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Engaging
Engaging with Muslims: Understanding their world; sharing good news
Many Christians in the west are fearful of engaging in conversation with Muslims - believing that they will be hostile to Christian beliefs and conversations about the Bible.
This short book is designed to help both Christians and whole churches understand more about the variety of Muslims there are living in the West, and to reach out to them with the good news of the Gospel.
This short book is designed to help both Christians and whole churches understand more about the variety of Muslims there are living in the West, and to reach out to them with the good news of the Gospel.
109 pages, Paperback
First published May 5, 2015
14 people are currently reading
109 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 11, 2022
Short, simple, memorable. Practical tips of how to love in word and deed. I particularly appreciated the reflection questions at the end of each chapter and the suggestions for stories from the Bible to share. John is a real encouragement - he reminds us that you don’t have to know everything about Islam to be able to be a witness for Jesus; you just need to know Jesus and His word.
It's a short book and it doesn't by any means cover everything you might need to know when thinking about relating to Muslims, but it does what it says on the tin and is a really helpful little starter book.
I imagine I will be dipping back into this.
It's a short book and it doesn't by any means cover everything you might need to know when thinking about relating to Muslims, but it does what it says on the tin and is a really helpful little starter book.
I imagine I will be dipping back into this.
April 8, 2025
This was SO helpful to me. This is so easy to read and packs so much info in a small book. I’ve been reading this with leadership students and it has made all 3 of us feel so much more equipped to confidently love, serve and begin to have Gospel-centered conversations with Muslim friends. I want to read more of Klaassen’s books about engaging with other religions.
October 16, 2022
Finished this wee book 20 mins before Read Through discussion 💪🏼 helpful & practical, a good book to start with for thinking about sharing the gospel with Muslims.
March 4, 2019
This is a really good introductory book on engaging Muslims with the Gospel. It is very practical and informative. I highly recommend.
February 11, 2025
Definitely intended for engaging with Muslims who have immigrated to western countries. But some of the principles still apply no matter where you are.
April 16, 2024
this book was really helpful in understanding core beliefs of Islam and how to engage with them! would recommend
December 31, 2019
Engaging Motivation for Engaging Muslims
John Klaassen has done the Church a great service with his brief book, Engaging with Muslims: Understanding Their World, Sharing Good News. As the back of the book states: “This short book is designed to help both Christians and whole churches understand more about the variety of Muslims there are living in the West, and to reach out to them with the good news of the gospel.�
Engaging with Muslims is part of The Good Book Company’s Engaging Series that includes Engaging with Hindus, Engaging with Atheists, and Engaging with Jewish People. If the other books in this series are as good as this one, then you will be well-served in reaching those people groups as well.
Here are five strengths of Klaassen’s book:
1. First of all, it’s short in length but long on experience. Klaassen served in North Africa for many years and taught Global Studies at Boyce College on the campus of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
2. Klaassen is careful to make the reader aware of the wide variety of Muslims around the world and here in the States. He takes great care to warn against a one-size-fits-all approach in reaching your Muslim neighbor.
3. Klaassen repeatedly reminds the reader that the goal is not to win an argument but to become a friend who bridges the gap between the Lord and his or her Muslim neighbor.
4. Klaassen places a priority on exalting Jesus in evangelism. He makes the reader aware of different approaches in evangelizing Muslims, but he compassionately shares his own convictions on how to best reach them in a manner that is full of grace and truth.
5. Klaassen Includes a robust list of resources (113-17) at the end of the book that is surprising due to the short length of the book.
One area in Muslim engagement that is often misunderstood or misapplied is dreams and visions. Klaassen handles this topic in a fairly balanced manner (44-45). He points out that
But he also adds
Klaassen ends with this application: “So do not be afraid to ask the Father to send them dreams and visions pointing them to Christ� (45). Unfortunately, we do not find such exhortations in the Scriptures. Instead, Jesus exhorts His disciples to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out more laborers into the harvest, not more dreams (Matthew 9:37-38).
We also find Paul exhorting the Romans that unless someone is sent, the lost will not hear the gospel and be saved (Romans 10:14-17). As Klaassen points out, whether it’s Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10 or Jonah and the Ninevites in the Old Testament, the Lord may use visions and dreams to direct and guide but His plan has always been for His own people to communicate the good news to the lost, not angelic messengers or revelatory dreams. We are not to pray for more dreams and visions among the Muslim people but for more senders and goers!
God in His sovereign providence may use dreams and visions to awaken the lost to their need for Christ, but His plan and purpose has always been for us to pray for more laborers to be sent and to be willing to be the answers to our own prayers!
Overall, this book will engage you to engage your Muslim neighbors and co-workers. It will motivate you to love Muslims and not fear them. My experience has been that whenever God’s people are taught about Islam, they are always interested in learning more and being better equipped to reach the Muslims they come in contact with on a daily basis. Klaassen’s book Is a great tool to meet that need and fulfill that desire.
John Klaassen has done the Church a great service with his brief book, Engaging with Muslims: Understanding Their World, Sharing Good News. As the back of the book states: “This short book is designed to help both Christians and whole churches understand more about the variety of Muslims there are living in the West, and to reach out to them with the good news of the gospel.�
Engaging with Muslims is part of The Good Book Company’s Engaging Series that includes Engaging with Hindus, Engaging with Atheists, and Engaging with Jewish People. If the other books in this series are as good as this one, then you will be well-served in reaching those people groups as well.
Here are five strengths of Klaassen’s book:
1. First of all, it’s short in length but long on experience. Klaassen served in North Africa for many years and taught Global Studies at Boyce College on the campus of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
2. Klaassen is careful to make the reader aware of the wide variety of Muslims around the world and here in the States. He takes great care to warn against a one-size-fits-all approach in reaching your Muslim neighbor.
