First Baptist Church Litchfield
chapel 5/6

      • Psalm 23ESV

  • Cast your cares
  • Carry It On Philippians 1:8

      • Romans 8:26–28ESV

  • Peace
  • The Gospel Song

  • LCS Value Review

    Over the past several weeks in chapel, we have been building the foundation of our LCS character together by taking a closer look at our values: work ethic, responsibility, accountability, courage, compassion, and excellence. Our values shape the way live and participate in the world.

    Work Ethic

    We began with work ethic. We learned that God calls us to diligent effort, not lazy living. Like the ant in Proverbs, we are to work hard, take initiative, and honor God with how we use our time and energy.

    Responsibility

    Then we moved to responsibility. From the life of Joseph, we saw that faithfulness means doing what is right with what God has given you, even when no one is watching and even when life is difficult.

    Accountability

    From there, we looked at accountability. We learned that we are not meant to live alone. God has placed us in relationships where we speak truth, confess sin, and help one another follow Christ more faithfully.

    Courage

    Then we studied courage. When Peter stepped out of the boat, we saw that courage is not the absence of fear, but trusting Jesus enough to obey Him even when the waves are high and the storms rage around us.

    Compassion

    Next, we saw compassion in the life of Jesus. True compassion moves toward people in their need. It does not ignore suffering. It reflects the heart of Christ, who sees, cares, and acts.

    Excellence

    And now we come to excellence. This is where all the values come together. Excellence is living out work ethic, responsibility, accountability, courage, and compassion in a way that seeks to glorify God in everything, from the smallest task to the greatest opportunity.
    This is the kind of life LCS is calling you to. A life that learns, leads, and serves. A life that reflects Christ in the classroom, on the field, at home, and in the church. And as we finish this series, remember this. These values are not just what we do. They are who we are becoming in Christ.

    No One Wants To Be Mediocre

    There is a word that perfectly describes how many people choose to live, and it is not a compliment. The word is mediocre. It comes from a Latin idea that means halfway up the mountain. Picture that for a moment. You start climbing. You put in some effort. You get tired. And instead of finishing the climb, you stop halfway, sit down, and say this is good enough.
    The problem is not just that you stopped. The problem is that you convinced yourself this is where you were meant to be.
    Mediocrity is not just a performance issue. It is a heart issue. It is a mindset that avoids effort, resists discipline, and settles for less when more is possible.
    And when you live in the truth, you realize that temptation shows up everywhere. It shows up when you drag your feet getting ready for school. It shows up when you do just enough to get by on an assignment. It shows up when you give your best energy to entertainment but leftovers to your responsibilities.
    But here is what God says to you this morning. I did not design you to live halfway up the mountain. I created you for something higher, and far greater that is experienced at the summit of the mountain. I created you for My glory.
    That is exactly what Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 10:31; “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
    That means everything matters. The small things matter. The big things matter. The ordinary and the extraordinary both belong to God.
    So here is what we are going to see today.

    If you are going to live a life of excellence, you must glorify God in the mundane and glorify God in the magnificent.

    Glorify God in the mundane

    When Paul says whether you eat or drink, he is talking about the most ordinary parts of life. These are the things you do every single day without thinking about them.
    Eating. Drinking. Cleaning. Studying. Showing up.
    These are not glamorous moments. No one applauds you for brushing your teeth or doing your homework. But Paul says these are the exact places where God’s glory is displayed.
    That means excellence does not start on the big stage. It starts in the quiet, unnoticed, everyday moments of your life.
    Think about something as simple as drinking a glass of orange juice.(1) It seems small. It seems insignificant. But when you slow down and think about it, you begin to see something God’s glory in something as mundae as drinking orange juice.
    God designed your mouth with taste buds. He created sweetness and tang. He created oranges. He created your body to receive nourishment. That small seemingly insignificant moment is not random. It is a gift.
    So what does excellence look like in a moment like that?
    It begins with gratitude. You recognize that what you are experiencing is something completely unearned. It is something God gave. Instead of rushing through it, you pause and thank Him.
    It continues with faith. You believe that everything you have comes from God. 1 Corinthians 4:7 reminds us that we have received everything. Even your ability to enjoy something as simple as juice is sustained by God.
    It grows into love. You begin to think about others. You do not demand the biggest portion. You do not insist on your way. You consider others more important than yourself, just as Paul teaches in 1 Corinthians 10:33, “33 just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.” You share the orange juice and rejoice that others get to enjoy it as you do.
    Now bring glorifying God into the mundanity of your life.

