The One Thing Your Soul Needs | Francis Chan

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Crazy Love Podcast

Episode: The One Thing Your Soul Needs (June 15, 2026)
Host: Crazy Love Ministries
Guest: Francis Chan

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Francis Chan explores the core truth that the deepest satisfaction and fullness of life for believers is found not in outward achievements or possessions, but in the presence of God. Drawing from Scripture and personal experience, Francis unpacks why a vibrant, personal relationship with God is essential, explaining how intimacy with God overflows into true community and a missional lifestyle. He challenges listeners to examine the real condition of their souls and offers an inviting, practical path toward true fulfillment.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Changing the Church’s Approach: Mission to the Neighborhood

• The church is shifting its regular gatherings to Friday nights for the summer, hosting neighborhood barbecues and intentional outreach as a way to better connect locally.
• Francis emphasizes the urgency of outreach, referencing recent family funerals as reminders of life’s brevity.
  • Quote:
    “There are people right here…who don’t know God. And we don’t know how much longer we have…We have to get serious about reaching our neighborhood.” (01:29 – 02:09, Francis Chan)

2. Evangelism as Overflow, Not Obligation

• Francis draws a vivid analogy between sharing a great meal and sharing Christ:
  • When we’re thrilled, we share joyfully, not out of duty.
  • Evangelism is supposed to flow from a soul filled with joy in God, not guilt or obligation.
  • Quote:
    “That’s the way it’s supposed to be in our walk with Jesus. It’s supposed to be like, we are so full…you just can’t shut up about it.” (03:27 – 04:13, Francis Chan)

3. The One Thing Your Soul Needs: Satisfaction in God Alone

• Francis turns to Psalm 90:14, focusing on the word “satisfy.”

  • Many Christians go through religious motions but miss the central experience of being “satisfied” by God’s steadfast love in deep solitude.

  • He shares how personal time alone with God, even in a shed on his property, is where his heart is most alive and at peace.

  • Quote:
    “There are mornings…I just go in there every morning…It’s like, okay, here, everything’s fine, everything’s okay because I’m alone with God.” (06:17 – 07:01, Francis Chan)

  • Challenging Listeners:
    “Does that describe you?...Is that what you feel in the morning when you’re alone with God, where you’re just going, this is ridiculous. I am with the Creator…it’s just pouring this love into me. I am so satisfied, honestly, is that you?” (08:36 – 09:15, Francis Chan)

• If we need “Jesus plus something,” we will not be truly satisfied.

  • Quote:
    “If you need something besides Jesus to satisfy you, you will never be truly satisfied. He is enough.” (10:15 – 10:23, Francis Chan)

4. The Monastic, United, and Missional (MUM) Life

Francis distills the life of faith into three essential dimensions:

a) Monastic – Alone with God

• Drawing from church history, he explains the vital, “monastic” aspect: solitude and silence with God are not optional but foundational.
  • Satisfaction, joy, and peace come from unhurried time in God’s presence.
  • This time is mysterious and transformative, not always easily explained.
  • Memorable Moment:
    “The most relaxing thing I did this week…was kneel. As I’m with the Lord, I was just on my knees, just kneeling before Him…it’s the most…relaxing posture.” (15:13 – 16:01, Francis Chan)

b) United – Connected to the Body

• Fullness of life requires relationship with other believers.
  • Using the illustration that a liver cannot function alone, Francis urges believers to be part of the spiritual body.
  • Loving one another is the summary of Jesus' commands.
  • Quote:
    “Love each other as I loved you. Because we love God by loving each other.” (29:42 – 29:50, Francis Chan)

c) Missional – On Mission with God

• Christ’s Spirit empowers believers to be witnesses (Acts 1:8).
  • Living on mission requires courage and faith; it’s never meant to be risk-free or comfortable.
  • He shares stories of confronting challenges in evangelism, like confidently correcting theological error in a jail cell, and the adoption testimony of an elderly friend.
  • Quote:
    “If you don’t have that missional side where this is a little scary, this requires a little faith, this requires some sacrifice, this could be it for me…that’s not where life is.” (40:45 – 41:02, Francis Chan)

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• On Gospel Sharing:
  “It’s not supposed to feel forced…It’s coming out of you because you are so full of joy, man.” (04:54 – 05:04, Francis Chan)

• On Satisfaction:
  “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. That sums it up. It’s like when you’re with him. I don’t want anything else.” (12:28 – 12:46, Francis Chan)

