‘there is no “magic formula” to leading a Muslim friend to Christ.’
Drawing on his own experience of ministry in Bangladesh and London, Robert Scott has given us an accessible and useful guide to evangelism. Sharing the Gospel with a Muslim Neighbour can be read in one or two sittings and is practical, sensitive, and insightful.
The book starts by considering our response to the Muslim people who we may encounter. Whether a common occurrence for us or a rarity, how do we find that experience? What emotions are raised in us? Scott’s call is to love Muslims and share Jesus with them, along with a wise acknowledgment that each person’s experiences are different. This mixture of sensitivity and honesty is seen throughout the book.
Moving on, Scott explains some of the basics of Islam, including how Muslims view Jesus, their basic beliefs, different groups within Islam, Muhammad, and the Qur’an. Each topic is explained concisely, but with a practical approach in mind. These are not just facts to be learnt, but a way of better understanding those who do not yet accept the truth of Christ. Even the chapters have been structured to emulate ‘first contact with a Muslim person.’
The last few chapters of the book are on answering common questions, reading the Bible, and discipleship. Considering the size of the book, each of these are written as short introductions, rather than exhaustive guides. For example, rather than giving detailed answers, the chapter on common questions listed some examples (both theological and moral, political and cultural), with a suggested approach to addressing questions. This is then illustrated with a couple of example answers. Likewise, the chapter on reading the Bible with Muslims isn’t an in-depth guide on how to do this, but it gives some useful questions that could be asked to facilitate a study.
Because of this concise format, it’s well worth looking at the endnotes and Further Resources section for some more information.
This is a quick read, full of useful information and inspiring starting points. If you want a short introduction to talking to Muslims about your faith (especially in a British context), this is a great book for you.
If you would like to purchase a copy of Sharing the Gospel with a Muslim Neighbour, you can get a discounted copy by visiting our 10ofthose partner page at www.10ofthose.com/uk/partners/awm.
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