Podcast Summary: Crazy Love Podcast

Episode: The Source of Security | Francis Chan
Date: December 22, 2025
Host: Crazy Love Ministries
Guest: Francis Chan

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on the source of true security for Christians. Francis Chan explores the critical difference between finding security in personal achievements and resting in the finished work of the cross. The discussion deeply examines what it means to have an identity rooted in being known and loved by God, rather than in ministry success or public perception. Francis calls listeners back to genuine rest, obedience flowing from faith, and a humble, honest relationship with Jesus.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Being Known By God (00:49 – 03:05)

• Francis and the co-speaker reflect on the awe-inspiring reality that God knows every detail about us—our actions, thoughts, struggles, and motives.
• "[God] knows, like he perceives from afar. The Bible says he knows when we sit, he knows when we rise." (Francis Chan, 00:58)
• Francis shares his backstage prayer, asking God to help him speak out of honesty and obedience rather than self-preservation.

2. Obedience Rooted in Proper Identity (03:30 – 04:26)

• The assigned topic is "obedience birthed by a proper identity." Francis admits this is an area of lifelong struggle, dealing with insecurity and striving for security through achievement.
• He recounts a personal anecdote about mindlessly eating his favorite meal while distracted by work, missing out on enjoyment—a metaphor for missing the joy of God's presence while being caught up in busyness and achievement.

3. From Achievement-Worship to Enjoying Jesus (05:39 – 06:53)

• Francis underscores the danger of worshiping achievement instead of Jesus, drawing from David and Solomon’s prayers in the Old Testament.
• “You’re worshiping achievement rather than worshiping Jesus... The one thing [David] asked for: Just let me gaze upon your beauty.” (Francis Chan, 06:41)

4. Rest in the Love of God (08:58 – 09:44)

• Francis contrasts the value of diligent work with the darker side of working to prove worth to God or others.
• He confesses the temptation to find security in ministry success and numbers, warning against relying on accomplishment rather than the cross.

5. Righteousness and Rest in the Cross (09:44 – 13:12)

• Francis powerfully illustrates the love of God through Christ’s sacrifice, emphasizing that righteousness comes through Christ, not effort.
• He references Philippians 3: “All of my good works, everything I’ve ever done, I might as well just craps [sic] and hand it to God.” (Francis Chan, 12:07)
• He underscores the need to put aside self-righteousness to be “found in Christ.”

6. Insecurity, Comparison, and Identity (15:32 – 17:10)

• Francis discusses the impact of social media on insecurity among young people, drawing parallels to ministry leaders comparing themselves to high-profile pastors.
• “You just start looking at your own life, and you’re like, man, I did nothing.” (Francis Chan, 17:27)
• He humorously admits even feeling, “All you gave me was you made me sexy, you know? And that’s it.” (Francis Chan, 17:10)

7. The Biblical Foundation of Being Known (17:27 – 19:56)

• Chan reflects on Jeremiah 1:5 and the comfort of knowing God appointed each person before birth for a unique purpose.
• “Does that matter to you?” (Francis Chan, 18:24) — challenging listeners to let God’s personal knowledge be their security.

8. Security Comes from God’s Presence and Purpose (20:23 – 22:46)

• Francis explores how God not only designed us, but is with us through the ups and downs, referencing Jeremiah, Moses, and Gideon as biblical examples.

9. Relying on God—The Gideon Story (22:46 – 26:03)

• The story of Gideon illustrates the essence of biblical security: having God’s presence is enough, regardless of resources or numbers.
• “Do you have that attitude where you go, you know what? All I need to know is that he’s with me.” (Francis Chan, 25:35)

10. Self-reliance vs. God-reliance (26:03 – 32:51)

• Chan warns against the temptation of “adding more soldiers” (resources, staff, programs) in ministry, referencing 2 Chronicles 16:7 and the mistake of King Asa, who trusted in alliances rather than God.

11. A Call to Radical Honesty and Holiness (35:57 – 39:03)

• Francis confronts hypocrisy and hidden sin among ministry leaders, urging total honesty before God.
• “Some of you are total liars in this room... You know that you don't even know him. You don't even feel the security. You just say it... God sees through that. He knows you.” (Francis Chan, 37:11)

12. Returning to Rest and Worship (39:03 – 44:21)

• The episode closes with an invitation to stop striving, confess, and simply rest in what Christ has accomplished.
• “Rather than resting in the cross, resting in the fact that you’re loved and known by God, just do whatever the Lord's telling you to do... just lying in those green pastures.” (Francis Chan, 43:32)
• Francis highlights “soaking in the grace of God,” suggesting meditation on the cross and embracing being found in Christ’s righteousness.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Where are you finding your security? You feel good when you get enough things done... That's what you rest in: accomplishment. Rather than resting in the cross.”
  — Francis Chan (09:24)

• “Rest in the love of God. You gotta learn to rest in the love of God.”
  — Francis Chan (08:58)

• “All your righteous deeds are gonna be like a filthy rag at the end of your life. You wanna do that? You wanna present that to me?... Don’t you want to be found in Christ?”
  — Francis Chan (13:23)

• “The God of the universe knows you. And he knew who you were gonna be before he made you. He designed you for this.”
  — Francis Chan (19:03)

• “What do I need to be afraid of? What am I afraid?”
  — Francis Chan (21:45)

• “All I need to know is that he's with me. That's all I need to know.”
  — Francis Chan (25:35)

• “Right now, the eyes of the Lord are roaming to and fro throughout this room. Like God in heaven knows we're known by him. And he's going, who in there trusts me?”
  — Francis Chan (30:14)

• “I just want the name of Jesus lifted up. I don't even care if it’s me. I don’t care if I get any credit. I don’t care if I’m even a part of the church.”
  — Francis Chan (30:51)

• “If I would rest, if I would learn to taste and see that…God is good…This courage comes in.”
  — Francis Chan (21:45)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:49 – 03:05: The overwhelming reality of being known by God and the honest struggle to act out of faith, not self-preservation.
• 04:28 – 06:53: Story of distraction with food as a parable for missing God’s goodness in busyness.
• 09:44 – 13:12: Vivid depiction of God’s sacrificial love and the call to find rest in His righteousness.
• 17:27 – 19:56: Identity rooted in God, referencing Jeremiah 1:5.
• 22:46 – 26:03: Lessons from Gideon: Security comes from God’s presence, not human resources.
• 26:03 – 32:51: Warning against reliance on strategies, people, or programs rather than God.
• 37:11 – 39:03: Challenge to honesty and confession among Christian leaders.
• 43:32 – 44:21: Final invitation to rest, confess, and “soak in the grace of God.”

Conclusion

In “The Source of Security,” Francis Chan delivers an impassioned call to pastors, leaders, and believers to abandon self-striving, rest in the finished work of Jesus, and find their security in the fact that they are known, loved, and chosen by God. The episode is marked by candor, urgency, biblical meditation, honest confession, and a resounding challenge to let all ministry and obedience flow out of this place of deep rest and identity in Christ.