Pursuing God with Gene Appel

Jesus saves us through salvation, and changes us through sanctification. Today Gene unpacks the story of how Peter’s world was rocked by the Holy Spirit by sending him to the Gentiles. Peter realizes that God treats everyone the same, no matter what race he belongs to. Peter experiences a ‘second conversion’ as his world is rocked. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, b...

In today’s episode, Gene tells the story of a centurion named Cornelius. He was a ‘good guy’ but spiritually lost. As a Jew, the apostle Peter would have had nothing to do with a Gentile like Cornelius. But God gives Peter a vision that he is to go to the Gentiles and spread the good news of Jesus. Talk about rocking his world! Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build...

Jesus cared about the spiritual needs of every person he came into contact with. He also healed those who were sick in body. God is interested in the whole person, body, soul and spirit - holistic love. 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 everyone,...

In today’s episode, Gene tells a heartwarming story of how God showed His faithfulness through Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord always. When we walk with God, we see His faithfulness over and over again. It is important to recall the times we’ve seen God work in writing the script of our lives. If you are in a difficult time, ask Him to rewrite your story, knowing the best is yet to come. Pur...

In John 2:9-10, Gene tells us how the wine Jesus created was the best! We can see the principle that with Jesus, the best is always yet to come. He wants to not just fill us up, he wants to fill us with abundant life. Jesus is still writing our story and wants us to trust Him. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scri...

When Mary approached her son, she knew He would be the one to solve the problem of running out of wine at the wedding. In John 2:5, she tells the servants to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. When you want Jesus to do something in your life, you need to do what He asks, even if you don’t see immediate results. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and...

In John 2, Jesus performs his first miracle in his public ministry at a wedding by turning water into wine. What could have been a social tragedy - running out of wine - became an example of how Jesus is concerned about even the smallest thing. Gene reminds us to ask God for everything, even if we think it is too little to bother God with. When things go wrong, take your circumstances to Jesus. Pu...

In today’s episode, Gene takes us to the Gospel of John. It was an eyewitness account of the life of Jesus, written so that we would believe in Jesus and receive life. Jesus wants to write a better story for our lives.  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...

We are becoming more Christ-like when we speak the truth in love. Gene reminds us that when we have difficult conversations with others, the tone of our voice can show truth with grace. Open your heart and soul to let God heal you from any hurtful words spoken over you.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture...

In today’s episode, Gene talks about the loving words of affection. Saying “I love you” has a powerful and significant impact on another’s life. In Jeremiah 31:3 God says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love.” What a powerful verse of how God loves us. He loves us so much that he gave his Son, Jesus. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unlea...

In the Gospel of John, the apostle proclaims Jesus as “The Word.” Words are the tool that Jesus uses to bring light to the darkness. Our words leave a permanent tattoo on another’s heart. One of the ways you can leave a positive tattoo is to be more intentional about the words you use. Gene reminds us that our words are powerful to either bring life or death. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is design...

We are the product of the words spoken over our lives. In today’s episode Gene reflects on those who spoke life and encouragement to him. If you have not had the same advantage, Jesus offers the healing words that will give you life. Surround yourself with others who will bring life and encouragement to you. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unle...

In today’s episode, Gene tells us that we will speak on average, over 525 million words over the course of our life. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that our words have the power of life and death. When we speak hurtful words to someone, those words stay inside another like a tattoo on their hearts. This week we will look at how to use our words to bless others. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed...

We are a product over what we feed our minds. Jesus tells us to focus our minds on Him. When we live every day with an awareness of God, it will transform not only our minds but also our behavior. In today’s episode, Gene challenges us to focus on what God’s word says we are when we commit our lives to Christ. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and un...

When we let God transform us, we renew our minds to a new way of thinking. We must set our minds (thoughts) on what God’s spirit desires. When we set our minds on God we sense hope and confidence. 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 everyone, each...

It can be easy to be negative because of everything happening in our world. But it is vital to change the way we think by renewing our mind to a new way of thinking. True transformational change must begin between our ears. Amazing grace tells us that we are new creations in Christ. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded i...

When you have unresolved guilt from your past, it can become shameful. When we follow Jesus, He transforms us into a new person and removes our guilt and shame. Ask God to haul away the old sins and recycle our minds into the way He sees us. 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 convi...

To become God’s best in your life, some things need to be hauled away, but some things need to be renewed and recycled. When we suffer from guilt over past sins, Jesus offers a way through His death and resurrection to put our past away forever. 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 c...

Are you wearing safety goggles when you see others? Do you protect yourself from getting involved with others’ needs? In today’s episode, Gene talks about being able to truly see others the way Jesus sees them. When we get too busy with our church activities, we can sometimes lose compassion for others. He challenges us to see those on the periphery who need a touch of hope. Pursuing God with Gene...

Jesus had the uncanny ability to see those people who were unseen. He saw people through the eyes of love. Remember the story of the Good Samaritan? Gene reminds us in today’s episode that our ‘neighbor’ is anyone we come into contact with. We have to decide to love, beginning in our own circle of influence. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unle...

An apprentice is someone who works under a teacher to learn a particular job or skill. Jesus invites us to be His apprentices. Gene challenges us with the question,  “What would you be willing to give to sit under Jesus teaching today?” The goal of Jesus’ teaching isn’t for knowledge, it’s for personal transformation. His challenge is for us to read our Bibles and pray that we will become stronger...

The crowds were always amazed that Jesus, a carpenter by trade, could teach so well. He hadn’t attended rabbinical school to learn to be a teacher. But Jesus told the crowds that He came to preach good news to the poor. In today’s episode, Gene shows that Jesus recruited other ‘unlearned men’ and even women to be his followers! His example reminds us that His message is for everyone. Pursuing God...

Jesus engaged his listeners by using stories. He understood that people think in pictures, not words. His stories included weddings, farming, and other practical things people of that day understood. His teaching was practical - feed the poor, go to work, forgive others. Jesus’ teaching was compelling with graphic illustrations that are still relevant today. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designe...

Today Gene reminds us that faith and actions work together. The righteous and good things we do won’t save us. It is only by faith in Jesus that we are saved. Ephesians 2:10 says it is by grace we’re saved through faith. It’s a free gift. Now that we’re saved, we’re equipped to do good works that He has for us to do. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community,...

In today’s episode, Gene talks about how the patriarch Abraham and Rahab the prostitute had genuine saving faith by putting their faith into action. It is impossible to separate what you believe in and how you act. Are you living out your faith by unleashing compassion? Faith must express itself through love. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unl...