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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.
Pursuing God with Gene Appel
Episode 1185: Born in a Manger, Buried in Baptism, Raised to New Life
Merry Christmas Eve, friend. Today on Pursuing God, we’re tracing the journey of Jesus from the manger to the Jordan River — and what it means for your life right now. He wasn’t just born to be admired in a nativity scene; He came to be followed. Born in a manger, buried in baptism, and raised to bring new life to anyone willing to say yes. As we light the final Advent candle and reflect on His birth, I want to invite you to consider the personal invitation Jesus offers: to be made new. And for some of you, that next step might be baptism. Let’s talk about what it means to go all in — to identify with the One who identified with us.
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.