The Extrovert

^{Personalities, Day 3} 

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:13-15 (NIV)

              In high school our small group went through a book called Share Jesus Without Fear. Just opening that book gave me great anxiety, but I knew the only way people would come to Christ was through conversation. Now, don’t get me wrong, I told my friends about Jesus and invited them to church. Aside from band and sports, youth group and church events were my social life in high school. The fear part came in when I began considering what I would say to a person who was a complete stranger. Introverts struggle in this department and have to force themselves out of their comfort zones. But extroverts, they are masterful in this department.

              My mom is an extrovert. Everywhere we went, she started conversations with complete strangers. She knew all about the cashiers at the local grocery stores because she always engaged in conversation with them. Every time we went to a restaurant, she played the what’s-your-college-major game with our servers. This led to us all taking guesses as a family and then the server returning to enlighten us when bringing our food to us. When new people moved into the neighborhood, my mom was there with cookies or a cake and knew everything about them before anyone else even noticed we had new neighbors.

              Extroverts navigate socially with ease. They love to be the center of attention and the life of the party. These are those students who have a special desk by the teacher and could start conversations with a fence post. They can talk about everything and nothing all in the same breath and can exhaust the introverts around them. Always desiring to go somewhere or do something, extroverts have a fear of missing out (or in text language, FOMO).

              There are not only extroverts in your classroom, but there are extroverts on your teaching staff. These are the ones who willingly dance on stage, volunteer to be in the dunking booth, and find it hilarious when they get chosen to receive the pie in their face. These are often the coaches, drama teachers, and choral directors. But they can also be the lunchroom worker, English teacher, science professor. One thing to remember about extroverts is they don’t do well with alone time and will often overfill their lives with opportunities to be with others. Their social battery is recharged when they are with other people.

              But these people are also great partner teachers. They come up with out of the box ideas. They love to plan field trips, parties, plays, and concerts. They are great at getting parents on board and have a way with people that can be envious at times. There’s a place for everyone, especially the outgoing extroverts, even if the introverts want to run and hide sometimes.

Do the Heart Work

1.      Who are the extroverts on your hall? How do you know?

2.      How could an extrovert and introvert make a dynamic team?

3.      How can being an extrovert help a person spiritually?

Digging Deeper

              Read Luke 10:1-7 (NIV)

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

              Like I opened today’s lesson, sometimes we are sent out to do things we aren’t comfortable doing. Sharing Jesus in new places sounds terrifying to the introvert, but the extroverted followers of Christ are up for the task. Are you actively going to your family, friends, and neighbors? Do your partner teachers know your allegiance belongs to Christ?

If You Get Spare Time

              Do you make intentional time to talk about the things of Jesus with other believers?  Extroverts are known for desiring to talk to others, but often it’s surface level bantering or discussion instead of digging deep into the places of the heart. Take time today or sometime this week to talk to another person about what you are struggling with or learning in your walk with Christ.