Sunday Sermon - October 12, 2003 - To Excel in Excellence

Sunday Sermon

To Excel in Excellence

Ralph Crump

October 12, 2003

Introduction: There are five essentials in reaching your objectives: 1) Vision, 2) Goals, 3) Work, 4) Growth, and 5) Excellence.

Text: Philippians 1:9-11

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 until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ--to the glory and praise of God.

I. Excellence is never granted to man but as the reward of labor.

II. Who is excellent?

A. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom.

B. Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

C. Colossians 3:23

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men

III. Seven things included in the achievement of excellence:

A. ____________ ___________ always!

1. Philippians 2:12

Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling

2. The only place success is found before __________ is in the dictionary.

B. A ____________ and searching self ____________.

1. II Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

2. Self-examination is the basis of all incentives to improvement.

C. There must be self ____________.

1. Luke 9:23

Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

2. Romans 12:1-2

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. 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.

D. Understand that the ____________ between ____________ and defeat is often hair-line thin.

E. Willingness to compare each achievement with ____________ rather than the accomplishments of others.

We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. - II Corinthians 10:12

F. There must be a ____________ of purpose.

1. Matthew 6:24

"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money."

2. Philippians 3:13

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead

G. Be a champion for ______________.

1. Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

2. Break the fatigue barrier.

a. Philippians 1:7

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.

b. Galatians 2:20

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Conclusion: To pay the price for excellence requires goals and persistence of pursuing them duly and diligently.

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