4/25/04 – It’s All in the Presenting
Slide #1
Great Conmen
Frank Abgnale
Frank played the part of an Airline Pilot (passing checks on Pan AM for over 2.5 million dollars and jetting across the world free as a dead heading off duty pilot), a Doctor (a pediatrician), an Attorney (He actually passed the bar exam), and a professor in a university. And he did this between the ages of 16 and 21 years in the mid 1960’s
Once he posed as a security guard and standing outside a night deposit drop box he collected $60,000.00 in cash. Then when the bag was too heavy some state policemen helped him load it in his car. Another time he was caught and sent to state prison. He convinced the prison guards that he was an undercover agent and got them to let him out of jail.
Eventually he was caught and put in Federal Prison by the FBI. Today Frank Abgnale is a consultant for the FBI and he speaks as an expert on security to commercial firms and government agencies all around the country. His story has been told on the movie screen by Leanardo Caprio and Tom Hanks in “Catch me if you can”.
Here was a man who was good at passing himself off as almost anybody else
What made him effective was the presentation.
Once Frank too 8 young ladies on a world wide tour (at Pan AM’s expense) as part of an airline promotion. All of this was a cover for a scam in which he cashed checks for over $300,000.00 dollars in countries throughout Europe.
The ladies were simply the window dressing that turned the eyes of the bankers and made his story believable. The women thought they were in the running to win a contest to become airline stewardesses (In 1960 that was a high prestige job for you young lady!)
It’s all in the presentation.
Jesus is different
Jesus is the reality. Frank Agbnale looked like the reality but was a fake.
Jesus Christ was almost exactly the opposite. Jesus was not handsome and didn’t look the part - but He claimed to be and was the son of God. Here is the Godman who looks like a peasant, works like a carpenter, teaches like a learned rabbi, preaches like a prophet, does miracles like one annointed by God. Here is the man who claimed to be God - and is not a fake. He’s the real deal.
Jesus was the reality that looked (to many) like a fake. In John 7:14 what we see is the reality. Jesus as God and worthy of our worship. He came with all the proofs and testimony. Yet many refused to believe. In fact they reacted with hatred and attempted to kill him – eventually they did.
Jesus Honored God
Slide #2
John 7:16-18
16 Jesus answered, “The things I teach are not my own, but they come from him who sent me. 17 If people choose to do what God wants, they will know that my teaching comes from God and not from me.
Slide #3
John 7:16-18
18 Those who teach their own ideas are trying to get honor for themselves. But those who try to bring honor to the one who sent him speak the truth, and there is nothing false in them.
How do you tell the real thing from that which is fake and false? It’s not hard. Just ask yourself, “Who is getting the honor?”
Con Men are about themselves. In many ways they are sociopath people because they care only about themselves.
Frank Agbnale started out with his father’s Marathon credit card. He would go to the gas station and buy 4 brand new tires with his dad’s credit card. Then when the attendant would ask if he wanted them installed Frank would say, “No, I want to sell them back to you for %50 less. You just give me cash and keep the tires. They would do it – keeping ½ the cash for themselves and the tires stayed on the rack in the gas station. Everyone was happy – except Frank’s dad when he got the bill that month for $2500.00 from Marathon. Who was honored in this transaction – Frank was.
The Jews and religious leaders weren’t about honoring God. They were about honoring themselves.
The reason I know Jesus was real because everything He did was about honoring the Father God. When Jesus talked to woman at the well in Samaria He did it to honor God. When He healed the man at the pool of Bethesda He did it to bring honor to the father. After He fed the 5000 he blessed the 5 loves and two fishes and thanked God. After the meal was over he gave the honor to God.
Jesus Calls Us to Honor God
Slide #4
Let me share with you some things I’ve been thinking about a lot for the past couple of months. It really heated up when I read a book by a preacher and writer named Reggie McNeal. The book is called “The Present Future”. In the pages of this writing I discovered that he had put down on paper the thoughts that I have been unable to completely sort out and articulate.
As a result of reading that book I’ve found that my a number of things have almost literally fallen into place for me with respect to the vision I have for Meridian Christian Church and how God is calling us to accomplish the mission he has given us.
Jesus Calls Us to Honor God
Slide #5
First: It’s not about Membership – It’s about the Family of God
We don’t talk about membership at MCC. Membership to me seems to emphasize an exclusive attitude or even an elitist attitude. God didn’t call only certain ones of us to be saved. Jesus didn’t die on the cross for only for the lucky few. His death was for all humankind. His sacrifice redeems every person who is willing to accept the loving covenant God established with the sign of the cross.
It’s not about membership – It is about being covenanted into the Family of God. Now that’s kinda churchy.
There are two challenges before us. The first is figuring out what it means to be in the family of God.