• On God’s Sovereignty:
  “He who is the blessed and only sovereign, the King of kings, the Lord of Lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light…to him be honor and eternal dominion.” (16:46 – 17:44, Francis Chan)

• On the Church’s Witness:
  “If we were united and not afraid, this would be a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation and that from God.” (34:06 – 34:28, Francis Chan)

• On True Fullness:
  “You must get alone with God and get filled. You must have a community of believers around you…Are you monastic, united with the body and living on mission? Because we’re all called to this and you’re not going to find that fullness of life if one of those three are missing.” (42:10 – 42:41, Francis Chan)

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Important Timestamps & Segments

• [01:29 – 02:09] — Francis speaks on the urgency of reaching neighbors after family bereavements.
• [03:27 – 04:13] — The restaurant analogy: evangelism as joyful overflow.
• [06:17 – 07:01] — Francis describes his time alone with God as the anchor of his soul.
• [08:36 – 09:15] — Challenge about genuine satisfaction in God.
• [10:15 – 10:23] — Jesus is enough.
• [15:13 – 16:01] — Importance of kneeling for intimacy and humility before God.
• [16:46 – 17:44] — Meditation on the sovereignty and blessedness of God (1 Timothy 6:15).
• [29:42 – 29:50] — Loving each other as Jesus has loved us: the singular command.
• [34:06 – 34:28] — The power of Christian unity as testimony to the world.
• [40:45 – 41:02] — Living missionally despite fear or risk.
• [42:10 – 42:41] — The necessity of all three aspects: monastic, united, missional.

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Memorable Moments

• Francis' honest confession of personal longing for God and satisfaction in His presence, making intimacy with God appear both real and attainable for all listeners.
• The restaurant/lunch analogy makes the difference between legalistic religion and genuine spiritual overflow immediately clear and relatable.
• The story of boldly witnessing in a jail cell—risking personal safety to stand for truth—illustrates the call to bold, Spirit-filled mission.
• The celebration of his 76-year-old friend's adoption of a two-year-old signals what a radical, missional life looks like, regardless of age.

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Conclusion & Practical Calls-to-Action

Francis concludes by inviting listeners to examine where they lack fullness—solitude with God, unity in the body, or a life on mission. He asks that during worship, anyone hungry for more could receive prayer and press deeper into the love and life for which they were created.

This episode is an invitation to experience life as it was meant to be:

• Alone with God for satisfaction
• United with other believers for love
• Missional with God for purpose

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For more resources or to connect with Crazy Love Ministries, visit crazylove.org.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

Welcome to the Crazy Love podcast. What if the fullness of life you're looking for isn't found in having more, but simply in being with God? Today, Francis shares why believers were created to find their deepest satisfaction in him. As we learn to rest in his love, we're freed to live the way he intended, drawing near to him, loving one another, and joining him in his mission to reach the world.

[Francis Chan]

So you guys heard Friday.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

This week we're changing things around. And Friday night we are actually going to be meeting instead of Tuesday nights. So the reason for this is we want to start really meeting the neighbors. And so Friday nights in the summer, we're gonna have like barbecue relationship, just hang out. Some of us are gonna walk the neighborhoods and invite people in. And then when the night's all over and just kind of having that missional mindset, and then when the night's over, then we'll, as far as the outreach portion of it, then we'll have prayer gathering and we can go as late as we want because it's Friday night. So that's what we'll be doing this summer. We're really looking forward and the reason why we do this, I mean, one, I mean, obviously we want to reach the neighborhood. Some of us, we've found everything in Jesus, and yet there are people right here, like within, you know, 20ft of this property, who don't know God. And we don't know how much longer we have. You know, I did a funeral on Friday for my, my uncle. And then the week before, I did a funeral for my aunt, different aunt, you know, and it's just the reality of, okay, when's it next? Who's next? Is it my turn next? You know, there's someone in our community, so we have to get serious about reaching our neighborhood.

[Francis Chan]

But before I even get into that, I gotta ask you, because the idea

[Co-host or Church Leader]

of outreach and evangelism can feel like a chore. Like, oh, I feel guilty. I have an told anyone about Jesus.

[Francis Chan]

You know, this is kind of how

[Co-host or Church Leader]

church people a lot of times think about reaching others.

