Present the Gospel: Two ways to treat a sinner
Matthew 18.15-20
A mime for 5 or more people
This reading is less about church discipline and more about a good pastoral approach and healthy community relationships (see Bible notes), within the overarching message of Jesus’ radical inclusion emphasised by most of Matthew’s Gospel.
Use the mime below to accompany the reading of the passage. It presents the reading twice, to emphasise this understanding. You will need: a sinner, a leader, some friends, and one other person who has a brief speaking part.
Gathered groups: keep 2M apart.
Mime script
The ‘sinner’ sits on the floor looking sad and lonely. The leader comes and stands over him/her, points an accusing finger, then displays a large card, made to look like a tablet of stone with ‘10 commandments’ written on it.
The sinner looks up, pleadingly, miming asking for forgiveness. But the leader is having none of it and refuses to listen to the sinner.
The leader beckons some friends over, points at the sinner and at the card, and ‘talks’ to his friends. They all stand over the sinner, nodding their heads.
The leader turns to the congregation, then points at the sinner and at the card. The leader and friends forcefully turn their backs to the sinner.
By now the reader should be at verse 18. The reading is suddenly interrupted by someone who waves their arms and shouts: ‘No! Stop! You’ve got it all wrong!’ The action and the reading stop.
After a few moments of silence, start the reading and the mime over again. Except, this time, the leader comes and sits beside the sinner and they start ‘talking’. The leader nods to show they are listening carefully.
The leader’s friends walk by, and the leader beckons them. They come and all sit down in a semicircle. They too listen to the sinner. Someone gives the sinner a leaflet. They are clearly friendly towards the sinner.
As verse 18 is read, the leader and friends shake hands with, or give ‘high fives’ to, the sinner, and all stand and slowly walk away waving goodbye.