Excellence – Bible Study

EXCELLENCE

Excellence is more than achievement or high performance, excellence is a reflection of God’s very nature. In a world that often equates excellence with perfection, pressure, or pride, Scripture offers a richer, more freeing vision. Excellence is about pursuing what is worthy, growing through every season, and offering our best as an act of worship. At the centre of this pursuit is love, it is the fruit of a life aligned with God and the highest mark of excellence in His eyes.

This study invites you to explore what true excellence looks like from a biblical perspective. We’ll begin by fixing our eyes on the One who defines and displays perfect excellence, God Himself. From there, we’ll discover how we are called not to perfection, but to wholehearted pursuit. As we journey through this study, may you be challenged, encouraged, and empowered to pursue excellence with grace, purpose, and faith.

WHO IS EXCELLENT?

God is the standard and source of all true excellence. To understand excellence, we must begin by beholding His unmatched glory and character.

Psalm 8:1
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

Psalm 145:3
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

Exodus 15:11
“Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?”

Isaiah 40:25–26
To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.

Deuteronomy 32:3–4
For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!
“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

What words or images come to mind when you think of God’s excellence?

Which of God’s attributes stand out to you as especially excellent, and why?

How does recognizing God’s excellence affect the way you approach your daily life or decisions?

In what ways do you think our culture misunderstands or undervalues God’s excellence?

EXCELLENCE IS NOT BEING PERFECT

Excellence is not flawlessness, it’s faithful pursuit. God isn’t calling us to perfection, but to grow, persevere, and reflect Him more and more.

Philippians 3:12–14
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Proverbs 24:16
For the righteous falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

What do you think the difference is between excellence and perfection?

Have you ever avoided pursuing something because you feared not doing it perfectly?

How do the verses in this section encourage you to embrace the process of growth?

How does God’s grace empower you to keep growing rather than giving up when you feel inadequate?

WHAT IS EXCELLENCE?

Excellence is about pursuing what is worthy. Scripture defines it through virtues, values, and actions that honour God and build His kingdom.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

1 Corinthians 10:31
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Daniel 6:3
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.

Colossians 3:23–24
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.

2 Peter 1:5–8
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,
and virtue with knowledge,
and knowledge with self-control,
and self-control with steadfastness,
and steadfastness with godliness,
and godliness with brotherly affection,
and brotherly affection with love.
For if these qualities are yours and are increasing,
they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:22–23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

1 Corinthians 12:31 – 13:3

But earnestly desire the higher gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

According to the Scriptures, what kinds of things are considered excellent?

How do you define excellence in your own life? How closely does that align with God’s definition?

Which of the qualities listed in Scripture stands out to you as an area God may be inviting you to grow in?

What does it mean that love is the “more excellent way”? How might this shape your definition of excellence going forward?

PURSUING EXCELLENCE

God invites us to actively pursue excellence in every area of life, not for self-glory, but as an act of worship and a witness to others.

1 Timothy 4:7–8
Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness;
for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Romans 12:11
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord.

1 Corinthians 9:24–27
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize?
So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control,
lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

1 Corinthians 14:1
Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.

Colossians 3:14
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.

What does pursuing excellence look like in your current season of life?

Where have you grown complacent or discouraged, and what might help you reignite purposeful growth?

How does the idea of serving “as unto the Lord” change your attitude or effort in your work, relationships, or personal growth?

In what ways is God calling you to pursue love more intentionally as an expression of excellence?

THE JOURNEY OF EXCELLENCE

The pursuit of excellence is a lifelong journey of faith, growth, and endurance. It’s not always easy, but it is always worth it.

Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

James 1:2–4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 5:3–5
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Philippians 1:6
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 12:1–2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

2 Timothy 4:7–8
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day,
and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

What has your journey toward excellence looked like so far? Are there patterns of growth or struggle you notice?

How have trials in your life contributed to your growth in godly character?

What does it mean to you to “finish the race” well?

What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind through the pursuit of excellence?

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.