The second challenge is Helping People Find Their Way Home. I want MCC to get really good at communicating the message, sharing the message and inviting our friends and family to become part of the family of God
Here is where the rubber meets the road. Not mealy-mouthed church words that sound good but die a horrible death when they hit the normal air in the home, workplace, and school.
For over a couple of months now I have been working with a number of people – staff, elders, friends, and family on critical and strategic decisions.
Jesus Calls Us to Honor God
We are the Family of God – Bought, Marked, Bonded, and Faithful
Slide #6
Starting Tuesday, May 11th we have made arrangements to have the first of four sessions during which we will survey the book of Romans and develop a new understanding of our focus as a body.
The MCC Family of God
Session 1: Bought – Romans 1-6
Session 2: Marked – Romans 7-11
Session 3: Bonded – Romans 12-14
Session 4: Faithful – Romans 15-16
Here’s the deal – We want everyone at MCC to understand the rights, privileges and responsibilities of being a part of God’s family. Eventually I would like every person – HS up – who comes to MCC to go through these sessions.
Each session is 90 minutes and interactive with teaching time, video presentations, and opportunities to talk about what it means. No one will ever be put on the spot or embarrassed but everyone will be given a response form at the end of each session. We want to help you understand what it means to be part of the Family of God.
These sessions will be offered on four successive Tuesday nights starting May 11th and you are invited to attend
They will be offered again in a one or two day seminar format in July. In October we’ll be repeating the sessions and over the next couple of years we’re going develop a number of “formats” in which we will be inviting you participate at least once.
Jesus Calls Us to Honor God
Second: It’s not about the Brick’s – It’s about the Mission
Slide #7
My method of spiritual discernment is very certain. I just pray and work with all my energies in a direction that I believe God is leading until I hit the wall.
Most of you know that 2 ½ years ago we bought land on Willoughby Road. There is a nice farm house and 20 acres – perfect for offices, youth work and building our own worship center some day. Well – we hit the wall – hard. Alaiedon Township said no – In fact they would even accept our application. We fought it – and hit the wall again. Now, we’re trying to sell the land and so far – more walls!
I am led – no – I’m forced to ask God “How do we bring you honor with what we are doing?
Let Us Honor God at Meridian Christian Church
Slide #8
Let’s develop a Partnership Mentality with community and school
Slide #8 Build 1
What can we do to give something back to the community.
We’re working on ideas of how we can give something back to the school
And we don’t have to ask anyone at Alaiedon Township for permission!
Let’s focus on the opportunities for mission and ministry God has given us
Slide #8 Build 2
Several Current Community Ministries
Meridian Angels
Clothing Drive
Christmas Breakfast
Spring School Project
Paradox Productions
This is the dream – for years now of Eric and Andrea Sherman. They are Story Tellers – here, regionally, and worldwide.
The immediate need: raise $1000/month in commitments to lease a loft in downtown Lansing to be the Paradox Productions Studio. We could continue to have them live in the Willoughby Rd. House but it doesn’t have the facilities they need for a studio.
Picture a place where there are brick walls and lots of clean space for artistic and creative story telling to be developed and prepared – in Lansing working with MCC, domestically, all over the country, and in countries all over the world.
In fact, Paradox Productions has been invited to Russia to run a youth camp for street kids – teaching them photography and video work.
TCM International
One of our Elders, Paul Kissling and his wife Cathy, will be leaving Lansing and heading for Vienna on or about December 30th. In Vienna Paul will become a graduate professor and will be working with the best and the brightest of the pastors from all over Eastern Europe and Asia. Cathy will be working with him and serving administratively at TCM International
He will be on full-time salary and will be helping to raise funds to support that work as well. There will be opportunities for MCC’ers to go to Vienna and serve the students there by working at the school for a couple of weeks.
Now, this is the kind of vacation that will change your life!
We’re redefining Church – Why?
Slide #9
Let me give you three reasons why we should make these strategic decisions… They are important so listen carefully!
Because God has called us to follow Jesus
Slide #9 Build 1
Because following Jesus is more than ritual, liturgy, fundamentalism, legalism, rules, creeds, dogmatic teaching, and arthritic rigidity.
Following Jesus is about doing what is right – by God and by man. It brings honor to the Father when we follow the son.
Because our world is going to hell
Slide #10 Build 2
Oh! He said Hell in church!
I really believe that. Our world is not getting better.
Jesus has transformed and is transforming my life. I want to share that with you. God wants you to share that with your friends and family.
Because our children learn more from what we do than what we say
Slide #9 Build 3
In a few minutes we are going to dedicate a number of babies to God. This is a serious matter. But more important than the words that come from our lips this day is the actions that come from us in the coming weeks.
Your kids are watching you – even when they aren’t listening they are watching.
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