Education Witness Style 2
Overview
Witnessing Within Your Personality
God created each of us with a unique design—introvert, extrovert, or somewhere in between—and He intends to use that uniqueness in fulfilling the Great Commission. Introversion is not a flaw to be cured but a gift to be celebrated. In a culture that prizes extroversion, it is easy for quieter believers to feel inadequate, but Scripture shows God working through both kinds of personalities. Consider Peter, the bold extrovert, alongside his brother Andrew, who quietly brought others to Jesus. Both were used powerfully, and so are you.
Clearing Up Misconceptions About Evangelism
Several common assumptions can paralyze faithful Christians. First, evangelism is not a single event but a process—a relationship unfolding over time as the Lord draws someone to Himself. Second, evangelism is not salesmanship. Christ never told us to "close the deal" or market a demographic; God alone brings about conversion. As one pastor put it, the minister is simply "a mailman and a waiter"—delivering the Word and serving the Sacrament, while God does the saving work. Third, faithfulness is not measured by sheer numbers. Extroverts will likely speak with more people; introverts will tend toward fewer but deeper relationships. Even Christ, though He addressed multitudes, poured most of His ministry into twelve.
The Witness We Already Are
In Acts 1:8, Jesus tells His disciples, "You will be my witnesses." This is both a command and a description of our identity in Christ. And we do not witness alone. 1 Corinthians 12:12–26 reminds us that the body of Christ has many members with different functions. God typically brings a string of people into a person's life on the road to faith—someone plants, someone waters, someone harvests. We are salt and light Matthew 5:13–16, pointing not to ourselves but to Christ, who said, "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself" John 12:32. The seed is the Word of God Luke 8:11, and acts of love and kindness often soften the soil before that seed is planted. To be effective, however, we must actually be among non-believers—joining clubs, neighborhood groups, and friendships beyond our church circle.
Form Versus Function
Introverts often carry false guilt about evangelism because they confuse form with function. Door-to-door canvassing or large-group outreach may feel impossible—but those are particular forms, not the heart of the matter. Paul writes in Philippians 1:15–18 that whatever the circumstances, "Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice." The function is what matters: that Christ is made known. The form will look different for each of us. Introverts may witness through writing, email, one-on-one conversations over coffee, or by quietly noticing the uncomfortable person at a gathering and drawing near to them. They tend to perceive others' feelings deeply, though they must guard against turning that perception inward into self-conscious worry. Redirect that energy into prayer: Lord, help me hear this person; let Your light shine through me. A simple, powerful question—"Is there something I can pray with you about?"—opens a door that even unbelievers often welcome.
Pastoral Encouragement
Embrace how God has wired you. Be patient. Develop your own style. Whether you witness to many or to a few, in writing or in conversation, in crowds or across a kitchen table, you are part of God's team and part of the string of people He uses to bring others to faith. The function is to proclaim Christ; the form is yours to discover in the personality God has given you.
