Gospel Routine for Colour Change Records
by Paul Morley

Effect:
Three black records are shown and can also be handed out to be examined. One by one they are placed into a sleeve. ( A sleeve is provide with the trick or one that is made up out of newspaper.) A red silk is placed through the hole of the middle of the sleeve and through the record. The record is pulled out and it shows that the black record has been changed into a red record. A blue silk is then pushed in and pulled out and it changes to a blue record. The same thing with the yellow silk. The sleeve is then pulled open or ripped and it is seen to be completely empty.

Patter and working:
Jesus was the original record breaker! As you can see with these records, there were three major records that Jesus broke. He broke a record in His birth. Never before or since has there been anyone born of a virgin without the aid of a man.

His life broke all records. He did and said things that have never been equalled in any way since. With His death He broke all records. It was mainly because He broke hold of death and sin. Even though Jesus ahs done those things, many people who have not been too happy with Him. They hated Jesus so much that they crucified Him. They nailed Him to a cross, put thorns on His head and shoved a spear into His side, just to make sure that He was dead. Then they put Him in a
borrowed tomb.

Wherever Jesus went in His life, He caused people to react - either for Him or against. Like in His death, people were separated in to different camps. These three records not represent the records Jesus broke, but they also represent the three types of people that were at that first Easter period. (At this point with the children you can ask them who was around at the first Easter. You will get answers such as Roman soldiers, the disciples, the Pharisees and religious leaders.)

One group of people were the roman soldiers. On that very first Easter, big things happened. Imagine being a roman soldier with suddenly the ground shaking and the stone rolling back! The Jesus that you crucified and killed you then saw walking out of the tomb! The body that was dead , that you had been sent to guard was now alive!

Or there were the religious leaders — a Pharisee or a Sadducee. The Sadducee's were the people who did not believe in a resurrection and that is why they were sad - you - see! ( Ha Ha) Imagine how they felt having their theories disapproved. Or you could think about the third group which was His disciples. They had followed Jesus for so long, but only to have them betray Him and another one deny Him.

They saw their leader and hero die, They were not around , but now they hear He is alive! I Wonder what their reaction was? (At this point take the three records and place them one at a time into the sleeve. Restating who they were - roman soldiers, Sadducees and disciples.) All these at one stage went to the tomb to see for themselves. You can imagine how the roman soldiers felt.  (take hold of the red silk and hold it up) They must have felt really red with anger that someone had shown up the might of Rome with all its power, then really brought it down to nothing in a flash! Somebody who was dead had now gone! They must have been really mad! (Take hold of the red silk and put it through the hole. Then go back to the top of the folder and lift our the red record.) They were red through and through. Their lives had changed and they were not going to be the same again. (Drop the record and the silk into your box.)

The next group were the Sadducees and Pharisees. They went down to the tomb when they heard that Jesus had risen from the dead. They found the tomb to be empty, but their reaction was completely different, they were sad. (Take the blue silk and show it around.) They thought their theories and ideas had all been proved , but now Jesus had disproved them all through His Resurrection. They went to check it our for themselves. (Put the blue silk though the hole in the centre and then put your hand to the top of the folder and lift out the blue record. Show it around on both sides.) Life for them was not going to be the same again! (Drop the record into your box.)

The there is the disciples, not just the first disciples because since then millions of people have found that Jesus is alive and He still changes peoples lives. Just like this yellow silk they have radiated joy because of the resurrection power of Jesus. They went to the tomb, some of them went not sure what to expect. When they looked in, they found He was not there. An angel spoke to the and said, ‘Don’t look for the living amongst the dead.’

As they came away their lives were changed. ( Lift out the yellow record and show it around. Then drop it into your box. At the same time keep the folder in your hand.) All of them had a reaction to Jesus’ resurrection and so will you. (Rip open the frame to show that nothing is there.)

Jesus is alive forever. He alone has the power to forgive yoursins and change your life with His resurrection power. Today, experience the joy of knowing the life of Jesus Christ.

Comment:
The content for this routine can be varies depending on the time of year. It can be done at Christmas with the reaction of Herod, the religious people and the Shepherds. It can be done to show a change with peoples reaction when they hear about the Good news of Jesus Christ. The colour change of the records can be used to signify whatever change that you wish to illustrate. This is a Gospel visual effect that I have used with great success many times. It certainly carries a ‘big punch’ at the end.

I prefer to make up a folder of my own, using the size of the record frame as a guide. I make it up out of newspaper. Just use your imagination. Once the frame is ripped apart, the impact is dynamic.

This is a trick which requires a little practice with handling. Once you have done it you will not only have fun but have a good sermon and visual aid.

The records can be made to last longer and stay clean by covering them in clear 'Fablon' before use.  It makes them slightly thicker but does not impair the handling.

This effect is sometimes available from Mission Magic

http://www.missionmagic.co.uk