Pursuing God with Gene Appel

 If we want to lead a life of significance, we must slow down, like the shepherds did 2,000 years ago, and worship this baby born in a manger — not just at Christmas but every day of our lives. This baby was the Savior from sin. This was the Messiah; the Deliverer from death. No wonder the shepherds fell to their knees in worship!   Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God,...

 How does your understanding of the Bible change the way you live? If we want to find purpose in our lives, Gene shares in today’s episode that we have to move beyond simply reading the Bible. James 1:22 says, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grou...

God communicates His plan of salvation to us every day. And when He revealed Himself to the shepherds, they RESPONDED. God spoke to the shepherds on that hillside through the angels and He reveals Himself to us today through His 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 conviction...

 The birth of Jesus changed EVERYTHING for the shepherds near Bethlehem — and it still has the power to transform your life TODAY. These final days leading up to Christmas, Gene retraces the steps of the shepherds and how they found an incredible sense of purpose in their lives; so that those of us who feel stuck in the “cages” of our lives can move to leading lives of significance.  Pursuing God...

 Day 05: Christmas is not just for people who have surface happiness and appear to “have it all together.” In today’s episode, Gene shares the agonizing grief that many in their culture felt that first Christmas morning when Jesus was born. And if you are hurting today, cling to the truth that His hope and peace are available to you! Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God,...

Guilt over the past and fear of the future have the ability to rob you of your peace of mind. In today’s podcast episode, Gene shares two applications of the peace Jesus wants to bring you right now — no matter what has happened or is yet to come.  Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in Scripture and shaped by Eastside’...

Day 03: We ALL have strained relationships — they create one of the biggest causes of stress in our lives. What if, this Christmas, we could humbly allow God to bring PEACE and reconcilation to a relationship that’s been previously broken?  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 convic...

 Joseph didn’t let his stressful circumstances disrupt his obedience to God and rob him of the peace and joy of that moment. He simply obeyed and trusted God. And like God did for Joseph, He WILL give you peace if you, too, will obey and trust Him — regardless of the stressful circumstances in your life. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash...

Day 01: “Is there any peace for me this Christmas?” — Jesus said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” Finding true peace is not only possible but it is readily available to each of us through the power of Jesus, the Savior of the world, born as a baby in the manger. Pursuing G...

The joy that the gift of Jesus can give your life is not shallow — it’s a joy that runs deep. In today’s episode, Gene shares a real life example of a woman who personifies the supernatural gift of joy despite her circumstances. 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 Go...

The Christmas story isn’t a fairy tale and the “holiday season” won’t bring you permanent joy. In today’s episode, Gene teaches that the joy of Christmas lasts not because of wishful thinking or seasonal folklore, but because of historical fact 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...

Imagine the terror of the shepherds when the angel appeared to them to share the good news that the Savior of the world was born. In today’s episode, Gene encourages us to rediscover the fear of God — because once you find the hope and joy of salvation, it breaks through all fear Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in S...

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 discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

What do you want most out of life? Many people say they just want to be happy. In this week’s podcast series, Gene takes us on a “journey to joy” to focus on the ultimate gift from God — the birth of Jesus — that is far better than happiness 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...

 “Jesus’ teaching contains the word of life that can transform your life.” In today’s episode, Gene encourages us to study the Bible to experience the true transformation that is available to us through the power of Jesus. 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 gr...

The remarkable thing about Jesus’ teaching is that it is for EVERYONE — And He made it clear that this included the poor, the blind, the prisoners, the oppressed and the forgotten. In today’s episode, Gene encourages us to think about who in our own lives needs to hear that Jesus’ love is for them. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compas...

What was it about Jesus’ teaching that attracted so many people? And what made it so compelling? Over the next few days, Gene answers this question by looking at how He taught, who He taught and WHY He taught. 2,000 years later and His teachings are still captivating people in a way that continues to transform lives. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community,...

How can we keep from taking our many blessings for granted? How do we maintain a sense of gratitude? In today’s episode, Gene encourages us to stay laser-focused on our blessings -- because gratitude is a matter of attitude and perspective. 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 convic...

Chronic complainers are never satisfied. And they rationalize, “Well I’ll quit complaining when everything is just right....when everything is perfect.” In today’s episode, Gene encourages us to let go of our dissatisfaction and thank God for the endless blessings He has given us. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounded in...

Are you a chronic complainer? The truth is that most of our complaining and grumbling is an expression of ingratitude. Join Gene this Thanksgiving week as we shift our hearts and minds into a vertical position -- a position that allows for a spirit of thankfulness and gratitude to truly grip our hearts -- not just for Thursday, but as a lifestyle that permeates in and through us. Pursuing God with...

Instead of looking at your anxieties, why don’t you look today to your perfect Heavenly Father? God loves you so much that He provides for you, even when it costs Him dearly. The scope of God’s provision includes the deepest needs of your soul. 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...

What is it that you are worried about in your life right now? We all find ourselves worrying about a variety of things throughout our lives. While trapped in a lonely prison cell, the apostle Paul writes a challenging command in Philippians 4:6 that says “Don’t worry about anything...” Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion. Grounde...

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 discover God’s presence and activity in 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’s grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

Many of us struggle with trusting or even believing in God for one reason or another but we’ve all been hardwired with an innate desire to connect with Him. In this week’s podcast series, Gene gives us a glimpse of the God who fills the void in our souls -- He’s a perfect Father who loves us and wants to provide for us. Pursuing God with Gene Appel is designed to help you pursue God, build communi...