Comments on: Culture Defined http://www.johnsiebeling.com/archives/2008/04/culture-defined/ lead pastor of the life church of memphis Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:32:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Aubrey http://www.johnsiebeling.com/archives/2008/04/culture-defined/#comment-3062 Aubrey Mon, 05 May 2008 03:20:14 +0000 http://www.johnsiebeling.com/?p=337#comment-3062 I don't have one word but i have a phrase... accepting without filters. We had another AMAZING sermon delivered today that directly refers to this but this is something that has impacted me in a big way since the first time I came to our church almost 5 years ago. This is one of the many things I love about our church and is most dear to my heart is there are no discriminations about who you are, what you are, what you've done, what you've grown up in/with, where you're from, who you know or don't know, etc... the list could go on... Yet, when you come in, NO MATTER WHAT, someone will love you, and usually, it's the first person you see when you come to our doors or in the parking lot. When you come in and share something about yourself, you will find (this is not a maybe or a "i hope you find" this is a confident, i know you will find) acceptance for whatever it is you have to share. We live in a hurting world, nation, city, neighborhood, and I hold it such a great pleasure to be able to tell anyone that I can guarntee you that when you come in here, no matter how much you want to try to hide your secret past (as we all have one), there is no need to. You are going to be loved thru anything, with anything, by everyone. Acceptance. I am so thankful to be in a church where all are accepted and loved so much that it enables you to drop your walls and let God love you. Even though He does anyway, this culture in our church will enable you to let Him love you the way He desires... with open arms. I don’t have one word but i have a phrase… accepting without filters. We had another AMAZING sermon delivered today that directly refers to this but this is something that has impacted me in a big way since the first time I came to our church almost 5 years ago. This is one of the many things I love about our church and is most dear to my heart is there are no discriminations about who you are, what you are, what you’ve done, what you’ve grown up in/with, where you’re from, who you know or don’t know, etc… the list could go on… Yet, when you come in, NO MATTER WHAT, someone will love you, and usually, it’s the first person you see when you come to our doors or in the parking lot. When you come in and share something about yourself, you will find (this is not a maybe or a “i hope you find” this is a confident, i know you will find) acceptance for whatever it is you have to share. We live in a hurting world, nation, city, neighborhood, and I hold it such a great pleasure to be able to tell anyone that I can guarntee you that when you come in here, no matter how much you want to try to hide your secret past (as we all have one), there is no need to. You are going to be loved thru anything, with anything, by everyone. Acceptance. I am so thankful to be in a church where all are accepted and loved so much that it enables you to drop your walls and let God love you. Even though He does anyway, this culture in our church will enable you to let Him love you the way He desires… with open arms.

]]> By: katie http://www.johnsiebeling.com/archives/2008/04/culture-defined/#comment-3017 katie Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:32:21 +0000 http://www.johnsiebeling.com/?p=337#comment-3017 i think of our culture as "charged"...there is an intangible, indescribable resonating energy that translates life, hope and strength to those who encounter it. it hasn't been instantly created; it's a long-term product of desperation for God's presence in everything we do and intentional efforts to create a life-giving church environment where people can encounter God...our culture is a reflection of the passion, commitment and vision of our people who serve together. it radiates out of the hearts and lives of those who make it up...and i love that about our church. pastor john and leslie have carried a God-breathed picture of His church in their hearts and given their lives for over the last 11 years to make it a reality. there's no other place i'd rather be than here, doing life with awesome people, growing, seeing barriers broken and mindsets changed in our city and being a part of expanding God's kingdom around the world through an awesome local church...wow! i think of our culture as “charged”…there is an intangible, indescribable resonating energy that translates life, hope and strength to those who encounter it. it hasn’t been instantly created; it’s a long-term product of desperation for God’s presence in everything we do and intentional efforts to create a life-giving church environment where people can encounter God…our culture is a reflection of the passion, commitment and vision of our people who serve together. it radiates out of the hearts and lives of those who make it up…and i love that about our church. pastor john and leslie have carried a God-breathed picture of His church in their hearts and given their lives for over the last 11 years to make it a reality. there’s no other place i’d rather be than here, doing life with awesome people, growing, seeing barriers broken and mindsets changed in our city and being a part of expanding God’s kingdom around the world through an awesome local church…wow!

