People in Indonesia enjoy storytelling. They are comfortable with discussions that are not directly about them, and more open to mystery. While this gentle approach might frustrate many Westerners who just want to get to the exact meaning, Indonesians prefer to figure it out as they go along. People from a Muslim background are often intrigued by wisdom. So, the story of the “Wise and Foolish Builder” attracts them in.
To help people connect with the Bible, The Visible Story uses four of Jesus’ parables, together with illustrations that show everyday things: farming, seeds, houses, nature, servants, money, etc. The process helps people picture themselves in the story because of the familiar situations.
The Four Parables
- The Wise and Foolish Builders – Matthew 7
- The Lost Son – Luke 15
- The Unforgiving Servant – Matthew 18 (People in village areas relate strongly with this story, as the absence of modern-day banks means people are always borrowing from one-another – and can be thrown into jail even today!)
- The Farmer and the seed – otherwise known as “Parable of Sower” – Luke 8
This programme reaches people of largely non-literate farming communities through the loving friendship of a local mission worker who is skilled to share the Bible’s life words in an engaging way. Not only will people physically see the story with their eyes, they will see the story in the life of the worker, and even see how they themselves fit into God’s story. They will be part of The Visible Story.
