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Sermon Outline:

Excellence as a Way of Life

Israel Perdonsin

Introduction

today we will explore the profound concept of excellence and its vital role in our Christian journey.

Excellence is not merely about achieving success or receiving accolades; it is about honoring God with our best efforts in all we do.

As believers, we are called to live a life of excellence, reflecting the character and glory of our Creator.

Let us delve into three key aspects of excellence: living with our whole heart, doing our best, and influencing through excellence.

Point 1: With Your Whole Heart

Excellence begins with wholehearted commitment.

As believers, we must strive to do everything with our whole heart, giving our best effort and attention to detail.

Daniel 6:3 demonstrates this principle: "Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps because an excellent spirit was in him."

Daniel 6:3-4 3 - 3Daniel soon proved himself more capable than all the other administrators and high officers. Because of Daniel’s great ability, the king made plans to place him over the entire empire. 4Then the other administrators and high officers began searching for some fault in the way Daniel was handling government affairs, but they couldn’t find anything to criticize or condemn. He was faithful, always responsible, and completely trustworthy.

Daniel's excellence was rooted in his devotion to God and his diligent approach to his responsibilities.

Excellence is often associated with leadership and corporate success, but it is deeply connected to our spiritual walk.

God, our supreme Creator, exemplifies excellence in everything He does, and He expects the same from us.

he created everything and said it is good

As disciples of Christ, our definition of excellence should be aligned with God's standards.

Martin Luther King Jr. wisely said, “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, as Beethoven composed music, or as Shakespeare wrote poetry.”

This emphasizes that whatever our role in life, we should perform it with excellence, as unto the Lord.

Colossians 3:23 23Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

Moreover, Proverbs 22:29 - 29Do you see any truly competent workers?

They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.

When we work with excellence and integrity, we position ourselves for greater opportunities and recognition. Let us strive to live a life of excellence with our whole hearts, giving our best in everything we do, and cultivating a spirit of integrity.

Point 2: Do Your Best

Excellence is a lifestyle that every believer should embrace. It involves striving to become the best version of ourselves, the person God created us to be.

Excellence is not about perfection but about giving our best effort and attention to everything we do.

Excellence is not limited to being the best but being your best.

If we equate excellence with being the best, only one person in the world could be excellent.

However, if we define excellence as doing our best, everyone can achieve it.

God created and mandated us to do our best.

Proverbs 22:29 speaks to this principle: "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men."

Perfectionism, on the other hand, is a thief of joy and productivity. It drains our energy and demands unachievable outcomes.

Instead, excellence involves putting our hearts and souls into everything we do, serving God with our utmost effort.

John 2:1-11 recounts Jesus turning water into wine, showcasing His commitment to excellence. Similarly, we owe God our best efforts in everything we undertake.

John 2:10“A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”

Pursuing excellence helps us focus on what truly matters, fills us with energy, and allows us to serve others effectively.

It is about using our talents and abilities to glorify God and make a positive impact on the lives around us.

By living a life of excellence, we become a light to the world, showcasing the power of God working within us.

Point 3: Influence Through Excellence

As followers of Christ, our excellence should extend beyond our personal and professional lives to influence the world around us. Jesus called us to be the salt and light of the world, bringing divine flavor, healing, and illumination to a dark and corrupt world.

Matthew 5:13-16 captures this calling: "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless. 14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

As the salt of the earth, we add divine flavor, bring healing, create a thirst for Christ, serve as preservatives, and permeate the system with God's truth.

As the light of the world, we illuminate the good, dispel darkness, and radiate Christ's light.

Living a life of excellence allows us to make a profound impact on those around us.

It requires a commitment to doing our best in every aspect of our lives, representing Christ in all we do.

Our legacy will be one of significant impact, drawing others to God through our example of excellence.

Conclusion

In conclusion, let us strive to live a life of excellence with our whole hearts, giving our best effort in all we do, and using our influence to bring glory to God.

By embracing excellence, we reflect God's character and fulfill our calling as His disciples.

May we be diligent in our work, faithful in our commitment, and shining examples of Christ's love and grace in the world.

Let us pray for God's strength and guidance to pursue excellence in every area of our lives. Amen.

Introduction

1. Opening Statement

- Start with a question: "What does it mean to live a life of excellence?"

- Share a story or example of someone who embodies excellence in their everyday life.

2. Purpose

- Introduce the sermon’s aim: to explore biblical teachings on excellence and how to make it a way of life.

3. Scripture Reading

- Philippians 4:8 (NIV): "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

Body

Point 1 - With Your Whole Heart

1. Introduction to Wholeheartedness

- Explain that excellence involves giving our best effort in everything we do.

- Reference Daniel 6:3 (NIV): "Now Daniel so distinguished himself among the administrators and the satraps by his exceptional qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom."

2. Biblical Examples

- Discuss how Daniel's commitment and excellent spirit set him apart.

- Emphasize that excellence is rooted in our approach and commitment to God.

3. Personal Reflection

- Share a quote by Martin Luther King, Jr.: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, as Beethoven composed music, or as Shakespeare wrote poetry.”

- Highlight that our success is measured by our character and commitment, not just our career achievements.

4. Scriptural Encouragement

- Colossians 3:23 (NIV): "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."

- Proverbs 22:29 (NIV): "Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank."

Point 2 - Do Your Best

1. Excellence as a Lifestyle

- Explain that excellence is a mindset and way of life.

- Emphasize that it’s about becoming the best version of ourselves through God's strength.

2. Overcoming Challenges

- Discuss that excellence involves resilience through failures and mistakes.

- Clarify that excellence means doing *your* best, not being *the* best.

3. Scriptural Insights

- Proverbs 22:29 (NIV): "Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank."

- Highlight the importance of doing our best in every task, reflecting God's excellence.

4. Warning Against Perfectionism

- Differentiate between excellence and perfectionism.

- Explain that perfectionism can be draining and unattainable, whereas excellence is about doing our best for God.

5. Christ’s Example

- John 2:1-11 and Mark 3:1-5, showing how Jesus did everything with excellence.

- Encourage striving for excellence as a reflection of Christ’s character.

Point 3 - Influence Through Excellence

1. Excellence as Influence

- Explain that living a life of excellence makes us influential as followers of Christ.

- Matthew 5:13-16 (NIV): "You are the salt of the earth... You are the light of the world."

2. Salt and Light

- Discuss how we bring divine flavor, healing, and preservation as salt.

- Describe how we illuminate and dispel darkness as light, reflecting Jesus.

3. Practical Impact

- Share personal anecdotes or examples of how excellence in one's work or conduct has influenced others positively.

- Highlight that our actions can draw others to Christ through our example of excellence.

4. Legacy of Excellence:

- Challenge the congregation to consider what legacy they want to leave.

- Emphasize that living with excellence can leave a lasting impact on others and bring glory to God.

Conclusion

1. Recap Key Points

- Summarize the importance of living a life of excellence in heart, effort, and influence.

- Reiterate that true excellence comes from a relationship with God and following His commands.

2. Call to Action

- Encourage self-examination and commitment to areas needing improvement.

- Suggest practical steps like prayer, Bible study, and serving others.

3. Closing Prayer

- Pray for God's guidance and strength to pursue excellence in all aspects of life.

4. Inspirational Charge

- Philippians 1:9-10 (NIV): "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ."

- Challenge the congregation to strive for excellence, honoring God in everything they do.