[Francis Chan]

And it's really not supposed to feel like that.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

It's not supposed to be like that. Let me give you an example. Yesterday I went to lunch with some friends and it was at this place I was treated to this place where you know what wagyu beef is? Like, all you can eat wagyu, like

[Francis Chan]

high quality beef seafood, where you dip

[Co-host or Church Leader]

it in this boiling soup. And then you and I just ate

[Francis Chan]

and ate and ate to where I

[Co-host or Church Leader]

just couldn't eat anymore.

[Francis Chan]

But it was so good. It's right in San Mateo. So good.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

I didn't have to share that with you. I wanted to share that with you. I wanted to rub it in.

[Francis Chan]

I wanted to. It's just the overflow of.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Man, I don't know what you had for lunch yesterday. I guarantee my lunch was better than yours. Okay, that's evangelism.

[Francis Chan]

You know, I just told you about this amazing restaurant that I experienced, and it's not hard for me to tell you about. Just, it was awesome. See, that's the way it's supposed to be in our walk with Jesus. It's supposed to be like, we are so full. We've experienced something that's so amazing that you just can't shut up about it. But I don't see this a lot. And that's why, even for people who've been in church their whole life, this can still be like a rule book and just commands that you have to obey. Oh, no, I have to reach out.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

I have to do this, I have to do that. I have to repent.

[Francis Chan]

I. Rather than this really being life, I mean, that's what I gotta ask you right now. How alive are you? How full are you? Are you just full of life? Because otherwise you can't preach the good news.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

You're just telling news.

[Francis Chan]

It's not like good news.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

It's like, hey, guys, I ate at a restaurant yesterday at lunch.

[Francis Chan]

It's just like, wow. Really?

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Yeah. The owner said, you know, I'd get 10% off if I told you guys about it.

[Francis Chan]

You know, it's just like this forced.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Here it is, versus like, it's coming out of you because you are so full of joy, man.

[Francis Chan]

Is that. You see, if we don't. Here's the thing about church.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

And as Christians, if we don't get

[Francis Chan]

to the point where we are missional

[Co-host or Church Leader]

and getting the message out, we're going

[Francis Chan]

to die, we're going to lose our life. This is because God calls us. This is where life is. I know it's scary at times, but that's part of the adventure.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

That's part of the life.

[Francis Chan]

But believers from the beginning have had

[Co-host or Church Leader]

this missional side to them, but that's not it.

[Francis Chan]

I really believe if you're not full

[Co-host or Church Leader]

of life, you need to understand how the Christian life works.

[Francis Chan]

First of all, the Christian life is monastic. There has to be a side.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

You don't know what a monastery is. You know, where monks go and they're just quiet.

[Francis Chan]

There's always throughout time it's always been about us knowing how to be alone

[Co-host or Church Leader]

and find life in silence. I hope you have this.

[Francis Chan]

What saddens me is there are people who've gone to church their whole lives and yet they don't understand. Like, oh, I love being alone with God.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

This is my center. This is what fills me up. This is life to me, man. There are mornings I have a little shed back there and I just go in there every morning. And there's days it's just me and God and I. I just love opening the door and like, my whole heart leaps.

[Francis Chan]

Like, it's like, okay, here, everything's fine, everything's okay because I'm alone with God.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

And so many mornings it's like, God, I don't want to leave this room. I just want to stay here, just you and me. For some of you, I'm speaking another language right now. You're just like, what is he talking about?

[Francis Chan]

And yet that's at the core of our faith. This isn't about just a belief system.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Yes, I believe this. Yes, I believe this. I can mark ABC on a multiple choice test.

[Francis Chan]

No, it's about a relationship. It's a real person. Like, this is. These are not just words. Like, these are the words of God. And these words of God are supposed to lead us into the presence of a person. Like a real person. So you're in a room with a real person and you're going, God, I love you so much and you love me so much. Like, is this what you experience in the mornings where you are so full? I want to read a verse from Psalm 90.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Psalm 90, verse 14 says, Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. I just want to sit in that first word, satisfy.

[Francis Chan]

Satisfy. Does that describe you?

[Co-host or Church Leader]

You know, like I was describing my lunch yesterday and I could not eat another thing.

[Francis Chan]

I'm like, over.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Satisfied too much.

