Pursuing God with Gene Appel

Gene reminds us again that when James wrote his letter, he said, “Show me your faith without deeds and I’ll show you my faith by my deeds.” James says that in order to show our faith in Jesus, we need to have deeds. We are the feet of Jesus to the world. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eas...

Christ-like care looks different from compassion. We should be moved to do something. James says that if you claim to care for someone, but do nothing to help them, your faith is dead. Faith and compassion have to be more than words. It is more than acknowledging Jesus with our lips. Gene challenges us in today’s episode that we need to demonstrate our faith by our actions. Pursuing God with Gene...

In today’s episode, Gene unpacks a verse that has many Christians divided - James 2:14. James says that people ‘claim’ to have faith, but many don’t understand what that means. They have the lifestyle and behavior of a Christian but there is no fruit. It’s easy to say one thing and another to live it out. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash...

Heaven is beyond our wildest imagination. Gene talks today about how a bride prepares herself for her groom is like how Christ is preparing a place for us in heaven. When we see Jesus face to face, He will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” What a welcome! Gene challenges us in today’s episode to be ready to face the Lord. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God,...

In today’s episode, Gene reminds us that every good thing we see in life now will be perfect in heaven. The Bible says that in heaven there will be no sorrow, no pain, and no sickness. We will be perfect, healthy, and whole. There will be no anxious waiting, no emotional sickness, and no death. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion...

The Bible says God is continuing to show us the mysteries of His love and grace, even after death when we get to heaven. Gene talks today about all the things we can learn when we get to heaven. It will be a fascinating place for us to explore for the rest of eternity. It’s also a place of accomplishment as we serve and make decisions. The Bible says we will judge angels. We will have a perfect jo...

Does heaven seem boring to you? What we see depicted in popular culture makes heaven look like endless floating on clouds and playing a harp. But the gospels tell us that heaven is our glorious hope. The apostle Paul speaks of the wonders of heaven, where we truly belong. Gene reminds us that heaven is our eternal home. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build communi...

In today’s episode, Gene talks about the relationships we will have in heaven. It will be like a big family reunion, but perfect - without jealousy and selfishness. Everyone is transformed to be like Jesus with perfect love. Heaven will open up a whole new world of meaningful relationships. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Gr...

In order to have a healthy, functioning family, you must be involved. It begins with you. You must be engaged and present to be the primary guiding influence in the lives of our kids. Gene challenges us in today’s episode to spend quality time with our families.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shap...

Healthy families know that limits are vital for a Christ-centered family. In today’s episode, Gene reminds us that we’re born with a sinful nature and our children need to know there are boundaries. Just like God establishes limits, so we must as parents establish loving limits with well-defined consequences.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and un...

It is important for parents to understand that each person in the family has a certain ‘inclination’ or bent with unique gifts and abilities. As parents, we need to appreciate the individual uniqueness of each of our kids. Gene challenges us to encourage our children to pursue their individual inclinations. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unlea...

Affection should be at the base of all our interactions with the members of our family. We need affirmation on a daily basis. Shower your kids with hugs and unconditional love. It will help them face future difficulties. Gene also reminds us that shared memories are one of the most precious joys we can share with our kids. Be intentional about spending time together to create memories to last a li...

It is difficult to raise a healthy, functioning, Jesus-centered family. In today’s episode, Gene challenges us to ‘drive a stake’ into our family’s faith. For instance, begin to pray over a meal together. Let your children see you reading your Bible consistently. Attend church together as a family. It is a powerful example of how to live out your faith. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to...

The disciples thought they were going to die in the storm. They did the only thing they could do - they cried out to Jesus. Gene reminds us in today’s episode that only God is the rock solid foundation when storms come raging into your world. When Jesus is at the center of your life, peace will be at the center of your soul. He is your refuge and strength in the time of trouble. Jesus is the only...

“Peace be still.” When Jesus calmed the storm with these three little words, the disciples were amazed but also frightened that Jesus could possibly make the winds and the waves immediately cease. They asked the question, “Who is this man that even the winds and waves obey?” He is all powerful and bigger than our circumstances. He came to give us a visible description of who God is and that He wan...

Sometimes in the midst of our storms, just like the disciples on the boat in the storm, we ask Jesus, “Don’t you care?” We assume that if God cared, he would keep us far from calamity. The storms we face aren’t a lack of God’s love and care. Gene reminds us that storms will come as a result of living in a fallen world. But Jesus wants us to know we don’t need to be afraid because we have peace tha...

In Mark 4, Jesus has just finished back to back parables about the power of God. When Jesus and the disciples embark on a journey across the Sea of Galilee, a huge storm hits them. The disciples are terrified and in fear for their lives while Jesus sleeps. They plead with Jesus to do something. He rebukes the storm and it stops. In today’s episode, Gene reminds us that genuine faith silences the v...

In today’s episode, Gene introduces the story of the disciples on the Sea of Galilee in the midst of a storm. Jesus talked about fear and anxiety because He didn’t want us to be held captive by our fears. He teaches us that in the midst of our anxiety, He is the one who can calm our fears.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Gr...

Jesus looked beyond the body of the paralyzed man and saw into his soul. The man, and us, need a fresh touch from God, knowing that our sins are forgiven. In today’s episode, Gene asks us to pause and ask the Lord for cleansing and forgiveness because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Then imagine Jesus saying to us what he said to the paralyzed man - Your sins are forgiven. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is des...

The paralyzed man in the gospel of Mark received both physical healing and spiritual healing. In today’s episode, Gene reminds us that Jesus has the power and authority to forgive sins and offer true healing. He has paid the price so we don’t have to. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastsi...

We live in a world of illusion that our sin can be hidden from God. In today’s episode Gene talks about how we hide our sins from others. When we aren’t honestly acknowledging our sin, God will cause them to be brought into the light.  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...

In today’s episode, Gene begins to unpack the story of the paralyzed man whose friends pick him up and carry him to the house where Jesus is teaching. But the first thing Jesus says to the man isn’t “You are healed,” but “Your sins are forgiven.” 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...

The paralyzed man in the gospel of Mark anticipated being healed physically. To him and his friends, the problem was obvious - he was crippled. But Jesus spoke the words the man and his friends needed to hear: Your sins are forgiven. The condition of our soul is a much higher priority for God than the condition of our body. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build com...

In today’s episode, Gene tells a personal story of how he could have vented his anger and frustration but chose to follow the example of James - slow to become angry. 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 episode invites you to discove...

In today’s episode, Gene continues to unpack James 1:19. The key to overcoming our anger is in understanding others and the reasons why they act the way they do. It doesn’t excuse the way they treat us, but it helps us reinterpret their actions.  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...