Southern Seminary’s Jenkins Heart for the Christian Understanding of Islam hosted a world potluck and lecture to assist Christians witness to their Muslim neighbors, April 28 in Heritage Corridor.

Ayman S. Ibrahim, director of the Jenkins Heart, inspired attendees to deal with Muslims as folks moderately than initiatives, summarizing the important thing themes of his newest e-book, Reaching Your Muslim Neighbor with the Gospel (Crossway, 2022). Within the latest lecture and thru his accessible e-book, Ibrahim drew from his private expertise and love for the native church to encourage Christians to construct relationships with Muslims.

“We have to distinguish Islam and the Muslim,” Ibrahim mentioned. “Islam is a faith and set of beliefs, however Muslims are a folks. A folks in want of the gospel. We want the instruments to attach with Muslims on a relational degree and start the friendships many Muslims are searching for.” Ibrahim additionally mentioned the range of Islam presents a problem for Christians wanting to succeed in Muslims with the gospel. In accordance with Ibrahim, there are not less than three classes of Muslims: radical, spiritual, and nominal. However Christ works in all three classes.

“Most Muslims round Louisville are cultural Muslims,” Ibrahim mentioned. “They might not know so much about Islam, however they’re Muslims as a result of they have been born into Muslim households. College students right here usually know extra about Islam than cultural Muslims as a result of we train the doctrine and historical past of Islam.”

To succeed in these Muslims and glorify Christ, Ibrahim introduced three pointers for Muslim evangelism that Christians want to contemplate:

1. Pray that God will deliver Muslims to you.

“If we don’t pray, we aren’t anticipating God to make use of us to succeed in Muslims,” Ibrahim mentioned. “We love them by praying for alternatives to witness to them. We have now the excellent news and the best message of hope.”

2. Ask and lift questions.

“Muslims get pleasure from speaking about politics and faith,” Ibrahim mentioned. “We ask and lift questions
as a result of that is what Jesus did. We should be proactive and provoke conversations, however it’s essential ask good questions.”

Some good questions Ibrahim recommends Christians ask Muslims are: Why do you wash your fingers earlier than prayer? Are you able to assure paradise in Islam?

3. Don’t argue to win.

“In case you are aggressive, you’ll lose,” Ibrahim mentioned. “You might be an envoy of Christ and all the time should be calm. We have to critique the spiritual claims of Islam whereas reaching Muslims with the gospel. Be targeted and loving. Don’t be indignant. We’re not representing ourselves however Christ.”

Prayer for Muslims throughout Ramadan

The evangelism coaching adopted the Jenkins Heart’s month of praying for Muslims throughout Ramadan. For the entire month of Ramadan, college students, employees, and college gathered and prayed for the salvation of 1.8 billion Muslims world wide. Ramadan is the holiest month for billions of Muslims, as they quick from dawn to sundown to please their deity, hoping to obtain his favor.

“We prayed each weekday for one factor—that God would break by way of within the nations with the gospel,” Ibrahim mentioned. “We particularly prayed for Muslims in Nigeria, Egypt, and Pakistan. We have to share the good truth of Christianity that God is love. In Islam, God is unapproachable. Muslims learn the Quran to please God, not know God. The most effective factor Allah can do is ship prophets. However our God got here himself and skilled what we skilled in all issues besides sin. We have to assist Muslims find out about following Christ.”

For extra data on the Jenkins Heart and upcoming occasions go to right here.

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