This blogpost features some down to earth, approachable ways to share the gospel as an introvert, as well as a half-sheet activity page to complement the Come Follow Me (CFM) reading for June 9-15, which includes D&C 60-63. Click here for an index and links to my CFM blogposts for other weeks.
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REAL-LIFE TIPS FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL AS AN INTROVERT
Being someone who leans toward the introverted side of the personality spectrum, means that sometimes sharing the gospel in the traditional way can feel a little extra intimidating. After years of worrying that I'm not doing enough in this department, I'm coming to realize that there are many more ways to share the gospel than just the "extroverted" way of boldly inviting people to come to church or to meet with the missionaries. Of course, I may feel prompted to extend those bold invitations sometimes, but I'm realizing that, for many people, our quieter, introverted approach is exactly what they need for their seed of faith to be nurtured. After a lot of thought and study on this topic, here is my plan for sharing the gospel more effectively as an introvert.
1. Live it every day.
In Preach My Gospel, it says: “The Savior has shown the way. He has set the perfect example, and He commands us to become as He is.” And in the Bible, we are commanded to “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”
Living the gospel consistently is by far the most effective way to let that light shine and share the gospel with others. When the way you live on a day-in and day-out basis reflects your love for the Savior, people will notice. Just as they say, "Actions speak louder than words," I believe that the way you treat people, how you handle difficult situations, and the integrity with which you live are all testaments that will speak much louder than any spoken testimony can. Of course, that doesn't mean perfection. But it does mean doing our best to live in more accordance with how the Savior lives and when we fall short, doing what we can to make it right. People are drawn to light and when you let the light of Christ shine through you, people will notice.
2. Pray
Praying for the people we care about to feel the Spirit is a powerful tool to help us in our quest to share the gospel. On the surface, it may seem passive, but when those prayers are coupled with action, there is no better foundational premise on which to base our efforts to share the gospel.
The following scripture is a good reminder that there is no topic for which we can't turn to the Lord.
"Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day." Alma 37:37
Whether we are praying to recognize an opportunity to share the gospel, or to give us the courage to speak up, or to simply help someone to feel the Spirit; prayer is always a good idea!
If you were to gather all the teachings of the prophets through the scriptures and through modern times, I think there are two themes that would stand above the rest. The #1 theme of course being Jesus Christ, but not far behind that would be love. When someone random tells me something, I may or may not pay attention to what they have to say. But when someone I love tells me something, I pay far more attention.
When we view sharing the gospel as a gradual process of nurturing a seed, it just makes sense that getting to know someone and developing a friendly loving relationship with them is a big part of that process. I believe wholeheartedly that the best way for someone to hear your message (spoken or not), is to be a true friend and let them know you care, whether they ever express any interest in the gospel or not. Additionally, I feel compelled to mention that sometimes the relationships we need to focus on most are the ones within our own families. Remember that family is first, especially when it comes to sharing the gospel love!
"Through Christlike love for others, we preach the glorious, life-transforming properties of Christ’s gospel, and we participate significantly in the fulfilling of His great commission." Elder Stevenson
4. Don't view it as a big thing
My brain has a tendency to blow things up into bigger things than they need to be and sharing the gospel often has been one of those things for me. What I've come to realize over the years is that taking the "bigness" out of it, makes it seem more approachable. For me that meant not viewing "sharing the gospel" as only extending a special invitation to come to church with us or to have them meet with the missionaries, but, as I mentioned above, more of a gradual process.
I love what Elder Uchtdorf shared on this topic:
“Years ago our family lived and worked among people who in almost every
case were not of our faith. When they asked us how our weekend was, we
tried … to share some religious experiences we had as a family over the
weekend—for instance, what a youth speaker had said about the standards
from For the Strength of Youth or how we were touched by the words of a young man who was leaving on his mission.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf
Somehow sharing a small gospel insight that I learned at church that week seems much easier than asking if they want to come to church with me.
5. Be you.
I am someone who does not speak well on the fly, which is why it's much easier and more effective for me to share my thoughts and feelings on the gospel in writing. For others, that would be torture. Additionally, I really like creating these activity sheets to go with the Come, Follow Me reading each week. It gives me direction in my scripture study and I feel that they are a way that I can share the gospel with others weekly. What works for you to share the gospel may look very different than it does for me. Part of the challenge is finding how YOU can share the gospel in a way that's authentic to you, in a way that you can consistently do it. That doesn't mean never having to step outside our comfort zones, but when we find a way to do it day-in, day-out, we can find that we can have a far greater impact for good than if we sit silently back waiting until we feel comfortable.
SOME NON-SCARY IDEAS FOR SHARING THE GOSPEL
1. Read church books in public places, so people can ask
questions.
2. Don't be afraid to chime into religious discussions.
3. Send a weekly spiritual thought to your grown
children.
4. Share a spiritual insight on social media occasionally
5. Add a quote from scripture or a General Authority when you post a random picture on social media
6. Work on strengthening your own testimony, so you can speak with greater confidence when the opportunity arises
7. Approach it slowly and with love
8. Send an uplifting note to someone who is struggling
9. Seek for opportunities to serve in the community
10. Pick one uplifting/interesting thing that you experienced each Sunday and be prepared to share it whenever anyone asks, "How was your weekend?"
11. Write encouraging emails/letters to the missionaries serving from your ward
12. Pray to recognize missionary opportunities
13. Exercise patience and forgiveness when people fall short of your expectations. See #1 above. Your actions speak much louder than any spoken words ever could.
14. Love, Share, Invite. I love this simple admonition from Elder Stevenson that starts with love!
15. Keep a written record of spiritual experiences and impressions that you've had that you can pass on and share with the next generation
SOME GREAT RESOURCES FOR FURTHER STUDY
"Missionary Work: Sharing What's in Your Heart" by Elder Uchtdorf
"3 Easy (and Unscary) Ways to Share the Gospel with Others" by Daniel A. (church website)
"Love, Share, Invite" by Elder Stevenson
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PRINTABLE CFM ACTIVITY SHEET
These
activity sheets are designed to print double-sided and cut in half.
They're perfect for reviewing or introducing the content found in the
Come, Follow Me reading each week and would be great used in a classroom
or home setting. I have no children at home, nor do I have a calling
working with youth, so I copy these to be handed out with the sacrament
programs each week. Kids, teens, and adults enjoy them.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE ACTIVITY PAGE (in case it's not showing below)
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Be sure to bookmark this site and come back every week for more Come, Follow Me resources!
Enjoy learning the Gospel together!
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