Transcript
Gracious Heavenly Father, it is a joy to be in your house on this year day. 0s
We thank You, O Lord, that You command us to come, for You have something to give us, word and sacrament. 5s
We thank You, O Lord, for how uniquely You have made each one of us, 12s
and we pray that by Your grace we might embrace that uniqueness and be used by You 17s
to carry out the great commission to make disciples. 24s
Bless we ask now, our study to Your glory in Jesus' name. Amen. 27s
Last week we kicked off this little six-week class I've entitled a witnessing within Your personality. 35s
We took an inventory last week to see where you kind of fall on the scale of personality types. 41s
God made introverts, God made extroverts, and God made people in between, 52s
all of those with different combinations. 59s
Introverts are a minority, at least 25% are introverts, 63s
but interestingly they are the majority in the gifted population. 71s
Extroverts as we as we studied reach outward to get their energy. 78s
So in other words an extrovert, one who is truly an extrovert is just energized by a social setting, 83s
energized by a conversation, energized by being with people. 91s
For an extrovert the bigger the group, the better in their mind. 96s
Extroverts will have a tendency to think out loud. 103s
If you're in a meeting with someone and they're processing things out loud, 106s
might be an indication that they're on the extroverted side of things. 110s
The more friends that an extrovert has, the better. 116s
They prefer talking instead of writing and they like to multitask. 120s
Introverts, they reach inward to get their energy. 126s
What energizes an introvert is time by themselves or time with a small group of people. 131s
That's how they get their energy. 141s
A social setting for an introvert will be an energy dreamer. 144s
For the extrovert they'll leave a social setting and they'll just be like they just pulled up to the gas pump. 148s
I got a full tank and a way they go. 155s
Introverts might say that was a very lovely time but it's okay, it's over too. 158s
They're not energized by the social setting. 167s
An introvert will function as we study best in small settings. 172s
They enjoy quiet environments. 176s
They do their best thinking alone, not in a group. 179s
They tend to be very good listeners and introverts tend to think on things deeply. 183s
They don't like shallow relationships. 191s
So an introvert says, how are you? 195s
They can get frustrated with the standard response of why? 198s
They like a deeper kind of relationship. 203s
They often prefer to communicate in writing and they tend to focus on what they're doing. 207s
One thing at a time, we all bear the unique creative stamp of God Almighty. 213s
And I hope a bottom line of this class is that you will embrace how God has wired you. 220s
That you will celebrate that. 227s
Introversion is not something to be cured. 232s
We live in an extroverted society and extroversion is highlighted. 236s
And introverts, and you'll hear throughout this class if you haven't already, 241s
that there is a bent towards how does the introvert witness or an affirmation of the introvert. 248s
Because in our society with extroversion being elevated, sometimes introverts are looked at as those that need to be cured as opposed to those that need to be celebrated. 255s
We compared Peter and Andrew. 271s
That's really a contrast between Peter the extrovert and Andrew more of the introvert. 274s
God used Peter, God used Andrew, and God uses you. 280s
And so celebrate indeed how God has made you. 285s
There are some misconceptions about evangelism and how it ties into personalities. 289s
There are some misconceptions about evangelism. 298s
Again, I want to draw on some work by a fellow by the name of Mike Beshtley on that. 300s
And one of the misconceptions is that evangelism is an event. 307s
Evangelism is an event. 313s
Rather, evangelism is a process. 315s
It's a process. 321s
So, so often we think of evangelism as the event whereby the gospel is shared or a crusade or some type of event. 323s
Instead of understanding that really the primary biblical mode in terms of communicating about evangelism is highlighting the whole process of it. 335s
That involves the pattern of being with people, developing relationships and seeing by God's grace how that relationship moves along. 347s
Is that person by God's grace comes to faith. 362s
So, one of the mind shifts, I hope it will emphasize or really embrace, is that evangelism is an event. 365s
It's a part of a process. 375s
It's a process in relationship with people. 377s
Secondly, evangelism is not a matter of selling. 381s
It's not a matter of selling. 387s
So, Jesus Christ did not say go there for and sell the gospel. 392s
He did not say go there for and market your target audience. 398s
But it's fascinating to look at literature over the decades and the church has moved into that whole understanding. 405s
