Dear brothers and sisters,

I have been praying regularly for each of you to become an encourager to everyone who come in contact with you (believer or unbeliever, encouragers like you or discouragers). I pray this for each one of you because all of us as God's servants and brothers in Christ should heed these words: "the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but KIND TO EVERYONE," specially when encountering people of other faiths.

You have started your pilgrimage to "Mecca"-- reaching out Muslims for God's Glory and their and our joy. You are now studying the Quran.  How can you use your studies on the Quran in your friendly and informal dialogue with your Muslim friends?

Here is one way: inform them, for instance, that you have just studied the teaching of the Quran about Jesus Christ. Share with them what you understood from the Quran, and ask them if your understanding/interpretation is correct.  If possible read through the Quran with them.

Next, share with them that the Quran also speaks about the INJIL (the Gospels) and refer to them as Scriptures.  Then, ask them if they have read the Gospels (any of them at all).  Most of them have heard and read about the Gospels but have never read them at all.

Now, share with them (from any of the 4 gospels) what the Apostles wrote regarding the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.  For instance, check what the Gospel of Matthew teaches about Jesus as the Son of God.  Just go through some verses and your Muslim friend will realize (not that they are going to accept/believe it) immediately that the Gospels proclaim Jesus as: the son of David (Matthew 1:1); the son of Abraham (Matthew 1:1); the son of God (Matthew 1:23; 2:15; 3:17); and so forth.

You will learn that this is true in every Gospel.  By the way, don't just say it.  Open the particular Biblical text and let them read.  Each Gospel is loaded with references and descriptions about Jesus as the Son of God.

Pray that the Holy Spirit may open their minds and hearts to understand and to believe.  Pray that such sharing may lead them to study the Gospel for themselves.  We cannot predict the process nor the consequences of such loving-friendly-respectful conversations.

Your study of the Quran is a means by which you understand their views and lead them to understand your perspectives.  It is really a pilgrimage.  But keep going.  I have just shared with you a way to share Christ in a friendly and respectful way with a Muslim.

Let this guide your approach to others: "And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but KIND TO EVERYONE, able to teach, PATIENTLY enduring evil. correcting his opponents with GENTLENESS. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will." (2 Timothy 2:24-26)

Would you keep us in your regular prayers as we continue to work on this subject?

Your pilgrim brother