    What does it look like to clean your room for the glory of God?

    You do it with gratitude because God has given you a place to live.

    You do it with faith because He has given you the strength to do it.

    You do it with love because your obedience blesses your parents.

    What does it look like to do your schoolwork for the glory of God?

    You give your full attention. You do not cut corners. You do not rush just to be done. You work carefully because your mind and the opportunity to be as LCS is a gift from God.

    Jesus says in Luke 16:10 that the one who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much. The principle being excellence in the big things begins with faithfulness in the small things. If you learn to honor God in the moments no one sees, you will be ready when God gives you moments that everyone sees. That leads us to the second truth.

    Glorify God in the magnificent

    There are moments in life that feel bigger. Moments where your work is recognized. Moments where you succeed. Moments where people are watching.
    These are the magnificent moments. The moments where you influence grows and opportunities expand.
    The danger in these moments is pride. The temptation is to say look what I have done. But excellence that honors God does something very different. It redirects the spotlight.
    Think about a young athlete who steps onto a national stage. The crowd is loud. The cameras are on. The pressure is real. When he succeeds, everyone wants to know how he did it.
    And instead of taking the credit, he says this is not about me. God gave me this ability. God gave me this opportunity. God deserves the glory.
    That is what it looks like to glorify God in the magnificent.

    Psalm 115:1 says not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory.

    That is the heart of excellence. Excellence is not about making your name great. It is about making God’s name great through everything in both the mundane and magnificent moments.
    This is pertinent to your life because some of you will be given incredible opportunities. Academic success. Athletic platforms. Leadership roles. Careers that influence others.
    The question is not will you succeed. The question is what will you do with that success.
    Will you use it to build your identity or will you use it to display God’s glory?
    The same God who calls you to be faithful in the small things calls you to be humble in the big things.
    Do not under estimate how hard this will be to do. We do not naturally live this way.
    Our hearts drift toward comfort in the small things and pride in the big things. We cut corners when no one is watching. We take credit when everyone is watching.
    That is the problem of sin. It pulls us toward mediocrity in obedience and selfishness in success. But this is where the gospel meets us.
    Jesus never lived halfway up the mountain. He lived a life of perfect excellence. Every word, every action, every moment was done for the glory of His Father.
    He obeyed in the small things. He trusted the Father in His suffering. He went all the way to the cross. And there, He took the punishment for our half-hearted living and our self-centered glory. Then He rose again, giving us not just forgiveness but a new Spirit-empowered purpose.
    Now, through Christ, you are free to live for something greater than yourself. You are empowered by the Spirit to pursue excellence for the glory of God.
    So let’s go back to the mountain.
    Some of you are sitting halfway up right now. You have settled. You have grown comfortable with doing just enough. But God is calling you higher; not for your name sake or for the applause of your peers. He is calling to you behold and experience His soul satisfying awe inspiring glory.
    Excellence is not about perfection. Like the other values it is about direction. It is about setting your mind, your heart, and your will on honoring God in everything you do.
    So when you walk into your classroom, climb with excellence. When you help at home, climb with excellence. When you compete, climb with excellence. When you succeed, give God the glory at the top. Because the view from the top is not about you standing tall. It is about seeing clearly that every step, every strength, and every success came from Him. So do not stop halfway. Climb all the way.

    And do everything, the mundane and the magnificent, for the glory of God.

    (I am thankful to John Piper for this analogy. https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-to-drink-orange-juice-to-the-glory-of-god).
  • Empowered by the Spirit, Guided by the Word

      • 1 Corinthians 15:58ESV

First Baptist Church Litchfield
pastorjason.fbcl@gmail.com
217-324-4232
http://www.firstbaptistlitchfield.org/
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