Lesson 17

Writing as Spoken Word; Reading and Performing Scripture

Scripture, and works of original writing, can be presented to an audience in ways that can help open peoples ears.
Written/Spoken Word Performance
Performance types:
1.
Spoken Word Poetry
2.
Scripture Reading/Spoken Word Performance
3.
Dramatic Performance
4. Song
5. Screenwriting/Film
6. Storytelling
Some differences between hearing spoken word performed and reading poetry from the page:
1.
Tone, pacing and emphasis are all controlled by the voice of the reader. While you can rely on traditional poetry structures to control the flow through the poem, much of how the words will be perceived is
based upon how the poet delivers the poem.
2.
Your connection to the audience matters. Making eye contact and getting a feel for the room
is important if youre to gauge how your performance is impacting your listeners. You may change your
pacing and your emphasis at key points depending on your audience. The same poem read for different
audiences may be read in a completely different way.
3.
Meter and word choice are more important, because youre relying on the words to build up
a specific rhythm, cadence and feeling as you perform the piece. Be careful you dont build yourself a
tongue-twister in your poemunless thats your intent and you can practice the tongue-twister until you
can flawlessly perform it every time.
4.
How a poem looks on the page is less important than how it sounds when its performed. Sometimes poetry in books uses specific visual structuresfor example starting with short lines, building to
longer lines as the poem goes along, to visually build to a crescendo. In performed poetry, you may also
want to vary line lengths and the number of syllables in words being used, but its usually done to speed
up or slow down the pacing at key points in the reading.
5.
Other senses can be drawn in to the performance, to add to the mood of the work. Using music,
lighting, scenery, costume or incenseall could be used to change the feel of the room as the poet reads.

Lesson 17

Writing as Spoken Word; Reading and Performing Scripture

Integrating Scripture with Reading/Spoken Word Performance

Read Matthew 26:36-50. This is the text we will use to demonstrate one method of using Scripture in performance/presentation.
When Writing Your Own Supporting Material Around Scripture
Some options to choose from or consider, if youre writing your own supporting material to surround a certain passage of scripture:

Scene or setting; description Anchor your listener in the scene playing out before them.

The experience of a third-party observer What does this mean to a bystander witnessing this event
during their own lifetime? What emotions are they experiencing? What surprises them?

The perspective of a participant Choose a character who is personally involved in the action, and
write the supporting text from their perspective. This may just be perching the camera on that persons shoulder. Or, it may be text written looking through that persons eyes.

The action playing out What is the main action you see from your third-party perspective? Whats
happening on the fringes? Based upon the historical setting, what does this action mean in the larger
cultural context?

Theological discourse What is the spiritual significance of this part of Gods larger story? What does
this passage mean to your audience theologically?

Some Questions to Consider as you Write:

1. Where does this take place? Whats the scene?
2. What sensory input would be experienced by those observing this scene first hand?
3. What do we know of the historical background behind whats happening here?
4. Is there a special significance behind the location of the scene?
5. As the action unfolds, what does it look like? What does it sound like?
6. What emotions can you see playing out in front of you as you read this?
7. Study the interaction between the people described in these passages. What do you see?
8. With regard to all of the abovescenery, senses, history, significance, action, emotions, interaction
what do you see and experience that enhances your connection to this passage of scripture?

Lesson 17

Writing as Spoken Word; Reading and Performing Scripture

Example: Evening in the Garden (Performed on Good Friday)

