How Can I Share Jesus Love with a Muslim Friend?

Here are a few ideas:

1. Pray for God to work in their heart. It is the Holy Spirit who draws people to Christ. Pray He would work powerfully, including giving your friend dreams and visions that would point them to Jesus. Seek Gods guidance and power as you interact. 2. Be a genuine friend. Saying hello isnt enough. If you really care, show it by inviting them to your home, sharing your time, and helping with their problems. 3. Talk openly about spiritual things. Its fine to be quite open about your faith in God and your spiritual life, including your testimony and answers to prayer. Muslims generally are not allergic to talking about spiritual things, since theyve not been as indoctrinated with Western secular thinking. Spiritual beliefs and practices are a normal part of everyday life. Note Gods command that we be ready to share the reason for our wonderful hope (assurance of eternal life) with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). 4. Be open to praying with them. Remember, spiritual discussion is not weird for Muslims, and the idea of a loving God who listens and answers prayer is a powerful testimony. If they have a need, especially if they or a family member is sick, ask if they would like you to pray. If they agree, ask if its okay to pray in Jesus name. 5. Ask thought-provoking questions. Do you expect to go to heaven? Do you have assurance that God will accept you? What

does the Quran teach about forgiveness? Can I show you what the Bible says? Questions like these show that you have an interest in the important things of life. Not all Muslims are alike in their beliefs. They span a broad spectrum, from very devout to nominal, secular, even atheist. Dont assume you know what they do and dont believe. Feel free to ask. They will probably be honored that youre interested. 6. Show love. Its important to love Muslims sincerely, showing your love through kindness and respect. 7. Listen attentively. When you ask a question, really listen to the answer no matter how long it takes. You can learn a lot this way about their values, priorities and beliefs. 8. Share the Word of God. Muslims respect the sacred books: the Law of Moses, the psalms, the Gospel and the Quran. Share what you believe, clearly and without apology, showing Scripture passages that support those teachings. 9. Reason, dont argue. Argument may win a point but lose a hearing. There are some issues on which you can argue forever without achieving a thing, except closing a mind against you. 10. Dont criticize Muhammad or the Quran. This is even more offensive to them than speaking disrespectfully about Christ or the Bible is to us. If you are asked what you think about Muhammad, Islam, or the Quran, give an indirect answer, like You know more about that than I do. 11. Respect their customs and sensitivities. Dont offend by putting your Bible (a holy book) on the floor, or appearing too free with the opposite sex, or refusing hospitality, or making jokes about sacred topics such as fasting, prayer, or God. For good Muslims,

any pork products or alcohol are strictly forbidden. Modest clothing is important, especially for women, to be a good witness. As a general rule, only relate closely to Muslims of your same gender. In terms of conservative values, you and your Muslim contacts probably have a lot more in common than either of you have in common with the secular hedonistic values of British culture in general. Make the most of the fact that you fear God and you would like to be a part of encouraging everyone to fear God, know His will, and obey His commands. 12. Persevere. Muslims have a lot of rethinking to do when they hear Gods truth. 13. Remember the importance of community for a Muslim. Most Westerners tend to think in terms of individuals: individual choices, decisions, and rights. Muslims tend to think of themselves as part of a larger group (family). Get to know the significant others in your friends life. Your goal is not to win one person and isolate them from their group, but to bring good news to whole families and groups through your life, prayers, and testimony.

How to Share

Jesus Love
with a Muslim Friend

You might also be interested to read the article Muslims tell Why I Chose Jesus. It will give you some good ideas of things you can pray for and ways you can let your light shine. It also includes some good items to guide conversations as the Spirit leads. You can read the article at http://www.missionfrontiers.org/issue/article/muslims-tell...-why-ichose-jesus. As youll see in this article, personal relationship (love) is usually A LOT more important in reaching Muslims than a lot of information.