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.