Pursuing God with Gene Appel

Many times we look at tough circumstances and struggle to understand that God could possibly have a “Plan B” for us. In today’s episode, Gene focuses on how the living hope of Jesus has the power to fill us with a new attitude in seasons of unknown. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside...

When we become followers of Jesus, we begin to understand that our pasts no longer define us -- who we belong to defines us. The Bible says our faith makes us a new creation, giving us a new identity. “The old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Cor. 5:17 Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastsid...

In Luke 24:21, before receiving word of Jesus’ resurrection, two of His followers admit, “ But we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel.” Like the disciples, we all have a choice to make when things don’t turn out the way we’ve planned -- Will we put our hope in the things of this world or in the promises of God? Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue Go...

In Luke 24 we read of two of Jesus’ followers, who, unaware that He has risen, meet Jesus on the road leaving Jerusalem. In their mourning they do not recognize that the hope they fear they have lost is right in front of them. This week Gene encourages us to place our hope in Jesus, especially when life doesn’t turn out according to plan. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue...

“It is finished.” It just didn’t seem right in heaven. And it doesn’t seem right to us. Guilty sinners don’t deserve a substitute like the one God provided.  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. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion....

Peter had left everything to follow Jesus only to betray Him in His final hours. It’s in the Courtyard of Caiaphas that Peter, Jesus’ loyal follower and disciple, denies him three times. In today’s episode, Gene contrasts Peter’s cowardice with Jesus’ willingness to endure isolation, betrayal and ultimately death for the sake of those who could so quickly deny Him.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is...

What do you do when you can’t fix the very thing that is crushing your spirit? No matter what you try, you just can’t change it in your own power? Gethsemane means “a place of crushing.” And it was in this very place that Jesus did the only thing He knew to do in those final hours of anguish -- He prayed. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash...

The upper room is a place of radical acceptance. It’s a place where Jesus says to imperfect people like us, “I know what you’ve done and I know what you’re about to do -- but I still love you and still accept you.” 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 f...

 The Sunday before Passover was the day when Jews would select a lamb to be sacrificed for their Passover celebration. Jesus chose this day to enter Jerusalem, among crowds waving palm branches and cheering, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” Jesus knew what the crowds did not -- that in a few short days they would be cheering for him to be crucified. Pursuing God with Gen...

How do we apply Abraham’s ultimate test of faith to our own lives? In today’s episode, Gene provides encouragement by looking at the scope of God’s provision. The apostle Paul writes in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion...

“The Lord will provide.” This statement is simple, yet so easy to forget when our faith is tested. In today’s episode, Gene continues teaching from Genesis 22 as we look to see if Abraham will be able to withstand the ultimate test. 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 tha...

 “Faith is trusting God to provide during doubts, delays, darkness and difficulties.” In today’s episode, we continue through the book of Genesis 22 when God gives Abraham the ultimate test — one that seems both inhumane and unimaginable. 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 convicti...

Is there a circumstance in your life that is testing your faith? Over the next few days, Gene leads us through Abraham’s journey when God moved in unexpected ways to draw him close. 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...

Is God really a PROMISE KEEPER? When circumstances feel dark, it’s easy to question God and His plan for our lives. In this week’s podcast series, Gene encourages us to fix our eyes on Jehovah Jirah, the God who provides. 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 gra...

God is still performing miracles every day and wants to do a miracle in you. In today’s episode, Gene wraps up another week on the podcast, diving deeper into the story found in Mark 2. 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 inv...

 “The Miracle Worker, Jehovah Rapha, is ready to give you the miracle you NEED, even if it’s not the miracle you SEEK.” Today Gene teaches from Mark 2 where a paralyzed man’s friends do everything they can to help him find healing   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 tha...

“What do you do if you need a miracle?” As the story of Exodus 15 continues, we learn from God’s lesson to Moses to trust Him for the outcome. In today’s episode, Gene encourages us to apply this story to our own lives and be open to the healing that comes from Him alone.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scriptur...

 Has God been speaking to you recently in a way that just doesn’t make sense? Moses cries to God for advice, but the answer is not what he expects. Join Gene as we continue our journey through Exodus 15.  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 everyon...

We look at our world right now and say, “We need a miracle.” In seasons of desperation, it’s within our human nature to question how God could use our circumstances for good. In this week’s podcast series, Gene teaches lessons from Exodus 15 to help us lean into God’s strength as our Miracle Worker and Healer.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and u...

After being challenged about His identity, Jesus replies to the Pharisees in John 8:58, “Very truly I tell you…before Abraham was born, I AM!” In today’s episode, Gene encourages us to remember that the God who has always been is still available to us today.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped b...

In Exodus 3, we see the first name God uses to describe Himself in the Bible when He says to Moses, “When somebody asks who sent you, just tell them “I AM.” God has always been, and He always will be. Gene encourages us in today’s episode to consider this – If God is I AM, what does that mean for us? Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash comp...

“When Jesus is at the center of your life, you’ll have peace at the center of your soul.” In today’s episode, Gene reminds us that, just like He promises to Moses in Exodus 3, God will always be with us, and we are never alone 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’...

“Who is this man?...even the winds and waves obey him!” With so many challenges in our world today, it’s important to remind ourselves that there is someone so much more powerful than our circumstances who is in control   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 gra...

“If God can make something from nothing, imagine what He can do for you...” The Bible tells us in Genesis that God simply spoke the universe into existence. In this week’s podcast series, Gene helps us gain a deeper understanding of who God is so that we can experience His transforming power in our own lives Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unle...

“A declaration of faith invites supernatural intervention.” When your back is against the wall, what you really believe about God is revealed. God has performed miracles for His people in crisis throughout history and He is still performing miracles today. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by E...