LEADER:If we’ve fallen on hard times,
or fallen away,
or fallen by the wayside,

ALL: where can we go?

LEADER: If we’ve lost our way or turned away,
lost our will or lost our nerve to do God’s will,

ALL: where can we go?

LEADER: If we’ve lived to ourselves and not to God;
if we’ve made poor choices based on bad judgment;
if our human-ness has pulled us away from God’s desires for our lives;

ALL: where can we go?

LEADER: If the dark night of the soul finds us grasping for what is right;
if the glaring lights of false prophets leave us aching for what is true;

ALL: where can we go?

LEADER: We can go to the only place where we have ever been truly welcome;
we can go where our return is celebrated with waiting, open arms.
When we come to ourselves we can go beyond ourselves.

ALL: WE CAN GO TO GOD.
©2007 James D. Freeman