It's the language of advertising where you look for a certain demographic and you try and key in on marketing to the demographic. 418s
You just don't see that in Holy Scripture. 433s
It's the whole understanding of evangelism as you have to sell and even with language of you come to the point where you make the clothes with them. 436s
I've even seen literature like that. 448s
It's just horrid. 451s
You're witnessing with Christ and then you have to ask yourself, is it time to close? 452s
To close the deal here. 457s
It is just baffling type of lives. 461s
But the church in many quarters has embraced it. 464s
No, we're not in the selling business. 467s
God is responsible for the conversion. 471s
Remember, I've used it many times in the past. 475s
How one pastor described himself when people will say, what do you do for a living? 478s
He says, I'm a mailman and I'm a waiter. 484s
I think that's a good description. 488s
I deliver the mail, I deliver the word and I wait on tables. 490s
Holy communion. 495s
God is the one that brings about the conversion. 497s
We're not in a selling business. 500s
The third misconception about evangelism is that everybody has to witness to a lot of people. 502s
Everybody has to witness to a lot of people. 510s
No, there's going to be varied numbers. 513s
There's going to be varied numbers. 515s
An extrovert is probably going to be witnessing to more people than the introvert. 517s
If we evaluate it on sheer numbers in terms of the number of people that we witness to, 525s
that can really get us into a bondage there. 532s
Extroverts are probably going to witness to more. 538s
Interverts are probably going to witness to less. 539s
Interverts are going to have closer and deeper relationships typically than extroverts. 542s
When you look at Christ's ministry, not into somehow, get into some discerning of Christ's personality, 550s
but Christ shared with multitudes, but most of the time, who did He deal with? 560s
He dealt with the 12th. 568s
That's where He really poured Himself into. 570s
It's bondage to say that everybody has to witness to a lot of people. 575s
Probably by temperament, the extrovert is going to witness to more and the introvert is going to witness to less. 581s
Four, let's go to Acts 4th chapter 1. 589s
Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and then Acts. 596s
Acts 1. 599s
Verse 8. 610s
And here our Lord says, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, 621s
and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in Judea, and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. 627s
We see that understandably so and correctly so as a command, but it's also a description, isn't it? 634s
That it is not just a command, it is a description of who we are. 641s
All of us, right now, are witnesses to the Lord Jesus Christ. 646s
It's not that we stop witnessing. 653s
No, we are witnesses. 655s
It is a command and a description. 658s
Well, how about some truths about evangelism? 661s
One is that it is a team effort. 667s
It's a team effort. 670s
Let's look at the analogy of the church's abodity in 1 Corinthians 12, please. 676s
So we're in Acts, Romans, and then we hit 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 12. 682s
Verse 10. 704s
Verse 10. 706s
For just as the body is one as many members, and all the members of the body, though many are one body, so it is with Christ, 709s
For on the one spirit, we were all baptized into one body, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one spirit. 718s
Indeed, the body does not consist of one member, but of many, if the foot would say, because I'm not a hand, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 728s
If the ear would say, because I'm not an eye, I do not belong to the body, that would not make it any less a part of the body. 739s
If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would be the sense of smell? 748s
But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them as He chose. 755s
If all were a single member, where would the body be, as it is written, there are many members yet one body. 763s
The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, or again the head to the feet, I have no need of you, on the contrary. 769s
The members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think, less honorable, we clothe with greater honor. 776s
And our less respectable members are treated with greater respect, whereas our more respectable members do not need this. 785s
But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body. 793s
But the members may have the same care for one another. 801s
If one member suffers all suffer together with it, if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. 805s
The analogy of the church has a body. 811s
God oftentimes brings a string of people into the lives of a person, as God is bringing them to faith. 815s
