Becoming a Friend of God

8 scripts in chronological order.

Script #1 CREATION STORY, 426

Script #2 MAN FALLS, 427

Script #3 NOAH, 428

Script #4 THE BIRTH OF JESUS, 429

Script #5 JESUS HEALS AND FORGIVES, 430

Script #6 THE GADARENE, 431

Script #7 CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION, 432

Script #8 THE CHALLENGE (Dialog), 433

INTEGRATED SCRIPT SERIES

Script #1 CREATION STORY (Adapted), 426

I want to tell you the story of how God created the world in the beginning. God the Creator has always existed (or He has been here since forever). He existed before the mountains and rivers. He existed before the sun and moon existed. He existed before any (Tribal Name) people. There was never a time when He did not exist.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Because God is all-powerful His word has power. God only had to say, "Let there be light," and the light obeyed Him and came. God separated the light from the darkness. He saw that the light was good. God called the light "day" and He called the darkness "night". God established (fixed or arranged) day and night and the seasons of the year. God made the sky and the land and the seas in the same way by His spoken word. He spoke and by His word He made each thing (created each thing). He made the mountains and the rivers. He made the desert and the forests and all the plants and trees that grow on earth. Then God made the sun and put it in the sky to give light during the day. The moon and stars He made to give light at night. God has put the sun, moon and stars in the sky to show us days, months and years. Then God made all the birds that fly in the air - the birds who sing in the morning and the birds who call at night. God made them all. God also made the fish that swim in the ocean and in the rivers. Then God made all the animals - the cows and donkeys, the deer, the mountain lion, the turtles and squirrels and chickens (use local examples). He made the wild animals and the domestic animals. God saw all that He had created and He saw that it was good. God did not create anything that was evil.

Finally God said, "Let us make man in the image of us (of God) (to resemble us)." And so God made man. But God did not make man in the same way that He had made the land and trees and animals. God Himself formed man from the dust of the ground. God formed man and God breathed into man's nostrils His own breath. Then man became a living being (soul). He made man the ruler over all the animals of the earth. After God made man He said, "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." So He put man into a deep sleep. While the man was asleep, God took out one of the man's ribs. From that rib God made a woman. God brought the woman to the man to be his wife. This is how God made man and woman in His own image (to resemble Himself). And God saw all that He had created and He saw that it was very good. Then God rested from all the work of creating that He had done.

This God who created the world and all that is in it and who made men and women in His own image (to resemble Himself), He is the one true God. He is the only God we should worship. He is greater and more powerful than any other things that people worship. He is greater than the things that you are afraid of and that hold you in bondage. God is greater than idols, gods, witchcraft (make this fit local culture), and evil things. He is the God whom we should follow, honor and obey. Listen and I will tell you more about this wonderful God. He is speaking His powerful word to you and me today.

Script #2 MAN FALLS (adapted), 427

Now I will tell you the sad story of how sin and evil things came into this world. The first man's name was Adam and the first woman's name was Eve. When God created man and woman in His own image they were good. They had never sinned, and they knew no evil. God made a beautiful and fruitful garden. He put the man and the woman in the garden to take care of it. A river flowed by the garden to give it water. God made the ground to bear a lot of fruit. God told Adam, "You are permitted to eat the fruit of any tree in the garden except one. You are not permitted to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that grows in the garden. If you eat the fruit of that tree you will die." This is the only thing that God forbade Adam to do. God loved Adam and Eve. They were close to Him. He gave them a good place to live. He gave them all the food they needed there in the garden. He only commanded them not to eat fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

However there was one who did not love Adam and Eve. This was Satan. Satan is evil and hates God. He hates everything God has created. Satan knew that God loved Adam and Eve very much. For that reason Satan hated Adam and Eve. Also in the garden there was a snake and it was more crafty than any of the other wild animals God had made. Satan entered the snake. This snake came to the woman Eve and spoke to her. He said to her, "Did God really say that you must not eat the fruit of every tree in the garden?" Eve answered the snake and said to it, "God said we may eat of any tree except the one in the middle of garden, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God said we must not eat from it nor touch it or we will die." The snake wanted to deceive the woman so he said, "You will not die! God knows that when you eat from that tree you will become like Him." The snake was lying to Eve but Eve listened to him. She decided to believe the snake instead of God. Eve looked at the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some of the fruit to her husband Adam and he ate it. After Adam and Eve ate the fruit their eyes were opened to understand good and evil. They tried to cover their bodies because they were naked and hide themselves from God. They knew they had disobeyed God and they were afraid. But no one can hide from God. No one can cover their sin so that God cannot see it. God knows everything about us.

