Excellence@Work

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Oct 2, 2016 - Excellence will always set you apart because most people are not ... excelling”) in the work of the Lord
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Excellence@Work

Excellence@Work: The Power of Doing More than is Expected

The Power of Doing More than is Expected Brandon: I readjusted this layout to better fit the formatting needed when I print. If you will just keep

Dr. Brandon Park | October 2, 2016 all your text within the blue margin lines on this page, I shouldn’t have any more issues ☺. Thanks!

Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all. There is a great power and influence that comes Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all. There is a great power and influence that comes upon your life when you commit to do everything with excellence. It’s been said that success is finding a job that is really is worth doing well. “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” – finding a job that is really is worth doing well. “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” – Aristotle. Aristotle. Excellence is the ________________ of influence. If you want to see God use you in your work, Excellence is the ________________ of influence. If you want to see God use you in your work, then excellence is the currency of a workplace ministry. Without excellence, you have no influence in your workplace and your witness for Christ will be ignored. your workplace and your witness for Christ will be ignored. All throughout Scripture, you notice a pattern. When a person decides to live a life that is beyond average and they begin to practice excellence as a lifestyle, then real miracles begin to happen in average and they begin to practice excellence as a lifestyle, then real miracles begin to happen in their life. There are three Biblical examples (three generations) of people who served with excellence and you can note the favor of God upon their life. and you can note the favor of God upon their life.

1. Jacob teaches us to value excellence despite how your ________________ treats you.

Read Genesis 27-32. Jacob was on the run from his brother Esau. He eventually falls in love with Rachel, but her father (Laban) was a crooked and manipulative man. He employed Jacob and told him that if he worked for him for 7 years, he could marry his daughter. Then he deceived him after 7 years and told him to work for 7 more years in order to marry Rachel. Laban changed Jacob’s wages 10 different times and never did what he had promised to Jacob. Yet despite all of that, Jacob “served with Laban still another seven years” (Genesis 29:30). Eventually Jacob’s workmanship and commitment to excellence left such a huge impression on Laban. He eventually made him an offer and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you" (Genesis 30:27). Even though he was being manipulated by a man who was not treating him fairly, he still kept giving more than what was expected. Why was Jacob able to do this? Because he knew something that Laban didn’t fully understand. In Genesis 31:42 he says, “God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands…” The entire time Laban was mistreating him Jacob knew that God saw him do more than what was expected. Jacob went through a series of tests in his life and at the end, he passed the exam. God would later change his name from Jacob to Israel which means “May God prevail.”

2. Rebekah teaches us to value excellence despite what it may personally ________ you.

Genesis 24 – Isaac’s servant, was sent on a mission to find a wife for Isaac. The servant sees Rebekah and he lays out a fleece before the Lord and says, “If she is the one, may she not just offer to draw water out of the well for me, but also for all of my camels also” (Genesis 24:14). The Bible says that the servant had 10 camels. Each camel at the end of a day’s journey would drink between 20-30 gallons of water. In order for Rebecca to give water to those camels, she had to bring up out of the well anywhere between 200-300 gallons of water. Even with a 5-gallon bucket, she would have had to lower it and raise it at least 40 times and it probably took two hours of hard work in order to accomplish it. Rebekah was willing to _____________________ herself for the next two hours in order to make a difference in this man’s life. As the servant was watching this unfold, what was his reaction? The Bible says, “the man bowed down his head and worshipped the Lord” (Genesis 24:26). This “Rebekah” principle goes against the philosophy of our day. We want maximum payment with minimum effort. Rebekah said, “I want to give maximum effort for minimal return.” Little did Rebekah realize that this single act of giving more than what is deserved would give her the opportunity to marry into the royal family and bring about the lineage of Jesus Christ.

3. Joseph teaches us to value excellence despite what ____________________ you’re in.

Read Genesis 38-50. If your own brothers had thrown you into a pit, sold you into slavery, and then later on someone has falsely accused you, and you spent the next 13 years of your life in prison, how would you respond? Most would become bitter, but there was something different about him. Even while in prison, Joseph continued to minister, to clean, and to work with his whole heart. As expected – God takes notice! Eventually the favor and blessing of God is going to come upon you. Genesis



