Forgiveness

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

In discipleship sessions with Noura and her daughter Sabrina, we frequently talked about their family and friends. It became clear that each woman had encounters with family members that had resulted in bitterness and continued anger. When I suggested forgiveness, their reply was that this would be impossible. Noura would say. “I know that I should but you don’t know what the person did to me”. Sabrina would say, “I try but my sister-in-law continues to do the same things. I can’t keep forgiving her repeated misdeeds against me, can I”? It became...

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Stories Jesus Told

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

There are several points about the story of the Prodigal Son that would be significant for a Muslim. Inheritance is given when the father dies. Therefore, to ask for the inheritance is the same as wanting the father to die and is, therefore, a dishonorable act. When a child dishonors the family, this child is usually cast out of the family and treated as dead. A human father would refuse to receive again a child who had dishonored the family. Therefore, most Muslims would see the father’s action in this story as humiliating and degrading both for...

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Repentance

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

This lesson studies the lives of Saul and David. After reading the two stories, note the following similarities. Each was a king who was chosen by God and who knew the commandments of God. Each king had a personal relationship with God. Saul had received a specific order from God while David had the Ten Commandments to follow. Each king was disobedient. Each repented. Why was Saul’s repentance rejected while David’s was accepted? What was the difference? What type of repentance does God desire? Note that even though God accepted David’s repentance,...

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Identify Problems In The Christian Life

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

This lesson is more abstract and may need some illustrations to help clarify for the readers the role of “light” in the Christian’s life. John 1:1-18 refers to Jesus as the Light. John 3:16-21 explains why those who sin love the darkness. These passages can also be studied as a part of this lesson if needed for further explanation. It might be helpful to use some practical illustrations from everyday living that show how dust and dirt are hidden in darkness but easily seen in the light. She can then compare this to the way that sin is hidden when...

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Jesus Anointed By A Sinful Woman

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Many aspects of this story are similar to present day Islamic culture. A practicing Muslim like the Pharisee won’t touch anyone or anything unclean. To do so renders him unclean and he must undergo a ritual of purification before being able to pray. Women in many Islamic countries and cultures keep their hair hidden from all men except those in the immediate family. The rules of hospitality are strict and are designed to honor the guest. To ignore these rules shows disrespect and a lack of honor.            ...

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What Is Sin?

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

As we read the New Testament, we find that belief in Jesus as the Son of God results in Salvation. We also learn that the early Christians needed further teaching on how to live like a Christlike life. Many Muslim converts come to Jesus as Paul did in Acts 9 and, like Paul, they need an Ananias and a Barnabas to help them grow in their faith and in their relationship with God. Others come to Jesus through a belief in His power to save them from evil spirits and that through Him they can have eternal life. Few seem to come with an understanding...

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The New Testament Teachings About Fasting

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

The teachings of Jesus touch on the form of manner of fasting as well as the appropriate time. Without giving the details of how fast was done, the book of Acts gives several examples of fasting and praying by the early church members. The teacher’s goal is to help the new believer to discover for herself when and how to fast accordance with the teachings of Jesus. Summary: According to Bible, fasting can be done for several different reasons. All have the same common factor of drawing closer to God. There are no guidelines given in the Bible as...

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Fasting

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Sabrina, a new Christian, faced a dilemma during Ramadan. Her husband, who did not know what she was a believer in Jesus, wanted her to keep the fast with him. She wondered how could she obey her husband and not disobey God. Imaan is the only Christian in her family. During Ramadan, she said, “My mother doesn’t believe in Jesus. She is purifying herself by fasting. Since I have accepted Jesus, I don’t need to fast in order to be accepted by God”. Fatima’s father-in-law was critically ill. She asked if fasting would help him be healed. Each of these...

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God Helps The Christian Who Faces Temptation

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

The previous lesson have explained why the Christian is not to use magic, charms or sorcery, etc. the primary defense of the Christian, which is the armor God, was presented. Lessons covered the personal experience of Jesus with temptation, Jesus’ power over evil spirits and the example that Jesus has the power of healing but objects do not. The experience of Saul demonstrates that even though Saul had been obedient by removing the mediums from the country, he was tempted to consult one when he was in trouble rather than renew his relationship...

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King Saul Returns To Forbidden Practices

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

The woman who has abandoned her folk practices to follow Jesus needs to understand that she will frequently be tempted to return to those practices. This lesson is a case study of individual who had obeyed God and gotten rid of all practices forbidden by God. There was nothing left in his whole kingdom. However, he had disobeyed God and had not repented of his sin. Therefore, when he needed a communication from God, he went back to his old practices. Even so, in the story we find that God gave him the opportunity to stop and return to being faithful. It...

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The Power of Jesus Over Physical Illness

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

This lesson becomes even more powerful when the readers understand what this woman’s life would have been like for 12 years of her illness. Islam has the same laws regarding menstrual impurity as those given in the Old Testament. Help the readers to imagine the difficulties of this woman’s life. This review should also help the student to understand the courage needed for this woman to come forward and confess what she had done. There is no evidence in this story that the woman used any folk practices for healing during the years of her illness....

