Pursuing God with Dave and Gene

We are concluding a week devoted to what made the early Christian movement explode and how any alternate vision of the church leaves you, and the rest of the world, wanting.

Paul, along with Jesus and so many others, gave His life for a vision where people pursue God,  build community, and unleash compassion everywhere. 

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.

We are examining the expansion of the early Christian movement. 

The early church wasn't just coming to a place for an hour to get some entertainment. They were "devoted to the apostle's teaching."

There are two competing visions for the church that are common today, but neither are part of the original vision.

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.

Today we’ll look at the hardships Paul encountered as he spread the message of Jesus across the Roman world. 

Why would Paul endure the obstacles, the persecution, the difficult travel, and repeatedly risk His life for the church? 

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.

God uses Paul in some dramatic ways. Paul goes on three different missionary journeys in the book of Acts. 

Paul opposed and persecuted the church, but then he became a part of the church, planted churches, wrote letters to churches, and died serving the church. 

In the readings for this week, you’ll see four of Paul’s letters. Take them in, live out their instruction, and encourage others with what you learn. 

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.

For Week 8 of our New Testament Challenge, we’ll be focusing on spread of the churches.

In Acts 1-7, the Gospel spread through Jerusalem. In Acts 8-12, the Gospel spread to Judea and into Samaria. In Acts 13-28, the Gospel begins to spread everywhere.

This is where we meet Paul. The early church would have been afraid of Paul, and yet God calls him.

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.

This week, we’ve explored the book of Acts in our trek through the New Testament. At this point in history, we see the church expanding, but there is still resistance even in the church itself.

From the beginning of the church there have been unnecessary barriers keeping people from Jesus. But God, in His love, refuses to leave these barriers up. 

We can remove the barriers keeping people from 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 grace is for everyone, each episode invites you to discover God’s presence and activity in your life.

After arguing with God, Ananias comes and, in a tangible way, expresses the love of God to Saul.

Saul literally changes the course of human history. And you may not know him as Saul, but you are familiar with his new name…Paul, who becomes the greatest missionary in the history of the world.

God has given you your background and personality to be used for His glory. You are part of the plan God has to change the world, even through the life of one unlikely person like Saul. 

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.

One of the most remarkable human interest stories in the Bible is the story of Saul, whom God uses in a fascinating way.

Saul has been confronted by Jesus himself while Saul was on his way to throw Christians in jail; he is left blind and disoriented. 

God desires to involve us in His mission in the world to rescue and restore everyone, everywhere.

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.

After Jesus’ death, Peter and John used the power of the Holy Spirit to preach His message.

God orchestrates events to grow our courage in His limitless power. Courageous compassion gives credibility to courageous words.

Do you want to see God move through your life like He did through the Christ followers in the first century?

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.

For Week 7 of our New Testament Challenge, we’ll be focusing on the beginning of the church.

Acts 1 and 2 are a study in contrasts. In Acts 1, Jesus ascends into heaven and vanishes before people’s eyes. He has 120 followers who are weak, defeated, and overwhelmed. But in Acts 2, we find them empowered, courageous, and strong. 

Do you need a new beginning? Do you yearn for a fresh start? 

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.