Pursuing God with Gene Appel

From the archives - it's the best of “The Pursuit of Purpose” podcast - summer edition:There's a big difference between finding a path in life and discovering God's purpose FOR your life. Solomon was a king and the richest person the world has ever known. The Bible says he denied himself nothing, yet he discovered that true fulfillment wasn't found in the things of this world.

From the archives - it's the best of “The Pursuit of Purpose” podcast - summer edition:Have you ever wondered why you were born? Deep down you sense there's a reason for being alive, but you can't find it -- you feel stuck. Maybe your life has a path, but you feel like it doesn't have a purpose. This week, Gene focuses on what we can learn from King Solomon's quest for purpose.

From the archives - it's the best of “Growing in Perseverance" podcast - summer edition:No race worth running comes without great effort -- and sometimes it can be painful. Our spiritual journey is no different. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

From the archives - it's the best of “Growing in Perseverance" podcast - summer edition:When Christ's church is united, it is unstoppable. Yet churches are notorious for losing focus on their purpose and the race they are running. In a year full of so much divisiveness, let's not forget the mission we are on...together.

From the archives - it's the best of “Growing in Perseverance" podcast - summer edition:There are a couple of habits that frequently happen to many followers of Jesus....without us even realizing it. Thankfully, by God's grace, we can throw off whatever it is that hinders us and find grace for the sin that has us entangled so easily. 

From the archives - it's the best of “Growing in Perseverance" podcast - summer edition:What hinders you spiritually? In today's devotion, Gene shares two common barriers that pull us away from being fully devoted followers of Christ. If we're going to persevere, we must first eliminate the things that are dragging us down.

From the archives - it's the best of “Growing in Perseverance" podcast - summer edition:Many of us need to hear from the Lord -- to keep persevering, to keep moving forward, to keep our faith. This week, Gene focuses on perseverance and how we can apply Hebrews 12:1 in our lives.

From the archives - it's the best of “Pursuing God” podcast - summer edition: 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.”

From the archives - it's the best of “Pursuing God” podcast - summer edition: 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.'” 

From the archives - it's the best of “Pursuing God” podcast - summer edition: After investigating everything “under the sun”, King Solomon writes, “Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.” In today's devotion Gene shares what King Solomon finally discovers --the only way to find purpose is to look to that which cannot be seen.

From the archives - it's the best of “Pursuing God” podcast - summer edition: There's a big difference between finding a path in life and discovering God's purpose FOR your life. Solomon was a king and the richest person the world has ever known. The Bible says he denied himself nothing, yet he discovered that true fulfillment wasn't found in the things of this world.

From the archives - it's the best of “Pursuing God” podcast - summer edition: Have you ever wondered why you were born? Deep down you sense there's a reason for being alive, but you can't find it -- you feel stuck. Maybe your life has a path, but you feel like it doesn't have a purpose. This week, Gene focuses on what we can learn from King Solomon's quest for purpose.

We've dedicated this week to the sober topic of David's illicit affair with Bathsheba. While God's forgiveness doesn't minimize the serious consequences of David's sin, it demonstrates how God's grace is greater than our failures.Moral intersections provide two opportunities. By falling into Jesus' arms and experiencing His rest, we can find strength to make good decisions and live well in His name.

As we continue an examination of David's moral failure with Bathsheba this week, we saw first how prosperity can make us vulnerable to choices we would never entertain in any other season of life. Today we'll learn how David decided to toy with the temptation. Flirting with Satan's temptations is a risky, risky business. We're no match for Satan's cunning. Is there a choice in your life that has left you with scars? Are you someone who has been scarred by the bad choices of someone else? Remember, there is hope, because God can save you from the choice if you want him to. His redemption never fails. 

If someone so blessed, so used by God, so spiritually mature could fall so dramatically, what does that say about our own vulnerability? It's been a sober week as we explore a moral failure in King David. What led to David's bad decision? We'll explore that today.

Mistakes will come, and sometimes our greatest strengths can become the context for our greatest weaknesses. But there are always options for a hopeful future. We're exploring a moment in David's adult life that was far from his best moment so we can learn how to do better when we are not in our best moments. Do you see yourself in David's failure? Where are you most vulnerable to bad decision making in your life right now? 

We've all been hurt by the moral crash of Christians we've respected. These moral failures shake our faith in human nature and sometimes even challenge our understanding of God's grace and justice.One moral crash in Scripture that's shocking and instructive is that of King David. We are all vulnerable to profound mistakes, failures and crashes. Consider your failures and how God brought you through it.

As we conclude this weeklong journey through David as recorded in 1 Samuel 17, remember your story is still being written. The giants you face today are no match for the God who has already proven His faithfulness in your life.The same God who helped a shepherd boy defeat a champion warrior is the same God who walks with you daily. Choose courage in the everyday crossroads, and watch how God transforms ordinary faithfulness into extraordinary victory.

