Sermon and Worship Resources

Synonyms: forgery, counterfeit, copy, sham, fraud, hoax, imitation, mock-up, dummy, reproduction, lookalike, likeness, charlatan, quack, mountebank, humbug, impostor, pretender, masquerader, hoodwinker, hoaxer, cheat, cheater, deceiver, dissembler, trickster, confidence trickster, fraudster, forged, fraudulent, false, bogus, spurious, pseudo, artificial, synthetic, simulated, replica, ersatz, plastic, man-made, mock, so-called, feigned, faked, put-on, assumed, improvised, invented, affected, insincere, unconvincing, forge, falsify, feign, mock up, reproduce, replicate, pretend, simulate, put on, make-believe, affect

Antonyms: genuine, authentic, true, real, sincere, honest, actual, legitimate, veritable, natural, heartfelt, candid, bona fide, frank, truthful, unfeigned, straightforward, unaffected, valid, factual, original, open, literal, artless, pure, proper

Showing 1 to 25 of 414 results

1. The Greatest News Of All

Luke 2:1-7

Drama

Lois Anne DeLong

... Wife enters from left. She is instantly suspicious of the Reporter.) Innkeeper’s Wife: Who are you? And why are you asking about the baby? Ace: I’m a reporter. I’ve heard a lot of wild stories tonight and I’m just trying to get the lowdown on this so-called miracle baby. Maid: You’re with the press? Oh, dear. With my hair such a mess and in these clothes. Ace: Don’t worry. I didn’t bring my camera. Innkeeper’s Wife: I take it you don’t believe in miracles. You’re just too smart for all ...

2. Luther of Wittenberg

Drama

Michael L. Sherer

... start to dig into what Scripture really says and understand it for themselves. In a way, I shudder to think what may happen when our church folk learn how terribly they’ve been deceived by those who told them to leave Bible interpretation to the so-called experts. I hear good things about your practice of the law. Keep on with it. Christ needs good lawyers, just as he needs one or two loud troublemakers like your good friend - Martin Luther. PROTAGONIST: That must have been a real earthquake in the church ...

3. My God, My God, ... Why?

Mark 15:33-41

Drama

... Look, I just follow orders. And it’s not unusual to rough prisoners up a little or make sport of them. Sometimes they deserve it, believe me. With Jesus, however, it was more than that ... like revenge, if you know my meaning. (Clenches fist, intensely) This so-called "King of Judea" made a perfect target for us to get even with Palestine. (Then lightens up) (Moves to middle stage) But what was amazing was not just that this man survived the beating, and all the humiliation that went with it, but it was ...

4. What God Requires of Us

Drama

Curt M. Joseph

... reason that we are. Insulted by this phony Messiah! Caiaphas: Messiah! You mean he claims to be the Messiah? Aaron: Yes, indeed! And he has quite a large following. Obed: Yes, and he and his followers have done a good job laying the ground work. Fake healings, so-called miraculous feedings of large numbers of people. He has even gone so far as to claim that he has raised people from the dead. Aaron: He claims to be the Son of man. You know, the Messianic title that the prophet Daniel talked of. The only ...

5. A Christmas Program

Luke 2:21-40

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... -Jesus story had a strong opinion about a certain rumor that a new king of the Jews had been born. Let’s listen in. Herod’s Monologue: I trust my presence here requires no introduction! I am, after all, the king of Judea! I’ve been hearing rumors about some so-called king to have been born in Bethlehem, of all places. I know I may be paranoid, and it’s really foolish for me to give this matter any more thought. It could be a trap. Yeah, that’s it, a trap. They’re trying to distract me with all ...

6. Coming on the Clouds of Glory

Matthew 26:47-56

Drama

Joe Barone

... s a risen Savior if people aren't willing to die for him every day and every day. I've dealt with a lot of so-called messiahs, and after a while, all their followers just fall away. Oh, they may still say they follow them. They may still use the ... that I was right. Your Jesus, your Jesus was just another pretender, just another would-be-messiah from whom all his so-called faithful followers will fall away. According to the scripture, Caiaphas continued to persecute Christians after the death of Jesus. Acts ...

7. Humility

Luke 3:1-20, Isaiah 40:1-31

Drama

Martha L. Leach

... baptized. The "dipping" in the river is to remind them they are cleansed their sins are washed away. Moses: But some you turned away. I could not hear every word, but you sounded angry. John: Oh! Those were some of the Pharisees and Sadducees, our so-called religious leaders. They know about repentance and forgiveness, and they, too, look for the "One who comes to save the world." But I cannot baptize them. They are self-righteous their repentance is only on the surface. They need to feel remorse for their ...

