Crazy Love Podcast

In Part 2 of this conversation, Francis and Lisa Chan respond to live questions about living “on mission” as a family without losing your soul, your kids, or your joy. They tackle what happens when a husband and wife feel pulled in different directions, how to think biblically about leadership and authority, and why so many “marriage problems” are really worship and contentment problems. You’ll also hear raw, honest reflections on parenting, and what it looks like to pray, wait, and trust God with your children’s hearts. Throughout, Francis and Lisa keep returning to a simple theme: seek first the Kingdom, invite your children into the mission, and trust the Holy Spirit to do what you can’t. If today’s conversation challenges you and you want to go deeper, visit youandmeforever.org. There you can order the book “You and Me Forever,” watch chapter videos, explore bonus content, and learn more about the mission behind it all.

What if marriage was never meant to just be about your happiness? In Part 1 of this candid and challenging teaching, Francis and Lisa Chan invite listeners to rethink marriage, family, and discipleship through the lens of eternity. Drawing from decades of shared ministry, they show that unity, joy, and intimacy in marriage are often the byproducts of pursuing God’s mission together... not the primary goal. Francis and Lisa share vulnerable stories from their own lives: downsizing their home, giving sacrificially, moving in faith, fostering teens, raising children with an eternal perspective, and learning to say “yes” to God even when it was costly. They confront the cultural obsession with comfort and ask whether the Church has replaced God’s Kingdom with the pursuit of a “happy Christian family.” This episode is a hope-filled call to seek first the Kingdom of God and trust Him with everything else. If today’s conversation challenges you and you want to go deeper, visit youandmeforever.org. There you can order the book “You and Me Forever,” watch chapter videos, explore bonus content, and learn more about the mission behind it all.

Today, Francis Chan sits down with Joni Eareckson Tada for a deeply personal conversation about perseverance, joy, and enduring faith in a life marked by suffering. Joni shares how nearly 60 years in a wheelchair, seasons of pain, illness, and discouragement have become the place where Jesus meets her most intimately, strengthening her to “fight for joy” day after day. Together, they talk about what helps believers endure to the end: partnering with the Holy Spirit, building a “repository” of Scripture to combat lies, and learning to see hardship as an invitation to know Christ more deeply (Philippians 3:8–10). Joni also reflects on the beauty of community that grows organically around weakness, the joy of serving “the least of these,” and the hope of heaven that shapes how we live now. If you’ve been discouraged, tired, or tempted to give up, this episode will strengthen your faith and remind you that Jesus is near and worth holding onto. And we encourage you to dive deeper into a revelation of the love of God with Francis’ latest book, “Beloved.” It’s available now wherever books are sold.

This is a sacred and deeply personal conversation between Francis and his close friend, Alan, shared with permission from the family. In this phone call, a pastor nearing the end of his earthly life reflects on suffering, peace, intimacy with God, and the hope found in Jesus Christ. What unfolds is not a polished sermon, but an honest, unscripted testimony of faith, spoken in weakness, clarity, and deep trust in God. Our hope is that these words would encourage those who are suffering, those walking with loved ones through pain, and anyone longing to understand the peace that Scripture describes as “beyond understanding.” We invite you to listen slowly, prayerfully, and with reverence. “He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

In today’s episode, Francis Chan reflects on a life-altering trip to India that exposed the quiet compromises of his own heart and reminded him of the beauty of radical devotion to Christ. From imprisoned pastors and selfless servants in leper colonies to a personal moment of repentance, Francis walks listeners through what Scripture says about covetousness, contentment, and true joy in God. He challenges the subtle ways we normalize desire for more while neglecting the command to “set our minds on things above.” This episode isn’t about trying harder. It’s about clearing space to enjoy God again. If you’ve ever felt distracted, discontent, or spiritually numb, this message is an invitation to return to a simpler, deeper intimacy with Jesus and to rediscover the freedom that comes from being dead to the things of the world and alive in Christ.

In this Christmas teaching, Francis Chan invites us to slow down and truly adore Jesus. To not just believe in Him, but respond to the God who first came after us. Reflecting on the meaning of ”Emmanuel, God with us,” Francis explains how God has always been the initiator: creating humanity, pursuing us after the fall, dwelling among His people, sending His Son, and ultimately placing His Spirit within us. From the garden to the manger to the indwelling Holy Spirit, the story of Christmas is the story of a God who wants to be with us. This message reframes prayer, worship, and even repentance, not as efforts to earn God’s attention, but as responses to His mercy, grace, and relentless love. As we celebrate Christmas, we’re reminded that God is near, He is knocking, and He longs to pour His love into our hearts.