​​We've been exploring David's life as a young man and what made him able to slay a giant that threatened his entire nation. Today we are going to learn the key to giant-killing faith.Look at 1 Samual 17: 33-37. Giant-killing faith develops slowly and gradually, day by day, month by month, year by year as you discover the trustworthiness of God in the little challenges of life. 

The whole course of his life, Israel, and even the church was dramatically altered because there was a Goliath in David's life. How you handle the giants of adversity and opportunity may very well determine the entire course and direction of your life. The Goliath crossroads changed David's life. What will you do with your Goliath?

This week we are exploring a young David as recorded in the Old Testament book of 1 Samuel. As a result of David's victory over Goliath, he was catapulted to national stardom. God blessed him and prospered him greatly.Would anybody know who David was today if there had not been a Goliath in his life?

The story of David and Goliath is probably one of the all-time classic Old Testament stories. We're going to look at this story deeply this week, so today let's get to know David himself.

We've spent this week diving into how we invest what God has given to us. In Matthew 25, we've already looked at four principles to live by. The last principle is compensation: If I use it wisely, I will be rewarded. Talent is cheap, but dedication is costly. When you use whatever talent God has given you for Him, God rewards you in three specific ways.What gifts are you going to give to God this summer?

As we explore a story Jesus told in Matthew 25, we review a fourth principle: It's wrong to bury your talents. Why do we bury our talents? Why are we afraid? What fears keep us from using our talents? Satan can fill us with at least three different fears that keep us from investing our lives in God.The more you use something, the more it grows. But if you don't use it, you lose it. Pray for opportunities to use your talents.

We are looking at how God blesses everyone with talents. We have already looked at how He owns everything and how He gives each of us talents to invest. The third principle in Matthew 25 is accountability; God expects us to use our talents. May we never get so caught up in doing church that we forget to be the church, because God expects us to use our talents.

Jesus' story in Matthew 25 reminds us that everything he gives us is an asset to manage, not a possession to control. The second principle is allocation.God has given each of us talents. There are three different varieties of talent: abilities, resources, and opportunities. These are gifts from God. We don't own those things, but they are allocated to us.We are all equally loved by God and equally important to Him, but we each have different measures of talent. Even though the amount of talent differs, everybody gets something, and God would not make you who you are and entrust you with what you have without a plan and a purpose for it. 

While we focus a lot on God's incredible gifts to us through the good news of Jesus, we should also consider our gifts to God. In Matthew 25, Jesus told a parable showing how to make your life count regardless of how limited your abilities and gifts appear to be. We'll review five principles for investing your life this week. Today we'll talk about ownership. God made it all, and since God made it all, He owns it all.

This week, we've been reframing our problems by looking at the hidden upsides they tend to have. The final up-side is God can use problems in our lives to produce a Christ-like reflection in us. There really is a huge upside to our problems. Problems help us discover direction, do a personal inspection, give us needed correction, give long-term protection, and/or produce in us a Christ-like reflection. No matter what problems you're facing in your life right now, God can use those problems for good in your life; there is an upside.

We've been looking at some of the upsides to the problems we all deal with from time to time.Today we'll discuss long-term protection with the story of Joseph. The biggest problem you are facing right now could actually bring a good you never anticipated. It could also be protecting you from something you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. 

We all have problems, and they impact us in one way or another. So far this week, we've seen that our problems can help us discover direction and give us a desire for personal inspection. The third upside to our problems is needed correction. The problem you are facing could help you to correct something in your life. 

We are looking at how problems have an upside we can leverage to our benefit. Problems can result in personal inspection to reveal what's really in our hearts. Consider some of the lessons Moses gives us for navigating the seasons of life.Is there a problem or challenge in your life that is causing you to do some personal inspection? It may be hard, but it's a good thing.

Have you ever had a really, really bad day? The Bible is clear that even if you love God with all your heart, you are not insulated from problems.If problems are going to be a definite part of our lives, how can you learn to see them as a friend instead of an enemy? We will discuss 5 different ways God uses problems this week.The first is discovering direction, which will be discussed in the context of Jonah. 

We have reached the end of a week exploring what it looks like to live a life that is led by God's Spirit. To walk in the Spirit is to move at God's pace, with His purpose, and in His power. If you follow Jesus, being filled with the spirit is yours for the asking! Are you ready?

When it comes to discerning the leading of the Holy Spirit, we need to know His fingerprints so we know it's really Him. Every time you sense a leading from the Holy Spirit, it's also important to test His leadings. One of the most important ways you test His leadings is to test them against the Bible, because God's Spirit will never lead you to do something contrary to God's Word. The Spirit's guidance will always be consistent with what the Spirit has revealed in God's Word.Are you willing to obey the leading of the Holy Spirit even if it involves effort or hard work? 

This week, we are talking about what it means to be led by God's Spirit. When we are led by the Spirit of God, we don't just follow rules, we follow His voice, His peace, and His presence. But learning to follow takes some practice.Several things can help us learn to be led by the Spirit. Today, we'll talk about one that seems to be self-evident, but it's one many of us struggle with. 

