Leader’s Notes
Session One

Suggestions for using this video:
  1. Begin your time with prayer. Next, ask participants, "When you hear the word Islam or Muslim, what comes to mind?" Write all responses on chalkboard.

  2. Give each participant a copy of the "Outline/Notes" handout for session one and encourage him or her to take notes during the video. Promise to review this handout as a group after watching the video.

  3. Show video session one (If possible, watch the entire video in advance.)

  4. Immediately following the video ask:
  1. What, if anything, was new or surprising for you in this video? or
  2. what did you learn about Islam that is different from the list we made?
  1. Using the key below review the outline/notes. If possible, take time for discussion as you review the correct responses.

  2. Encourage personal sharing with questions:
  1. "How many of you know a Muslim personally?"
  2. "Can anyone think of a reason to learn about Islam not mentioned?"
  3. "What similarities and differences do you notice between the pillars of Islam and Christian life?"
  1. Give each participant a copy of "10 Practical Ideas" and close with prayer.

A Few Reasons to Learn about Islam:
  1. There are so many Muslims. __1__ in every __5__ people in the world is a Muslim.
  2. Jesus commands us to love our neighbors. Christians and Muslims make up about ½ the population of the world.
  3. "Thou shall not bear false witness ."
  4. Muslims and Christians often share similar values.
  5. Relating to Muslims can deepen our Christian faith .
  6. Understanding Islam will help us interpret the Gospel for Muslims.

Definitions:

Islam: "submission"   Muslim: "One who submits to God"   Salaam: "Peace" As-Salaam Alaikum: "The peace that comes from surrendering to God be yours"

Muhahmmad: Born in the year 570 AD/CE Died in the year 632 AD/CE

Pillars of Islam:
  1. Confession of faith - "There is no deity but God and Muhammad is the messenger of God"
  2. Prayer – 5 times a day
  3. Alms-giving
  4. Ramadan
  5. Pilgrimage (Hajj)
  6. Jihad (Struggle)

The greater jihad is the jihad of the self . The lesser jihad is the jihad of the community.

History:
  • For about 1,000 years Muslims possessed the heights of the world’s civilizations and power.
  • In less than four centuries Islam fell from being a superpower to being fragmented and underdeveloped.
  • Today a powerful mix of pride and defeat still shapes the identity of Muslims.
  • Muslims often interpret events such as the crusades, Western colonialism, the establishment of Israel and current events as evidence of a Jewish - Christian alliance against Islam.

Hopes for Islamic Revival:
  • Three Common elements of Muslim hopes for revival are:
  1. taking the Qur’an as a guide for life;
  2. following the model of the life of Muhammad and the first Muslim community;
  3. and ordering the government and society according to revealed law (Sharia).

Closing:
  • If Christians fail to reach out to make friends with Muslims in "the silent majority," we will be turning our backs on some of our greatest allies against both terrorist threats and secular values .
  • Christians may be deeply challenged by Muslim critiques of our society and our failures at being Christ-like.