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Pursuing God with Gene Appel
Gene Appel is the senior pastor of Eastside Christian Church, a multi-site church based in Anaheim, California. Since 2008, Gene has led Eastside into multiple seasons of rapid growth and as a result, Eastside has been consistently named among the 100 fastest growing churches in America. Gene’s recipe for success is simple: Pursue God, Build Community, and Unleash Compassion. Eastside’s explosive growth is rooted in a deep conviction that God’s heart and God’s grace is for everyone, resulting in a radically inclusive community of God-conscious “servant leaders” who serve both locally and globally. Join Gene Monday - Friday as he walks you through practical biblical teachings that will foster a deeper connection and awareness of God’s activity and presence in your life. No matter where you are at with your walk with God, this podcast is for everyone.
Episodes
1200 episodes
Episode 1178: Behold, Your King Is Coming
Step into the third week of Advent with the powerful declaration from Zechariah: “Behold, your King is coming to you… having salvation.” Today, we reflect on the wise men, their gifts, and what it means to worship the ...
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6:39
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Episode 1177: The Invitation That Could Change Everything
Fear not, a reminder of the extraordinary joy at the heart of Christmas. Today’s episode invites you to slow down, create space in this busy season, and consider how God wants to use your life, right where you live, to shine ...
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6:07
Episode 1176: Knowing About vs Believing
In today’s Advent reflection, we revisit the shepherds’ fear and their courageous decision to explore what God was revealing to them. Many of us are just “18 inches” from Jesus, the distance between knowing about Him in our minds and believi...
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6:32
Episode 1175: Good News for Everyone
As we continue the second week of Advent, we turn to a moment in the Christmas story that reminds us just how wide God’s love reaches. The angel announces, “Fear not, for behold I bring you good news of great joy for all people,” and the fir...
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6:58
Episode 1174: Surrender Breaks the Power of Fear
Advent reminds us that long before we pursued God, He was already pursuing us. Today, we explore why surrender, the very choice Mary and Joseph made in their most overwhelming moments, is the antidote to fear. From bad...
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6:44
Episode 1173: Fear Not! Trusting God in Uncertain Moments
Step into the second week of Advent with the angel’s invitation: Fear not. Today, we look at Mary and Joseph’s story and how God met them in the middle of confusion, fear, and an uncertain future. As we light the “Fear...
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6:55
Episode 1172: The Love Behind Letting Go
Today’s reflection is realizing the heart of Christmas is God letting go of His Son because of His love for us. Discover how learning to “let go” in your own life can open the door to reaching the one person who needs Jesus most. This episod...
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6:11
Episode 1171: God Who Let Go for Us
Why would Jesus let go of heaven to come to earth as a baby? Today, we explore John 1 and the stunning truth that the Word became flesh, fully God and fully human, so we could be forgiven, restored, and set free. If guilt or regret has been ...
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Episode 1170: Open the Door of Your Heart
You're invited to pause and really behold what Christmas means. Isaiah 7:14 tells us that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a son called Immanuel, which means God with us. Today, we look at the birth of Jesus through the eyes of Jose...
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5:50
Episode 1169: The Miracle of God’s Pursuit
Advent reminds us that before we ever pursued God, He was already pursuing us. In this episode we reflect on Isaiah 7:14, the miracle of the virgin birth, and the wonder of Immanuel God with us. Discover the beauty of a God who steps into ou...
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6:14
Episode 1168: The Meaning of Immanuel: God With Us
Step into the first week of Advent with a simple but powerful reminder: God is with us. Today we look at the meaning of “Behold” and the incredible impact of Jesus’ coming, from a manger in Bethlehem to the shaping of history itself. As we b...
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5:42
Episode 1167: Defiant Gratitude in Disappointment
Discover how to give thanks even when life does not go the way you hoped. This Thanksgiving message explores Habakkuk’s declaration of nevertheless gratitude, the discipline of disappointment, and the daily gifts God places right in front of...
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5:42
Episode 1166: Grateful Right Now
Discover how gratitude grows when you stop waiting for perfect circumstances and start giving thanks right now. This Thanksgiving message shares the powerful story of Corrie ten Boom, why “I’ll be grateful when…” never works, and how Psalm 1...
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5:42
Episode 1165: Grateful in All Circumstances
Learn how to give thanks in all circumstances, break free from a culture of complaint, and cultivate a grateful heart this Thanksgiving week.
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Episode 1164: 21 Days of Prayer, Day 21
As we wrap up 21 Days of Prayer, take a moment to thank God for the good work He’s begun and trust that He’ll finish it. Nehemiah’s story reminds us that faithfulness isn’t about starting strong, it’s about finishing well. Don’t give up on w...
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5:26
Episode 1163: 21 Days of Prayer, Day 20
Nehemiah didn’t just rebuild walls; he rebuilt people. He noticed their names, their efforts, and their progress, and he took time to commend them. Encouragement is one of the most powerful tools God gives us to help others grow. Today, ask ...
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6:22
Episode 1162: 21 Days of Prayer, Day 19
When life gets stormy, we need each other. Nehemiah’s people, like the early church, learned that cooperation and unity are what move God’s mission forward. Today, ask God to break down any walls of jealousy, pride, or distance that keep you...
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5:33
Episode 1161: 21 Days of Prayer, Day 18
Nehemiah’s story reminds us that God’s work moves forward when everyone joins in. No one rebuilt the wall alone, and no one’s role was too small. Priests, goldsmiths, merchants, and families all cooperated to make the vision a reality. Today...
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5:28
Episode 1160: 21 Days of Prayer, Day 17
Day 17 is a reminder that rebuilding lives takes teamwork. Nehemiah couldn’t rebuild the wall alone, and we can’t rebuild God’s Kingdom alone either. Every person, every role, every gift matters. Today, thank God for the people who serve fai...
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5:14
Episode 1159: 21 Days of Prayer, Day 16
Day 16 is all about people. Nehemiah knew the wall around Jerusalem wasn’t really the goal - the people were. Every name in Nehemiah 3 mattered because every person mattered. Today, ask God to help you see people the way He does. Pray for a ...
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5:15
Episode 1158: 21 Days of Prayer, Day 15
We’re kicking off the final week of 21 Days of Prayer by talking about teamwork. Just like Nehemiah couldn’t rebuild Jerusalem alone, none of us can rebuild our lives in isolation. Take time today to thank God for the people who’ve helped sh...
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5:12
Episode 1157: 21 Days of Prayer, Day 14
This week, we’ve seen what it takes to rebuild when life feels hard: courage, focus, prayer, and perseverance. Today’s reminder is simple but vital - keep alert. One victory doesn’t make us invincible. Even after Nehem...
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5:09
Episode 1156: 21 Days of Prayer, Day 13
We’ve talked about staying focused and avoiding distractions. Today, we’re looking at how to stand firm when false accusations and intimidation try to derail us.Nehemiah faced lies, slander, and threats, but instead of lashing ...
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5:42