Thursday, December 27, 2007
Discipleship And My Personality
Definition: “Temperaments are the combination of inborn traits that subconsciously affect our behavior.”
• History of the four temperaments :
• Hippocrates (5th Century B.C.)
Physical Health equals the balance of the body’s four liquids.
1. Blood
2. Phlegm
3. Chole (yellow bile)
4. Melanchole (black bile)
• Galen of Pergamum (2nd Century A.D.)
Used Latin terms for each fluid.
Imbalances caused effects in personality.
1. Sanguine- too much blood; warm lively type, cheerful and optimistic
2.Phlegmatic- too much phlegm; sluggish, slow and unemotional
3. Choleric- too much yellow bile; strong-willed, extrovert, often angry, and quick-tempered
4. Melancholy- too much black bile; gloomy, depressed, frequently introverted
• Jung, Myers-Briggs, Keirsey (1980)
The Four Temperaments : Choleric Phlegmatic Sanguine Melancholy
Do you have to be the way you are? NO!
Seven Factors Which Comprise Personality
1. Spiritual heritage
2. Genetic predispositions
3. Environmental factors
4. Inborn temperament
5. Birth order
6. Spiritual gift
7. Spiritual heart condition
The theory of Personality Types, as it stand today, contends that:
An individual is either primarily Extraverted or Introverted
An individual is either primarily Sensing or iNtuitive
An individual is either primarily Thinking or Feeling
An individual is either primarily Judging or Perceiving
Our Flow of Energy defines how we receive the essential part of our stimulation. Do we receive it from within ourselves (Introverted) or from external sources (Extraverted)? Is our dominant function focused externally or internally?
The topic of how we Take in Information deals with our preferred method of taking in and absorbing information. Do we trust our five senses (Sensing) to take in information, or do we rely on our instincts (iNtuitive)?
The third type of preference, how we prefer to Make Decisions, refers to whether we are prone to decide things based on logic and objective consideration (Thinking), or based on our personal, subjective value systems (Feeling).
These first three preferences were the basis of Jung's theory of Personalty Types. Isabel Briggs Myers developed the theory of the fourth preference, which is concerned with how we deal with the external world on a Day-to-day Basis. Are we organized and purposeful, and more comfortable with scheduled, structured environments (Judging), or are we flexible and diverse, and more comfortable with open, casual environments (Perceiving)? From a theoretical perspective, we know that if our highest Extraverted function is a Decision Making function, we prefer Judging. If our highest Extraverted function is an Information Gathering function, we prefer Perceiving.
Understanding How Others Misunderstand You Temperaments
The Four Temperaments : Choleric Phlegmatic Sanguine Melancholy
Carl Jung Myers-Briggs
Extraverted or Introverted Sensing or iNtuitive
Thinking or Feeling Judging or Perceiving
The Four Temperaments
SJ - "The Guardians"
ESTJ - "The Supervisors" ISTJ - "The Inspectors" ESFJ - "The Providers" ISFJ - "The Protectors"
SP - "The Artisans"
ESTP - "The Promoters" ISTP - "The Crafters" ESFP - "The Performers" ISFP - "The Composers"
NT - "The Rationals"
ENTJ - "The Fieldmarshals" INTJ - "The Masterminds" ENTP - "The Inventors" INTP - "The Architects"
NF - "The Idealists"
ENFJ - "The Teachers" INFJ - "The Counselors" ENFP - "The Champions" INFP - "The Healers"
D I S C
“A man’s wisdom gives him patience.” Proverbs 19:11a
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Some of you May have thought that you were useless because God can’t use your personality.
He can.
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
Some of you may not have realised what you are like as a person.
Psalm 139: Lord, You have searched me and known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I stand up; You understand my thoughts from far away. 3 You observe my travels and my rest; You are aware of all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, Lord. 5 You have encircled me; You have placed Your hand on me. 6 This extraordinary knowledge is beyond me. It is lofty; I am unable to reach it.
13 For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know this very well. 15 My bones were not hidden from You when I was made in secret, when I was formed in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.17 God, how difficult Your thoughts are for me to comprehend; how vast their sum is! 18 If I counted them, they would outnumber the grains of sand;
PERSONALITY TYPES – DiSC DiSC PERSONALITY PROFILE
D = Dominant i = Influence/Interacting S = Steadiness C = Cautious/Compliance
Mark 12:30 (NIV) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
Memory Verse Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30 (NIV)
Spiritual gifts are divine enablements that God has given us to serve others in this world.
Everyone of us has a passion to help us to be motivated to do what God wants us to do.
You hear that in Paul, his passion for the lsot.
For some of us its preaching, teaching, music to point people to the Lord Jesus.
Everyone of us has abilities, differing abilities, to make a difference for the cause of Christ.
