The Gospel for Muslims by Thabiti Anyabwile

I got this book from Moody Publishers for the purpose of review about a week after the death of Osama Bin Laden. I thought this was a book appropriate to read as Islam dominated the news from the last month since Bin Laden's death. What better way to learn how to witness to Muslims then by a pastor who once was a Muslim.

This book is a unique book because it is divided into two parts. The first part deals with the Gospel and what we believe about the gospel. Using quotes from the Quran, Thabiti shows where we can use the gospel to Muslims that we are separated from God because of our sins. We sin against a Holy God who demands payment for our sins by the shedding of blood. One of the offenses Muslims have against Christianity is that Jesus suffered as an innocent man. Muslims cannot fathom that God will allow an innocent man to die for mankind's sin because, according to Muslims, they sin against themselves. The rest of the first half talks about Jesus being fully God and fully man, that he died for our sins and was raised to life. The final chapter in part one talks about the only response to the gospel: faith and repentance.

The second part of the book deals our witness to Muslims. The first thing stressed is the best thing to know when witnessing to Muslims, in fact, witnessing in general, is to know the gospel. We need to filled with the Spirit which means to have the Holy Spirit control us as we witness to Muslims. We need to trust the Bible. Using the Bible is one of the best things to be used when witnessing. Muslims will say that the Bible has contradictions, yet the Quran said the Psalms, Torah, and even gospels are revelation from God. We need to trust the Bible as the revelation of God to man and it is the inspired Word of God. Other ways we can witness to Muslims is use the local church, even with it's faults and there are many, be hospitable and witness as you suffer. One way that will get a Muslims attention is how your have joy in God in the midst of your suffering.

This book was a delight to read. It got me fired up not only to witness to Muslims but to everyone around me. One thing that stood out was when Thabiti asked, "when was the last time you prayed for your boldness and someone else's boldness." I have admit, I have prayed for boldness but not for the church's boldness. As Christians we need to pray for boldness to witness for Jesus as well as the church to have boldness. Great movements of God happens when people have boldness to witness. How do you think the first century church grew?

I received this book from Moody Publishers for the purposes of reviewing it.