[Francis Chan]

This is too much of a good thing. This is too much. Like, is that what you feel in the morning when you're alone with God, where you're just going, this is ridiculous. I am with the Creator and he is just pouring this love into me. I am so satisfied, honestly, is that you. Don't. Don't be ashamed if you're going, I don't get that. I don't get that. I don't get that. Be honest with it. Because this is at the base and if that's not there, we want that to change today. We want this to be the center of your life. There's too many believers that are like, ah, I'm empty. I don't have this. I don't have this. Or, the church isn't doing this for me. My small group's not doing this for me. You know, I need a. I need a child. I want to, you know, we want to have a kid, or I want to get married, or I don't want this kid that I have, or whatever it is. It's always like, I'm not satisfied. I need something. I need something, or I won't be happy. And the Bible's saying, satisfy us. Just you, Jesus. Look, if you need something besides Jesus

[Co-host or Church Leader]

to satisfy you, you will never be truly satisfied. He is enough.

[Francis Chan]

He is enough. And if you need Jesus plus something,

[Co-host or Church Leader]

you'll never have enough. I promise you, you will never have

[Francis Chan]

this fullness of life until you understand

[Co-host or Church Leader]

that fullness of life comes from Jesus himself. It is so awesome to be in a room alone with God. I hope you understand that. And I hope that this word leads you to the Word himself and that you are actually in the presence of God. In Psalm 42. I didn't put that on there, but it's one of the first verses I memorized. You guys know, some of you know it as a deer pants for streams of water. So my soul thirsts for you. My soul longs for God, the living God. When can I go and meet with him? Okay, it's like. Like a deer is just panting for water.

[Francis Chan]

He goes, that's what I feel inside. Like, I just. I'm like, I gotta have.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

I gotta have God.

[Francis Chan]

And he says, when can I go and meet with him? Like, it's this craving. Like, okay, there's just so much noise all day long. There's all this. I just want to get alone and be with God. Is that what the inside of you screams out? See, I truly believe no matter what happens in life, I'm always of the mindset that no matter what happens to me, I am gonna be fine. Cause all I need is a moment of quiet.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Just get me quiet and everything will be fine.

[Francis Chan]

Get me alone in the presence of

[Co-host or Church Leader]

God, and I'll survive anything.

[Francis Chan]

I'm okay.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Is that true of you? Does God satisfy you to this point where it's like, I don't care what I lose, how difficult this time is. I know I can always get alone with God and everything will be fine. That monastic side to your faith, being able to be alone. I actually have notes I'm going to look at. Most of us know Psalm 23, the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. That sums it up. It's like when you're with him. I don't want anything else. I don't need anything else. This is great. This is awesome. The king of the universe is right here telling me he loves me. What could I want, Tesla? I actually do want one, but you know what I mean? It's like. It's just like, I'm so satisfied. I don't need anything else. I'm satisfied. And it's a.

[Francis Chan]

It's a.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

It's a mysterious thing when you're alone with God. Like, sometimes God ministers to me, and I can't explain it to you. I'm not even sure what he does, because it's, like, mysterious. Like, I get into a room, and I'm like, lord, fill me. Give me your joy. Restore the joy of my salvation. Just love on me right now. And then somehow I walk out of that room, and I'm like, wow.

[Francis Chan]

I don't even know what he did,

[Co-host or Church Leader]

but he did it.

[Francis Chan]

It's not like studying, where you study

[Co-host or Church Leader]

something you didn't know and now you know. Okay, now I know because I studied. Or if you're doing squats and your legs are sore, you go, why are my legs sore? Oh. Cause I did those squats. It's like my heart is so full right now. And you go, how did that happen? It's just a mystery. Like, God is able to fill me like nothing else and no one else.

[Francis Chan]

You know? The most relaxing thing I did this week.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

The most relaxing thing I did this week, I was thinking about this. The most relaxing thing was not sit at a lunch and eat with friends. Most relaxing thing I did this week was kneel. I think it was on Thursday. I just. As I'm with the Lord, I was just on my knees, just kneeling before Him. I don't know how often you kneel, but it's like, it's the best. It is the. It's. It's the most. I don't know. To me, relaxing posture.

[Francis Chan]

There's something about

[Co-host or Church Leader]

getting on your knees and recognizing there's a God of the universe who's so far above you and just putting yourself in the right place before him. And you realize, I've got no control,

[Francis Chan]

I've got no power. I've got no perfect words to say to him. I'm just bowing before him, and this

[Co-host or Church Leader]

just feels so right. And I was meditating on a passage in First Timothy, chapter 6, 1 Timothy 6:15, which he will display at the proper time, it says, he who is the blessed and only sovereign, the King

[Francis Chan]

of kings, the Lord of Lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. I just knelt and I thought about this passage. Like in verse 15, he says, he who is the blessed. Blessed. Blessed means flourishing. It's like ultimate happiness, satisfaction. So do you think of God that way? Like, God is sitting on his throne and he is just flourishing. He is just the ultimate in happiness. It's just like the fullness of God, the glory, all of that is contained in that word blessed. It's just, ah, there's this being who's just beaming and he's just in perfect flourishing. Happiness, satisfaction, and the only sovereign. Do you understand what sovereign means? Control. He's the only one that's in control of anything.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

I can't control anything right now. Everything's in his control. You can't make something happen today. You can't make yourself get a better job. You can't make anything happen on this earth, but God can. And he's the only one.