39:22, “And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.” Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.” Excellence will always set you apart because most people are not willing to pay the price for excellence. The word “excel” means “to go ____________ ___________.” Excellence is the maximum utilization of the _____________ that you have. It means going beyond what is required for minimum approval to what will result in maximum achievement. When I give more than is ________________, then I will get more than I ________________. So what does excellence look like? Excellence means going farther than _________________ and giving more than is ___________________. Matthew 5:41, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” The Roman Empire had a law that stated if a soldier was carrying his sarcina (backpack that weighed 50 lbs.) and he saw a Jew working in the field, you could force that Jew to drop what they were doing and carry his bag for one mile. There was nothing that agitated and embittered the Jewish people against the Roman soldier’s government than this law. They would mark out exactly where one mile was from their property – they were trained to do just the minimum. Jesus told them, “Whoever forces you to go one mile, walk with him two.” The first mile is always the duty-fulfilling mile; the second mile is always the difference-making mile. The first mile is where the ________________ is; the second mile is where the ___________________ is. What will a commitment to excellence do in your life? • Your ___________________ will be completely different. • Going the second mile will build your ___________________. • It will maximize your chance to be _____________________ in life. Nobody watches first milers—they’re a dime a dozen! But everybody watches the “second milers.” If you do the minimum, you’ll get the minimum – you will reap what you sow! 5 Keys to Unlocking a Lifestyle of Excellence: 1. Find your ___________________. People of excellence love what it is they are doing. They keep moving. What energizes you and makes you feel alive? Excellence is not a skill… it is a choice. When you find your strength zone, you already are gifted for excellence. The only question now is are you committed for excellence? 1 Corinthians 15:58, “So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding (perisseuo = “abounding, doing over and above, excelling”) in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” 2. Pay attention to _______________. 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” People of excellence have an appreciation for the big picture, but they also have a big appreciation for the little and minute things. Helen Keller: “My ambition for life is to do great and noble things but my chief duty is to do small things as if they were great and noble.” 3. Be _________________________. Booker T. Washington said, “Excellence is doing a common thing in an uncommon way.” When you have an attitude of excellence, you’re saying, “God I want your character to be revealed through what I do.” 4. Never stop ________________________. Colossians 1:28-29, “We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all men with all wisdom so that we may present every man mature in Christ. Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.” 5. Always give ______________. “The very quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to the commitment to excellence.” – Vince Lombardi How do you live a life of excellence? Very simple: Always give more than what people ____________ to ________________ from you.



1

Excellence@Work

Excellence@Work: The Power of Doing More than is Expected

The Power of Doing More than is Expected Brandon: I readjusted this layout to better fit the formatting needed when I print. If you will just keep

Dr. Brandon Park | October 2, 2016 all your text within the blue margin lines on this page, I shouldn’t have any more issues ☺. Thanks!

Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all. There is a great power and influence that comes Be the labor great or small, do it well or not at all. There is a great power and influence that comes upon your life when you commit to do everything with excellence. It’s been said that success is finding a job that is really is worth doing well. “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” – finding a job that is really is worth doing well. “Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work.” – Aristotle. Aristotle. currency Excellence is the ________________ of influence. If you want to see God use you in your work, Excellence is the ________________ of influence. If you want to see God use you in your work, then excellence is the currency of a workplace ministry. Without excellence, you have no influence in your workplace and your witness for Christ will be ignored. your workplace and your witness for Christ will be ignored. All throughout Scripture, you notice a pattern. When a person decides to live a life that is beyond average and they begin to practice excellence as a lifestyle, then real miracles begin to happen in average and they begin to practice excellence as a lifestyle, then real miracles begin to happen in their life. There are three Biblical examples (three generations) of people who served with excellence and you can note the favor of God upon their life. and you can note the favor of God upon their life. employer 1. Jacob teaches us to value excellence despite how your ________________ treats you. Read Genesis 27-32. Jacob was on the run from his brother Esau. He eventually falls in love with Rachel, but her father (Laban) was a crooked and manipulative man. He employed Jacob and told him that if he worked for him for 7 years, he could marry his daughter. Then he deceived him after 7 years and told him to work for 7 more years in order to marry Rachel. Laban changed Jacob’s wages 10 different times and never did what he had promised to Jacob. Yet despite all of that, Jacob “served with Laban still another seven years” (Genesis 29:30). Eventually Jacob’s workmanship and commitment to excellence left such a huge impression on Laban. He eventually made him an offer and said, “If I have found favor in your sight, stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you" (Genesis 30:27). Even though he was being manipulated by a man who was not treating him fairly, he still kept giving more than what was expected. Why was Jacob able to do this? Because he knew something that Laban didn’t fully understand. In Genesis 31:42 he says, “God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands…” The entire time Laban was mistreating him Jacob knew that God saw him do more than what was expected. Jacob went through a series of tests in his life and at the end, he passed the exam. God would later change his name from Jacob to Israel which means “May God prevail.” cost 2. Rebekah teaches us to value excellence despite what it may personally ________ you. Genesis 24 – Isaac’s servant, was sent on a mission to find a wife for Isaac. The servant sees Rebekah and he lays out a fleece before the Lord and says, “If she is the one, may she not just offer to draw water out of the well for me, but also for all of my camels also” (Genesis 24:14). The Bible says that the servant had 10 camels. Each camel at the end of a day’s journey would drink between 20-30 gallons of water. In order for Rebecca to give water to those camels, she had to bring up out of the well anywhere between 200-300 gallons of water. Even with a 5-gallon bucket, she would have had to lower it and raise it at least 40 times and it probably took two hours of hard work in order to inconvenience accomplish it. Rebekah was willing to _____________________ herself for the next two hours in order to make a difference in this man’s life. As the servant was watching this unfold, what was his reaction? The Bible says, “the man bowed down his head and worshipped the Lord” (Genesis 24:26). This “Rebekah” principle goes against the philosophy of our day. We want maximum payment with minimum effort. Rebekah said, “I want to give maximum effort for minimal return.” Little did Rebekah realize that this single act of giving more than what is deserved would give her the opportunity to marry into the royal family and bring about the lineage of Jesus Christ. circumstances 3. Joseph teaches us to value excellence despite what ____________________ you’re in. Read Genesis 38-50. If your own brothers had thrown you into a pit, sold you into slavery, and then later on someone has falsely accused you, and you spent the next 13 years of your life in prison, how would you respond? Most would become bitter, but there was something different about him. Even while in prison, Joseph continued to minister, to clean, and to work with his whole heart. As expected – God takes notice! Eventually the favor and blessing of God is going to come upon you. Genesis