Shamgar had one ability to use an ox to plow fields. No matter how small or great our abilities are, God can use them to win people to Himself. i.e. Dave and Doug with surfing.
Personality is how we respond, to others, to God to situations.
Every one is different.
God can use our personality to make a difference to others.
Smalley and Trent use animal names, Beaver worker, otter party animal, retriever faithful one, lion the leader.
Tim Lahaye, Sanguine partier, choleric leader, melancholic artist emotional feeler phlegmatic, compliant. diplomat
DISC Dominant Influencer Steadiness compliant.
The more you understand the way you are, it helps you understand how others react to you.
If you are sanguine, and you are working with a choleric, then you will feel frustrated.
It helps you understand conflict.
Mark 12:30 We are all responsible to do these things, but some of us are inclined to emphasise one of these four aspects of life above the others. . Love God… we all tend to favour one of those 4 above others.
FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PERSONALITIES
1. DOERS: LOVE GOD WTH ALL YOUR STRENGTH
Movers, shakers activists. Nehemiah heard that Jerusalem was oin decay and he ahd to do something. He couldn’t just sit around and think about it, or cry about it.
Franklin Graham is a doer. Samaritan’s Purse. We gotta do something.
PURPOSE: CONTRIBUTION
We need people to get things done.
Oh, God, here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service! Psalms 116:16 (MSG)
Offer your bodies to him as a living sacrifice, pure and pleasing. That’s the most sensible way to serve God. Romans 12:1 (CEV)
It’s a physical thing and doing something getting your hands dirty.
WEAKNESS
Doers tend to be overworked. When you find someone that’s busy they have a tendency to get things done .It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones. Psalms 127:2 (NLT)
There’s a time for work and a time for rest. Workers doers need to do what matters most.
WARNING: You need to do what matters most
Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint.
Proverbs 23:4 (NIV)
There are some things worth doing and some things not worth worrying about doing.
Being busy is not necessarily a sign of being godly.
We may need to look at our calendar and ask are we doing things that matter most.
DOERS: LOVE GOD WTH ALL YOUR STRENGTH
PERSONALITY TYPES -- DiSC
High D Traits
Direct Results Oriented Egocentric Daring Domineering
Demanding Forceful Aggressive Adventuresome Decisive Inquisitive
Self-Assured Competitive Quick Risk-Taker
Mark 12:30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
2. FEELERS: LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR SOUL
Soul often used for a synonym for emotions.
Feelers love the psalms because it is a book of emotions. Feelers wear their feelings on their shoulders a lot. They love to worship where there is a lot of feelings and emotions.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. Ps 42:1 (NLT)
PURPOSE: COMPASSION
Barnabas, a son of encouragement, compassion on Mark.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 4:32 (NIV)
WEAKNESS
Feelers can be manipulated by their feelings and moods. I didn’t feel like I should do this or that. Sometimes our feelings lie. If our lives are based on our feelings we live a roller coaster life. Feelings can lie and are unpredictable.
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 1 Peter 2:11 (NIV)
They can run from one high to another.
WARNING: You need to let God, not feelings, lead you. let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature. Gal 5:16 (TEV)
I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.
We need a better guide than our feelings, we need the Word of God to lead us.
2. FEELERS: LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR SOUL
High I PERSONALITY TYPES -- DiSC
High i Traits
Enthusiastic Gregarious Generous Influential Persuasive Affable Friendly Confident
Trusting Poised Charming Sociable Impulsive Sensitive Self-Promoting
3. TALKERS: LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
What we say with our mouth has come out of our hearts. These people want to talk about stuff. When we have a critical tongue its because of our critical hearts.
I have not kept this good news hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalms 40:10 (NLT)
Sanguine, Influencer, Otters.
David was a heart person. Peter was a heart person. Said things he wished he hadn’t.
These people are great contributors to bringing healing to people. Wise words can help us avoid trouble, they are encouragers.
PURPOSE: COMMUNICATION
… there is healing in the words of the wise. Proverbs 12:18 (MSG)
The words of the wise keep them out of trouble. Proverbs 14:3 (NLT)
WEAKNESSES
The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. Proverbs 10:19 (TEV) When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.
In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
Its often better to keep your mouth shut and be thought dumb, than to open and prove it.
Often talking too much is a cover up for insecurity.
Those who are sure of themselves do not talk all the time. Proverbs 17:27 (TEV)
Confident people don’t need to be talking all the time.
WARNING: Talkers also need to act
Mere words are not enough—discipline is needed. Proverbs 29:19 (NLT)
20 Do you see a man who speaks too soon? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
1. TALKERS: LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART
High S PERSONALITY TYPES -- DiSC
High S Traits
Self-Controlled Easy-Going Non-Demonstrative Predictable Complacent Possessive
Patient Deliberate Amiable Group-Oriented
4. THINKERS: LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR MIND
Analytical thinkers. We don’t check our brains at the door.
