Excellence Rooted in Faith: Transforming Work and Life

Devotional

Day 1: Excellence Rooted in Faith

Excellence in our work is not merely about skill or talent; it is deeply intertwined with our spiritual gifts and our relationship with God. Just as Domenico DeMarco's dedication to crafting the perfect pizza transformed perceptions of Brooklyn pizza, our commitment to excellence, grounded in God, can lead to transformative change in our world. This excellence is a reflection of our faith and is meant to influence every aspect of our lives, from our careers to our personal relationships. By striving for excellence in all we do, we honor God and participate in His work. [06:53]

"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, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you can improve your commitment to excellence. How can you invite God into this process today?

Day 2: Faith-Driven Excellence

Daniel's story in Babylon is a powerful example of how excellence rooted in faith can lead to significant change, even in challenging environments. Despite being in exile and facing difficult circumstances, Daniel's unwavering commitment to God and his impeccable work ethic influenced a king and transformed a kingdom. His story teaches us that true excellence is not just about doing good work but about being deeply rooted in our faith and using our spiritual gifts in every aspect of our lives. [10:23]

"Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom." (Daniel 6:3, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a challenging situation you are currently facing. How can you emulate Daniel's faith-driven excellence in this situation?

Day 3: Expanding Our View of Work

We are encouraged to view work in the broadest sense, encompassing everything from traditional jobs to parenting and volunteering. In all these areas, we are called to bring excellence that is rooted in God, which can lead to transformative change in our world. This broader definition of work invites us to see every task as an opportunity to serve God and others, using our unique gifts and talents to make a difference. [10:23]

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going." (Ecclesiastes 9:10, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a non-traditional area of work in your life, such as a hobby or volunteer activity. How can you bring a sense of God-rooted excellence to this area?

Day 4: Spiritual Gifts Beyond Church Walls

Our spiritual gifts are not limited to church settings but are meant to be used in all areas of life, including our work. By applying our skills and employing our spiritual gifts, we participate in God's kingdom work, bringing His will to fruition in every space we inhabit. This involves recognizing that our gifts are meant to impact every area of our lives, not just within the confines of a church building. [10:23]

"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching." (Romans 12:6-7, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a spiritual gift you possess. How can you use this gift in your workplace or community to further God's kingdom?

Day 5: Participating in God's Kingdom Work

Through our commitment to excellence and the use of our spiritual gifts, we are invited to participate in God's kingdom work, bringing His will to fruition in every space we inhabit. This involves discernment and wisdom, recognizing that our gifts are meant to impact every area of our lives. By doing so, we become active participants in God's plan, contributing to the transformation of the world around us. [10:23]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: Think about a space you inhabit regularly, such as your home, workplace, or community. How can you actively participate in God's kingdom work in this space today?

Sermon Summary

In today's message, we explored the profound impact of excellence rooted in God, using the story of Domenico DeMarco and his renowned DeFarra's Pizza as a metaphor for the transformative power of dedication and quality. Just as Dom's commitment to crafting the perfect pizza influenced a generation of chefs and changed perceptions of Brooklyn pizza, we too are called to bring excellence into our work and lives, grounded in our faith. This excellence is not just about skill but is deeply connected to our spiritual gifts and our relationship with God.

We delved into the story of Daniel, a man who exemplified excellence in a challenging environment. Despite being in exile and working under difficult circumstances, Daniel's unwavering commitment to God and his impeccable work ethic led to significant change, even influencing a king to revere Daniel's God. Daniel's story teaches us that excellence is not just about doing good work but about being rooted in our faith and using our spiritual gifts in every aspect of our lives.

We are invited to see our work in the broadest sense, encompassing everything from traditional jobs to parenting and volunteering. In all these areas, we are called to bring excellence that is rooted in God, which can lead to transformative change in our world. This excellence involves applying our skills and employing our spiritual gifts, recognizing that our gifts are not limited to church settings but are meant to be used in all areas of life. By doing so, we participate in God's kingdom work, bringing His will to fruition in every space we inhabit.

