Warren Owen: Using Scripture as a Bridge to the Gospel

Warren Owen spoke at our most recent Diaspora Mission Collective gathering. We gathered to hear stories of faith and the cost of discipleship. He shared a reproducible Old Testament bridge strategy to the Gospel. Muslims often need Old Testament context with familiar prophets that help setup and frame who Jesus was and is.

Warren describes nearly three and a half years of gospel ministry among Muslim-background friends in the Middle East, emphasizing that effective witness requires learning the culture, building relational bridges, and patiently earning trust. Over that time, the Lord brought seven people to faith in Christ—six men and one young woman who was baptized just days before this talk. Warren highlights that they all shared one striking commonality: they had never known “eternal hope” existed as a gift. Most had assumed they must work and work, hoping God might weigh their good deeds favorably at death. But when they heard that eternal life is a gift offered at their doorstep—received rather than earned—they were ready to listen, and in time, respond.

A key theme in Warren’s story is that faith conversations move at the speed of trust. He notes that the first believer did not come until about a year and a half into the work, and that this delay was not wasted time—it was the time needed to stop treating people like projects and start loving them as people worth sacrificing for. He describes a barber who became a close friend because Warren pursued genuine friendship rather than a transactional evangelism. That authenticity created the kind of relational security that eventually allowed deeper spiritual conversations.

Warren offers a helpful framework for understanding what it takes to reach spiritual depth: every person has a public self, a private self, and a “secret” self. The public self is what we show in casual interactions; the private self appears in deeper one-on-one conversations; but the secret self is the guarded place where deepest doubts, fears, and longings live. Warren says it is especially hard in Muslim contexts to move from public to private, and nearly impossible to access the secret place without deep trust. Yet when God grants that trust, people will often admit what they rarely say aloud: beneath the religious devotion is uncertainty—“I don’t know what will happen to my soul when I die.” In that secret place, Warren says, you can introduce them not to a distant deity, but to the Lord who seeks, saves, and gives assurance.

He then shares sobering examples of the cost new believers may bear. Since returning to the U.S. in August, Warren has learned of two young men who were arrested overseas for their faith. One, a seventeen-year-old, shared the gospel with a friend who reported him to authorities. He was beaten, interrogated, and held in harsh conditions but did not deny Christ. After his release, his mother rejected him and he became homeless. Yet Warren emphasizes that the church must not abandon brothers like him; care and long-term support are part of faithful discipleship. Remarkably, this same young man later baptized the first female believer in their group.

Warren’s second example involves a believer who was jailed, brutally beaten, and initially sentenced to years in prison. Though he was eventually released, he expressed that he was more grieved by his mother bribing lawyers and police officers than by his suffering; he said he was honored to bear “stripes” for Christ.” After his imprisonment became public knowledge, others sought him out—“Tell me about this Jesus you defended”—and he quickly led someone else to faith. Warren’s point is clear: persevering under suffering becomes visible evidence that the gospel is not theory, but eternal reality.

From there, Warren shifts into practical training: how to read Scripture with Muslims in a way that is clear, foundational, and efficient. He notes that many are busy and burdened—work, money, and survival pressures can interrupt long studies. His approach is to tell the biblical story in a structured arc, starting with foundation, moving through prophecy and sacrifice, and then landing in the Gospels where fulfillment becomes unmistakable.

A Scripture Pathway for Reading the Bible with Muslims

Genesis 1–4: Creation, Purpose, and the Fall

Begin in Genesis to establish purpose. Many Muslims have been taught that Adam and Eve were created in heaven and then cast down to earth as punishment. If life on earth is only a waiting place or a kind of jail, then daily life—neighbors, children, work, and responsibility—loses meaning. Genesis corrects this by showing that humanity was created on earth on purpose. Life here matters.

As you read Genesis 1–2, emphasize that humans are created intentionally and with dignity. God places people in the world to steward it and to live in relationship with Him. This foundation helps your listener understand why human life and everyday decisions have value.

When you reach the fall in Genesis 3, slow down. This is one of the most important moments in the story. The tragedy is not only that sin enters the world, but that God comes walking and calls out, “Where are you?” This shows a God who leaves His place to seek people, not a distant God hidden away in heaven. This is often a new and powerful idea for Muslims: God desires relationship and actively searches for those who hide from Him.

Highlight Genesis 3:15 as the first announcement of good news. Point out that God promises an offspring of the woman who will be wounded yet will ultimately crush the serpent. Help them see that God already has a plan to defeat evil and restore what was broken.

Then move to Genesis 4 and the story of Cain and Abel. Use this to introduce the idea that there is an acceptable sacrifice. Abel’s offering involves blood; Cain’s does not. This is not arbitrary—it shows early on that reconciliation with God involves sacrifice and the giving of life. This prepares the listener to later understand why sacrifice and atonement are central to the gospel.

Isaiah 7 & 9: The Promised Child

Next, move to Isaiah to show that the promise made in Genesis continues to develop. In Isaiah 7, read the prophecy of a child born of a virgin. Then in Isaiah 9, focus on how this child is described—not merely as a prophet, but with divine titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

As you read, help your listener see that this child is more than a messenger. He is God coming near. These passages challenge the idea of a distant God by revealing a God who protects, leads, and cares like a father, and who reigns as a good King willing to enter the lives of His people.

Then move to Isaiah 53. Here, the story becomes clearer. Read about the suffering servant who is pierced, bears the iniquities of others, and is led like a lamb to slaughter. In Middle Eastern cultures, a lamb is not symbolic or small—it is costly and valuable. Use that cultural understanding to explain that this sacrifice is serious and intentional. This passage connects sacrifice directly to substitution: someone suffers so others may be healed.

Psalm 22: The Forsaken One

Use Psalm 22 as a bridge into the Gospels. Begin with the opening line: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” As you read through the psalm, point out the striking details—mocking, thirst, pierced suffering, and people gambling for clothing. Let the text speak for itself.

Midway through the psalm, draw attention to the shift in tone. God has heard. The suffering leads to worship, and the result is that all nations and future generations will hear and turn to the Lord. This helps your listener understand that the suffering was not accidental or meaningless. God allowed it to accomplish salvation, and it results in worldwide proclamation and hope.

Matthew 27–28: The Crucifixion and Resurrection

Now move into the Gospels, starting with Matthew 27 at the crucifixion. Because your listener has already read Genesis, Isaiah, and Psalm 22, allow them to connect the dots. Many will begin recognizing fulfillment on their own—mocking, piercing, the words spoken from the cross.

Pay special attention to the moment when Scripture says Jesus “gave up his spirit.” This directly addresses a common objection: “How could God’s son be killed?” Make it clear that Jesus was not overpowered. He willingly gave His life. He remained sovereign, even in death.

As you continue into Matthew 28, emphasize the resurrection and the repeated message: “Do not be afraid.” This is the voice of a God who is in control and present with His people. End with the Great Commission and Jesus’ promise: “I am with you always.” God is not distant or hidden—He is with us.

The Paid Bill: Receiving the Gift

Conclude with a simple illustration. Imagine a father paying the bill at a restaurant. Once a good father insists on paying, the son cannot go back and pay again. The bill is already settled. At most, the son may leave a tip—but he cannot repay what is paid in full.

Apply this clearly: Christ has paid the full price for salvation. Obedience and good works are not payment; they are gratitude. They flow from freedom, not fear. Invite your listener to receive the gift, rest in what Christ has done, and then live generously and boldly because the bill has already been paid.