Bridging the Gap with Muslims

Main Point of Discussion: Yahweh and Allah are not the same God, but a discussion about the differences provides a great opportunity to share our faith.

Introducing the video:
The discussion we are having tonight is based on a recent event in Grand Junction, CO in which a high school student quit his high school choir after being asked to sing a song written in praise to Allah, the god of the Islamic faith. The story quickly entered the national spotlight, and it has subsequently stirred up a firestorm of controversy. The fact that Christians and Muslims disagree is not surprising, but how a Christian handles these disagreements and uses them to share the gospel is a topic not often discussed. Let’s watch the video coverage, and as you view it, think about how you might respond both as the student and as a Muslim.

The Clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m77Bz6trbRs&feature=related

Transitional Statement:
The reaction to this story has been interesting. One of the main tenets we hold to (as Christians) is that Allah of the Koran and Yahweh of the Bible are not the same Being. Many Christians hail this kid James Harper as a hero, while many others believe he is doing it for the attention and media coverage. Either way, it definitely brings up the critical topic of how Christians should respond when their beliefs and convictions are challenged. Let’s take a look at what the Bible teaches and how we should use this information, then re-group for a final word.

Divide into Small Groups
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.

CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.

Discussion Questions:

1. AROUND THE CIRCLE: Before we dive in, can you think of a time when you totally disagreed with a teacher or a school policy? How did you respond?


2. ASK A FEW: What is your initial response to the way James Harper handled the situation with his choir?


3. ASK A FEW: How would you respond in the same scenario?


4. ASK A FEW: Do you agree with his conviction that singing a praise song to Allah is breaking the first of the 10 commandments (which says “You shall have no other gods before Me”)?


5. ASK A FEW: What are other ways he could have responded?


6. ASK A FEW: How do you think Muslims feel watching this video?


7. ASK A FEW: Do you know if there is a clear distinction between the God of the Bible whose name is Jehovah (or Yahweh) and the God of the Koran named Allah? If so, what?

Say: Let’s take a look at some specific passages from both the Bible and the Koran to see if there are any differences between Yahweh and Allah. Then we’ll talk about how this exercise can create open doors to share our faith. As we look at these passages, try to put together what the Bible is teaching about God’s nature, or personality, or identity.

Read the following passages from the Bible:


The Father is God:
God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:2)

The Son is God:
We look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. (Titus 2:13)

The Holy Spirit is God:
Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!” (Acts 5:3-4)

The unity of God:
Listen, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD is one. (Deuteronomy 6:4)

Nature of God:
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (1 John 4:8)



8. ASK A FEW: When you put these passages together, what does the Bible teach about God? (Leaders – God exists as the Triune God: Three Persons as One essence. Also, that this God is a God of ultimate and perfect love…as demonstrated on the cross.)

Say: Now let’s look at what the Koran teaches about Allah. (We’ll assume you don’t have a copy of the Koran laying around, so we’ll include the passages and references below.)

Allah is not a father:
He is God the One, God the Eternal. He fathered no one nor was He fathered. No one is comparable to him. (Ikhlas 112: 1-4)


9. ASK A FEW: How does this passage make Jehovah and Allah sound the same…and how does it make the two sound different? (Leaders – Both claim to be the “one and only” but only the God of the Bible claims to be like a father.)

Say: Additionally, when we compare the nature of Yahweh and Allah in other areas, the distinctions become even more clear:

Allah’s instructions:
Fight in God’s cause against those who fight you, but do not overstep the limits: God does not love those who overstep the limits. Kill them wherever you encounter them, and drive them out from where they drove you out, for persecution is more serious than killing. (Baqara 2:190-191)

Read the following passage from the Bible:

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
(Romans 5:8)


10. ASK A FEW: What is the basic conflict you see when you compare the verse from the Koran and the one from the Bible?


11. ASK A FEW: Could the same God want His followers to “kill the enemies” AND AT THE SAME TIME also send His Son to die for them? Why or why not?

Say: So far we’ve laid out the obvious differences between Yahweh and Allah, but let’s look at one more.

Allah and truth:
The unbelievers schemed but God also schemed; God is the Best of Schemers. (Imran 3:54)

Read the following passages from the Bible:

Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)



12. ASK A FEW: What is the major difference between the God of the Koran and the God of the Bible as revealed by these passages? (Leaders – Allah seems to be OK with lying and scheming, while the God of the Bible tells the truth and IS the truth!)

Say: These are just a few of the distinctions between the God of the Koran and the God of the Bible. Now that we know there is a difference between the two, let’s focus on how we can share our faith with Muslims.
13. ASK A FEW: Do you think that pointing out these differences is helpful or unhelpful when it comes to sharing our faith with Muslims? (Leaders – Some students may argue that it can go both ways. Just make sure you stress that whatever we do MUST be done in love!)


14. ASK A FEW: In what ways could we take the James Harper story and use it to share our faith with a Muslim?


15. AROUND THE CIRCLE: If you have a Muslim friend, how will you use this information this coming week?

Let’s spend the last few minutes of our time together in prayer for the Muslim students in our community. Let’s thank God that these people are already people who consider faith important, but let’s ask God to use us in mighty ways to help them understand and embrace the truth.

Close in Prayer

Written by Lane Palmer