God found Adam and Eve and asked them, "Have you eaten from the tree I told you not to eat from?" Adam told God that Eve gave him the fruit and so he ate it. Eve told God that the snake deceived her and so she ate the fruit. God knew that it had really been Satan speaking through the snake. God cursed the snake. But, God loved Adam and Eve. He promised that one day He would send Someone to crush Satan completely. God told Eve that because she had disobeyed Him she would have great pain when she gave birth to children. God spoke to Adam and said that because he had disobeyed Him the ground would be cursed and not produce abundantly. There would be weeds and thistles and Adam would have to work very hard to get his food. Then God said to Adam, "You were made from the dust of the ground and so you will return to the ground." Then God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden. Sin had spoiled their fellowship with God. Now Adam and Eve could not be close to God. This is how sin and suffering and evil things came into the world.

God had told Adam and Eve the truth. Satan had used the snake to tell them lies. Because Adam and Eve ate the fruit one day they would die. It is the same with us today, isn't it? We all die because we all sin and disobey God. We are all like Adam and Eve. Satan still tells us lies and we listen to him just like Eve did. Satan does not want you to listen and obey God's Word that I am telling you now. Satan hates all people and wants to deceive us. But I am telling you the truth about the God who created us. Keep listening and you will hear how God made a way for us to come back to Him and escape the deception of Satan.

Script #3 NOAH (adapted), 428

Brothers and sisters, I want to tell you how God saved a righteous man who believed His words. God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden. After that they had two sons. These sons were named Cain and Abel. Abel did what was right in the sight of the Lord but Cain did what was evil. One day Cain was angry and killed his brother. Adam and Eve had other children. Many years passed and the number of people on the earth grew and grew. But they became very wicked. They did evil things against each other and against God. God saw that the thoughts of all men were evil all the time. He was sad that He had created man and His heart was filled with pain. Then God made a decision and said, "I will destroy man whom I have created, from the surface of the earth." That was God's decision and He had the power to do it.

There was one man who pleased God. His name was Noah. Noah was a righteous man who lived in fellowship with God. He was different in character from the other people who lived when he lived. God spoke to Noah. He said to him, "I'm going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and all living things on the earth. I am going to bring a flood on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens. But I will save you and your wife and your sons and your son's wives. So make a big boat for yourself and your family. You must also bring two of every kind of animal into the boat with you." That's what God said to Noah.

Noah believed God and obeyed Him. He did everything that God commanded him to do. Noah built a very big boat [SOUND EFFECT OF NOAH BUILDING]. He gathered his wife and sons and the sons' wives together, and they entered the boat. Noah brought two of every kind of animal into the boat. A male and a female of every kind of animal came into the boat. (Name types of animals.) [PUT IN SOUND EFFECT OF ANIMALS.] Noah and his family came into the boat, and then God shut the door [SOUND EFFECT OF DOOR SHUTTING]. Then the rain came. [FADE IN SOUND EFFECT OF RAINING AND CONTINUE AT LOW VOLUME BEHIND THE SPEAKING.] It rained and rained as it had never rained before. For forty days it rained without stopping. The waters rose higher and higher and picked up the boat. All the people who had not believed God's Word were drowning in the water. God was destroying all the wicked people who refused to believe and obey Him. Just as He had said, the whole surface of the earth was covered with water. Even the highest mountains were covered. Every living thing on earth, every animal and every person perished in the great flood. Only Noah and his family and the animals with him were saved because Noah and his family obeyed God. Finally, after forty days, the rain stopped. [FADE OUT RAIN HERE.] Noah and his family stayed on the big boat and ate the food they had stored with them. The water went down. After five months the boat rested on the mountain. After one year and ten days the earth was completely dry again. Noah and his family and the animals with him were safe. They all came out of the boat. Then Noah gave thanks to God. God saved them because they had believed Him and obeyed Him.