[Francis Chan]

I don't know what you're striving for

[Co-host or Church Leader]

or wanting, but you need to know

[Francis Chan]

right now, you don't have control over that. I don't have control over my next breath. And this is such a relaxing thing because what is our stress about? I want this to happen. I want this to happen. I want this to happen. But when you just kneel before an almighty God and go, I've got no control. Oh, that's not a frustrating thing. It's almost counterintuitive. We get so arrogant that we want control over everything, and we get frustrated when we can't make something happen. Rather than actually relaxing before God and going, I'm so glad I'm not in control. I'm so glad that you are the only sovereign to kneel before a God who is blessed. The only sovereign, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So he's the only sovereign. No one challenges him. You guys know there's like a spiritual battle. So, like, right now we see flesh and blood, but there's more than flesh

[Co-host or Church Leader]

and blood going on here.

[Francis Chan]

There are demons here trying to get in your head, trying to distract you, trying to get you to think of anything but the word of God. Anything but these words that I have on the screen.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

But God says, I'm the King of Kings, I'm the Lord of Lords. Jesus says when he was raised, he was Raised far above all rule, authority, power and dominion. He's the king of kings. He's the king of Trump. He's the king of Xi, Jinping, Kim Jong, Il, Maduro, everyone. He's the king. He's the king. Who's the head of Korea? What? That's Northern Korea. Yeah. Southern. I don't know. Gosh. Wow. What kind of Koreans are you? Okay, that's right.

[Francis Chan]

It doesn't matter.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

There's only one king. Whoever that guy is, is not really the king. There's one king who's above everything.

[Francis Chan]

Guys, do you. You can drive yourself crazy if you

[Co-host or Church Leader]

don't know how to kneel and just enjoy being under the king of kings. The only one that has control, who's ultimately happy, full of life. And then in the next verse, who alone has immortality, important phrase, who alone

[Francis Chan]

has immortality means there's only one person

[Co-host or Church Leader]

who has life in himself. I'm not immortal.

[Francis Chan]

I'm breathing. Because the one who.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

The only immortal one is deciding to give me life.

[Francis Chan]

He's not dependent on anyone. Everyone else is dependent on him. You are all a joke. You are all dependent on him. You can't tell. That's why James says, you can't say, oh, next year, I'm going to do this or that. He goes, you don't know what your

[Co-host or Church Leader]

life's going to be like tomorrow.

[Francis Chan]

You should say, if the Lord wills,

[Co-host or Church Leader]

then I'll do this and that.

[Francis Chan]

Why? Because he's the only sovereign and he's the only one that's immortal. You don't even know if you'll be alive tomorrow. Like I said, I did my aunt's funeral last week, did my uncle's funeral this week. I could do yours this week. You don't have control over that. There's only one being who alone has immortality, life in himself.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

The demons only exist because God allows them to for his purposes. For some reason. When you learn to rest on your knees before God like that, it's awesome.

[Francis Chan]

Who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. So right now I can look at the sun.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Not for very long, but I can glance at it. God says I dwell in unapproachable light. I made that little light bulb up there. God says I dwell in light that no one can see or can see. That's why I go, gosh, this is the only right posture before you, God, I love just bowing and knowing that I'm secure in you.

[Francis Chan]

And then that last phrase to him,

[Co-host or Church Leader]

be honor and eternal Dominion. Amen.

[Francis Chan]

See, when you can say to God, who cares about me, to you, be

[Co-host or Church Leader]

honor and eternal dominion.

[Francis Chan]

And you just remind yourself, oh, my

[Co-host or Church Leader]

life is not about making a name for myself.

[Francis Chan]

My life is not about my success

[Co-host or Church Leader]

and how much I've achieved down here.