39:22, “And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it.” Proverbs 22:29 says, “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.” Excellence will always set you apart because most people are not beyond average willing to pay the price for excellence. The word “excel” means “to go ____________ ___________.” ability Excellence is the maximum utilization of the _____________ that you have. It means going beyond what is required for minimum approval to what will result in maximum achievement. demanded deserve When I give more than is ________________, then I will get more than I ________________. So what does excellence look like? required Excellence means going farther than _________________ and giving more than is deserved ___________________. Matthew 5:41, “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” The Roman Empire had a law that stated if a soldier was carrying his sarcina (backpack that weighed 50 lbs.) and he saw a Jew working in the field, you could force that Jew to drop what they were doing and carry his bag for one mile. There was nothing that agitated and embittered the Jewish people against the Roman soldier’s government than this law. They would mark out exactly where one mile was from their property – they were trained to do just the minimum. Jesus told them, “Whoever forces you to go one mile, walk with him two.” The first mile is always the duty-fulfilling mile; the second mile is always the difference-making mile. The first mile is where the ________________ is; the second mile is where burden the ___________________ is. blessing What will a commitment to excellence do in your life? • Your ___________________ will be completely different. attitude • Going the second mile will build your ___________________. character successful • It will maximize your chance to be _____________________ in life. Nobody watches first milers—they’re a dime a dozen! But everybody watches the “second milers.” If you do the minimum, you’ll get the minimum – you will reap what you sow! 5 Keys to Unlocking a Lifestyle of Excellence: passion 1. Find your ___________________. People of excellence love what it is they are doing. They keep moving. What energizes you and makes you feel alive? Excellence is not a skill… it is a choice. When you find your strength zone, you already are gifted for excellence. The only question now is are you committed for excellence? 1 Corinthians 15:58, “So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding (perisseuo = “abounding, doing over and above, excelling”) in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” detail 2. Pay attention to _______________. 1 Corinthians 10:31, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” People of excellence have an appreciation for the big picture, but they also have a big appreciation for the little and minute things. Helen Keller: “My ambition for life is to do great and noble things but my chief duty is to do small things as if they were great and noble.” consistent 3. Be _________________________. Booker T. Washington said, “Excellence is doing a common thing in an uncommon way.” When you have an attitude of excellence, you’re saying, “God I want your character to be revealed through what I do.” improving 4. Never stop ________________________. Colossians 1:28-29, “We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all men with all wisdom so that we may present every man mature in Christ. Toward this goal I also labor, struggling according to his power that powerfully works in me.” 110% 5. Always give ______________. “The very quality of a person’s life is in direct proportion to the commitment to excellence.” – Vince Lombardi How do you live a life of excellence? Very simple: Always give more than what people ____________ expect to ________________ from you. receive