This true story happened many, many years ago. God has not changed. He is the same today. Now too he is sad because of the wickedness of people in the world. Though He is sad God still loves them, but He will punish those who sin and refuse to believe and obey Him. God has said that He hates sin. Sin must be punished, but who of us can bear the punishment for our sin? Many people try to cover their sin by doing good deeds. Some people shed the blood of animals. But there is only one Person whose blood can make payment for sin. Just as God gave Noah a way of salvation so he has provided a way of salvation for you today. Each person will face God's judgement after he dies. How will you be saved then? Keep listening and you will hear about the way of salvation God has made for those who believe and obey Him.

Script #4 THE BIRTH OF JESUS (adapted), 429

Noah died, and many years passed. All people in the world continued to sin. God gave man His law. It was to show them how to live right. It was to show them what God is like. God gave man this law for man to obey. This is God's law:

God said, "I am the one true God. You must not worship another god."

"You must not shape wood or stone or anything, to bow down to it."

"You must not say God's Name in a bad way." (in vain)

God said, "Do not forget to rest on God's day. This day is holy and is for worship."

"Honor and obey your father and mother."

"You must not murder." (another person)

"You must not commit adultery."

God said, "You must not steal."

"You must not tell lies against another person." (bear false witness)

"You must not wish to take that which belongs to another person."

Have you obeyed this law? No, in many areas we have all disobeyed God's law. God judges the person who disobeys His law. If you disobey your chief (local leader) you know you will be punished. He will not overlook your rebellion. If you cannot offend the chief and go free, do you think you can disobey God and go unpunished? God punishes those who disobey Him by separating them from Himself forever. The anger of God is against those people. But God does not want to be angry with people, He loves all men and women whom He has created. God has provided a way of salvation from His anger and judgement. He did this by sending the Savior to the world. Do you know who this Savior is? This Savior's name is Jesus Christ. Jesus is the One God has promised who would crush Satan's power. Jesus is our only way of salvation from God's judgement. No other man than Jesus is powerful enough to save us from God's judgement. No man could be good enough to pay for the sins of all people; but Jesus could because He never sinned.

Now I will tell you how God sent Jesus into the world. Many years ago there was a young woman named Mary. She was a virgin; she had never slept with a man. She was to marry a man named Joseph. Before they married, a messenger from God came and spoke to her. He said, "God has chosen you from among all women. The Spirit of God will overshadow you. You will bear a Child." Mary said, "I am God's servant. Let it be to me as you have said." Mary rejoiced greatly when she became pregnant. She said, "I praise God my Savior." A messenger from God also came to her fiancee Joseph in a dream. He said to Joseph, "Do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. What is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son. You are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins." This is what the messenger from God said. Just before the Baby was born, Joseph took Mary to a town named Bethlehem. The town was very full of people and there was no room in anyone's house. They had to spend the night in a stable with animals. (Explain that the stable was an enclosed building where animals were kept or lived.) While they were in this stable Mary gave birth to her Son and they called His name Jesus.

That same night some shepherds were watching their flocks in a field. Suddenly a messenger from God appeared. He said, "Don't be afraid. I bring good news. Today the Savior has been born. You will find Him wrapped in cloths and lying in a feed trough." All at once there were many, many messengers from God in the sky who were praising God. They sang, "Glory to God Most High! Peace on earth and good will to men." Then the messengers from God went back to heaven. The shepherds went to Bethlehem and found Joseph and Mary and the Baby Jesus. After they had seen Jesus they told many people about Him. Then they returned to their place thanking and praising God for all the things they had seen and heard.

