A SPIRIT OF EXCELLENCE

Small Group October 15 - October 19, 2012

PART ONE

The Code: We honor God and inspire people by doing everything with
excellence.

Chapter 22 of the book of Genesis recounts the well known story of

Abraham’s sacrifice of his son Isaac. After blessing Abraham and Sarah late
in life with the birth of a son, God later instructs Abraham to take Isaac to
the land of Moriah and offer him, his only son, as a burnt offering. Abraham
does as he is told. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the
place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, ’Stay here with the
donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to
you.’ Genesis 22:4-5.

Isaac is at the heart of God’s covenant with Abraham. God has promised
Abraham I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you
Genesis 17:6. He has further promised Abraham that I will establish my
covenant with Isaac, Genesis 17:21. God is asking Abraham to sacrifice
the life of his son as well as his hope for the future. Abraham’s obedience is,
therefore, an act of both trust and worship. He understands that God is
asking him to give up what he values most, Isaac, for what he values more,
God.

As we know, God intervenes and prevents Abraham from killing his son and
provides, instead, a lamb for the sacrifice. Abraham names the place where
the encounter occurs God will provide.

God asks no less of us than he does of Abraham. While He does not ask us
to sacrifice our children on the alter, he does ask that our worship include
acts of obedience and trust. We are intended to give our best to Him, not
our leftovers. Our hearts, like Abraham’s, are reflected through our actions.
As the recipients of God’s grace, our work and service should reflect the
excellence of the one who called us.

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 • Read the following scriptures: Psalm 150:1-2; Colossians 3:23-24;
Philippians 1:9-11; Philippians 4:8; 2 Peter 1:3-4.

PART TWO

During the time of Daniel, Israel fell under the yoke of Babylon. Jerusalem
was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar and the Lord gave Judah into his hand,
with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he [Nebuchadnezzar]
brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the
vessels in the treasury of his god. Daniel 1:2.

Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah are taken to Nebuchadnezzar’s palace.

Enslaved and immersed in a foreign culture, they consistently find ways to
remain faithful to God. In time, Daniel is appointed to a position of authority
within the kingdom. Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the
other presidents and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him.
Daniel 6:3.

What can we learn from Daniel about cultivating a spirit of excellence?

1. A life of excellence interprets life’s circumstances as opportunities to

live out one’s faith–not as an excuse for mediocrity. Daniel is placed in
circumstances that make the practice of his faith difficult, but he works
within the situation in which he finds himself, and in doing so,
distinguishes himself with God and within the culture of the palace.

2. Excellence rejects the idea of good enough. The king assigned them a
daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he
drank . . . But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with
the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the
chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. Daniel 1:5,8.
Daniel resolves in his heart to adhere to the requirements of Judaism
despite the difficulties his decision may entail.

3. Excellence creates an environment where leaders will emerge. Daniel’s

example and his willingness to make sacrifices for his faith is emulated
by Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions in exile.

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 4. Excellence becomes the catalyst to influence culture. Because of
Daniel’s excellent spirit, the king planned to set him over the whole
kingdom. Daniel 6:3. As the story progresses, however, those jealous
of Daniel conspire to destroy him. He is thrown into the lion’s den and
when Nebuchadnezzar, filled with fear and regret over Daniel’s possible
demise, finds him alive, he declares, in all my royal dominion people
are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living
God, enduring forever, his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his
dominion shall be to the end. Daniel 6:26

• Daniel did not go to Babylon for the purpose of converting others to

Judaism yet the excellence of his life ultimately influenced a foreign
culture to believe in his God. What does the story of Daniel suggest
about our ability to convert people with whom we have no established
relationship, for whom we have not demonstrated the validity of our
beliefs?

• Why is ”good enough” the enemy of God’s greatness?

PART THREE

Why is it important that we cultivate a spirit of excellence? If what God

cares about is our heart, our attitude and our motivation, what does it matter
as to the quality of our work?

Colossians 3:9-10 tells us you have put off the old self with its practices and
have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the
image of its creator. Our rebirth as Christians redefines our existence and our
relationship to our environment.

Our ultimate goal, of course, is to become kingdom catalysts. God takes us

out of Babylon as victims and send us back as missionaries. As in the time of
Daniel, we must distinguish ourselves as servants of the Lord of excellent
greatness. When we attempt to influence a culture that often disparages our
faith, we must remember that what we do as Christians reflects on the

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message we carry. To construct a platform through which the world will listen
to us, we must be known for the excellence of our work, our attitudes, our
efforts. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.
You are serving the Lord Christ. Colossians 3:23-24 Bringing our best to
everything we do inspires people and honors God.

• Aristotle said, ”We are what we repeatedly do . . . excellence, then, is

not an act, but a habit.” Colin Powell commented, ”If you are going to
achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters.
Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.” John Gardner
said, ”Some men have greatness thrust upon them. Very few have
excellence thrust upon them.” All three of these men convey an
essential truth about excellence: it is a matter of habit in which the
small things matter as much as the big things. Thinking about the
previous comments, discuss what is meant by the statement Excellence
is proving God in the little things?

• What is the difference between excellence and perfection? (Excellence

is defined as the quality of being outstanding or extremely good;
perfection is defined to be the condition, state, or quality of being free
from flaws or defects.)