Fruit of the Spirit v. Works of the Flesh
A Courtroom Drama
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Looking for a fun way to teach the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5 to kids? This interactive courtroom skit brings the chapter to life! With personified characters like Love, Joy, Anger, and Jealousy, children will learn what it means to live by the Spirit, and not by selfish desires. Perfect for Sunday school, VBS, or home school Bible lessons. For ages 8-12.
Characters: Narrator, Judge Justice; Miss Grace (Spirit Lawyer); Mr. Lawley (Flesh Lawyer); Freedom; Witnesses: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control, Anger, Jealousy, Selfishness, Fighting, Envy; Bailiff; Grace Girl, Rule Boy
Children can wear labels or signs to show which character they
are playing (e.g., Love, Anger, Joy). They can read from scripts or memorize
their lines. The skit begins with a narrator standing in front of a classroom or
courtroom-style setup. To help the audience follow along, a child can hold up a
sign or placard to signal the start of each act (Act 1, Act 2, Act 3, Act 4).
Narrator: Welcome to the courtroom of Judge Justice! Today’s trial is all about what it means to live free in Jesus. Will we follow the Spirit and bear good fruit? Or go back to being ruled by selfishness and rules? Let’s find out!
ACT 1: Freedom in Christ
Judge Justice: Court is in session! We’re here to answer one big question: If Jesus set us free, why are people acting like they’re still chained to rules and selfishness?
Miss Grace (Spirit Lawyer): Exactly, Your Honor. Jesus gave us freedom—not to sin, but to love and serve each other!
Mr. Lawley (Flesh Lawyer): Objection! We need rules! Lots of rules! People can’t be trusted to do the right thing without a long list of dos and don’ts!
Freedom (walking in): Wait just a second! I’m Freedom—and I came from Jesus! I’m not about breaking rules. I’m about living by the Spirit!
Judge Justice: Hmm, let’s call some witnesses. Bailiff, bring Grace Girl in,
and then Rule Boy.
Bailiff: (to Grace Girl) Raise your right hand. Do you promise to
tell the whole truth?
Grace Girl: (raises hand) Oh yes, of course! Judge, I used to think I had to earn God's love. But when I believed in Jesus, He set me
free from that kind of wrong thinking! Now I want to love others because He loves me.
Bailiff: (exaggerate) Now you Rule Boy, step forward. Raise your
right hand. Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but
the truth?
Rule Boy: (raises left hand) Uh. . . uh . .
Bailiff: (sternly) Your right hand!
Rule Boy: (raises right hand) Oh yeah . . . sorry . . . I promise
to tell the truth! You see, Judge, it's like this, I try really hard to be good. But I mess
up. . . a lot! And then I feel like I’m not good enough for God.
Miss Grace: (kindly) Don't you see, that’s why Jesus came to Earth—to do what we couldn’t! When we walk with the Spirit, we grow good fruit from the inside out!
ACT 2: The Works of the Flesh
Mr. Lawley (smirking): Let’s talk real life, OK? People lie. They Fight. Get jealous. Party too hard. And think only of themselves!
Now I call my witnesses.
[Bailiff brings in Anger, Jealousy, Selfishness, Fighting, Envy one by one. Each gives a short
line. as they walk across the stage]
Anger: I explode when I don’t get my way!
Jealousy: Why should they have the spotlight? I deserve it!
Selfishness: Me first. Always!
Fighting: Arguments make me feel powerful!
Envy: If I can’t have it, then no one else should either!
Judge Justice: Whoa! This courtroom is getting out of control!
Mr. Lawley: Exactly! This is human nature. It’s real, it’s raw, it’s life!
Miss Grace: But it’s not the life Jesus wants for us! Let’s hear from the Fruit of the Spirit.
ACT 3: Fruit of the Spirit
[One by one, Bailiff makes way for the Fruit, as they enter cheerfully, each stepping
forward and saying their line]
Love: I care for others--no matter what.
Joy: Even when life is tough, I shine from within!
Peace: I calm storms, not cause them.
Patience: I wait without whining.
Kindness: I treat others with care and gentleness.
Goodness: I choose what's right--even when it’s hard.
Faithfulness: You can count on me.
Gentleness: I’m strength under control.
Self-Control: I don’t let my feelings boss me around.
Miss Grace: These are the fruit that grow when we let the Holy Spirit lead. No law can make them happen. It’s God at work in us!
ACT 4: The Verdict
Judge Justice: Ok, I’ve heard enough. Life without the Spirit leads to trouble and hurt. But life with the Spirit leads to love, peace, and purpose. I rule in favor of the Fruit!
[Fruit of the Spirit cheer. Flesh characters stomp off stage.]
Narrator: So remember, kids--Jesus didn’t set us free to do whatever we want. He set us free so we could become who we were made to be: filled with His Spirit and living to love
God and others!
All Together: (raise hands in praise) Let’s live by the Spirit!
This skit coordinates well with our
Fruit of the Spirit Bible lessons!
Provided by SundaySchoolNetwork.com
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