[Francis Chan]

My life is not even about my own personal happiness. I am about you receiving honor and eternal dominion. I'm not up here going, ooh, I hope they like the way I speak. You know, I hope they give us a good Yelp review as a church. You know, like, what are you. What is that? I hope the sermon goes viral. No, I hope that somehow something I say makes you go, wow, he's so amazing. That God in heaven. He dwells in unapproachable light. He alone, immortal. I hope you have this view of him where you go, wow, he can satisfy me all of my days. This is what we live for. And when you're on your knees and you're going, God, I just want to be hidden, and I want you exalted. That's why I'm on my face. Oh, it's so restful. And then once you're humbled to that

[Co-host or Church Leader]

point and you go, and you love me. Wait a second.

[Francis Chan]

You're the only immortal one.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

You dwell in unapproachable light.

[Francis Chan]

You're the only sovereign. You're the King of kings, and you're the Lord of Lords. And you have this steadfast love towards me, like you're crazy about me, and I can rest in you. This is ridiculous. You loved me so much that you watched your son suffer and die for me so I can be forgiven of everything. And you just sit there and you go, oh, God, just pour that love into my heart. Is that you? So then when you experience this fullness of life that comes from Jesus, the

[Co-host or Church Leader]

person of Jesus, then you can get up in front of a crowd and go, oh, man. I gotta tell you about what it was like when I was with God this week. I was on my knees, and I'm

[Francis Chan]

just thinking about how blessed he is, how he's in control, how he's the king of kings. And I start thinking, wow, he alone has immortality. Like, there's the one being who's like that. And he dwells in light that I couldn't even approach. I just want him to be glorified. And he's saying, francis, I just want you to know how much I love you. I'm like, no way. No way. You love me.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Like, see, when you have that, it becomes a lot more natural to talk about that and share about that. Is this. This is why Jesus would get alone every morning before the Son even came out. And he would just get alone with the Father. That's why these psalmists are saying in Psalm 63, even in a dry and weary land where there is no water, my soul's thirsting for you. It's like, I haven't drank anything in days, but all I can think about is you. Imagine being so thirsty physically. What would you think about? Oh, where can I find water? Where can I find water? No, the psalmist says, when you know God, it's like you can be in a dry, weary land. And you're thinking, I just want more of God. When can I get alone with Him? When can I be with Him? Because I know when I get his presence, it's like, I don't want anything. My cup's just overflowing. And he satisfies me every morning, every day. See, believers were supposed to be monastic. Believers are also supposed to be united, though. And I don't need to get into this too much because we've been talking about this the last couple months. Remember the liver illustration from Easter? It's like I was made to be part of a body. You don't just sit there as a liver by yourself. You're a part of a body. So if you're not happy, it's probably because you're a liver sitting by yourself. This is weird. I don't get life. Well, you don't get life because you're not in a body. You're not connected to a body.

[Francis Chan]

If you're in a light in the. In the body, loving each other. Remember, that was the one command.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

We talked about that last month.

[Francis Chan]

There's one God simplified everything for us. Idiots. He goes, you can boil it all down to one command. Love each other as I've loved you. You can summarize the law and the commands of loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself. And he says, let me simplify it even more. Here is my singular command.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Love each other as I loved you. Because we love God by loving each other

[Francis Chan]

so great you have these times with the Lord, but you have that

[Co-host or Church Leader]

so that then you can come into the church body and actually bless others.

[Francis Chan]

So we don't come here just needy every week.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

I don't come and go ashes. You know, your name is blessing. You know that's what it means in Malayalam. You know,

[Francis Chan]

just bless me.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Bless me, bless. Give to me. Give to me, give to me.

[Francis Chan]

No, I'm overflowing.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

So I can see Ashish and Lydia and go, man, let me, let me, let me bless you guys. Let me bless little Ziki because I'm so full. The Lord's my shepherd, I don't want. And then I've asked God to actually give me gifts to bless you guys with. I pray this morning, God, give me a message.

[Francis Chan]

Help me somehow transfer this crazy, you know, united love we have and put it in them.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

I don't. I'm going, come on, you guys, bless me. But I'm sad again.

[Francis Chan]

And then there'll be days. There'll be days.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

We need the body. That's what it's for. But man, we're satisfied in the Lord. And then we come together and we

[Francis Chan]

take of communion together. And now we together, together, united, take of the bread and the cup. So if you're dissatisfied, if you're not full, it could be because your monastic

[Co-host or Church Leader]

life, your time alone with God is non existent.

