Pursuing God with Gene Appel

In the book of Philippians, Paul gives us the secret to praying for anxiety. He tells us to present our specific requests to the Lord and to dig deep into the cause of our fear. Nothing is too small or insignificant to take to God. Today Gene challenges us to dig deep into the cause of our anxiety and then ask God for help. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build com...

Anxiety is like a ‘check engine’ light that demands our attention. Is prayer the first thing we do when we feel anxious? Today Gene encourages us to take the step of going to God in prayer and asking for His help when we feel anxious.  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...

As we near the holiday season, feelings anxiety can be magnified. Anxiety can be emotional, circumstantial, physiological, or financial. But there is a spiritual component to anxiety. There is a way you can keep from being imprisoned by constant anxiety and into peace. Today Gene encourages us to move between the pillars of God’s goodness and God’s control. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed...

Honor can be as small as thanking a veteran for his or service, holding a door open for someone, or giving up your seat for another. Todays Gene explores how we can encourage one other, serve one another, and honor one another. 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...

Jesus gives us an example of how to honor others by the story of washing his disciples’ feet. All the disciples felt they were above the task, but Jesus humbles himself and honors his friends. Today’s episode explores how we can look for ways to honor others above ourselves. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Script...

We can live out the Golden Rule by serving others. When Barnabas obeyed the Lord to serve the newly saved Saul/Paul, the course of the future of Christianity was changed. Never underestimate what your influence will be when you agree to serve others. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastsid...

Today Gene looks at how to put others first by encouraging them. The word encouragement means to give others confidence and hope. We can encourage others through our words, deeds, and our giving of our financial and material goods. 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...

In today’s episode, Gene gives an introduction to what we know as the Golden Rule, which is found in Matthew 7:12. “Do unto others what you would have them do to you.” This week we’ll look at a few of the 59 ‘One another's’ found in the New Testament. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by E...

God can do the impossible if we trust Him to do the impractical. In today’s episode, Gene talks about trusting God and testing His faithfulness even during difficult times. He challenges us with the question, “What is the barrier that is keeping you from completely trusting God as an unfinished person with an unfinished story?” When we trust God completely, we can witness His faithfulness, just li...

Confidence to risk for God comes from comprehending the commitment of God. In today’s episode Gene answers the questions, “How can I trust God,” and How can I trust myself to not screw up?” When God answers these questions for Abraham, this is one of the clearest pictures of Jesus in the Old Testament. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash co...

Just like Abraham, we learn to trust God through trials and testing. Abraham had to trust God for over twenty-five years to fulfill the promise that he and Sarah would have a son. God says “Trust me in the impractical and I will do the impossible.”  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside...

God called Abraham when Abraham was seventy-five years old. Abraham obeyed with complete and total commitment to what God had called him to do. What God was saying to Abraham was, “Close your eyes and take My hand.” God is telling us the same thing. Today’s episode asks the question, “Am I really following God? Am I 100% engaged?” Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, bu...

In today’s episode, Gene asks the question, “What does God intend for me to do with the blessings He’s given me.” When God called Abraham at 75 years old to go to an unknown land, Abraham had to step out in faith. But God promised Abraham three blessings: A new land, descendents, and that everyone would be blessed through him. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build...

We have a God who promises to meet all our needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. God wants us to test Him with our financial and material needs by being generous in our giving. In this episode, Gene reminds us of the widow who discovered the God of the resupply. The prophet, Elijah, promised that her oil and flour would be resupplied every day if she would trust God. When we trus...

When God says he will supply all our needs according to His riches, He means that we can trust him with more than just our finances. Have you ever been at the end of your rope financially or otherwise? In this episode, Gene talks about trusting God in the area of our finances, emotions, and physical health. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unlea...

Have you ever tested the trustworthiness of God?  In this episode, Gene shows that you can trust God even when your financial future is uncertain and you don’t understand your circumstances. Trusting God with your finances isn’t a monetary issue, it’s a trust issue. Just like the widow with the prophet Elijah, and the feeding of the 5,000, God has a way of taking our “little bit” and multiplying i...

A widow with a young son encounters the prophet Elijah, who asks her to bring him water and a meal. When she tells Elijah she has nothing, he challenges her to trust God with the little bit that she has. In this episode, Gene shows how the principle of trusting the God of the resupply works in our lives. If we trust Him first with our resources, He will supply our needs. Pursuing God with Gene App...

What does it mean to trust God? Jesus told his disciples to test him, then went on to feed 5,000 people with a few fish and five loaves of bread.  In this episode, Gene challenges us to test God in the area of our finances. His promises are trustworthy and He promises to provide. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in S...

Where is your ultimate hope? In this episode Gene walks through a series of questions every follower of Jesus should ask themselves regarding where they place their hope. If you place your ultimate hope in Jesus, then your generosity will impact others and last forever. Treasures in heaven are laid up when treasures on earth are laid down.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you purs...

As you consider generous giving, you may experience objections from multiple people. These objections may come from friends or even family. In this episode Gene explores how the greatest objection you may experience regarding your generosity could come from within yourself. However, you’ll discover that investing in God’s kingdom on earth is the only safe investment you have for eternity. Does you...

Not everyone understands generosity. When you sacrifice something you love for something you love more- some people may not understand or even criticize your gifts. Even Jesus’ own disciples didn’t understand Mary’s big sacrifice of expensive perfume for Jesus. However, sacrificing something you love today to impact the kingdom of God forever is a good investment.  In this episode Gene unpacks the...

Sacrifice is not always easy. But could you imagine owning something valued at one year’s worth of your salary and sacrificing it for a friend? In this episode Gene unpacks the extravagant sacrifice a woman named Mary made for Jesus.  Discover how Mary gave up something she loved for something she loved more. She did what she could to show Jesus great gratitude. Love that goes beyond challenges us...

We’re called to live a life filled with love for others. In this episode Gene begins discussing love that goes above and beyond. Find out how love that goes beyond involves sacrifice as he introduces a big sacrifice made in the Bible by a woman named Mary.   Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by...

It’s impossible to find purpose without handing over the keys of your life to God. It’s realizing, “I need Jesus Christ in my life not only to save me from my sin, but to live in God’s meaning and purpose for my life, indwelt with God’s Spirit. 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 co...

So where do you discover the meaning of your life? Solomon ends his journal in Ecclesiastes by saying , “If you really want to find purpose in your life it comes down to these three words -- ‘Remember your Creator.’” 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...