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The Power Of Jesus Over Evil

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Most of the religious life of Muslim has been spent in trying to protect herself and her loved ones from the influence of the evil spirits. These evil spirits are a real force in the world around her. Since her view of God has been that of a disinterested person who is far away, she will need help in understanding that Jesus is more powerful than the evil spirits. The evil spirits must obey His authority. The teacher will want to use this Bible study to show that Jesus overcame evil in His own life when He was tempted, and He overcame the evil...

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Christian Armor And How It Works

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

In Genesis 3, we meet the serpent who personifies evil. It is the serpent who tempus Eve to disobey God. Later in the Bible, evil is identified by names such as Satan or the Devil and terms such as evil spirits. We continue to use these names today to identify the presence of evil forces around us. The individual faces a continual battle within herself to follow God or to follow the forces of evil (Romans 7:15-20).Just as a physical armor protects a soldier going into war, the spiritual armor protects the Christian who is engaged in a spiritual...

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God's Laws Regarding Folk Practices

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Some of the folk practices that a Muslim woman would have seen, and may have used include: using the evil eye, practicing sorcery, wearing amulets, going to a medium, marabout or spiritist, visiting a saint’s tomb and praying there, visiting special shrines, trying to divine the future through the use of certain objects or rituals, the use of special charms or specific actions to provide personal protection from evil spirits, etc. The teacher will need to have these practices in mind as she works with her disciple during this lesson. It would be...

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Learning To Listen To God

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Prayer is dialogue with God. A dialogue means that two people are talking and listening to each other. The new Christian needs to learn to listen to what God is telling her. Encourage the new Christian to read one prayer each day. Ask her to think about the prayer, the circumstances in which it was prayed, and how it can be used as a model for her prayer life. When she comes for the next, discuss her reactions and thoughts regarding each prayer read. These prayers were chosen for study together to illustrate the many different situations that arise...

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Jesus Shows Us How To Pray

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Selma has been a Christian for several years. Selma loves to pray. She spends a great deal of time telling God what she wants Him to do for her, her family and her friends. However, Selma doesn’t appear to listen to what God is telling her. To her, prayer is repeating request until God grants her. Selma has a great deal to learn about prayer. By studying the teachings of Jesus and the examples given of His prayers, the Christian can begin to develop an understanding of how to communicate with God. Prayers of the early church as well as prayers...

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How To Take A Stand

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

By using case studies the individual can see acted out the individual response to opposition. Two stories were chosen study. The story of Daniel shows that one can be faithful to God in a difficult situation and even when the law of the land forbids it. Help the student to understand that laws should be obeyed in the most circumstances. Daniel only broke a law that interfered with his worship of God and tried to compel him to worship a false god. Because of his high position in the government, we can assume that Daniel was normally a law abiding...

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Opposition

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Aisha and her daughter who live in the large metropolitan area became believers as the result of the testimony of Aisha's sister-in-law. Aisha loved to attend the weekly neighborhood Bible study that met near her place of business. However, she told her husband that she was attending a business meeting every week. Aisha particularly liked the praise and prayer part of the service. When she was approached about the idea of Baptism, she said that she needed to wait longer because she needed to be really sure that Jesus was the Savior. When Aisha's...

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The Biblical Basis For Sharing The Gospel

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

The verses selected for study are a brief outline threat presents the lostness of man and the way to have salvation. Some of these may be selected for memorization and used in witnessing to others. In any case, the new believer can make a list of these verses in her Bible in order to be ready at all times to share the plan of salvation to someone. The story of Adam and Eve illustrates that only one act of disobedience separates forever man and woman from God. The story of Lazarus teaches that salvation must be obtained before death....

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Three People Who Met Jesus

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

These stories of three encounters of Jesus and the witness that each gave afterwards. Encourage the MBB to recognize that each person in the story who met Jesus gave testimony to what Jesus has done for her. Each had a life-changing experience with Jesus and the testimony of this experience brought others to Jesus. Notice that the testimony was immediate, specific and stimulated others want to know more. Those around the individual could readily see that a life-changing experience had occurred. Encourage the new Christian to use the individuals...

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A Strange Persecution

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

Two hundred and forty human torches cast a horrifying light across the palace gardens. From his balcony emperor scene of death. The agonizing screams of the Christmas tore the air as they burned to death. There only crime: to believe in Jesus and obey His word. Two years earlier (A.D. 303) Diocletian had come to power. At first he ordered every copy of scripture burned and churches torn down. Those who refused to renounce their faith where to be killed and their houses burnt. History records that the emperor ordered a monument built...

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When Will He Come?

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

A lot of people wonder that Jesus didn't tells us the exact day and hour of His return. I believe the reason lies in the nature of the human heart. If we knew the exact time, we would ignore His counsels about how we should live. Then a few hours before His scheduled appearance we would hurriedly try to get ready. He Himself said: "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone". Some time ago I spoke with a person who knew nothing about the Bible. As we rode together in an airplane the...

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The Preaching of the Gospel

He is Coming This blog is about Christianity and the Second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ

The voice of the flight attendant woke me up. Glancing at my watch, I saw that it was 6:05 a.m., London time. In half and hour more the plane would land at Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow. I was arriving in Russia to direct an evangelistic campaign. A I looked out the window, trying to catch a glimpse of the Russian capital, there came to my mind the difficulties that people had faced in the old Soviet Union when they had wanted to study the Bible and serve God. Whoever had dared to preach the good news of Jesus ran the risk of going to prison...

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