C. STRENGTHENING CHARACTER

In the 2016 Olympics, it was amazing to see each of these athletes demonstrate their vision for excellence. They might break a record, but they wanted more. They wanted to excel and break it again. Excellence means that a goal that they had reached in the past is not enough.

Excellence is when a person wants to EXCEL to the next level. This is not perfection but how you can improve. When evaluation is done in the various parts of life, the desire to improve is the quality of excellence. When excellence is present, evaluation is done in all areas of your life and then steps are taken to improve. These steps and success show the quality of excellence.

This is illustrated in the scripture below.

 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13:

Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. ¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. ¹³ May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones?

1. What do you observe that the apostle Paul wanted the saints to excel in?

2. What does this passage teach about excellence in love?

3. What would this attitude of character produce in our life?

4. What are the areas in your life that you would like to excel in or abound more or increase?

1. Which one do you want to excel in currently?

2. What would be one thing that you could focus on?

3. How willyou go about this process?

4. Describe your “excellence” plan.

5. When will you get started on this?

1. What is the most important part of this lesson to you? Explain.

2. How do you see applying aspects of this lesson to your life?

3. When do you feel would be the best time to make that application?

4. What do you hear the Lord speaking to you about this right now?