Podcast Summary: "The God Who Comes Near" | Francis Chan

Podcast: Crazy Love Podcast
Host: Crazy Love Ministries
Episode Date: December 29, 2025
Guest/Speaker: Francis Chan
Theme: The profound meaning of "Emmanuel: God with us"—the God who initiates nearness and love, rather than remaining distant or waiting for our efforts.

Episode Overview

In this special Christmas episode, Francis Chan draws listeners into the true heart of the season: not tradition or repetition, but the awe of a God who actively initiates intimacy with His people. Exploring Emmanuel ("God with Us"), Chan challenges listeners to move beyond ritual to deeper adoration, embracing the reality that God’s desire is to dwell with, love, and transform us—starting not with our own efforts, but His relentless initiative.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas Songs and Worship

• Timestamp 00:40–01:51
  • Chan reflects on how familiar Christmas songs hold deeper meaning for him now than ever before.
  • Quote:

    “Did I really come with adoration? Like, no, not just I believe in him... but adoring, adoring, adoring. I feel like the adoration keeps getting better in my life. I hope that's true with you...” —Francis Chan (01:05)

2. Reverence for Scripture and its Centrality

• Timestamp 01:52–03:55
  • Chan emphasizes treating God’s Word as sacred, above any sermon or human teaching.
  • Practice:
    • Communion and the reading of Scripture are placed at the center because they are acts of reverence to God’s direct words.

3. Reading and Repeating the Christmas Story (Matthew 1:18–23)

• Timestamps 03:55–05:11, 05:34–06:43
  • The story of Jesus’ birth is read twice, highlighting the miracle and the declared prophecy: "And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us."
  • Reflection:
    • Chan notes how these words never become “old news”—they should grow in meaning as we grow in faith.

4. Why Did God Come Near?

• Timestamp 06:43–07:52
  • The core answer: “Because he loves us. Because he wants to be with us.”
  • Honest Admission:
    • Chan confesses his own tendency to try to earn closeness with God through effort, forgetting that God is always the one who begins the relationship.
    • Quote:

      “It's almost like I think if I initiate, he'll respond to me. But is that what happened at the birth of Christ? Was it the whole world going, please, God, please send us a savior? No. He initiated.” —Francis Chan (08:12)

5. God as Initiator—Throughout the Bible

• Timestamp 08:12–11:10
  • From Adam and Eve, to Moses, the tabernacle, the temple, and ultimately the Incarnation, God is always the one who starts the move towards humanity.
  • Quote:

    “All these are God initiating, saying, ‘I want to be with you.’ And then He gets to Jesus... He takes on flesh so that He can be with you.” —Francis Chan (09:38)

  • The progress intensifies: from God’s presence “with” to “in” us via the Holy Spirit (see John 14:16–17).

6. The Indwelling Spirit: Closer Than Ever

• Timestamp 10:42–12:38
  • Jesus promised the Spirit would not just be "with" believers but would dwell "in" them—a further act of divine initiative.

7. God’s Hard Pursuit of Us—Personal Testimony

• Timestamp 12:38–16:57
  • Chan describes a new depth in his prayer life from realizing God isn’t waiting for us to chase Him, but is orchestrating events and longing for us.
  • References Acts 17: God determines where and when we are born for the very purpose that we might seek and find Him, “even though He is not far from us.”
  • Quote:

    “He jealously yearns for the Spirit that He put in us.” —Francis Chan (referencing James 4:5, 13:51)

  • Memorable Image:
    • God “knocks” (Revelation 3:20), desiring entry and communion, portraying humans as responders rather than initiators.

8. Misconceptions about Readiness and Grace

• Timestamp 14:31–15:25
  • Many delay spiritual steps (like baptism) thinking they must “get right” first, not realizing God welcomes us amid our brokenness.
  • Quote:

    “That's not the way it works. God's knocking on the door. He's a God of mercy... receiving you even while you were a sinner.” —Francis Chan (15:03)

9. Shifting Posture in Prayer—From Initiator to Responder

• Timestamp 15:25–17:23
  • Chan urges believers: stop seeing yourself as having to chase God; rather, respond to the God who passionately wants to draw near and pour out mercy and love.
  • Quote:

    “I go in as a responder... with a faith going, God, you are crazy about me. You're... jealously yearning for me. This is insane.” —Francis Chan (17:23)

10. The Experience of God’s Love—Now and Eternally

• Timestamp 17:31–19:57
  • The Spirit can reveal realities beyond our senses or comprehension—God pours His love into our hearts now, a foretaste of what is to come (Romans 5:5, 1 Corinthians 2).
  • Quote:

    “There's some way that God can reveal things to our spirit, to our souls, that we don't get to see with our eyes... but somehow He reveals it internally to us.” —Francis Chan (18:32)

11. Exhortation: Receiving the Nearness of God

• Timestamp 19:57–21:29
  • Chan closes with a prayerful hope that listeners will believe in the active, loving nearness of God in their lives every day, not just at Christmas.
  • Vision:
    • One day we will see God face to face, but even now, we can deeply experience His presence in the spirit.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Adoration:

  “Did I really come with adoration?... I feel like the adoration keeps getting better in my life. I hope that's true with you...” (01:05)

• On God’s Initiative:

  “Was the world going, ‘please, God, please send us a savior?’ No. He initiated. He wanted to be with us. He loves us... We love because He first loved us.” (08:12)

• On Human Effort:

  “It's almost like I think if I initiate, he'll respond to me. But is that what happened at the birth of Christ? Was it the whole world going, please, God, please send us a savior? No. He initiated...” (08:03–08:12)

• On God’s Desire:

  “He jealously yearns for the Spirit that He put in us.” (13:51)

• On Prayer:

  “I go in as a responder... God, you are crazy about me. You're... jealously yearning for me. This is insane.” (17:23)

• On Experiencing God:

  “There's some way that God can reveal things to our spirit...that we don't get to see with our eyes... but somehow He reveals it internally to us, and He ministers to our very spirit.” (18:32)

Key Segment Timestamps

• Familiar Songs Take Deeper Meaning: 00:40–01:51
• Scripture Reading: 03:55–06:43
• Why God Came Near: 06:43–08:12
• God as Initiator Throughout Bible History: 08:12–11:10
• Shift in Prayer Posture: 15:25–17:23
• Experiencing the Spirit’s Love: 17:31–19:57
• Closing Exhortation: 19:57–21:29

Episode Takeaway

Francis Chan thoughtfully re-centers the Christmas story around the truth that God’s greatest desire is to be with, love, and transform us—not waiting for us to deserve it, but actively crossing every gap to reach us. Our role is not to initiate but to receive, respond, and remain in awe of the God who comes near—at Christmas, today, and forever.