Written by Travis and Kathy Nelson 2013
Matthew 26:36-50
Night had fallen. The green-sweet scent of new olives drifted in the darkened shadows of the grove. The textured,
twisted bark of the olive trees looked almost black in the moonlight, but the silvered leaves and the ochre dust of
the path reflected light in a luminescent haze. Shadow pooled between the trees, coalescing in places of deeper
darkness where the branches twined to block the light of the moon. Dancing firelight flowed and flickered, streaming out from the stone ring around which the disciples sat.
Matthew 26:36-38 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, Sit here
while I go over there and pray. He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be
sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here
and keep watch with me.
Peter, James and John followed the rabbi away from the light and warmth of the fire into the thicker darkness under the trees. As night deepened, the sounds of nearby Jerusalem quieted. Jesus led them, his furrowed brow and
the anguished lines of his face visible whenever a stray flicker of moonlight crossed their path. The disciples soon
found a place to sit, backs resting against the twisted bole of an ancient tree, waiting and watching as Jesus bade
them, pulling cloaks tight around themselves to ward off the cooling night air. The day had been long and it felt
good to sit and rest, though their concern for the rabbi warred with their exhaustion. Jesus walked further on to a
clearing, near the groves center, where he began to pray.
Matthew 26:39-41 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, My Father, if it is possible,
may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. Couldnt you men keep watch with me for one hour? he
asked Peter. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Peter shook his head and rubbed at his eyes, trying to clear the sleep from them. He shifted against the tree trunk,
angry with himself for failing to accomplish his teachers simple request. He pushed his back against the gnarled
wood, hoping the pressure of the uneven trunk pressing into his spine would help to keep him from drifting off
again and watched as the rabbi, his shoulders taught with tension as though the weight of the world pressed down
upon him, walked once more out into the clearing to pray.
Matthew 26:42-46 He went away a second time and prayed, My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken
away unless I drink it, may your will be done.
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away
once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and
the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!
Peter, James and John leapt to their feet. In the distance, torches shone, their bearers weaving through the trees
of the grove, snaking their way toward the clearing where Jesus waited calmly, his chin lifted as if in challenge. The
other disciples, their own torches lit from the remains of their small campfire, rushed to the rabbi, clustering around
him in an agitated mob as a crowd of armed men with Judas in their midst, stepped from the trees on the far side
of the grove and in to the clearing.
Matthew 26:47-50 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed
with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a
signal with them: The one I kiss is the man; arrest him. Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, Greetings, Rabbi! and
kissed him.
Jesus replied, Do what you came for, friend.
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.

Lesson 17

Writing as Spoken Word; Reading and Performing Scripture

Your Assignment:
1. First, pray, asking God to help you choose the scripture passage for this assignment.
2. Find a Bible passage that speaks to you, either in the Old or the New Testament. Read it thoroughly. If
there are multiple versions of this story recorded in other books of the Bible, read those as well. Try to
get a sense of the event being shown.
3. Do some searches, online or in history books, for the context of what is happening in your passage.
If any buildings, or people, or places or environments are included, try to dig up sensory information
about how things would have felt, smelled, sounded, etc. Take notes.
4. Once youve internalized the passage and the details surrounding it, write a few brief pieces of text
arranged around that scripture passage. Pay specific attention to giving your audience a sense of place,
or use a couple of suggestions from the section When Writing Your Own Supporting Material Around
Scripture (in this handout, page 2).
5. Think of some visual or verbal cues that could distinguish which sections are scripture, and which
sections are your own words. In Travis and Kathys example, Travis reads the supporting material, and
Kathy reads scripture. What other methods could be used to let your audience differentiate between
Gods Word and your own words? (Examples: pausing; holding up the Bible so its visible when reading
scripture; standing in a different position or location; reading each in a different volume or tempo; etc.)
6. When youre ready, record yourself on camera reading the scripture and the material youve written.
7. Finally, upload the video of your performance in Step 6 of your lesson.
If you do not have the technical capability to upload a video, then upload an audio recording of your reading.
If you cant upload video or audio, then upload the text youve written.
As You Do the Assignment Some Guidelines for Performance:

Be sure youre in prayer as you create your work and before you perform it.

Performance is about connecting to an audience through story, so your storytelling is very important.

As you create the text for a performance piece, working on things important to fiction is useful:
dialogue, description, action, plot, pacing, etc.-- all become important when youre trying to tell a story
through performance.

As you create your work, make sure to read it aloud. Though your content is important, how it sounds
is almost as important. If your words dont hold your audiences interest, your message will be less likely
to reach them.

Pacing Slower is better. Dont rush your words, even when youre trying to read with emphasis. If your
audience cant understand what youre saying, your message will fail to reach them.