Courses and Resources to Equip You About Islam
Sharing Lives is developed to help Christians look at their view of Muslims and encourage them to begin to share their lives with Muslims. The course consists of five lessons, to be taken over five or ten weeks. The participants will look at their own hearts, reflect on their attitude towards Muslims in the light of the Bible, learn about basic elements of the Islamic faith, and how to befriend Muslims.
Lesson 1: Our View of Islam
Lesson 2: Developing a Grace Response to Muslims
Lesson 3: Understanding Muslims
Lesson 4: Meeting with Muslims
Lesson 5: Building relationships that last
Supported by PowerPoints, videos and DVDs
The course books are printed in twelve languages. Once or twice a year Bert de Ruiter will be teaching potential trainers in the use of this course material. With a sufficient number of trainers you can organize your own trainer’s conference.
Other courses developed and taught by Bert include:
Approaches to Islam
This course is developed to familiarize Christians with various ministry models that are being used in reaching Muslims with the Gospel. The course requires about 30 hours of class room lectures and an equal amount of time for reading and other assignments. The course book (180 pages) is available in English only. The course assumes a basic knowledge of Islam and some prior contact with Muslims. It is course that is particularly helpful for mission candidates and could made fit into a curriculum of a Bible or theological seminary.
Engaging with Muslims in Europe
This course gives insight into the various expressions of being Muslim in Europe and how to best reach out to them with the love of Christ. This course explores the history and development of Islam in Europe and the implications of this for European society and church. The course requires about 30 hours of classroom time and additional time for reading and doing other assignments.
Besides these existing courses, Bert is available to conduct training seminars and workshops on a variety of topics related to Christian-Muslim relations in Europe.
For more information contact Dr Bert de Ruiter, bert.deruiter@om.org
Friendship First friendshipfirst.org
This six session course in English is aimed at Christians who want to be able to befriend their Muslim neighbours and colleagues and ‘be an effective witness to Jesus Christ’, Developed by Interserve UK, it has a DVD and leaders study guide so groups of between 6 and 12 people can study it in their own home,, but it is also possible to contact the team with questions that arise from your discussions.
Course content:
Week 1: Islam and Muslim people
Week 2: Muslim values and cultures
Week 3: Our Muslim friends
Week 4: Good news for our Muslim friends
Week 5: Ways to witness
Week 6: Next steps
Encountering the World of Islam encounteringislam.org
For those looking for a more intermediate level course to give a greater depth of knowledge about Islam and ways of connecting with Muslims, the EWI course will help. The course itself takes up to 9 sessions and is organised by a local EWI team. It is interactive and can include hearing from local Muslim leaders to better understand their views.
Courses are available in France, several Russian speaking countries, Portugal, Spain and the UK and Ireland. https://encounteringislam.org/aroundtheworld
The text book of the same name gives different perspectives on many aspects of Islam, including the life of Muhammad, the history of Islamic civilisation, Islamic beliefs, Muslims today and the everyday lives of Muslims, and how Christians are responding to Islam.
More than Dreams DVD http://morethandreams.org/
This inspiring subtitled video features 5 dramatized testimonies from Muslim background believers around the world who have had their lives transformed though experiencing dreams and visions of Christ. Suitable to give to Muslim friends who are interested in faith, each story includes an explanation of what it means to follow Christ, and a prayer for salvation. A list of available languages is on the website.
Life and work in Muslim contexts
Redcliffe College, Gloucester, UK
For those working in Muslim contexts, this week-long course will enable you to wrestle with the complexities of mission in these areas, alongside others facing similar issues.
The course includes:
Socio-cultural dynamics
Contextualisation
Use of Scripture
Taking a Jesus-centred approach
Review of current missiological and evangelistic approaches
Gender issues
New believers
Identity, persecution and social positioning
Developing local theologies
You can study this module as part of Redcliffe’s MA programme, or audit it as a stand-alone course.
Islam – Getting to the heart
All Nations Christian College, Ware, UK
This course is designed for those who have a particular interest in Muslim people, whether they are involved in or preparing to work with Muslims, or interested in finding out more about Islam. Content includes:
Historical perspective on Islam
Islam as a diverse religion
Apologetics
Political ideologies & Extremism
God and Christ in Islam
Islamic Theology
Islam in different parts of the world
Discipleship
Qur'an and Hadith
Women and family in Islam
Extremism
www.allnations.ac.uk/courses/short-courses/islam-getting-heart
Find out more:
The Additional Information page of the ‘Sharing Lives’ website gives links to many other books and resources http://sharinglives.eu/additional-information/
Jo Appleton