We are exploring the unexpected and powerful ways God leads us in our lives this week. There are two kinds of guidance when God is leading you by the Holy Spirit. The Spirit's guidance is not about personal success, but about personal transformation. We'll review an example from Paul in Acts 9.

God has always projected Himself into this world and its history through His Spirit. God is much more willing to actively lead and guide our lives than many of us are willing to believe. God is guiding, but many of us are just not listening. God is leading, but many of us are not following.This week, we are going to do a deep dive into why and how God leads us into a variety of circumstances so we can learn how to be led by His Spirit.

We've talked about several ways of looking at the Bible this week, but today we'll end on two core reminders when it comes to the Bible.What commitment should you make this summer?

This week, we've been reviewing how to engage with the Bible in a life-strengthening way. God's Word gives you hope in crisis, comfort in despair, strength when weak, wisdom when confused, guidance when seeking direction, and power to resist temptation. The Bible is not just a standard of living; its truth is a catalyst for spiritual growth. In Luke 8, Jesus tells a story of four kinds of soil, representing four different attitudes we can have toward the Bible. Which soil best represents you at this moment?

As we talk this week about developing and maintaining good habits surrounding the Bible, ask yourself if your current diet of scripture is leaving your soul satisfied.The Bible says the Word of God is spiritual food. The Bible describes itself as the water, the milk, the bread, and the meat of the spiritual life. Just like you need physical food for physical strength, you've got to have spiritual food for spiritual strength. So how do we feed ourselves on the truths of the Bible? We review four ways.

God wants your new spiritual life in Him to replace your old life permanently.When life's inevitable storms, trials, and temptations come, those built on God's Word remain solid rather than crumbling. Today, we'll review four worldly foundations and why they crumble. 

Since it's been a month since the New Testament Challenge, we'll focus this week on how you can maintain a heart for God's Word and how you can integrate it into every area of your life.When you segment your life, you live a segregated life. To have integrity means to live your life integrated, as a whole. To live an integrated life, you have to have the desire. The rest is what you do to honor it. We'll look at specific, biblical steps to help throughout the week.

As we take the final lap through Acts 1 and unpack the power the first Christians had, we discover it is still available to us today. Our power doesn't come from our level of faith, but from the One we have faith in. God makes the power of His spirit known in three ways, which we discuss today.

This week, we are contemplating the role of God's Holy Spirit when it comes to transforming and using our lives. As creations of God, we are fearfully and wonderfully made. But without power, we cannot function. Early Christians witnessed what Jesus could do and how He could change their life. Our witness is not to be narrow, but it's got to be wide. Since Jesus promised us power when we're witnessing for the right thing, the power will be there when we do. 

Jesus Christ was God in the flesh who came with power. He proved that power when He was raised from the dead. His followers had seen the resurrected Lord and the results of His life, but they had no power themselves. Chapter 1, verse 5 brings us to the promise of power. What took you through tough times? What helped you stand? It is the internal power of God, which is a confidence worth living in. 

This week, we're looking at Acts Chapter 1 and how change in life takes place. Change has a way of surprising us. Acts 1 shows us who makes that change happen and how it rolls out. Sometimes the power to change anything happens through waiting. We have to wait for God to show up, but we don't have to wait for his Holy Spirit. 

Jesus never left His corner of the Middle East, but His message permeated almost the entire globe and continues 20 centuries after He was here. Jesus challenges His followers, including you and me, to dream great dreams, to plan great plans, to pray great prayers, and obey His great commands. How big is your vision? Have you ever thought about what God could do through you to change our world in this generation? 

Today we'll review two more practical suggestions for dealing with temptation. Our short-range goal is to serve Jesus, who gave His life for us. When temptations distract us, we need to be reminded of our goal as a motivation for obedience. Not only does Jesus provide a way out of temptation, but He provides the way out of all the sins we've already committed through His death and resurrection. 

We've been exploring how to deal with temptation, how it's normal for everyone, and how it comes in a variety of forms. Temptation can be overcome. Jesus experienced the same temptations and He resisted them to prove that it could be done. Many Christians have confronted the same pressures and overcome. And we can do it too. Today we discuss four practical suggestions to help you overcome temptation. 

We are looking deeper at temptation, how it works and how to overcome it. As we walk through 1 Corinthians 10, we see another temptation the Israelites yielded: sexual temptation. Anybody who wants to live a life of purity in our society has a constant battle to control sexual desires. Temptations vary, so be alert. Paul puts grumbling on the same level as sexual immorality and materialism. Can you access which one of these you are most vulnerable to? 

This week, we're exploring how to deal best with temptation.In 1 Corinthians, Paul confessed the constant struggle he had with the temptations of the world throughout his entire life. Even Jesus struggled with temptation all of His life. If we're going to overcome temptation, we've got to see the awful consequences of sin. There are warnings in scripture about being careless in the Christian life.