Download Sermon Notes – July 26, 2015 Five Pillars First Timothy 2.5

Sermon Notes – July 26, 2015
Five Pillars

First Timothy 2.5-6; Hebrews 7.24-25; Hebrews 9.14-15

Major sects of Islam:
Sunni:
 Mohammad’s successor
elected.
 85 – 90% of population.
 Separation between civil and
religious authorities.


Shi’ite:
 Successor comes through
Muhammad’s bloodline.
 Religious authorities should exercise
political and religious power.
 People and countries must submit to
Sharia.
Sufi:
 Mystical.
 Renounce worldly
attachments.
Major texts of Islam:
-
The Qur’an. In Arabic it means “the noble reading.” Parts were written by Muhammad and the rest by
his disciples after his death, based upon their memory of his oral teaching. Only the Arabic text
qualifies as the Holy Qur’an and the pure word of God.
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The Hadith and the Sunnah. The Hadith contains narrations from the life of Muhammad. The Sunnah
offers biographical examples for ethics and living from the life of Muhammad. The Sunnah is the basis
for the legal code = Sharia.
The Five Pillars:
1. Shahada – the creed: “Ilaha illa Allah. Muhammad rasul Allah.” “There is no god but Allah;
Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”
2. Salat – prayer. There are 17 cycles of prayer spread over the five times of prayer each day, recited
from memory in Arabic. Must be preceded by wudu (ablution or cleansing ritual).
3. Zakat – almsgiving or charity. Obligated to give 2.5%.
4. Sawm – annual period of fasting during Ramadan.
5. Hajj – pilgrimage.

Other beliefs:
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Jihad – struggle
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Salvation – earned through faithful practice of the five pillars and good works, but a Muslim has no
certainty of attaining it unless he dies in a jihad.
-
Women:
 Women are believed inherently inferior to men, genetically and legally.
 Most women go to hell.
 Polygamy is an accepted practice.
 A wife is her husband’s sex object.
 Wives may be beaten.
 Women face many restrictions about their dress, behavior, and public activities.
-
Religious freedom – it is forbidden to leave Islam and believe in any other religion.

Beliefs Muslims and Christians have in common:
-

Beliefs that differ: Muslims do not believe
-

Judaism and Christianity and their prophets were originally given by God.
The Bible was originally sent by God.
Jesus:
 Was born of the Virgin Mary.
 Lived a sinless life.
 Performed many miracles.
 Is the Messiah (but their definition is different than ours).
 Is the Word of God (but their definition is different than ours).
 Ascended to heaven.
 Will return to this earth.
Heaven and hell exist.
The Bible is reliable and inerrant today.
The Trinity exists.
Sin is a major problem separating man from God.
Jesus:
 Is the Son of God.
 Is God.
 Died on the cross.
 Rose from the grave.
Salvation is received through faith in Jesus Christ alone.
In a loving God.
In a personal relationship or communication with God.
In any assurance of forgiveness.
In any assurance of eternal life (unless one dies as a martyr in a jihad).
Sharing your faith:
-
-
Do not be critical of Islam, the Qur’an or Muhammad. Focus on your own beliefs.
Whenever using your Bible in the presence of a Muslim, handle it with respect. The custom of Muslims
is to not lower the Qur’an below the waist. It is to be kept on the highest shelf in the house. Nothing is
to be placed above it. It is also a sign of disrespect to write in the Qur’an or the Bible, so always use a
“clean” Bible.
Share your friendship and faith with one person at a time. When more than one Muslim is present
there is the social duty to defend and promote Islam and not address any personal doubts. In most
cases you should only talk with and share with a member of your gender.
Be joyfully bold and confident when speaking about Jesus and his claims. Islam is a religion of power
and Christians cannot be meek lambs when sharing their faith. They cannot be arrogant or rude or
condescending, but they must be gentle lions, never seeming hesitant or shy about their faith.
Focus upon a personal relationship with a living Jesus. In Islam there is no personal relationship with
Allah. Muslims need to see that your faith is not so much a religion as it is a personal relationship.
Be patient, persistent, and prayerful. Muslims are extremely difficult to convert. Three specific prayers
to make are:

Colossians 4:2-6

2 Corinthians 10.3-5

Isaiah 65.1