8. King of Atlanta

Romans 8:28-39

Drama

Michael L. Sherer

... . Three-hundred and eighty-one days after the protest began, four black ministers, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., climbed on a city bus near the front door of King’s home and sat down in seats at the front, in what was once the so-called "white section." The bus driver reportedly welcomed them on board with a smile and warm greeting. Possibly the presence of television cameras at curbside had something to do with that. Several days earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a three-judge U.S. District ...

9. Hail! Your King!

Mark 15:1-15

Drama

... pay their taxes. That’s it. Every province in the Empire has its various gods and priests and philosophers, and we Romans govern them all with justice and order. The problem with this province is the fanaticism of the religion, especially their so-called prophetic hopes for a Christ - a Jewish Savior who will rescue them and be an invisible king. HA! Well, whenever these christs pop up they are clearly nothing more than lawless thieves, terrorists or violent egomaniacs. Procurators from the time of Herod ...

10. Herod and Jesus

Drama

Jon Joyce

... it. JESUS: My time has come. There is nothing to say. HEROD: You’d better believe your time has come, if you don’t start cooperating with me. [A thoughtful pause] I have been wanting to meet you. I’ve heard a good deal about your ... your travels and so-called miracles. JESUS: What you have heard is true. HEROD: [With a crafty smile] That you claim to be the Son of God? JESUS: I am who I am. HEROD: [Infuriated] That’s no answer! JESUS: I, too, have been wanting to meet you, King Herod. You had one ...

11. True And False Prophecy

Mark 14:27-31

Drama

... the Romans keep the peace with justice, and we will keep the faith with proper zeal and patience. Let the Romans have control, and we will preserve our identity. Consistency is important. We must not let the zealots, the rowdies, the troublemakers or the so-called messianists destroy what we have sought so hard and so carefully to preserve; in order that future generations may know God’s unchanging Law. PETER: Brothers and sisters! Fellow Jews! And all of you who fear God: I am Simon Bar-Jona, or "Peter ...

12. Herod

Matthew 2:1-12

Drama

Dale Bringman

... the Qumran wilderness, crossing the Jordan River at the ford just above the Dead Sea. They left without reporting to me. Those astrologers had tricked me, and I was furious. No one could get away with disobeying my orders. I would put an end to their so-called king. Instantly, I decreed that all male children under two years of age in the region of Bethlehem should be slain. Life was cheap. Many children died in infancy anyway. There were only about two dozen boy babies under two years of age in that town ...

13. Bloody Hands, Troubled Soul

Mark 14:12-26

Drama

... ." Here he was, within a few hours of betrayal, arrest, torture, trial; knowing that his useless disciples would desert and scatter, still speaking about God’s rule, God’s new promise, still teaching about God’s forgiveness and new life. Breaking bread with his so-called apostles, giving us himself really, putting his life into our hands: "Here, this is my body and blood." We sang a hymn and went out into the night. Jesus was distressed and anguished. He was not afraid of letting us know that. I know ...

14. When Israel Sang the Blues

Mark 13:1-31

Drama

Arley K. Fadness

... words of my groaning?” Scene 2: Defeated And In Exile —Longing For Hope (Stagehand carries sign, “Approximately 714 years later — 586 BCE in Babylon.”) Geezer: Here we are in Babylon, Abab, like prisoners with no walls — feels like jail. Abab: Yes, this so-called exile is no fun. Geezer: First the Assyrians took over Israel, the northern kingdom — let’s see when was that? Abab: 722 BCE, Geezer. Geezer: One hundred thirty-six years ago. We thought we were safe here in Judah and in the holy ...

15. Doubters All, Part II

John 13:31-38

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... God. GERRIE: "Many roads thou hast fashioned; all of them lead to the light." TOMMIE: Who said that? GERRIE: Kipling. TOMMIE: Rudyard Kipling? Well, he was mistaken. Eloquent but mistaken. All roads don't lead to the light. Tribal religions have many so-called "gods." Hinduism is pantheistic. Buddhism is atheistic. Islam is unitarian. And Judaism is still seeking their Messiah. Many "roads" but obviously not leading to the same God. GERRIE: But they all claim to be true. TOMMIE: Right. Therefore they can't ...

16. Innocent of the Blood of Jesus

Matthew 27:1-10

Drama

Joe Barone

... go to all the world and to baptize in the name of "the Father, Son and Holy Spirit," whatever that means, and whatever it means, some of them are trying to do it. This Jesus just keeps coming back. Oh, I don't believe in him any more than many so-called Christians do, but I have to think it would have been better for me to have condemned him than to have stepped aside. There are some things on which you have to take a stand. Like I said before: I'd rather be in hell for something I did than ...

