BACK YEAST 4'2m0f The parable of the yeast ED -- And now, sit down, put your feet up, relax and listen to another edition of... Parables on Parade. Tonight's parable comes from Matthew chapter 13 beginning at verse 33. He told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough." (door opens) FRED -- (shouts afar) Right in here with that, fellas. ED -- Of course, you will explain why you're bringing a bath tub into the studio. FRED -- (afar) Set her right down there, guys. Good. And the bags... Stack the bags right here next to the tub. And you can leave the canoe paddle in the tub. ED -- Excuse me? FRED -- (near) Did you say something? ED -- You were about to explain why you brought a bath tub into the studio. FRED -- (chuckles) Well, I thought that was obvious. I will be duplicating the making of bread dough as described in the parable. ED -- And to do that you'll need a bath tub, a canoe paddle and ten bags of cement. FRED -- Pfff. You don't even know the difference between cement and flour. ED -- Don't tell me. You're going to mix a batch of bread dough the size of a bath tub? FRED -- Exactimua, misyour. First, we dump the ten bags of flour into the bath tub. (paper tears) One, (paper tears) two, (paper tears) three, (paper tears) four, (paper tears) five (cough), (paper tears) six (cough), (paper tears) seven (cough, cough), (paper tears) eight (cough, (paper tears) cough, cough)... where was I? ED -- You were about to create a first stage air pollution alert. FRED -- Your glib comments have fallen on deaf ears. We continue. (paper tears) Nine (cough), (paper tears) Ten (cough, cough). Ten 25-pound bags of flour into the tub. And now we add a few gallons of water with this fire hose. ED -- Did you know that turning the fire hose on sets off the... (woosh, buzzzz) ...alarm? FRED -- Take care of that will you? ED -- Sure, why not? (click, alarm stops) FRED -- I know what you're going to say. You going to say that I should have rehearsed this demonstration so that our listeners wouldn't have to put up with that ear-splitting fire alarm. ED -- That about sums up my sentiments. FRED -- Tish tosh, my friend. Creativity waits for no man. (sloshing) Now, I mix the flour and water with the canoe paddle until we... achieve... a... pliable... dough. And now we are ready for the yeast. ED -- Ah, before you add the yeast, I'd like to remind you that the parable calls for a SMALL amount of yeast. Don't you think a 50-pound bag is a little much? FRED -- Is this the same man who didn't know cement from flour? Listen, my friend, if a little yeast is good than a lot should be a lot better. (sloshing) So, we add the bag of yeast to our bathtub full of dough and mix it... all... through... the... dough... as... the... parable... describes. ED -- And just what are you hoping to prove with this demonstration? FRED -- I haven't the foggiest idea. ED -- You mean you got flour all over the furniture and sound equipment and water all over the floor and you don't know why you're doing it? FRED -- Well, I can't think of everything. Why don't you tell our listeners what this parable means, while I mix... the... yeast... all... through... the... dough. ED -- Well, usually in the Bible yeast is a symbol of evil. But in this case, because Jesus was comparison yeast to the kingdom of God, yeast must have some other meaning. (sloshing stops) FRED -- Well, the yeast is now thoroughly mixed through the dough. ED -- In that case, I'll just step outside the studio. (door open, close) FRED -- (afar) Where are you going? The dough is just beginning to rise. ED -- I prefer to watch through the window in the door. FRED -- (afar) Oh, dear, the dough is overflowing the tub. ED -- Perhaps the parable has something to do with growth or expansion within the kingdom of God, such as starting with something small and growing to something very large and important. FRED -- (afar) Can you get me a wheelbarrow and a shovel? ED -- Tune in next time for another edition of... FRED -- (afar) Hurry up, the dough is filling up the room. ED -- Parables on Parade. FRED -- (afar) I can't open the door, get me out of here! ©2013 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.bobsnook.org email: [email protected] BACK |