Pursuing God with Gene Appel

Today we’ll look at the hardships Paul encountered as he spread the message of Jesus across the Roman world.  Why would Paul endure the obstacles, the persecution, the difficult travel, and repeatedly risk His life for the church?  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that...

God uses Paul in some dramatic ways. Paul goes on three different missionary journeys in the book of Acts.  Paul opposed and persecuted the church, but then he became a part of the church, planted churches, wrote letters to churches, and died serving the church.  In the readings for this week, you’ll see four of Paul’s letters. Take them in, live out their instruction, and encourage others with wh...

For Week 8 of our New Testament Challenge, we’ll be focusing on spread of the churches. In Acts 1-7, the Gospel spread through Jerusalem. In Acts 8-12, the Gospel spread to Judea and into Samaria. In Acts 13-28, the Gospel begins to spread everywhere. This is where we meet Paul. The early church would have been afraid of Paul, and yet God calls him. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help...

This week, we’ve explored the book of Acts in our trek through the New Testament. At this point in history, we see the church expanding, but there is still resistance even in the church itself. From the beginning of the church there have been unnecessary barriers keeping people from Jesus. But God, in His love, refuses to leave these barriers up.  We can remove the barriers keeping people from Jes...

After arguing with God, Ananias comes and, in a tangible way, expresses the love of God to Saul. Saul literally changes the course of human history. And you may not know him as Saul, but you are familiar with his new name…Paul, who becomes the greatest missionary in the history of the world. God has given you your background and personality to be used for His glory. You are part of the plan God ha...

One of the most remarkable human interest stories in the Bible is the story of Saul, whom God uses in a fascinating way. Saul has been confronted by Jesus himself while Saul was on his way to throw Christians in jail; he is left blind and disoriented.  God desires to involve us in His mission in the world to rescue and restore everyone, everywhere. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help...

After Jesus’ death, Peter and John used the power of the Holy Spirit to preach His message. God orchestrates events to grow our courage in His limitless power. Courageous compassion gives credibility to courageous words. Do you want to see God move through your life like He did through the Christ followers in the first century? Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build...

For Week 7 of our New Testament Challenge, we’ll be focusing on the beginning of the church. Acts 1 and 2 are a study in contrasts. In Acts 1, Jesus ascends into heaven and vanishes before people’s eyes. He has 120 followers who are weak, defeated, and overwhelmed. But in Acts 2, we find them empowered, courageous, and strong.  Do you need a new beginning? Do you yearn for a fresh start?  Pursuing...

Based on what we've shared about the resurrection in our episodes this week, here are some questions to ponder:  When did you believe in the events of the resurrection? When did you accept the events of the resurrection? When did you share the events of the resurrection? Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scrip...

This week has been dedicated to exploring the historical and present impact of the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is an event that happened and changed our world. It's how God worked in history to restore the relationship with broken people like us.  What you believe about Jesus matters. Would you declare your belief in prayer for the first or hundredth time today?  Pursuing God with...

The resurrection of Jesus has been scrutinized by more historians and scholars than any other event in the history of humanity.  Thomas had evidence, but what do we have? There have been many attempts for people to try to explain away the resurrection through the centuries, and people have come up with all sorts of concocted ideas in order to explain away what really happened. We hope the reality...

We’re exploring what may be the most important event in human history: the resurrection of Jesus. Today we’ll look at it through Thomas’ point of view. He’s known as doubting Thomas, but he didn’t stay doubting. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s grace is for...

For Week 6 of our New Testament Challenge, we’ll be focusing on the resurrection of Jesus, the crux of Christianity.  The Christian faith is not based on a feeling or some sort of philosophy; it's based on a verifiable historical event, and it changed the world.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and...

This week we have been deeply pondering the last week of Jesus in our New Testament Challenge.  Jesus paid the price so we could be forgiven and stand blameless before God on the merits of the lamb of God who paid the price for us. Have you received that payment? If you've received the payment, have you forgiven yourself? Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build...

When we read about how Jesus was crucified, it is easy for us to miss the full impact of what really happened that day and what it means for humanity. Take a moment to visualize and accept the full weight of this sacrifice. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God’s g...

During the Last Supper, Jesus washes the feet of the disciples. He serves them. Can you pray for someone, even someone unworthy of it, whom you can serve like Jesus did Judas and His disciples at the Last Supper? Doing so reflects the kingdom Jesus brought.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by...

As we look closely at Jesus’ final days, we are looking at a very dark portion of the New Testament.  Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey the Sunday before Passover, which shows God left no stone unturned to demonstrate His love for humanity.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by...

For Week 5 of our New Testament Challenge, we’ll be focusing on the word “final." We’ll explore a week of finalities for Jesus… His final visit to the temple, His final teaching, His final supper, His final moments with His disciples, and His final hours on the cross. What does all of it mean for us? Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash...

We’ve been looking at the mountain of claims and the evidence for Jesus the son of God, Israel’s Messiah. We conclude this week by looking at what could be considered Jesus’ boldest claim of all and what it means for your life. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’s conviction that God...

We continue to explore the impact of when Jesus’ followers begin to realize who He really was: God’s Son and Israel's Messiah.  The ultimate proof that Jesus is Lord is His resurrection from the dead, never to die again. No other figure in history even claims to have conquered death. All life decisions require an element of faith, and the same is true with a relationship with God through Jesu...

Have you ever had a high in your life that was immediately followed by a low? Jesus would demonstrate that He was the Messiah by humbling Himself and being obedient to death on a cross, and then rising from the dead. In these unusual times, our hope should never stray far from the call of Jesus on our lives. He is worthy of that level of trust.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you...

Jesus is at a hinge point in His ministry. He has taught, healed, and shown His miraculous power, but His disciples ask about His identity. Who do you say Jesus is? In a world that is confused about Jesus yet more attracted to Him than ever, our ability to answer this question clearly and with solid reasoning is key for this week of the challenge.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help...

For Week 4 of our New Testament Challenge, we’ll continue to focus on knowing Jesus. You can never really begin the process of knowing yourself until you start the process of knowing God. Jesus is the living picture of God the Father. He is God in the flesh. If we truly know Him, we truly know God.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compa...

We’ve been looking each day at how extraordinary Jesus is because of His teaching and miracles. We end the week by looking at how extraordinary Jesus is because of how He loved people. The irresistible revolution of Jesus was not about the love of power but about the power of love.  There is only one King who went out and laid down His life for His subjects, showing His extraordinary love.  Pursui...

Jesus gave the disciples a test: Do you believe I can be involved in your stuff, in your lives, in our needs? When life is tough, when the odds are against you, and you feel like there is no way out, count your resources and then allow Him to work only He can. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped...