Francis Chan Quotes & Sayings

Throughout the Bible, we see pictures of the global church (which includes all followers of Jesus in all locations) and the local church (which includes particular followers of Jesus in a particular location). Out of 114 times that the "church" is mentioned in the New Testament, at least ninety of them refer to specific local gatherings of believers who have banded together for fellowship and mission. God intends for every follower of Jesus to be a part of such a gathering under the servant leadership of pastors who shepherd the church for the glory of God. — Francis Chan

We need to surrender our perceived right to determine what is just and humbly recognize that God alone gets to decide how He is going to deal with people. — Francis Chan

True faith manifests itself through our actions. — Francis Chan

Some people talk a lot about - even boast of - the Spirit, but their lives do not bear His fruit. Others — Francis Chan

On the average day, we live caught up in ourselves. On the average day, we don't consider God very much. On the average day, we forget that our life truly is a vapor. — Francis Chan

Lukewarm people will serve God and others, but there are limits to how far they will go or how much time, money, and energy they are willing to give. — Francis Chan

God wants His Word to be a delight to us, so much so that we meditate on it day and night. — Francis Chan

I want to help people understand how to study the Scriptures with other people, to give them an overview of Scripture and assume that by understanding the Scriptures better, the Holy Spirit will bring to mind the right stories, the right teachings. — Francis Chan

[Y]ou have to stop loving and pursuing Christ in order to sin. When you are pursuing love, running toward Christ, you do not have opportunity to wonder, *Am I doing this right?* or *Did I serve enough this week?* When you are running toward Christ, you are freed up to serve, love, and give thanks without guilt, worry or fear. As long as you are running, you're safe. — Francis Chan

It is easy to use the phrase 'God's will for my life' as an excuse for inaction or even disobedience ... My hope is that instead of searching for 'God's will for my life' each of us would learn to seek hard after 'the Spirit's leading in my life today.' May we learn to pray for an open and willing heart, to surrender to the Spirit's leading with that friend, child, spouse, circumstance, or decision in our lives right now. — Francis Chan

In China I told pastors about how, in the West, we have these church buildings and how we go to services each week that last an hour or so. I told them how if we don't like the music or the message then we can go to different buildings and services ... They all broke out into laughter. They thought I was the funniest guy they had ever seen. — Francis Chan

Do you believe that God is the greatest thing you can experience in the whole world? — Francis Chan

I want the joy of knowing that I am doing something with my life, the joy of battle. — Francis Chan

Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be failure but of succeeding at things that don't really matter. — Francis Chan

While hell can be a paralyzing doctrine, it can also be an energizing one, for it magnifies the beauty of the cross. — Francis Chan

I don't believe God wants our church life to be centered on buildings and services. Instead, God wants our churches - whatever specific forms our gatherings take - to be focused on active discipleship, mission, and the pursuit of unity. — Francis Chan

If you'd rather watch your kids grow up than see the face of your Savior today, you don't grasp the beauty of God. If you worry about what would happen to your children if you were gone, you don't understand the providence of God. — Francis Chan

The best things in life are gifts from the One who steadfastly loves us. But an important question to ask ourselves is this: Are we in love with God or just His stuff? Imagine how awful it would feel to have your child say to you, "I don't really love you or want your love, but I would like my allowance, please." Conversely, what a beautiful gift it is to have — Francis Chan

Lukewarm people call "radical" what Jesus expected of all His followers. — Francis Chan

The verses in the Bible are more than good teachings, they possess power. — Francis Chan

Don't let yourself forget. Soak it in an keep remembering what is true. He is everything. — Francis Chan

Chan is drawn to his coauthor because he says they have, "different gifts but similar convictions". — Francis Chan

...to think biblically rather than conventionally, to be part of a body where radical living is becoming the norm. — Francis Chan

There have been many times when I've tried to lead the Holy Spirit. I've wanted to direct Him and tell Him what to do and when to do it. The irony is that the Holy Spirit was given to direct us. Desiring the Holy Spirit means we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. By definition, it's ridiculous to desire the Holy Spirit for our own purposes. The Spirit is not a passive power that we can wield as we choose. The Spirit is God, a Being who requires that we submit ourselves to be led by Him. Do you really want to be led? Even people who are natural leaders don't get to lead the Spirit. Everyone is called to be led by Him. — Francis Chan

When loving Him becomes obligation, one of the many things we have to do, we end up focusing even more on ourselves. — Francis Chan

Jesus didn't say that if you wanted to follow Him you could do it in a lukewarm manner. He said, 'Take up your cross and follow Me. — Francis Chan

God didn't just give a little for us; He gave His best. He gave Himself. — Francis Chan

We are quick to rationalize our entertainment and priorities yet are slow to commit to serving God. — Francis Chan

Just as you did not come to Christ on your own, neither will you remain in Christ on your own. — Francis Chan

Our greatest fear should not be of failure but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter. — Francis Chan

I was challenged to do a little exercise with these verses (1 Cor 13:4-8), one that was profoundly convicting. Take the phrase "Love is patient" and substitute your name for the word "love." (For me, "Francis is patient ... ") Do it for every phrase in the passage.
By the end, don't you feel like a liar? If I am meant to represent what love is, then I often fail to love people well.
Following Christ isn't something that can be done halfheartedly or on the side. It is not a label we can display when it is useful. It must be central to everything we do and are. — Francis Chan

Lukewarm people don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want only to be saved from the penalty of their sin. — Francis Chan

Our understanding of God's love must be more profound than the naive expectation of a carefree life. — Francis Chan

[I]t's impossible to please God in any other way that wholehearted surrender... — Francis Chan

The irony is that while God doesn't need us but still wants us, we desperately need God but don't really want Him most of the time. — Francis Chan

The fact is, Scripture is filled with divine actions that don't fit our human standards of logic or morality. But they don't need to, because we are the clay and He is the Potter. We need to stop trying to domesticate God or confine Him to tidy categories and compartments that reflect our human sentiments rather than His inexplicable ways. — Francis Chan

For those of us who nurture a win-at-any-cost mentality, this verse should shake us to the core. Only a fool would sacrifice this much for any victory. Let this sink into your brain: God actively fights against the proud person. The pride required to win your argument and defeat your "enemy" provides you with a new opponent: God. — Francis Chan

Are we in love with God or just His stuff? — Francis Chan

Jesus took away all of our ugliness. Unlike a typical bride, we are all shabby, grotesque, and woefully unprepared moments before we walk down the aisle. But our Groom beautifies us when we look to Him in faith, and in that instant we become His cherished bride. — Francis Chan

A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn't depend on circumstances or environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God (James 1:2-4). — Francis Chan

There is nothing better than giving up everything and stepping into a passionate love relationship with God, the God of the universe who made galaxies, leaves, laughter, and me and you. — Francis Chan

A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being. — Francis Chan

How many of us would really leave our families, our jobs, our education, our friends, our connections, our familiar surroundings, and our homes if Jesus asked us to? If He just showed up and said, 'Follow Me'? No explanation. No directions. You could follow Him straight up a hill to be crucified. Maybe He would lead you to another country, and you would never see your family again. Or perhaps you would stay put, but He would ask you to spend your time helping people who will never love you back and never show gratitude for what you gave up. Consider this carefully- have you ever done so? Or was your decision to follow Christ flippant, based solely on feelings and emotion, made without counting the cost? — Francis Chan

James 2:19- 'You believe there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shudder.' God doesn't just want us to have good theology; He wants us to know and love Him. — Francis Chan

It's a pretty crazy task to try to describe God "quickly." Everything starts with a healthy fear of Him. — Francis Chan

God has given you this good stuff so that you can show the world a person who enjoys blessings, but who is still totally obsessed with God. — Francis Chan

Lukewarm people think about life on earth much more often than eternity in heaven. — Francis Chan

We need to stop giving people excuses not to believe in God. You've probably heard the expression 'I believe in God, just not organized religion'. I don't think people would say that if the church truly lived like we are called to live. — Francis Chan