]]> By: Sonya Yamnitz http://www.johnsiebeling.com/archives/2008/04/culture-defined/#comment-3015 Sonya Yamnitz Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:20:43 +0000 http://www.johnsiebeling.com/?p=337#comment-3015 A word that describes the culture of The Life Church of Memphis is diversity. Everyone is welcome. We love and value each person along with his or her race, ethnicity, gender, age, background, and unique giftings. God blesses each of us with experiences, talents, and skills so we can be a blessing to others. The church reflects the diversity of our community which enables us to reach beyond our building to meet the physical and spiritual needs of our city, nation, and world. Imagine if you tried to make a spice cake with just flour and sugar. Bla! It's the combination of all the different spices that makes the cake so good. Of course there's the essential ingredients such as eggs, salt and a leavening agent. In our church, diversity is the combination of spices. The teaching of foundational Biblical principles, opportunities for Fresh Starts, and the presence of the Holy Spirit are those essential ingredients. All of these together create a dynamic, multicultural, spirit-filled, life-giving culture that is The Life Church of Memphis. A word that describes the culture of The Life Church of Memphis is diversity. Everyone is welcome. We love and value each person along with his or her race, ethnicity, gender, age, background, and unique giftings. God blesses each of us with experiences, talents, and skills so we can be a blessing to others. The church reflects the diversity of our community which enables us to reach beyond our building to meet the physical and spiritual needs of our city, nation, and world.

Imagine if you tried to make a spice cake with just flour and sugar. Bla! It’s the combination of all the different spices that makes the cake so good. Of course there’s the essential ingredients such as eggs, salt and a leavening agent. In our church, diversity is the combination of spices. The teaching of foundational Biblical principles, opportunities for Fresh Starts, and the presence of the Holy Spirit are those essential ingredients. All of these together create a dynamic, multicultural, spirit-filled, life-giving culture that is The Life Church of Memphis.

]]> By: Johnny Hill http://www.johnsiebeling.com/archives/2008/04/culture-defined/#comment-3014 Johnny Hill Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:10:44 +0000 http://www.johnsiebeling.com/?p=337#comment-3014 The atmosphere of our church has impacted my life in so many ways. All my life I have been involved in church and I am definitely appreciative of my background. However, there was always a part of me that had a vision for a church far different than the one I grew up in. I even came up with a name when I was younger, it would be called Freedom Church. A place where ANYONE could come and experience the "freedom" to be who God called them to be. A place where Christians were actually excited about God and expected amazing things to happen. This was all in my heart before I ever came to Memphis. Let's just say, I felt right at home when I got to Life Church. That's our church; a free environment of believers that are working hard to reach as many as possible and seeing God do so many amazing things along the way!! The atmosphere of our church has impacted my life in so many ways. All my life I have been involved in church and I am definitely appreciative of my background. However, there was always a part of me that had a vision for a church far different than the one I grew up in. I even came up with a name when I was younger, it would be called Freedom Church. A place where ANYONE could come and experience the “freedom” to be who God called them to be. A place where Christians were actually excited about God and expected amazing things to happen. This was all in my heart before I ever came to Memphis. Let’s just say, I felt right at home when I got to Life Church. That’s our church; a free environment of believers that are working hard to reach as many as possible and seeing God do so many amazing things along the way!!

]]> By: Kelley Scott http://www.johnsiebeling.com/archives/2008/04/culture-defined/#comment-3013 Kelley Scott Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:26:36 +0000 http://www.johnsiebeling.com/?p=337#comment-3013 One word that I would use to describe the culture at The Life Church of Memphis is tangible. Every guest that comes through the doors can feel it and see it in the way that the body as a whole "does life together". We are a true family, in that we celebrate together, we cry together, we labor together, and we laugh together. We depend on each other, and not just within the confines of the building or only on Sundays, but in our everyday lives. One word that I would use to describe the culture at The Life Church of Memphis is tangible. Every guest that comes through the doors can feel it and see it in the way that the body as a whole “does life together”. We are a true family, in that we celebrate together, we cry together, we labor together, and we laugh together. We depend on each other, and not just within the confines of the building or only on Sundays, but in our everyday lives.

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