17. Stand Up for Jesus

John 2:12-25

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

... everywhere. The people believe he is a prophet. They worship him. This is the ultimate slap in the face for those of us who are priests. We are the ones who must protect the purity of worship. We just can't let any crowd-pleaser mouth a few words of so-called wisdom and quote a few scriptures and then expect people to worship him. And you are the only people who can stop it. We priests can't do it alone. We can't do it all. You people have to help. You people have to wake up and take a ...

18. That Heavenly Call

Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-38

Drama

Karren Boehr

Theme: Mary and Joseph -- Accepting God's Call This four-part drama may be presented as a unit or as individual scenes. Written to portray Mary and Joseph's calling as very personal and self-sacrificing, this wonderful story is placed in a setting to which a modern congregation can relate. This series may be utilized as a preparation for Christmas: one segment per Sunday during Advent, or sprinkled throughout the year and culminating near the holiday season. Scene I: Luke 1:26-33 Setting: Modern Nazareth ...

19. The Compelling Call

Drama

Karren Boehr

Theme: Paul: Apostle To The Early Church This set of four scenes is especially suitable to accompany a series of sermons or studies on the early church. The scenes carefully follow the scripture text while making the struggles of the early church, and particularly those of the apostle Paul, come alive. This drama is very useful for teaching profound Biblical truths, as God's plan for his church powerfully unfolds. These scenes can easily be produced on consecutive Sundays or used individually as stand- ...

20. Many Are Called

Matthew 22:1-14

Drama

Robert F. Crowley

Theme: How does God feel about those who reject His Son? Summary: A mother and father are wondering what to do because they planned a birthday party for their daughter and the children that were invited didn't come. A parable. Playing Time: 3 minutes Setting: Sheila and Ron's home Props: None Costumes: Contemporary, casual Time: The present Cast: Sheila -- mother of birthday girl Ron -- her husband Madge -- their next door neighbor MADGE: (HOLDING THE PHONE BUT TALKING TO SHEILA) Another busy signal. ...

21. The Call of the Disciples - James, A Fisher of Men

Matthew 4:23-25, Matthew 4:18-22, Matthew 4:12-17

Drama

Thomas Blowers

A Dramatic Monologue My name is James and I was one of the twelve selected by Jesus to follow him. I still remember the first time I saw him. I looked down the shore of the lake down to where Simon and Andrew were fishing and I saw a stranger approach. Usually Dad, my younger brother, and I were first to reach the shore of the lake to begin a day of fishing, but for some reason that morning Simon and Andrew had a head start. So while we were still mending our nets, they were already off shore casting for ...

22. Monologue: A Slave, A Jailer, A Child Of God

Acts 16:16-40

Drama

Robert F. Scott

We have only a bare-bones mention of the Philippian jailer. He received Paul and Silas, beaten and bleeding; he fastened them in the painful stocks; after his conversion, he personally dressed their wounds and then fed them at his own table. What other changes grew from the jailer's new Christian faith? Let us attempt to stretch some living flesh over those bare bones. Call me Quintus, but my name doesn't matter. Most people just see me as a slave, a piece of the house furniture, nothing more. My master is ...

23. Called To Freedom

Galatians 5:1-15

Drama

Jerry Eckert

Comment: Several times over the years, I preached a series of sermons out of the letter to the Galatians. Having tried a number of other dramatic techniques, I decided to have a phone conversation between Paul and Barnabas. I prepared a script and got two phones, one for me (Barnabas is one of the great saints of the New Testament and I played him) and one for a church member who played Paul. In succeeding weeks, I went further, having a four-way phone consultation including a representative of the ...

24. Monologue: The Other Shepherd Speaks

Luke 2:8-20

Drama

Robert F. Scott

The shepherds came to the manger, actors who play one brief scene and then vanish. Luke tells us they returned, "glorifying and praising God for all they had seen and heard, as it had been told them." Beyond that, we know nothing of their later lives. Yet does any person meet the living Christ and remain unchanged? Aye, they said we missed it. "Vie missed it," they said, and they were right. We were out in the fields, five of us, with the sheep, and it was a chilly night. I had the early watch; the sheep ...

25. Monologue: Silent Silas

Acts 15:22-35

Drama

Robert F. Scott

There was a man named Silas. We read of him in Acts and in several of the Epistles. Yet in the whole of the New Testament there is not one word from Silas himself: not a word that he said, not a scrap of a letter in his own name. Was he silent? We know he was not. He was a prophet for Christ; he exhorted, taught, preached, prayed, and sang. Of all that Silas said, what was it and what was it worth? The First Epistle of Peter was written by the hand of Silas. If we were to ask Peter, what might he say? ...

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