Sermon on the Mount by Frank Runyeon

SERMON ON THE MOUNT is 40 minutes long, followed by HOLLYWOOD vs. FAITH, also approximately 40 minutes. The evening is divided into two parts to reflect the tug of war that is at the heart of American life for so many families. We hear one story in church and then a very different story the minute we walk out the door, from the voices of the media. Each of these two major American storytellers is offering “beatitudes,” answers to life’s most basic questions: “Who are we created to be? Where is the real joy in life to be found?” Like the Jewish people in ancient Babylon, many American families need to step back and take an honest look at our lives, listen to our central Scriptures, and ask ourselves whose teachings are we actually following? What “beatitudes” do we, in fact, center our lives around?

The evening begins with a dramatization of the SERMON ON THE MOUNT, set in the early church community of Antioch. The Sermon involves gentle interaction with members of the audience, which adds both drama and humor.

The discussion of HOLLYWOOD vs. FAITH follows, addressing key issues facing families seeking to live a Christian life in the middle of the American media culture (with its emphases on shopping, good looks, winning, etc.) and amusing anecdotes. The evening concludes with a call for us to become more deeply a People of Light.

For more information on Frank Runyeon and his plays, please visit http://runyeonproductions.com/index.html