I remember the fellow, the back when I was in Cedar Hill, he comes to the church one day, never seen him before, he had never attended a worship service, he said I'd like to join your church. 826s
Why is that? What's going on in your life spiritually? He says, well, many, many years ago, there was a Pentecostal pastor, and he shared the gospel with me. 842s
And this past week, I became a Christian. 854s
And he said, so I looked, and he says, your church was the closest nearby. 859s
So I want to become a member of your church. 863s
Well, just a little aside, that is not the way to choose a church. 866s
It's not, because you never know what doctrine you're going to get in churches. 870s
But here's this Pentecostal pastor, years and years and years ago, who shares the gospel here, and then all of a sudden the seed sprouts. 877s
And here's this pastor who's working on his sermon for Sunday, and this guy comes in and says, I'd like to become a member of your church. 888s
See, it's a team effort. It's a team effort. The whole string of people that God so often uses in the lives of people. 897s
Second truth, I think, is that we need to hang out with non-Christians. You need to hang out with them. 909s
It has been said, and I think there is truth to this, that it takes three years for someone who becomes a Christian to eliminate all the Christians in their life. 919s
Takes about three years. And all of a sudden you look around and all of your friends are Christians. 932s
Now, there's a positive, obviously, because you're getting involved in the body of Christ, and then you start to meet other people who are Christians. 939s
That's great, of course. But we can't influence non-Christians if we don't know any non-Christians. 948s
So we need to be intentional in terms of getting involved in areas where we are going to meet people who don't know Jesus Christ. 958s
So that means perhaps joining some kind of social club in the community. 969s
That means maybe joining the neighborhood association in the meetings. You can fill in the blank there. 974s
But that is an intentional effort for you to say, I want to meet non-Christians. 981s
And for us to be effective evangelists, of course, we need to hang around with non-Christians. 990s
Let's look at John chapter 12, John chapter 12, verse 32. 999s
Jesus said, and I, when I am lifted up from the earth, you'll draw all people to myself. 1024s
We're part of a team. God uses many people. 1032s
Indeed, God uses us, introvert or extrovert or someplace and some combination in between. 1037s
And we need to be a people in which we are involved in the lives and no non-Christians as God draws them onto Him. 1045s
Whatever our personality type, we simply want to be used by God to influence. 1057s
Let's go to Matthew the 5th chapter, Matthew chapter 5, verse 13. 1064s
Matthew chapter 5, verse 13. 1070s
Yes, yes, 95, 13. 1079s
Jesus said, you're the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how can it's saltiness be restored? 1088s
It's no longer good for anything, but it's thrown out and trampled underfoot. 1094s
The image here is of salt as preservative in a corrupt and sinful world. 1100s
And so we want to be salt in the lives of people. 1106s
Going on in verse 14, you're the light of the world. The city built on the hill cannot be hid. 1111s
No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, it gives light to all in the house. 1116s
In the same way, let your light shine before others so they may see your good works and give glory to your father in heaven. 1122s
We are salt, we are light, light radiates outward. 1132s
Christ is the source of our light. 1137s
Light draws attention to the object upon another object rather than ourselves. 1140s
Unbelievers, in other words, shouldn't focus upon us. 1150s
We are just bringing the light of Christ into their lives. 1153s
Let's go to Luke chapter 8, please. Matthew, Mark, and then Luke. 1158s
Luke chapter 8, verse 11. 1164s
Luke 8, verse 11. 1169s
Now the parable is this. 1176s
The seed is the word of God. 1178s
Seed grows without our assistance. 1184s
It's the example of the fella there. He has been witnessed too by the Pentecostal pastor. 1188s
All of a sudden the seed sprouts. 1193s
We just plant the seeds, but God uses all kinds of different personalities for different functions. 1195s
God uses us to prepare the soil for the seed. 1204s
It's acts of love, it's acts of kindness, it's acts of relationship, building, it's acts of caring. 1209s
Whereby, God is using us to soften that soil, to soften it up, so that when the seed of the gospel is planted. 1216s
Remember, people will not be converted to the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior by simply your act of kindness. 1228s
There's a lot of non-Christians that are really, really kind. 1236s
People are just kind. 1241s