[Francis Chan]

And it could be because you're not united to a body, because that's what you were created for. And then finally,

[Co-host or Church Leader]

if we're not satisfied, it's because we're not missional, because we were made for that. To be monastic, unified and missional Spells mum. That's what you call your mom, right? Pete? Your mom just left.

[Francis Chan]

Mum.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Bluey. Bingo.

[Francis Chan]

Mum.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Monastic, united and missional. Acts 1:8 says that when the Holy Spirit comes, you'll receive power to be my witnesses. Why is the Spirit in me? I mean, a lot of reasons, but he said, he told his disciples, wait, wait for this gift my Father is going to send you. And when you receive him, you're going to receive power.

[Francis Chan]

But sometimes we just want power to do tricks. Power to do whatever he says.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

No, it's power to be my witnesses.

[Francis Chan]

Jesus, when he rose from the dead, he gave us.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Let me back up one more. Philippians 1, 27 and 28.

[Francis Chan]

Let your manner of life be worthy

[Co-host or Church Leader]

of the Gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or

[Francis Chan]

I'm absent, I may hear of you, that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind, striving side by

[Co-host or Church Leader]

side for the faith of the Gospel and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation and that from God. So what he's saying, he says, live a life that's worthy of the Gospel. He goes, what is that worthy? He goes, when we stand together in faith and we strive side by side for the gospel, okay?

[Francis Chan]

It's great. You should be out there sharing the

[Co-host or Church Leader]

gospel on your own. But the Bible says, you know what's amazing is when you together are standing side by side united. This is God's dream, God's desire that we would work together to reach the world. And he says if we were united,

[Francis Chan]

doing this in verse 28, he says, then. And we're not frightened by our opponents. Look, most of our country hates what we believe. But if we were united and not afraid, this would be a clear sign to them of their destruction. Is that a crazy verse? Then? If we were united and unafraid, the world would know that they were wrong. But because we're divided and terrified, they think they're right. They're not right. Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of Lords. His commands are truth. And the world would believe that if we could pull our act together and be united and not afraid of their message. But when we're isolated, not united, that's why we get in our churches, in our homes, that's why we emphasize know each other. Because when you're in love like that, and you know, this is where life comes from. And then we can get to the

[Co-host or Church Leader]

great commission, Matthew 28. And I'll close with this.

[Francis Chan]

The 11 disciples went to Galilee, to

[Co-host or Church Leader]

the mountain which Jesus directed them.

[Francis Chan]

And when they saw them, they worshiped him.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

But some doubted.

[Francis Chan]

And Jesus came and said to them, all authority in heaven and on earth

[Co-host or Church Leader]

has been given to me.

[Francis Chan]

Go therefore, and make disciples of all nations. And baptizing them in the name of

[Co-host or Church Leader]

the Father, the Son and the Holy

[Francis Chan]

Spirit, and teaching them to observe all

[Co-host or Church Leader]

that I've commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. Jesus rose from the grave and says,

[Francis Chan]

all authority is right here.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

You don't have to listen to anyone else.

[Francis Chan]

Right here. All authority.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

And I'm telling you, go and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them, name Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I commanded you. And then he says, and I'll be with you always till the end. There's something about the presence of God when we are out making disciples, why Friday nights? Yes, we want to reach this whole community, but also because we want to be close to Jesus and Jesus in the context of making disciples. He goes, you'll experience me. You'll experience the power of my spirit. This week. Last. Last Sunday, I went to the jails to preach. And I love it. I love being in the jails. I love sharing with these guys. And There was a point where this guy questioned me, because you're in a cell with, like, 20 guys that are all bigger than you. And one of the guys who is literally twice my size. Not quite, Fisher. You're three times. But he.

[Francis Chan]

He just says, well, I just take a little Jesus. I take a little, you know, Allah, a little Buddha, because there's good in everything.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

And my heart just like, oh, no, I gotta say something. I gotta tell someone. Twice my size. He's wrong, he's wrong, he's wrong. But it's like, here we go, Lord. You know? And you just go, I'm not saying I'm not afraid. I'm not saying there's not some human fear. But you go, okay, God, you gotta be with me. Anything can happen in this room. And you're just like, here we go. I say, hey, I gotta stop you right there. Have you ever done something like that? Been in a jail cell with 20 men? Just go, hey, I gotta stop you right there, little guy. Now, here's what the Bible says. You shall have no other gods before me. You can't mix him. You can't say, I'll take Jesus who says, I am the son of God. I'm gonna die on the cross for your sins and rise from the dead. I am the son of God. And mix him with a faith that says, God has no son. Jesus did not die on the cross for your sins. How do you mix those two things? I said, jesus is on the way. It's all or nothing. You gotta. The more I spoke to this guy, he eventually goes in front of everyone, like, all right, I was locked up for 20 years. I got out a little early, but I just keep coming in and out because I feel like God has to keep punishing me for what I did. I said, dude, you're wrong again. This is the best news.