Do you ever find yourself rushing through everything--a meal, time with a loved one, or even a moment you were looking forward to? Or maybe obsessing over a specific goal, or weighed down by the all-too-common thought, "Why can't I be more like them? I must not be doing enough." What if it didn't have to be that way? What if you could break the cycle and find actual joy again? What if the point of life wasn't a scoreboard--even a ministry scoreboard--but being still and just knowing He is God? Francis Chan shares the importance of approaching life from a deep awareness of God's loving presence, the peace that comes when we let go of comparison, and the joy of walking out the uniquely designed purpose He set aside for you. We pray you come away from this message with a greater confidence that your God is with you, for you, and more than able to carry you through whatever you’re walking through.

In today’s message, Francis Chan shares the profoundly deep impact that discipleship has had on his walk with God, his ability to lead, and his growth in Christlikeness. You'll hear about the practical ways God equipped him for life through the examples of his youth leaders and godly mentors--those who sacrificed their comfort to be able to pour into him, and how he was forever changed for the better as a result. He also unpacks God's model for how discipleship is meant to work for the equipping and sharpening of younger generations and helping older generations find new joy in seeing their younger brothers and sisters flourishing, leading and loving like Jesus. He encourages each of us to begin to look for the younger ones in our lives that we can pour into, to create an abundance of light that will continue shining long after Jesus calls us home. May each of us do the same, taking our personal walk with Him seriously so that we can make true disciples with our lives, not just our sermons.

Today, Francis Chan and Gavin Ortlund continue their conversation and share practical, everyday ways to connect with God’s holiness, His deep love for us, and the call to live in the constant awareness of what Jesus’ death and resurrection means for us in the here and now. Drawing from passages like 1 Thessalonians 5 and Ephesians 3, Francis reminds us that God calls us to both warn the wandering and tenderly encourage the fainthearted with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, knowing that even when we make mistakes, He will teach and grow us through them. Gavin speaks vulnerably about navigating public ministry in an age of outrage, and how vital it is to withdraw from the noise and anchor ourselves in the simple, freeing truth of the gospel. Together, they offer practical wisdom for cultivating silence as a form of connection with God, strengthening yourself in Him, and entering His presence with confidence rather than condemnation. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure to defend yourself, discouraged by online battles that never seem to end, or unsure how to grow in both truth and love at the same time, this episode will help you refocus your heart on Jesus and reflect His love for the world.

Francis Chan sits down with theologian and apologist Gavin Ortlund (truthunites.org) for a vulnerable, wide-ranging conversation about communion, church unity, and what it means to love other Christians in a fractured age. Francis shares his own journey wrestling with the Eucharist, reading the church fathers, engaging Roman Catholic and Orthodox perspectives, and discovering the “real presence” within a Protestant framework. Gavin explains why he remains gratefully Protestant and how he understands the richness of the Lord’s Supper and church history. Together, they talk honestly about the harsh tone of much online “discernment” content, the temptation to chase clicks by attacking other believers, and the deep grief they both feel over division in the body of Christ. Francis opens up about this new season of life and ministry, sensing a renewed childlike faith, a burden to guard and walk with younger leaders, and a longing to see gospel-centered unity rooted in truth and shaped by the love of God. If you’ve ever wrestled with questions about the Lord’s Supper, Protestant vs. Catholic/Orthodox claims, or how to contend for truth without losing love, this conversation will both challenge and encourage you to fix your eyes on Jesus and pursue a unity that flows from the gospel itself.

In this powerful teaching, Francis Chan shares his experience visiting a village church in rural China - one of the most beautiful pictures of the Body of Christ he has ever witnessed. What he encountered wasn’t consumer Christianity or personality-driven gatherings, but a community of believers who had truly given themselves away. Francis contrasts this with the Western tendency to attend church like consumers, evaluating leaders, seeking comfort, and avoiding sacrifice. Through Philippians 2 and 2 Corinthians 8, he calls us back to the simplicity and costliness of following Jesus: dying to ourselves, becoming servants, and letting the grace of God transform us into givers. This episode paints a stirring vision of what the Church is meant to be, one that displays the manifold wisdom of God not only to the world, but to the heavenly realms. It’s an invitation to rethink what we’re chasing, to pursue the “race to the bottom,” and to embody the self-giving love of Christ.

Francis Chan invites us to linger at the foot of the cross and fix our eyes on Jesus. Drawing from the story of Gethsemane and 2 Peter 1, Francis reminds us that we’ve been given “everything we need for life and godliness,” called to become partakers of the divine nature, and urged to “make every effort” toward virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. He calls us to worship without distraction, to pursue holiness with grit, and to live for what is unseen and eternal (2 Corinthians 4). Scripture references: Matthew 26:36–46; Isaiah 53:10; 2 Peter 1:1–9; Ezekiel 36–37; 2 Corinthians 4:17–18. This message was originally delivered at the Passion Conference (2014).