It's the seed that is planted of the gospel of Jesus Christ that sprouts into faith. 1243s
But in a string of people that God brings together, God uses us to soften the soil in the lives of people. 1250s
And we do that through our kindness and through our showing love to them. 1261s
So God uses us as salt, He uses us as light, He uses us to prepare the soil. 1267s
The introvert is into meaningful relationships with a few people. 1275s
The extrovert into a lot of relationships. 1282s
God is going to use each of us wherever we fall on that continuum in different ways as part of His team. 1285s
How can God use introverts? 1297s
One of the ways that God can really use introverts is through writing. 1302s
Remember, an introvert feels more comfortable in writing than in speaking. 1308s
And so one can build the relationship the introvert can through writing. 1320s
Sometimes emailing someone before a conversation is going to occur just to establish that relationship in a social function for the introvert to look around and to see who looks uncomfortable in this. 1328s
And the introvert gets that person and to initiate the conversation with the introvert when they see that they are uncomfortable. 1349s
Remember, sometimes what introverts will do in a social setting is they'll step outside for a little bit just to recharge because it's draining to them. 1359s
They like it. 1369s
They like being with people. 1371s
It's just it just is draining them. 1373s
The extrovert was there early. 1375s
It's going to stay light. 1378s
Because they just love being with people. 1379s
So you just kind of look around and you say, who is it that just kind of step outside or looks just kind of awkward? 1382s
Uncomfortable. 1393s
And that's an opportunity for you to build a relationship. 1396s
The introvert will probably never be comfortable in a neighborhood canvas of a community. 1402s
Typically, if you ask people, we want to canvas a neighborhood. 1410s
In other words, we just want to walk down the neighborhood. 1415s
We want to knock on the door. 1417s
We want to hand out information about the church. 1418s
The extrovert will say, I can do that. 1421s
The introvert will say, where's the door? 1423s
They don't want to do that. 1427s
They don't want to do that at all. 1428s
They're wired differently. 1430s
But the introvert is going to have deeper relationships with people. 1433s
That one can explore. 1440s
So the introvert is probably going to talk less. 1443s
But they're going to have a deeper relationship with which to leverage. 1445s
Introverts are made to share in the context of relationships. 1453s
So don't feel like you have to share the gospel right away. 1458s
Build the friendship. 1460s
Remember, it's not a event. 1463s
It's process. 1465s
It's process. 1467s
And the introvert will be able to connect with other quiet people in a way that the extrovert may not be able to. 1468s
But there are some people in life that you just kind of feel it's really comfortable with them. 1479s
It's interesting. 1483s
Ask yourself the question, are they a similar personality type as me? 1484s
So the introvert then will have a connection with the other person that's going to be more quiet. 1489s
Be patient. 1497s
Be patient. 1500s
Develop your own style. 1501s
Everybody is going to be unique here as you witness. 1502s
Nobody is going to do evangelism the way that you do evangelism. 1507s
And if you fall on the introverted side of things, be directional. 1512s
Be directional. 1517s
What do I mean by that? 1518s
An introvert, one of the gifts that an introvert will have is an incredible perception ability. 1520s
In other words, sometimes an introvert will really pick up on the feeling of someone where I'm talking stereotypically here, of course. 1531s
But an introvert can really pick up oftentimes on the feeling of the person where the extrovert might be totally thinking about something else. 1539s
The introvert can be, can you really tune in on that person? 1549s
Here's the downside. 1555s
Sometimes one of the ways you know what you could be an introvert is if you do a lot of self processing as you're wondering, 1558s
I wonder what the other person is thinking about me? 1565s
If you're doing a lot of processing where you're kind of thinking about yourself on that, that's a challenge for the introvert. 1569s
And so it's a directional focus then. 1578s
Instead of focusing on, I wonder how others are perceiving me. 1581s
You focus on, Lord, help me to be a witness to this person. 1587s
Help me hear them. Help me with words. 1593s
Let me see possibilities to share you. 1598s
Let me be, let your joy and your light shine through me. 1603s
So when you start thinking, if you're introverted, if you start thinking about, I wonder how I'm coming across, 1607s
or wonder how they're perceiving me, change the lens by the grace of God, 1613s
and use that as an opportunity of prayer unto the Lord. 1620s
