1. Welcome to Sermon Illustration in Buddhist Perspectives Workshop
Holiness Writer’s Conference
Asia Pacific Region

2. Introduction (Only if we have time)
Kindly introduce yourself
Name: Calling name
Family Background
Home City/ Country
Ministry (if you are a full time minister)
Example:
I am Pastor Jubilee. I am a married man and have two Sons. I live in Yangon. I am a pastor, an evangelist and a professor. I love preaching and writing.

3. Group Activity: Buddhist’s Identity
In your group, please discuss these questions:
What is the relationship of Buddhist people to nature?
What do they believe about life?
Why do they build so many religious buildings and doing many charitable works?

4. Quick Buzz: What is a parable?
A parable can be a simple short story or fact about everyday objects and experiences that teach a moral or spiritual lesson.
Why do we need illustration for holiness sermon?
Psalm 78:2 “I will open my mouth with a parables; I will utter hidden things, things from old.”
Story or word picture help the listener to understand and remember longer

5. Biblical Principal
Did Jesus ever illustrate in his teaching and preaching?
Almost 35% of Jesus’ words in the Gospels are illustrations that included a story, parable, word picture, allegory, simile or metaphor.
There are 51 different stories and parables in the Gospels

6. Biblical Principal Paul’s Illustration for Pagan World- Acts 17:22-31
An Unknown God – Jesus Christ, the Creator
‘We are his offspring’- Children of God
What can we find in Buddhist Perspectives that can be used to illustrate the Gospel?

7. Buddhist Theological Concept
Buddhist Perspectives
Biblical/ Christian Perspective
Three Jewelry: God, Word, & Monk
Trinity: God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
Gratitude: paying back for what we receive by honoring, tending, respecting, bowing down
Grace: God has given us his own son for all human kinds, we can pay back by worshiping, honoring, living for Him
Karma: eternal debt as a result of life circles in the past (wut chui)
Sin: result of Adam’s sin in the past
Karma Exit: free from eternal debt, reaching to nirvana (heaven)
Salvation: eligible to enter into eternity (heaven)
Merit: erasing eternal debt/ karma by doing good to all
Atonement: Jesus’ payment for human sin
Mitta: endless kindness and mercy to all living beings and things
Agape: selfless love to all
Karuh-na: doing something for the one who needs help
Compassion: a heart with action for needy people
Muhdita: good wish/ will to all
Discernment: thoughtful for others, be cheerful

8. Use of Illustrations by Jesus and Buddha
Told 51 stories within 3.5 years
Told 547 stories within 40 years
Proactive for telling stories
Inactive for telling stories
Use common words from everyday life
Use stanzas or poems that need further explanation
Not judge the listeners, but want to know their deep desire (John 5:5-6)
Judge the present life as the cause of the past
Use word pictures
Use animal stories
Honor the Father by telling stories
Exalt himself by telling his past life stories
Tell human relational focus stories
Tell human, animal, angels, and plants
Modify illustration depending on circumstances of the listeners
Repeat the same stories for different people
Use objects and stories in the context
Use same context for 100 stories
Tangible and Realistic Illustrations
Mystical and Unrealistic Illusions

9. Paul’s Wisdom for the Gospel
1Cor. 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

10. Practical: Holiness Theme
Bible Reference
Bible References
Holiness
2Pet. 1:21
Self-Discipline
1Pet.1:13; 2Pet. 1:5-8
Faithfulness
Num.12:7; 2Tim.2:13
Diligence
Deut. 28:1; Prov.21:5
Loving God
Deut.6:5
Purity
Ps. 51:10
Loving Family
1Tim.3:4; Eph.5:33
Optimism
Ps. 27:13-14
Loving Others
Luk.10:27;
Enthusiasm
Eph. 6:6-8
Forgiveness
Matt.6:15; Heb.8:12
Compassion
Mk. 6:34; Eph. 4:32
Patience
2Pet. 3:9,15
Persistence
Luke 18:1-8
Joy
Phil.4:4
Alertness
Mark 13:33
Contentment
Prov. 19:23; Phi
Discernment
1Kig.3:5-14; Prov.18:15
Humbleness
Eph.4:2-3; Luk.14:11
Obedience
Joh. 14:15; Acts 5:29
Honesty
Prov. 12:17,19
Generosity
2Cor. 9:10-11

11. Guide: Practical Writing
Study the teaching of Buddha
You may find some stories told by Buddha that enlighten the biblical holiness teaching
Study the Buddhist’s festival events
You may find some values of the celebration that reflect the biblical holiness teaching
Study contemporary Buddhist’s books
You may find some phrases and new stories that reflect the biblical holiness teaching

12. Language Group Group into your language group Choose a leader
Each group will have discussion, sharing and writing the Illustrations in the worksheet