Extrovert and Introvert

I've been reading a lot of things in recent months that talk about the church experience from the view point of introverts. Church, they say, is geared towards extroverts, who find energy from being with others, from expressing themselves, from loud music and colourful floral arrangements. The introverts, however, are those that find their energy from being on their own, quiet spaces and Gregorian chanting. Okay, my definitions may not be quite right, but you get the idea.

God created us all differently, we are all designed with different gifts and strengths, we are all different parts of one body. It's good to discuss this differences and to explore different ways in which we can worship God, in both the loud and the quiet. The gospel is not just for the extroverts, nor is it only for the introverts.

It's also really important to aware of how God made us. We can serve affectively is we know our strengths; we can see areas where sin is likely if we know our weaknesses. Perhaps some massive generalisations, but it could be said that extroverts may turn their need for love and affirmation into an idol, and introverts may put too much emphasis on their own space and time and not sacrifice it for the needs of others.

But, in amongst this debate we mustn't forget this: above all else we are children of God. If we need to spend time in quiet reflecting on God's word, extroversion is not an excuse. Likewise, the importance of corporate prayer and worship should not dismissed because you are an introvert. God's glory comes first. The needs of others come second. The needs of our own comes after that. We have presented ourselves as living sacrifices, Myers Briggs personality type and all.

If anyone is interested, I'm an ambivert, bang in the middle. I'm apparently an ENFJ Myers Briggs personality.

Quick Questions

• Introvert or Extrovert?
• Do you know your Myers Briggs profile?
• Does it matter?

Philippians 3

This is a Bible Study on the third part of Philippians. I hope you're starting to love this book as much as I do.

Philippians 3

• v 1 Rejoice! In the Lord: not in any human efforts
• v 1-6 Where have we misplaced our confidence? Do we put too much in store in our own abilities, or when we do "nice things" for others?
• v 7-10 Knowing Jesus is where we should put our confidence! Everything else is "rubbish".
• Our righteousness comes from knowing the power of Jesus' resurrection and sharing in his sufferings.
• v 12. We're not perfect. This is quite liberating, but doesn't give us an excuse to rest on our laurels. Paul tells us to press on towards the goal.
• v 13. We can't be stuck in the past! Forget about it. Focus on what is ahead.
• v 14 Our goal is heaven! Verse 20 tells us that we're already citizens of heaven.
• v 18 Paul is deeply distressed about those who reject Jesus and live for their own desires.

Implications for Mosaic

• Put all our confidence and reasons to rejoice in Jesus.
• We need a "heaven-focused" view on life.
• We need to live in a way that reflects we are citizens of heaven

 Quick Questions

• What things are you rejoicing about at the moment?
• Where do you sometimes misplace your confidence?
• Are you a past/present/future focused person? 

Home is where the heart is

My home. Not really.

I've moved. I'm no longer a twenty something still living with their parents (although I've yet to spend a night in my new bed). Everybody keeps saying how great and exciting it must be, but at this stage it's a bit hard to agree. First, moving is tiring work. I'm exhausted and when I'm exhausted I'm generally miserable. (When I'm miserable either of these two things solve the problem: a cup of tea or a nap. If I'm very miserable I may need both.)

Second, it just doesn't feel like home. It just feels like a room where I've dumped all my stuff and there are people I barely know in the same house. I'm still in the adjusting and settling in stage. But should it feel like home? Matthew 6:19-21 says:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

There's that saying, home is where the heart is. But here is says your heart should be in heaven, along with the treasures you store there. I think God wants us to enjoy the homes he's given us but not to treat them like treasure. We are to be generous with them and not hold onto them too firmly. Otherwise we won't have our heart in the right place.

Quick Questions

1. What works for you when you're miserable? (I feel another blog post coming on)
2. What is your most treasured belonging? (If you say "my Bible" I'll presume you're lying.)
3. Where are your treasures stored? In your bank? In your shed? In your wallet? Under your bed?

Random aside
In my last post I said that the Bemroses had given me a cold. I said that despite the fact the symptoms weren't all that similar. However, the Bemroses are ill again, but with colds that sound very similar to mine. I am currently writing that blog post onto edible paper...