Study Do Teach I.E. Know Follow Lead

"...for the good hand of his God was on him. For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it and to teach his statutes and rules in Israel." -Ezra 7:9-10

Have you ever had a verse of scripture jump out at you that you felt you could claim as a foundational life verse? This was definitely one of those for me!

Ezra had the good hand of God upon him! Why? Because his first set his Heart to study the Law of the Lord and once he learned it he did it, but not only did he do it but he taught it as well! God blessed him for this! The Study, Do, Teach pattern makes perfect sense and is in just the right order. After all how can you practice Gods laws if you don't first know them? And what credibility do you have to teach it if you don't follow them? If you mix up the priorities the whole thing just breaks down. Just like the saying "Don't put the cart before the horse."

Just like how can I tell someone what Jesus is like if I don't first take the time to get to know him myself? And How can I expect anyone to follow him if I'm not doing so myself?
In this respect think of the pattern of being a disciple maker as... Know Jesus, Follow Jesus, Lead others to Jesus.

Try it out!

Sharing the love of Jesus with the Muslim people part 2

A couple weeks ago I met some Muslim guys at a local coffee shop and ended up having a great conversation about Jesus with them. I was able to open up the New Testament and share some scriptures with them and saw some conviction on their faces in the process. I've found as I meet Muslims here and there they are normally very open to talking about Jesus.

A few people have asked me "Where do you start when talking to Muslims?" or "How do I share Jesus in a way they will listen?"

I've found it extremely helpful to be able to quote the Quran as a bridge. In the same sense that Paul used pagan quotes as a bridge to share Christ with the men of Athens...

"For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ Therefore what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you." -Acts 17:23

A couple Quranic passages I've found to be helpful are first Surah 3:45...

"Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah;"

I like to follow that up with the question "Who better is there to intercede for us with God than Jesus who is nearest of all people to God?"

Be sure to give them time to express their thoughts and be respectful. This is important.

Second in Surah 37 it speaks about Abraham and the sacrifice of his son. After God stops Abraham from killing his son Surah 37:107 says...

"And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice"

The Arabic word for "momentous" or "mighty" as some English translations put it means "limitless." I will ask them "What could this limitless sacrifice be?" Only something that is God himself could be "limitless" or "eternal" therefore this is your open door to speak about Christ as the lamb of God. Follow this up by sharing John 1:1 and John 1:14 explaining the context of what this means.

I would encourage anyone to do far more research on this topic but just wanted share a few things to get people thinking.
As you encounter Muslims don't be afraid to befriend them and engage them in conversation. Jesus died for them just like us. Tell them about his love!