Jump Start # 4142

1 Thessalonians 4:1 “Finally then, brothers and sisters, we request and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received instruction from us as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel even more.”

We are looking at the final 10 sermons I preached at Charlestown Road.

# 4 Cultivating a Culture of Excellence

Before the first hymn is sung. Before the preacher steps up to the pulpit. What do people feel when they walk into the church building? Many don’t think about it. Developing a culture of excellence reminds us why we gather and what is most important.

Imagine being one of the four Levites who carried the ark of the covenant. What a special role that would be. Or, the father of John the Baptist, going into the temple to serve. Do you think he had someone reminding him that he was scheduled that week? There were so many priests that he may had one opportunity in his lifetime to serve as he did.

By culture we mean attitude, atmosphere, vibe, feel or a spirit of doing things. Every organization, every team, every school, every home, every church has a culture. Some places may feel like sitting in the BMV waiting your turn. No one talks to anyone and no one really wants to be there. Culture is developed by leaders but must be embraced by everyone to be effective. Some cultures are not healthy nor right. A culture can change.

By excellence we mean bringing your best to the Lord. Passages like Philemon 21; 1 Thes 4:1 are examples of this. In Malachi’s day, the spirit of excellence was lost. The people were content in giving God what no one else wanted, the crippled and diseased animals. The problem wasn’t just the animals, it was the spirit of the people who thought God wouldn’t care. Giving God the left-overs.

God deserves the best because He is the best. God deserves the best because He always gives the best. We bring excellence when we do the best that we can. That carries over to mowing the church yard, cleaning the building, leading singing, teaching a class and preaching. You may not be the best that there is out there, but you are certainly doing the very best that you can.

The spirit of excellence begins in our hearts and our homes before it carries over to our worship. Being the best dad that you can be. Being the best teenager that you can be. You do this for the glory and honor of the Lord.

  By cultivating we mean seeking the best in all that is done. Culture is shaped by repeated expressions that are believed, practiced and communicated. It’s more than catchy slogans and mottos. This becomes who we are. Believing that Sunday is the best day of the week will change how people view worship. Once that becomes the culture, you’ll find folks arriving early for worship and sticking around long after it’s over. They want to be there and they want to be around one another. Other expressions such as: face the direction you are headed, leave the place better than you found it, live life the way it was meant to be each has a way of changing our thinking.

A better culture. Song leaders who have the songs picked out and practiced by midweek. They are already thinking of Sunday. The man giving the Lord’s Supper discussion has put on paper weeks ahead what he wants to say. He’s been thinking about that. Bringing the best. Guests will notice that. Members will notice that. God will notice that. It becomes catchy. Others will want to do their best and one by one, the culture is changed.

To keep a culture of excellence requires both forethought and effort. It won’t just happen. You have to work and work at it. The four common enemies to excellence are: comfort (we’ve always done things this way); complacency (it’s good enough); carelessness (it doesn’t matter); consumerism (what am I getting out of this?).

But when a congregation develops a culture of excellence, servants grow in number. Men become leaders. Young families become pillars. People begin looking for ways to serve instead of reasons not to.

Long after the sermon is over, the lights have been turned out and people have gone home, the vibe, the culture, the warmth, the love is what people will remember.

Don’t settle for substandard service. Cultivate a culture of excellence.

Roger