3. Klaassen repeatedly reminds the reader that the goal is not to win an argument but to become a friend who bridges the gap between the Lord and his or her Muslim neighbor.
4. Klaassen places a priority on exalting Jesus in evangelism. He makes the reader aware of different approaches in evangelizing Muslims, but he compassionately shares his own convictions on how to best reach them in a manner that is full of grace and truth.
5. Klaassen Includes a robust list of resources (113-17) at the end of the book that is surprising due to the short length of the book.
One area in Muslim engagement that is often misunderstood or misapplied is dreams and visions. Klaassen handles this topic in a fairly balanced manner (44-45). He points out that
researchers suggest that about 80% of all new converts from Islam in South Asia come to faith because of a dream or vision told them to seek the Christ. From North Africa to Southeast Asia many Muslim-background believers report some type of supernatural intervention in which God has revealed Himself to them in the form of a dream or vision and told them to seek out someone, sometimes a specific someone, who would tell them the truth (44).
But he also adds
In general, people do not report coming to faith in their dream or vision but, like Cornelius in Acts 10, they are directed to someone who then shares the truth of the gospel with them (45).
Klaassen ends with this application: “So do not be afraid to ask the Father to send them dreams and visions pointing them to Christ� (45). Unfortunately, we do not find such exhortations in the Scriptures. Instead, Jesus exhorts His disciples to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out more laborers into the harvest, not more dreams (Matthew 9:37-38).
We also find Paul exhorting the Romans that unless someone is sent, the lost will not hear the gospel and be saved (Romans 10:14-17). As Klaassen points out, whether it’s Peter and Cornelius in Acts 10 or Jonah and the Ninevites in the Old Testament, the Lord may use visions and dreams to direct and guide but His plan has always been for His own people to communicate the good news to the lost, not angelic messengers or revelatory dreams. We are not to pray for more dreams and visions among the Muslim people but for more senders and goers!
God in His sovereign providence may use dreams and visions to awaken the lost to their need for Christ, but His plan and purpose has always been for us to pray for more laborers to be sent and to be willing to be the answers to our own prayers!
Overall, this book will engage you to engage your Muslim neighbors and co-workers. It will motivate you to love Muslims and not fear them. My experience has been that whenever God’s people are taught about Islam, they are always interested in learning more and being better equipped to reach the Muslims they come in contact with on a daily basis. Klaassen’s book Is a great tool to meet that need and fulfill that desire.
December 26, 2016
A wonderful introduction on ministering to Muslims in an everyday context. This brief book is both practical and theological as Klaassen ground all of his ministry suggestions in scripture.
February 24, 2017
Klaasen brings us a short (109 pages) book giving us some basic and helpful information about Islam. I couldn't recommend this enough.
April 23, 2022
This books title says it all. It explains how to engage with Muslims and share the Gospel with them. In this small book, you will find stories, testimonies and invaluable guidance in dealing with Muslims in general. This is not a point by point guide on sharing the Gospel with them, but rather gives insight to the life of Muslims and how you can adapt to them in order to reach them for Christ. Many practical things, like which hand to use when shaking (it's the right one btw), to understanding their definitions of words. I have only had a few interactions with Muslims and this guide definitely opened my eyes a bit more. I look forward to the other books in the series.
October 22, 2023
Highly recommend using this book as an introduction to engaging Muslims and to prep short-term teams. It’s short, easy to read, practical, and isn’t overwhelming the reader with lots of info they feel like they have to remember in order to share well. It makes sharing come across as doable in daily life.
December 16, 2020
Strong especially on reaching Muslim immigrants who've recently arrived in the West but lacking detail in reaching other Muslim demographics, like second or third generation arrivals or international students.
August 23, 2023
Good starter and refresher
I would recommend this book to anyone who is beginning in ministry to Muslims. Having served in a muslim context the tips found one this book were foundational in our preparation to serve. This book is well organized and easy to understand.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is beginning in ministry to Muslims. Having served in a muslim context the tips found one this book were foundational in our preparation to serve. This book is well organized and easy to understand.
December 29, 2017
Was very beneficial in understanding my Muslim friends beliefs.
April 10, 2019
Amazing, practical, and specific guide for lovingly displaying the gospel to our Muslim friends, especially those who are new to our community or country
September 5, 2021
an okayish primer
March 2, 2023
Really good and helpful little book. I only read the last two thirds or it which was specifically relating to witnessing for a presentation at university.
November 30, 2023
4.5 Klaassen’s heart for Muslims shines in this short book. I pray that Christians will seek to understand Muslims more and more for the sake of the Gospel and the glory of God. Khuda ka shukra hai.
March 22, 2024
Great perspective on how to share the gospel.
March 24, 2024
A great introduction to Islam’s basic beliefs and starter guide for sharing the gospel
February 15, 2022
Author wants to tell west society truth about Islam and muslim, I appreciate that. But once he try to explain aqeedah / concept of faith in Islam, he made few mistakes.
November 3, 2015
Excellent. Very clear and simple advice from one with lots of experience.
February 20, 2016
a brief and helpful tool for reaching a culture often ostracized in the west. I pray we all follow it's advice and truly make disciples of all nations.
December 23, 2016
a good primer, and easy to read. I would recommend this for folks in my church.
April 11, 2021
A good refresher on what my Muslim friends believe and gives me more confidence in engaging with them.
April 11, 2017
Great practical guide - a lot of great do's and don'ts that are easy to understand. Great cultural briefing. Great talking points are included - most important thing is to befriend muslims. There's really no hope in seeing any life change unless you earn their trust.
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