Key Takeaways

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2. Daniel's Example: Daniel's story in Babylon illustrates how excellence rooted in faith can lead to significant change, even in challenging environments. His unwavering commitment to God and impeccable work ethic influenced a king and transformed a kingdom, showing us the power of faith-driven excellence.

3. Broad Definition of Work: We are encouraged to view work in the broadest sense, encompassing traditional jobs, parenting, volunteering, and more. In all these areas, we are called to bring excellence that is rooted in God, which can lead to transformative change in our world.

4. Spiritual Gifts in the Workplace: Our spiritual gifts are not limited to church settings but are meant to be used in all areas of life, including our work. By applying our skills and employing our spiritual gifts, we participate in God's kingdom work, bringing His will to fruition in every space we inhabit.

5. Participating in God's Kingdom Work: Through our commitment to excellence and the use of our spiritual gifts, we are invited to participate in God's kingdom work, bringing His will to fruition in every space we inhabit. This involves discernment and wisdom, recognizing that our gifts are meant to impact every area of our lives.

** [06:53]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:00] - Introduction to DeFarra's Pizza
[03:30] - The Legacy of Domenico DeMarco
[06:53] - Excellence in Our Work
[08:45] - The Story of Daniel
[10:23] - Daniel's Commitment to Excellence
[12:00] - Broad Definition of Work
[14:15] - Spiritual Gifts in the Workplace
[16:30] - Participating in God's Kingdom Work
[18:00] - Applying Skills and Employing Gifts
[20:00] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Sermon Clips

"Over the years, in making pies, he influenced a generation of younger chefs, younger pizza chefs, many of whom went to have their own renown, their own shops that were then ranked high, not just in New York, but in the country. And he changed what people thought of when they thought of Brooklyn pizza. He was committed to excellence in his work, and that excellence, over the years, made a difference." [00:02:18] (25 seconds)

"What if we are part of bringing about change for good? God has positioned us to release his kingdom come and his will being done in every place that we happen to be. And at times, it comes through faithful, simple actions done over the long run. And that's what we're going to be talking about during this season at Chatham Community Church. The part we've been invited to play in changing our world." [00:03:02] (27 seconds)

"I want to think of it in the broadest way possible, covering what would first come to mind, sort of the nine to five, but also the part-time work, the Etsy shop, schooling, full-time parenting or major grandparenting, for those of us who are involved in that, even the things that we've dedicated ourselves to in our retirement years." [00:04:07] (20 seconds)

"Now, we didn't read it, but by the end of the chapter, what's going to happen is the king is going to issue a decree that calls for the entire kingdom to revere Daniel's God. That's huge. Just step back for a moment and get some perspective. In Daniel's lifetime, they've gone from being the people who sacked the temple of the God they're now being called and calling others to revere." [00:09:25] (28 seconds)

"Daniel was also blessed by God with understanding of visions and dreams, the ability to interpret things that people could not interpret, but that had significant importance. And when there had been a need in the kingdom for these things, Daniel had stepped up. When the king had needed someone to interpret dreams or to clarify writings, Daniel brought clarity where there had been confusion by using the gifts God had given him." [00:11:01] (26 seconds)

"Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has been declared Lord over all of creation. There is not a single part of our world that Jesus does not claim lordship over where Jesus is not king. When we pray for God's kingdom to come and God's will to be done, we want God to answer that prayer in every place." [00:12:37] (20 seconds)

"There are no spaces where he is limited. Now, there's discernment and wisdom needed to know how to apply these things. There's certainly appropriate caution to take in certain situations with certain gifts. But our places of work need gifts like mercy. They need gifts like hospitality. They need gifts like wisdom and discernment. They need the gifts of encouragement." [00:13:22] (27 seconds)

"So let's bring about change in our work. Let's engage with excellence. Apply your skills. But also employ your gifts. The spaces God has placed you in. Use your training. Use your intelligence. Use your experience. Use your winsomeness. But also, use the ways God has gifted you to pray. Use the ways God has gifted you to encourage." [00:14:09] (28 seconds)

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