Crazy Love Podcast

Communion, Protestantism, & the Love of God (Pt. 1) | Francis Chan & Gavin Ortlund

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.

A Race for the Bottom | Francis Chan

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.

Striving for Holiness | Francis Chan

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).

Staying Anchored in Suffering | Francis Chan

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.

Desperate for His Presence | Francis Chan

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.

The Unshakable Promises of God | Francis Chan

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

The Fear of Man vs. Living as God’s Beloved | Francis Chan & Lecrae

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

Legalism, Burnout, and Breakthrough | Francis Chan & Ken Murphy

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.

The Immeasurable Love of God | Francis Chan

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.

The Prayer That Changed My Life | An Interview with Francis Chan

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