So Pastor Steve has asked me to teach an adult (yeah, I know – scary) Sunday School class this fall on Islam (also scary?) Here’s kinda what I’m looking at putting together – it still has a ways to go – I’m still working on syllabus – My only real experience with teaching adults is directing the Keswick Bible Institute – where people were scared of my class because I assigned like 900 pages of reading. I may have to tone it down from that… but still should be sweet – any ideas?? Do you know any Muslims who’d like to talk to me for a while… I have a lot to learn.
Jesus Loves Muslims, and so should you! Loving your Muslim neighbor as Jesus would.
“And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29) – In the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus teaches us to love even those who we are inclined to hate. There is a good analogy to make between Christians/Muslims and Israelites/Samaritans. Both groups claim the same heritage and have awful histories of hatred that separates them. This quarter-long class on Christianity and Islam has some pretty simple, Jesus-commanded goals. 1) Understand your Muslim Neighbors. 2) Figure out how to show them love. We’ll be studying Christianity to know how and why our theology differs. We’ll study the history and theology of Islam and the differing beliefs of different forms of Islam. This will be an intense course with assignments; students will learn both sides of the conversation well – come for the challenge. Lord-willing we will be able to have some real conversations with Muslims from our area.
My dad just sent me a video via email about the Muslim population taking over the US and Western Europe in the next 25 years, and how the Islamic “church” is planning to “evangelize” the US. Interesting data (couldn’t read the sources… blurry) but it was interesting how the makers were using Americans innate fear of Muslims in general to motivate their audience (older, white Americans). BTW- the only soluation suggested was to have more Christian babies… kinda odd. Anyway, it should be an interesting class you’re teaching- can’t wait to hear more about it!