The concept of blessing and its application to mission in Islamic West Africa /by Larry Gene Lenning.

COPYRIGHT NOT covered - Click this link to request copyright permission:

Photocopy of typescript.

Chapter I. Introduction

Background for the Study -- Our call to witness to the Muslim world -- Primary factors affecting the Church's mission to Muslims -- Description of the Study -- The concept underlying this study -- The approach and scope of the study -- Summary.

Chapter II. The Concept of Blessing in the Old Testament

Defining the Concept -- Berakah as blessing -- Berakah as gift -- The Content of Blessing -- Fertility and prosperity -- Shalom -- Holiness -- Praise and thanksgiving -- The Source of Blessing -- Communicating Blessing -- The spoken word -- Sacred acts -- The Concept of Blessing in Cultic Perspective -- The cult as an arena of blessing -- Bestowing blessing within the cult -- Summary.

Chapter III. The Concept of Blessing in the New Testament

Defining the Concept -- Eulogeo -- Makarizo -- The Source of Blessing -- God as the source and giver of blessing -- Jesus as the source and giver of blessing -- People as blessers -- The Content of Blessing -- Continuity of content from the Old Testament -- New Aspects of content in the New Testament -- Communicating Blessing -- The spoken word -- Sacred acts - Blessing in Liturgical Perspective -- Blessing in the environment of worship -- Blessing in the rites of the Church -- Summary.

Chapter IV. The Concept of Blessing

Blessing in the Foundations of Islam -- Defining the concept -- Blessing in the Qur'an -- Blessing in the life of Muhammad -- Blessing in Sufism -- Blessing in Islamic North Africa -- The veneration of saints -- Marabouts and their ministry in the religious orders -- The sultanate and its sult -- Concluding remarks -- Blessing in Islamic West Africva -- Blessing and brotherhoods in West Africa -- Blessing and the rites of passage -- Blessing and Muslim clerics -- Summary.

Chapter V. The Function of Blessing in Building Bridges to Islam in West Africa

Blessing as a Theological Bridge to Islam -- God as the source of blessing -- The blessing of Abraham -- The wholeness of blessing -- The communal characteristic of blessing -- Blessing as a Liturgical Bridge to Islam -- Blessing in the environment of worship -- Blessing in the sacraments of the Church -- Blessing in other rites of the Church -- Blessing as a Missiological Bridge to Islam -- Witness -- Dialogue -- Service -- Summary.