In today’s message, Francis Chan paints a picture of what the Church was always meant to be - a family where every member brings their gifts, their stories, and their brokenness into the light. He shares how honesty, humility, and repentance create space for God’s Spirit to move and bring real revival. Drawing from 2 Corinthians 1 and the book of Job, Francis reminds us that God’s comfort in suffering is never wasted; it’s meant to be shared with others. If you’ve ever wrestled with shame, questioned God’s fairness, or struggled to make sense of suffering, this episode will remind you that the story always ends with God, the Creator, who holds the clay in His hands and is worthy of our trust, even when life doesn’t make sense.

In this powerful message from a worship night at Pepperdine University, Francis Chan challenges us to long for more than just emotional moments or great worship experiences, but to hunger for the presence of God Himself. Drawing from Exodus 33, Francis unpacks Moses’ bold statement to God: “If Your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.” He reminds us that Moses wasn’t satisfied with blessings, success, or even an angel leading the way. He wanted God Himself. Through Scripture and stories from his own journey, Francis describes what happens when the Holy Spirit truly changes a person’s nature, when worship becomes a response of the heart rather than an act of habit. He contrasts outward religion with inward transformation, calling us to let God put both His fear and His love within our hearts so that our walk with Him endures for a lifetime. This message is a passionate invitation to examine what we really want from God: His gifts, or His presence. May it stir a holy desire in you to seek Him above all else.

In this message, Francis Chan invites us to slow down, pray, and truly believe that God Himself is with us, right here, right now. Teaching from Ephesians 1, Francis explores Paul’s prayer that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened,” revealing how deeply God loves His people and how much He longs for us to live in the fullness of His power and grace. Francis shares his own journey from insecurity and striving into a confident rest in God’s love. He reminds us that we are God’s glorious inheritance—His beloved bride—and that His immeasurable power is available to all who believe. This episode reflects the heart behind Francis’ newest book, "Beloved", an invitation to move from working for God’s love to living from it. 📖 Beloved by Francis Chan — now available wherever books are sold. 👉 For more information go to https://www.crazylove.org/beloved

In this powerful conversation originally recorded for Lecrae’s podcast, The Deep End, Francis Chan joins Lecrae for an honest and deeply personal dialogue about insecurity, identity, and the love of God that casts out fear. Together they explore the fear of man that grips so many leaders today, the dangers of living for approval, and how the revelation of God’s love transforms everything. Francis opens up about his own journey from striving and performance to living securely as God’s beloved - the same message that inspired his new book, Beloved. “If our chief aim is to glorify Him and enjoy Him forever, how do you enjoy a God you’re not sure loves you?” — Francis Chan This is an invitation to rest in the love of the Father, to release fear, and to rediscover the joy of simply being His. Beloved by Francis Chan — Now available wherever books are sold. Learn more at crazylove.org/beloved

Two classmates. Thirty years of ministry. And one question that wouldn’t go away: Am I truly loved by God? Today, Francis Chan sits down with long-time friend, Pastor Ken Murphy to talk about the drift from joy into performance and the moment a revelation of God’s grace finally broke through. This is a conversation about moving from “working to be loved” to living from a love that never changes. It’s the heartbeat of Francis’ new book, Beloved, an invitation to trade insecurity for assurance and worshipful joy. Beloved, is available for purchase now wherever books are sold.

In this episode of the Crazy Love Podcast, Francis Chan opens his heart about what it truly means to live from God’s love rather than striving to earn it. So many of us believe God loved us when we were His enemies, yet live as though His affection now depends on our performance as His children. Francis reminds us that God’s love is constant, unshakable, and infinitely beyond anything we can imagine. This message echoes the heartbeat of Francis’ brand-new book, Beloved, releasing October 7th. Written with his daughter Mercy, the book invites readers to move beyond head knowledge of God’s love into a daily, lived experience of His presence and delight. You can pre-order Beloved today wherever books are sold.

In this recent interview with Charisma Magazine, Francis Chan reflects on his personal journey from insecurity to freedom in God’s love - the message at the heart of his brand-new book, Beloved. Francis shares how the Word of God has not only convicted him but opened his eyes to God’s promises, how prayer shifted his life at a crucial moment, and why our deepest identity must be rooted in being God’s beloved children. Don’t miss this conversation that weaves together reverence, freedom, and the joy of experiencing God’s love. Francis Chan’s new book, Beloved, releases October 7, 2025, but you can pre-order now through Amazon: https://www.crazylove.org/link/amznbk

Do you care too much about your career, your house, or even your favorite sports team, and too little about what God cares about? In this challenging message, Francis admits his own struggle with this question. He explains that we often fail to weep over sin because we love to talk about God’s blessings and promises but shy away from His warnings of judgment. This message will force you to look at your own life and ask if your heart is truly aligned with God's. What breaks your heart? And is it what breaks God’s?