Paul is a thinker, Jonathon Edwards, a great mind, CS Lewis, Lee Strobel, JI Packer.
Oh, how I love your law! I think about it all day long. Psalms 119:97 (NLT)
PURPOSE: CONSIDERATION
We need people who think about things, and innovate. We need people t ponder the deep things of life and reason those things out.
Instead, we should think about the way we are living, and turn back to the Lord. Lamentations 3:40 (CEV)
Thinkers love the scriptures, they love to read the Word and study it, and learn the languages, and mine the truths of God word.
WEAKNESSES Pride.
Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 1 Corinthians 8:1 (NIV)
…Always studying but never able to recognize the truth. 2 Tim 3:7 (GW)
WARNING: You need to practice humility
Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom. Proverbs 3:7 (NLT)
Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. James 1:22 (NIV)
It’s not what you know, its what you do about what you know. Information without application is less than useless; it makes you responsible for not acting.
3. THINKERS: LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR MIND
High C PERSONALITY TYPES -- DiSC
High C Traits
Conscientious Evasive Precise Systematic Diplomatic Accurate Restrained
Sensitized Perfectionist Critical Factual Discrete Analytical
Realize your interdependence in Christ’s body
We really do need each other in the body of Christ. Our experience of the Lord is always partial and it is inevitably impoverished when we keep ourselves from the contributions that others could bring to us. Whatever differences of perception we may have, whatever difficulties in communication, whatever disagreements over courses of action that should be taken, we still need to share together in worship, fellowship and service with those of different temperament types. In this way our understanding and experience of God can be expanded. The communion that grows from such deliberate acts of commitment to one another is a witness to the whole world that Christ has come.
Appreciate the gifts of others
We can learn to view others from a gift perspective. This means that we will determine not to concentrate on those characteristics in them, which we like, but upon the qualities that they contribute. We will try to see how their differences can actually fill gaps in our own experiences and abilities. Since none of us are perfectly rounded persons, we will try to keep in mind those areas where we especially need the gifts that others can bring. We will appreciate how they may help us to see things to which we would have otherwise been blind, contribute strength where we would have been weak, be bold where we might have been conservative, or be cautious where we might have been foolhardy. Paul’s image of the body, with each organ and appendage working together in harmony is a powerful one.
Think of the persons with whom you seem to have the greatest difficulty relating. Often, though not always, these are persons who have temperament types which are across the chart or at least in a different quadrant from your own. Use this insight to guide you in considering their gifts, praying for them in their needs, and praising God for their ministries.
Respond to the needs of others
Loving implies that we will try to be aware and understanding of others’ needs as well as their gifts. We will try to grow in our respect for temperament differences, not demanding that others become like us, nor even that they must always adapt themselves to meet our own peculiarities. Rather, we will seek to know them well enough to understand what they need form us, and then try to meet them more than halfway. For example, in communication we will try to speak to the Sensing person’s need for concreteness and detail, or the Intuitive’s need to see the big picture and the guiding vision. Likewise, in decision-making, we will respect those whose Feeling orientation causes them to evaluate matters from the standpoint of personal values, or those whose Thinking orientation causes them to focus mainly on objective considerations. In group life, we will honor the more reticent members who tend to think things out before speaking, and we will try to create ways for making sure we receive their input, rather than allowing those who are more verbal to dominate the time. Paul reminds us that we are to think more highly of one another than we do of ourselves (Philippians 2:3).
Respect others when in conflict
Conflict is inevitable. Since we do have different perspectives, and since we often take very different things into account in our decision-making, we are bound to experience misunderstandings and differences of opinion. Christian unity does not mean the absence of conflict, but requires our willingness to lay aside defensiveness, the urge to protect our turf, and our anxious concern to assert our rights. (Ephesians 4:1-3)
Such attitudes enable us to be receptive to one another and to the Lord. A quiet and receptive spirit and the willingness to wait upon God in prayer are essential if we would discern the will of God together. Although there is such a variety of temperaments among us, nevertheless, there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism…one God and father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (Ephesians 4:5,6).
Allow for others’ growth
Love gives to others the same respect that it desires for itself. We would never want another to judge our abilities to perform in the future simply on the basis of what we did in the past. Each of us is on a journey. Each is in the process of growth. Understanding others’ temperament types is a way of honouring people because it shows our desire to understand what is important to them. However, our appreciation of their uniqueness should never be used to circumscribe our estimates of their capacities. Rather, we will seek to recognize growth and celebrate God’s ways working in both of us. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
SPIRITUAL PERSONALITY Romans 12:2,3 “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will” For by the grace given to me, I tell everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he should think. Instead, think sensibly, as God has distributed a measure of faith to each one.