A wonderful way to witness is simply to ask someone, is there something that I can pray with you about? 1630s
Interestingly, even people that do not believe in God at all are very open many times to receiving prayer. 1637s
It's very, very interesting. 1645s
They would never in a moment think of praying, but if someone says, could I pray with you about, 1646s
about, say, or, what can I pray with you with? 1651s
They say, sure. Sure. 1654s
So you just receive that prayer request and whatever your comfort level is, you might not be comfortable with praying with him right there. 1656s
It might be a situation that's kind of beyond your comfort zone on that, but then say, well, I'll pray with you and then follow up with him. 1663s
Because what have you just done? 1672s
You've just established a conversation. 1674s
It's part of the process. 1676s
You're part of the team. 1678s
You're part of the string of people that God is bringing into that person's life. 1680s
And it's just part of that building of the relationship. 1688s
If you're more introverted in nature, do it by email. 1692s
Just kind of say, you know, I've been praying for my friends. 1699s
Is there anything I could pray with you about? 1704s
And all of a sudden, now the conversation isn't face to face. 1707s
It's over email because introverts like to write more than talk. 1712s
So use how God has has wired you as an opportunity to witness to that person. 1718s
And you've established the relationship and you care for them. 1728s
There's a distinction between form and function. 1736s
And an introvert will sometimes falsely take guilt upon themselves 1743s
because they don't make the distinction in witnessing between form and function. 1751s
What do I mean by that? 1757s
Let's go to Philippians chapter one, please. 1758s
Matthew Mark Luke John, Acts and then Romans, verse and second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, and then Philippians. 1762s
Philippians chapter one and we'll pick up in verse 15. 1770s
Philippians chapter one verse 15, Paul writes this, 1784s
Some proclaim Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 1788s
These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel. 1795s
The others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition. 1801s
Not sincerely, but intending to increase my suffering in my imprisonment. 1806s
Now, catch this. 1811s
What does it matter? 1812s
Just this. 1814s
That Christ is proclaimed in every way whether out of false motives or true and in that I rejoice. 1816s
There's a distinction between form and function. 1826s
The bottom line for Paul was that the function of proclaiming Christ occurred. 1832s
For the introvert, there can be guilt surrounding the Great Commission because the introvert hears of a certain form of evangelism. 1838s
So when you say, let's go or when we say, let's go and make disciples of all nations, let's evangelize, let's bring the good news. 1851s
Chances are what the introvert hears is a certain form or they see in their mind the knocking on that stranger's door and saying, 1862s
you know, I was thinking about you and can I take three minutes of your time because I want to proclaim the gospel to you. 1873s
They see a certain form of evangelism instead of seeing the function. 1879s
The function is that Christ people claim. 1886s
That's what Paul's getting at here. 1891s
Paul's saying, well, either way, the function, the Lord Jesus Christ and the proclamation of Him is being done. 1893s
The form will change. 1901s
The form for each one of us is going to be different because God has wired us different. 1904s
God does not give us an excuse not to go and make disciples because we're introverted. 1915s
Nope. 1920s
But the introvert is going to do it differently than the extrovert. 1921s
And it's all right to do that. 1926s
Remember, part of the team, part of the string, part of all that God brings together. 1929s
So when we look then at the function of proclaiming Christ and not the form of it, 1935s
that can release the false guilt for the introvert. 1942s
So the introvert turns to writing, building the relationship, maybe emailing, 1948s
maybe the cup of coffee with that person that they have. 1957s
The extrovert is going to be oftentimes in larger settings. 1962s
The introvert is going to take advantage of those smaller, deeper relationships, 1967s
being patient and unique for how God can use them in proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ. 1972s
Well, how did Jesus witness? 1982s
What did Jesus do? 1986s
We're going to explore that not next week because there's no Sunday school for adulter or for the kiddos, 1990s
but we will continue two weeks from today. 1996s
What did Jesus do as he witnessed? 2000s
And how can we apply that to the uniqueness of the personalities that God has given us? 2002s
So we'll continue in two weeks. 2008s
And we'll continue in two weeks. 2029s