People who are obsessed with Jesus aren't consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God's kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress. — Francis Chan

There are periods that we forget that in the pursuit of fruit, that if we just abide in Him, then fruitfulness is a guarantee. — Francis Chan

Even now, I am working to make sure that my family is set up for the future. When most people make that statement, they are talking about financial security for their last few years on earth. When I say it, I'm referring to the millions of years that come after that. People — Francis Chan

The concept of downsizing so that others might upgrade is biblical, beautiful ... and nearly unheard of. We either close the gap or don't take the words of the Bible literally. — Francis Chan

Most marriage problems are not really marriage problems, they are God problems. They can be traced back to one, or both, having a poor relationship with God, or a faulty understanding of him. An accurate picture of God is vital to a healthy marriage. It's vital to everything. — Francis Chan

Do you understand that it's impossible to please God in any way other than wholehearted surrender? — Francis Chan

How foolish it is for me to be completely honest with my wife about my shortcomings, but try to fool God! — Francis Chan

The Bible teaches that true joy is formed in the midst of the difficult seasons of life. — Francis Chan

The idea of holding back certainly didn't come from Scripture. — Francis Chan

Stress says that the things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace toward others, or our tight grip of control. — Francis Chan

You have access to the Tent Of Meeting. — Francis Chan

Has your relationship with God changed the way you live your life? — Francis Chan

Our culture says anything goes; fear of God is almost unheard of. — Francis Chan

To call someone a Christian simply because he does some Christian-y things is giving false comfort to the unsaved. — Francis Chan

We are sad for the hurting couples; it breaks our hearts, actually. But we are even more brokenhearted about the effect it has on the Kingdom. We are sad because godly marriages magnify God's ingenious creation, but few marriages radiate that glory. We are sad about the victory Satan enjoys in watching couples call themselves "Christian" while living idly, living for themselves. We are devastated by how many choose divorce over obeying the King. The sad state of marriage makes the bride of Christ look dirty and unattractive. We write in hopes of changing some of this. — Francis Chan

echo James's exhortation to those of us in the church today: My brothers and sisters who have received the Holy Spirit, we often lack love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, etc., even while many of our unbelieving friends exhibit these traits - brothers and sisters, these things ought not to be so! — Francis Chan

God cares more about your obedience to His Spirit's leading TODAY than what you will do next year. — Francis Chan

Many Spirit-filled authors have exhausted the thesaurus in order to describe God with the glory He deserves. His perfect holiness, by definition, assures us that our words can't contain Him. Isn't it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate? — Francis Chan

Jesus' call to commitment is clear: He wants all or nothing. — Francis Chan

I don't want Him to return and find me sitting in a theater. — Francis Chan

You've got to do some work now. Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue. Virtue is about moral excellence. — Francis Chan

The God of the universe
the creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor
loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss. — Francis Chan

If God is truly the greatest good on this earth, would He be loving us if He didn't draw us toward what is best for us (even if that happens to be Himself)? — Francis Chan

Too many Christians are content with appearing to be a bit more moral than the people around them. But the difference between a true Christian and a non-Christian is not about subtle moral distinctions - it's the difference between being alive and being dead! — Francis Chan

The fact is, I need God to help me love God. And if I need His help to love Him, a perfect being, I definitely need His help to love other, fault-filled humans. — Francis Chan

If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. — Francis Chan

Don't fall into the trap of studying the Bible without doing what it says. — Francis Chan

I want to live so that I am truly submitted to the Spirit's leading on a daily basis. Christ said its better for us that the Spirit came and I want to live like that is true. I don't want to keep crawling when I have the ability to fly. — Francis Chan

God gave me the same power He gave Jesus. I ask myself daily, Why do I waste such a priceless gift? — Francis Chan

It is also important to notice that Satan enters the biblical scene as part of God's creation. This means that he is not all powerful. He is only alive because God gives him life. He is a deadly deceiver, but his power is infinitely less than God's power. So we shouldn't be terrified of Satan's power, but we do need to be wary of his lies and manipulation. — Francis Chan