The Child Jesus grew in body and increased in wisdom. He never sinned, not even once. When Jesus was about 30 years old the wisest teacher among His people said about Jesus, "This is the man you should follow." At this time the people saw the Spirit of God come upon Jesus and they heard God's voice speak from heaven and say, "This is My Beloved Son. I am well-pleased with Him." From this time forward Jesus began to teach the people about the true God. The power of God was with Him and He healed people from their sicknesses and chased away evil spirits. Jesus did many miracles. He proved that He was the Son of God. Why would the Son of God come to earth? He came to rescue us from our sins and bring us close to God again. He came to rescue us from the power of Satan and all evil spirits. Satan had no power over Him because He never obeyed Satan. Because He never sinned He was able to become the sacrifice for our sins. He is the only Person powerful enough to save us from God's judgement. Keep listening and I will tell you more of what God sent Jesus to do.

Script #5 JESUS HEALS AND FORGIVES (Adapted), 430

I want to tell you a story how Jesus healed a man and how He forgives people's sins. Once Jesus was teaching inside a house. He was teaching powerfully and also healing people of their sicknesses. Many people came to hear him. Even the religious and political leaders were present. There were so many people that the house was full and overflowing out the door with people. Then four men came carrying a paralyzed man on a stretcher. They wanted to set him in front of Jesus, but they were not able to enter the house because it was full of people. In that area the people's houses had flat roofs. So they took him up on top of the roof of the house. They broke up part of the roof and made an opening large enough for the stretcher. Then they set the paralyzed man down right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven." The religious leaders said to themselves, "This man is making a mock of God. Who can forgive sins except God alone?" Jesus knew what they were saying in secret. He asked them, "What is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven' or to say 'Rise up and walk'?" In order to show that He had power to forgive sins He said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, pick up your bed, and go home." And the man did that. Then everyone was amazed and they glorified God. God had given Jesus this authority to heal and to forgive people of their sins. This story I have told you is a true story.

Like this sick man, we too have problems. Sometimes our bodies are sick and need to get well. But all of us have sinned against God and therefore need Jesus to forgive us. The paralyzed man did not DO any good works in order to be forgiven. He and his friends believed that Jesus could help them, and He did help them. You and I, too, cannot do any good works so that we will be forgiven. Forgiveness cannot be bought like a piece of wood or a sack of guinea corn or groundnuts (rice or lentils). Jesus forgives us when we believe in Him. He sees our need, and He also knows our inner thoughts. He knows if we are truly believing Him, and if we desire to obey Him. If we truly believe Him He will forgive us. God the Father has given this authority (power) to Jesus and to no one else. You have heard how Jesus healed and forgave this paralyzed man. Like him, each one of us has a sickness. It is called SIN. We are born with this disease, and only Jesus can heal us by forgiving us. If we are not forgiven, we will die in our sin. If we die in our sins God cannot accept us into heaven. We will go to the place of suffering. The payment for sin is death, but God's free gift is life that never ends. It is a life of great happiness. Jesus will forgive you now if you believe in Him and confess your sins to Him.

Script #6 THE GADARENE (Adapted), 431

Listen brothers, I want to tell you a true story. I am going to tell you about one time when Jesus delivered a man from evil spirits and showed His power over them. There were evil spirits in Jesus' day just as there are evil spirits today. Jesus and His followers went by a small boat to the country of the Gadarenes. (Make sure the description of the boat is correct. It was a boat big enough for 8-13 people.) As soon as Jesus got out of the boat a man with an evil spirit saw Him. This man did not live in a house, but in the place where they bury the dead people. He didn't wear any clothes, and he was very wild. The people were frightened to go near him. Some men had tried to control this man by putting chains around his arms and feet, but he would break them apart. No man could control him. All the time, day and night, he would make terrible cries as he cut and beat himself with stones. This man was truly ruled by Satan's evil spirits.

When the possessed man saw Jesus from afar, he ran and knelt down before Him. Just as Jesus was to cast out the spirits from this man, a spirit inside the man shouted out very strongly, "What do you want to do with me, Jesus Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won't torture me!" Jesus asked the spirit, "What is your name?" It answered, "Other people call me 'Many' because we are many." Jesus said to him, "Come out of the man, you evil spirit." [SOUND EFFECT: SCREAMING OF THE EVIL SPIRIT AS IT LEAVES THE MAN, FADES AWAY.] And the spirits went out from the man. They entered into a large herd of pigs. The pigs ran into a lake and were drowned.

