The Gospel and Islam

Last week Pastor Frank began a new series entitled “What’s the Difference,” a study to hold up the New Testament Gospel of Jesus and then compare it to other religious thoughts and religions. He began by walking us through the Gospel – “Jesus plus nothing.”

-Today, Pastor Frank continues in the series, focusing on the differences between the Gospel and Islam.

Verses used: Galatians 1:1-10, 2 Corinthians 5:17-21, Ephesians 2:8-9, Galatians 3:5.

Key verse:

Galatians 1:10

1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be the glory forevermore. Amen.

6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!

10 For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

Sermon Notes:

In Islam-

1. Jesus didn’t die for your sins on the cross and you are not reconciled to God.

2. You need to work off your sins through religious activity.

3. In heaven there are scales where God is measuring your good deeds and your bad.

4. The only way you are promised heaven is if you die for God.

5. In Islam you are promised a pardon of your sins by dying for God.

6. In the New Testament Gospel you are promised a pardon for your sins by God coming to Earth and dying for you.

7. The Islamic religion doesn’t add to the Gospel of Jesus but eliminates it.

Some questions to consider this week:

1. What was one thing you remember from the message on Sunday?

2. What kind of contrary “gospel” was being preached that led the Galatians astray?

3. What do you think are the main differences between Islam and Christianity and how do you think these affect a person’s life.

4. Based on what you’ve learned about Islam, do you find that you have more compassion for those born into this faith? Why?

5. Why do you think Muslims might have a hard time with the Gospel?

6. Given the chance to witness to a Muslim, what would you share about Christ that would show them the peace and assurance of heaven that only comes through Him?

7. Thinking about the first week in this series on the “Gospel of Jesus” and this week’s study of Islam, what does it mean in your life to say, “Jesus Plus Nothing”?

8. How can we be “stirring in” the sermon’s verses into our lives this week?