Jesus was clear that following Him meant - get this - following Him. The church has put so much effort into inventing a new form of "following Christ" that doesn't require imitating Him. We teach that even though Jesus allowed His rights to be trampled, we should fight for ours. We teach that even though Jesus lived simply, we have the right to live luxuriously (some prefer the term "comfortably"). Even as we teach that Jesus was rejected by the world, we pursue popularity. — Francis Chan

There are things about God that are mysterious and secret, things we will never know about Him. But there also are things revealed, and those belong to us (Deut. 29:29). — Francis Chan

When we love God, we naturally run to Him-frequently and zealously. Jesus didn't command that we have a regular time with Him each day. Rather, He tells us to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' He called this the 'first and greatest commandment' (Matt. 22:37-38). The results are intimate prayer and study of His Word. Our motivation changes from guilt to love. — Francis Chan

One of my biggest fears - maybe my biggest weakness as a Christian - is that I have a hard time going up to a stranger and talking to them about Jesus. — Francis Chan

Ministry sounds intimidating until you develop a realistic view of what ministry is really about. Maybe you're not gifted to preach sermons, start a rehabilitation clinic, or lead a marriage retreat. But do you know people who struggle with sin? Do you know people who are carrying burdens? If so, then your first steps toward ministry are easy: help them. — Francis Chan

The world says love yourself, grab all you can, follow your heart. Jesus says deny yourself, grab your cross and follow me. — Francis Chan

It's impossible to be a disciple or a follower of someone and not end up like that person. Jesus said, "A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher" (Luke 6:40). That's the whole point of being a disciple of Jesus: we imitate Him, carry on His ministry, and become like Him in the process. — Francis Chan

This relationship [your relationship with God] is far more critical than your marriage. And it's everlasting. — Francis Chan

We are so used to multi-tasking. 2014 was probably the most productive year of my life ... But I noticed during the last couple of months when I would get alone with God it was hard to do one thing at a time. — Francis Chan

The Bible compels us to join God in what He is doing in and around us. Studying the Bible is important, but the goal is never knowledge for the sake of knowledge. — Francis Chan

We often forget what an honor it is that God would offer relationship. We can get so accustomed to people begging us to follow God that we forget what a miracle it is that we are invited. — Francis Chan

I really believe it's time for some of us to stop apologizing for God and start apologizing to Him for being embarrassed by the ways He has chosen to reveal Himself — Francis Chan

Allow God to be as creative with you as He is with each of us. — Francis Chan

A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be 'humble enough,' and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known [Matthew 5:16]. — Francis Chan

Lukewarm people give money to charity and to the church ... so long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living. Lukewarm people tend to choose what is popular over what is right. Lukewarm people don't really want to be saved from their sin; they want to be saved from the penalty of their sin. Lukewarm people rarely share their faith with their neighbors, coworkers, or friends. Lukewarm people are thankful for their luxuries and comforts, and rarely consider trying to give as much as possible to the poor. — Francis Chan

The very fact that a holy, eternal, all-knowing, all-powerful, merciful, fair, and just God loves you and me is nothing short of astonishing. — Francis Chan

I think a lot of us need to forget about God's will for my life. God cares more about our response to His Spirit's leading today, in this moment, than about what we intend to do next year. In fact, the decisions we make next year will be profoundly affected by the degree to which we submit to the Spirit right now, in today's decisions. It is easy to use the phrase "God's will for my life" as an excuse for inaction or even disobedience. It's much less demanding to think about God's will for your future than it is to ask Him what He wants you to do in the next ten minutes. It's safer to commit to following Him someday instead of this day. — Francis Chan

Every year in my life, I trust fewer and fewer people. — Francis Chan

He persists in loving us with unending, outrageous love. — Francis Chan

Deep down in the heart of every person is a hidden desire to reinterpret Jesus in light of our own culture, political bent, or favorite theological belief. — Francis Chan

Grace is when you should be totally punished but are blessed for no reason. — Francis Chan

There is no deep ongoing fellowship with a superior being without total obedience to him. — Francis Chan