After this the man in whom the evil spirits had lived received a right mind. He dressed himself and hurried to the boat where Jesus was preparing to leave. This man begged Jesus saying, "Please sir, let me go with you." But Jesus did not permit this. He said, "Friend, you return to your people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you. Tell them how He has had mercy on you." The man returned to where he lived. All over his area he told the people what Jesus had done for him. The people were greatly amazed. Now, I have told you how Jesus delivered a man who was controlled by evil spirits.

In our area, too, there are many evil spirits. Satan is like a poisonous snake on the trail who waits to harm you. Jesus came to this world to destroy the works of Satan. Although there are many evil spirits in the land, Jesus is not frightened of them. Jesus is very, very powerful. He came to free us from the power of Satan. The evil spirits know who Jesus is and are frightened of Him. They know that Jesus will punish them severely. Stay away from the ways of Satan and evil spirits, witchdoctors, superstition and sorcery (Make this fit local practices). Ask Jesus to help you. Jesus has defeated Satan and all his works. He has power to deliver you from Satan. He will make you His son and daughter. He will never leave you if you trust in Him.

Script #7 CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION (Adapted), 432

[The speaker of this should also be the main speaker (#1) for the dialog script #8.]

Brothers and sisters, how can Jesus save us from our sins and make us sons and daughters of God? You have been hearing of the life of Jesus. Now I will tell you of His death. When Jesus was on earth He told His disciples, "No one has power to take My life from Me. God has given Me authority to lay down my life."

While He was on this earth, He taught God's Word. He healed people's sicknesses, forgave their sins, and cast demons out of people. He showed that He was God's Son. Many people followed Jesus and listened to His words. But the religious leaders were jealous of Jesus, because He received honor from people. They hated Jesus because He pointed to their disobedience to God. Jesus could see they seemed like good people on the outside, but on the inside they were evil. They were full of greed and other bad things. So the religious leaders planned to kill Jesus. This was all according to God's plan to save men from their sins. They paid one of Jesus' followers to betray Him. They encouraged the crowd to call out for His death. [SOUND EFFECT: SEVERAL MEN CALLING OUT "KILL HIM, KILL HIM!"] The governor at His trial was named Pilate. He even said, "I find no fault with this man." But the religious leaders persuaded him to permit them to kill Jesus. This is how they did it.

They took Jesus to a hill and they nailed Him to a cross (tree?). There was a thief nailed to a cross on Jesus' right hand side and another thief nailed to a cross on Jesus' left hand side. They did this in the morning. At noon time it became dark all over the earth until three o'clock (mid-afternoon). Then Jesus shouted loudly, "It is finished." Jesus died, and there was a big earthquake. The soldier guarding the crosses said, "Surely this was the Son of God."

How could the Son of God die? No one could kill Him against His will. He chose to die. He was chosen by God for this purpose. He was chosen to be the sacrifice for the sin of all the world. Jesus obeyed God His Father even to death on the cross (tree?). He died a painful, horrible death. Many people mocked Him. He died and He was buried. They buried Him in a tomb made in the side of a rock. They covered the entrance of the tomb with a huge rock. But Jesus did not stay dead in the grave as all other men do.

On the third day after he died, some women were coming to finish preparing His dead body. They came and saw that the stone was pushed away. They went inside the tomb and saw a shining messenger of God. They were frightened. But the messenger said, "Don't be afraid. Jesus is alive again! You will see Him soon." Then the messenger of God left. Later the women did see Jesus. Many other people also saw Him alive again. The power of death could not hold Jesus Christ because He Himself had never sinned. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, conquered death. He broke the power of death, and He destroyed Satan's power also.

Jesus paid for our sins when He died, so that we could be free. He did that because He loves us. He knew we could not pay for our sins. All our good works are not enough to make payment. Jesus shed His blood for us. That is the only payment God will accept. All other sacrifices are worthless. God will receive you if you believe and trust in Jesus. You must decide.

