New Life Equipping Class ISLAM & THE GOSPEL

New Life Equipping Class ISLAM & THE GOSPEL

Islam in America: A Biblical Response For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. - 2 Timothy 1:7

Islam in America: A Common Response FEAR

Islam in America: A Biblical Response Fear is unhealthy because: It cripples us It keeps us from trusting God It leads to anger and hatred So then, how should we respond?

Islam in America: A Biblical Response We must repent of our fear and ask God for COMPASSION toward Muslims. Fear builds walls, but compassion builds bridges. Fear leads us to despise Muslims, but compassion will lead us to pray for and reach out to Muslims.

Islam in America: A Biblical Response We must repent of our fear and ask God for COMPASSION toward Muslims For God so loved the world [including Muslims!] that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. - John 3:16

Islam in America: A Biblical Response We must seek to UNDERSTAND Muslims

Islam in America: A Biblical Response We must PRAY for militant Muslims

Islam in America: A Biblical Response We must PRAY for nominal Muslims: Have a cultural religion Are still seeking answers

Islam in America: A Biblical Response We must commit to PRAYING for all Muslims: Pray that God would make Himself known to them Pray that God would send laborers (including you!) into their lives Pray that God would protect innocent people from Islamic terrorism Pray that God would bring militant Muslims to justice and to salvation

Islam in America: A Biblical Response We must take ACTION Now more than 7 million Muslims in the U.S. We can build bridges of compassion and friendship

Islam in America: A Biblical Response Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest. - Matthew 9:35-38

Basic Facts About Islam Over 1 billion Muslims in the world 7 million in the U.S. 70,000 in the San Fernando Valley, CA Very few are militant Most are nominal believers

Purpose of this Class 1. To change your attitude toward Muslims 2. To transform walls into bridges 3. To equip you to share the gospel with Muslims

What to Expect Introduction Origin & History Muhammad & Jesus Allah & Yahweh The Qur an & the Bible Sharing the Gospel with Muslims

Two Important Questions 1. Who is Jesus? (1 John 4:1-3) Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

Two Important Questions 1. Who is Jesus? 2. Who is man? (Eph 2:8-9) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Two Truths About the Unsaved 1. Know the person of God in creation (Rom 1:18-21) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Two Truths About the Unsaved 1. Know the person of God in creation 2. Know the character of God in conscience (Rom 2:14-15) For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.

Four Truths About the Saved 1. We must be bold (Phil 1:14) And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Four Truths About the Saved 1. We must be bold 2. We must be beautiful (Rom 10:15) And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

Four Truths About the Saved 1. We must be bold 2. We must be beautiful 3. We must be prepared (1 Pet 3:15-16) But in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Four Truths About the Saved 1. We must be bold 2. We must be beautiful 3. We must be prepared 4. We must be prayerful (1 Thess 5:17) Pray without ceasing.