[Francis Chan]

When the prodigal son saw his sin and he even thought, I need to go back and be a slave, the father came running to him and said, you're not my slave. Someone slaughter a cow. Someone put a robe on him. Someone put a ring on him. This is our God. Is not one that says you have to keep punishing yourself for what you did. That's what Jesus did on the cross. Why did Jesus die on the cross? So you would keep punishing yourself? No, he took it. And this is who the father is. You need to believe you're forgiven. You can walk in freedom. The spirit of God would enter into you right now. In fact, all of you guys, let's come around him right now and let's just pray that the spirit enters him

[Co-host or Church Leader]

and he feels freedom. We're praying in that jail cell. I'm just like, this is the best. This is the best. This is life. This week also, we're talking about taking down this cult leader locally and it's a little scary, okay? There's going to be some demonic things going on, but let's go. This is a calling.

[Francis Chan]

We got to just do whatever. Lord, you said you'd be with us and this is where life is. And so if you don't have that missional side where this is a little scary, this requires a little faith, this requires some sacrifice, this could be it for me.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

But God, what else am I going to live for? Want me to sit here and enjoy myself and hope I die in my sleep and go to heaven and get rewarded for nothing that I did on the earth? Really? That's not where life is. I called, last thing I'll say. I called a friend of mine this week too. I hadn't talked to him in a couple years and I said, hey, how are things going? What's new? I mean, it's been over two years. And he goes, oh man. We had. Finally. Our adoption went through. He adopted a two year old from a homeless. He and his wife from a homeless lady. Two year old. And by the way, my friend is 76 years old. I'm one of the guy, one of the few people on earth going, that's so awesome. Praise God for your faith.

[Francis Chan]

Praise God that you're just, we, this is who we are. My heart just like leapt when he told me that. I'm like, yes, you believe this thing. You believe this book.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

You must get alone with God and get filled.

[Francis Chan]

You must have a community of believers

[Co-host or Church Leader]

around you because I see this missional side of you. Do you have this? Are you monastic, united with the body and living on mission? Because we're all called to this and you're not going to find that fullness of life if one of those three are missing. And so I'd like us to close our time, okay? After we, after this, we'll have food, we want you to hang out and everything else. But here's what I want us to do to close. Can we have a little mercy? And your team, They're just gonna play some worship. But here's what I've been praying for. If there's some of you who you really don't know what I'm talking about, this fullness of life, because maybe this has been religion to you or you don't even know about this personal relationship. It's about love and enjoying a steadfast love. And it's not been that. You can be honest. I think the majority of churchgoers in America have no clue what it feels like to be loved by God and enjoy that intimacy where he satisfies you in the morning. And so I get it. Church, we've done it wrong for many years, so it's no mystery why you wouldn't get that.

[Francis Chan]

Others.

[Co-host or Church Leader]

Maybe you're bitter towards church and so you haven't been united with a group of followers and others. Maybe you're just living life for yourself and you're not missional. The last thing I want is to try to guilt you into something or talk you into something. I want the spirit of God to enter the core of your being and have these things be your desire. And so, as they lead us in a couple songs, I'm going to ask some of our leaders, Jason and Jean, Rob, will. Christine, just kind of be up here by the sides. So if you just feel like I need someone to pray over me, I want this to happen to me. In fact, Mark, I want you up here. I think you understand this maybe more than any of us right now. I don't know if you guys have talked to Mark lately, but God did something crazy in his life, and I think you felt that emptiness, that darkness, that, ugh. And the spirit's done something in his life these last couple months where he is full of a complete different man. So I want you praying over people. But during this time, as we sing, just go up to one of our leaders and just say, hey, pray for this. Maybe it's, I don't enjoy Jesus. I want to. I'm in conflict with church and other believers. I want that right, or I'm not on mission right now, and I want to come from inside. So if you guys would, and the rest of us, let's just worship and enjoy our time together as a church.

[Podcast Host]

Thank you for listening to the Crazy Love podcast. Join us next week for a new episode. But until then, for more resources from Crazy Love Ministries or to support the work of Crazy Love, please visit our [e-mail].