Script #8 THE CHALLENGE (Adapted), 433

[A Dialog]

[Main speaker (#1) should be the speaker of Script #7]

1: Greetings.

2: Greetings. The things you have been saying are true and wonderful. It has been very good to hear about Jesus' life.

1: Yes, these are things we need to tell others. Are there more things you would like to hear?

2: Yes, after Jesus died and rose again tell me how He appeared to His disciples.

1: After Jesus rose from the dead, He continued teaching His disciples about living to please God. Then after 40 days Jesus gathered His disciples together. He told them to tell others about Him. All the (Tribal Name) people and all people of the world need to hear about Jesus the Son of God. That's why I've been telling you these things.

2: People sometimes ask me where Jesus is now.

1: After He talked to His disciples Jesus went back to Heaven. Many people saw Him, still alive, go up into the sky. He is in Heaven now with God His Father.

2: I'm so glad He is not gone forever. I know He will come back one day.

1: While Jesus was still on earth, He promised His followers that He would return one day. When Jesus returns He will come with great glory, the glory of God. Every one will see Him. Every one will bow to Him as Lord. He will gather together those who believe and obey Him. He will take them with Him to Heaven. They will be there forever with God. In Heaven there is only peace and joy. There is no sorrow or suffering.

2: That sounds wonderful! It will be wonderful for those who follow Jesus, but what about those who don't follow Him.

1: Those who do not believe and obey Jesus will be punished forever. They will be sent away from God. They will go to the place of eternal fire and eternal suffering.

2: What a bad place!

1: It grieves God very much to send them to this place. He loves the (Tibal Name) people and every tribe of people very much. He loved us so much He sent His only Son Jesus to die for our sins. It pained God to see His Son suffer and die. But He did it so that each one of us could be able to return to Him.

2: I see how much the God Who made us really loves us! When I first understood God's love for me, my family did not believe this. I was afraid they would all reject me. But even with those difficulities I understood it was more important to follow Jesus.

1: Now my friend, we've talked about these important things. Tell me what Jesus means to you.

2: Jesus is my Savior and my Lord. He died in my place. I am very thankful to Him. When He called me to follow Him, I left my old ways of doing only what pleased me. I now try to do what Jesus wants me to do. Sometimes this is not easy. There is a struggle when what I want to do is different from what Jesus wants me to do. I am learning to say "No" to my self and "Yes" to Jesus. He gives me guidance through His words. I did not have peace with God until I gave my life to Jesus. I am not saying that I never have difficulties. I do. There are problems that come. I am learning to pray about problems. I am learning that Jesus gives me wisdom and strength to deal with them.

1: How do you feel about those who do not follow Christ?

2: I feel sad. Jesus said, "Wide is the way that leads to destruction and many are those who follow that way. Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life and few are those who find it."

1: What you have said is right. Those who keep remembering what Jesus has done for them and keep obeying His words are real Christians.

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My people, to follow Jesus, you must believe that He is God's only Son. You must believe that He died for your sins. You must believe that He arose from the dead and is alive today. Do not follow idols or give honor to (obey) evil spirits. Follow only the one true God. Jesus will help you. You cannot follow sin and at the same time follow Jesus. If you ask God, He will forgive you. You can talk to Him as you would talk to a friend and He will hear you. Pray to Him like this,

"O God, I am a sinner. But I believe in Jesus who died, suffering punishment for me. Please forgive me because of what Jesus has done. I want to obey You and follow you because You are my God. I want you to be my Father. Make me truly one of your children. Amen."

God will give a new heart to you who believe in Jesus. He will give His Holy Spirit to be with you and help you. If you have received Jesus you should daily listen to God and obey Him. You should pray to God every day. Tell Him all that concerns you and He will show you His way. Meet regularly with other followers of Jesus. The Holy Spirit will give you strength to do what is right. This is God's good way for you. Don't wait until tomorrow. It may be too late. Follow His way today.

My people, my friend and I and many others have decided to follow Jesus. What about you? If you want to follow Jesus or know more about him, you should talk now to a pastor or evangelist or someone you know is a Christian.