With The Perrys – Real Christian Maturity and How to Have Lasting Fruit with Christine Caine (February 9, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Preston and Jackie Hill Perry sit down with renowned speaker and author Christine Caine to explore the meaning of real Christian maturity and what it takes to have deep, lasting fruit as a believer. Drawing from Christine's decades of ministry experience and her new book, The Faith to Flourish: God's Design for a Rooted, Resilient, and Fruitful Life, the conversation journeys through the realities of enduring faith, biblical flourishing, the process of sanctification—even through pain—and how true Christian witness is shaped by both Word and Spirit. The episode is brimming with wisdom, candid reflections, and practical encouragement for anyone seeking to grow deeper and remain faithful in a chaotic world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Longevity in Faith and the Challenge of Endurance

• Christine Caine reflects on nearly 40 years of following Jesus since age 22, sharing that endurance comes from staying closely connected to Jesus through His Word. She underscores that longevity does not necessarily make the journey easier; the enemy is patient and seeks to discourage believers at every stage.
• Quote:
  "The enemy's not nothing but patient... the longer you get, the more you will [appreciate enduring faith]."
  — Christine Caine (06:25)
• Christine’s personal commitment: finishing her race well so future generations can see examples of those who endure.

2. The Dangers of Neglecting Sanctification

• The temptation as one develops influence or spiritual gifts is to rely on them rather than on ongoing sanctification.
• Using the metaphor of physical injury and recovery, Christine explains that embracing the pain of spiritual “recovery” is critical for real healing and growth.
• Quote:
  "The pain of recovery is going to be far greater than the pain of the injury... The degree to which you're willing to embrace the pain of recovery is the degree to which you'll recover."
  — Christine Caine (08:25)

3. Symbolism of the Olive Tree and Biblical Flourishing

• Christine shares the story of visiting the Parthenon's ancient olive tree, drawing parallels to Psalm 52:8 and the significance of olive imagery throughout Scripture.
• The olive tree represents enduring, flourishing faith even in arid, hostile environments.
• Quote:
  "It’s not like a big oak tree... and yet over 200 mentions of olive tree, olive branches, olive oil in the scripture... All the wood in [the temple/tabernacle] is from the olive tree. It sent me two years down this trail..."
  — Christine Caine (16:11)
• Flourishing isn’t dependent on circumstances:
  "Whatever is happening around you, you can still continue to flourish if you are rooted and grounded in the faithful love of God."
  — Christine Caine (18:50)

4. Roots, Community, and Spiritual Disciplines

• Strong roots take time (an olive tree bears fruit after about 10 years) and are nourished in interconnected community.
• The enemy disrupts community to "uproot" Christians.
• On the misuse of "flourishing": the prosperity gospel has distorted the biblical meaning of thriving; true flourishing happens even in suffering, through committed spiritual disciplines.
• Quote:
  "Our root system should be so strongly grounded in the word of God and in the promises of God... If Christians are languishing like the world is languishing, why would anyone think that there's any hope in Christ?"
  — Christine Caine (21:58)

5. Real Christian Maturity: Knowledge, Gifts, and the Slow Growth of Fruit

• The misconception that knowledge or "prophetic words" are shortcuts to maturity; true maturity forms through ordinary, persistent means (community, fasting, prayer, scripture).
• Gifts are from God and say more about Him than about the individual. It’s possible to have gifts without the character to sustain them.
• Quote:
  "Your gift actually doesn't tell me anything about your relationship with Christ. It just shows me that God has distributed his gifts... The gift that is on you will destroy you if the character in you has not been formed."
  — Christine Caine (28:01)

6. The Process of Pruning and Leaning Into Pain

• Painful processes (crushing, pruning) are necessary for more fruit; these refer to letting go of self, ambition, and even "dead things" or previously fruitful things that no longer serve God’s purpose.

• Enduring these processes leads to intimacy with Jesus and authentic, long-term fruitfulness.

• Quote:
  "It's better to be marked by God than marketed by man... to be marketed by God, you've gotta be submitted to the process of ongoing sanctification—which means there's ongoing crushing. That's how oil is produced."
  — Christine Caine (30:53)

• Jackie reflects on dying to selfish ambition, focusing only on what God has graced and called her to do.

  • Christine's Response:
    "Ambition is mentioned in the Bible... Most times, Paul says, do nothing out of selfish ambition... But he also three times is very strong about godly ambition... The line is very sobering."
    (40:38)

7. Anointing, the Holy Spirit, and Lasting Impact

• Christine distinguishes between counterfeit, hype-driven “anointing” and true, Spirit-generated power.
• The Holy Spirit is essential for sustaining endurance and real witness in the world.
• Quote:
  "Many believers have a trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Scriptures, not Father, Son, and Holy Spirit... We need Christians with the power to be witnesses in this world that is falling apart."
  — Christine Caine (49:08, 52:46)

8. Global Perspective on Flourishing and Mission

• True biblical flourishing works everywhere—not just in comfortable, Western contexts—and is not tied to material abundance.
• Christine’s work with A21 demonstrates holistic care: rescuing, equipping, and empowering survivors, reflecting God’s whole-person redemption.
• Quote:
  "If flourishing is just attached or the love of God attached to what you have externally, then we can all pack up and go home because this thing does not work... I need to be able to hold [survivors'] hands and go, in Christ, you can flourish while some of you are experiencing the most horrendous conditions."
  — Christine Caine (57:38)

9. Final Exhortation: From Western Languishing to Global Joy

• Despite the abundance in the West, spiritual languishing is prevalent; Christine is moved by the faith and joy she sees in persecuted, poor, or suffering churches elsewhere.

• Profound perspective from the Chinese underground church—real flourishing is faith that persists even to the point of witnessing to one’s executioners.

• Quote:
  "I hope this is a wake-up call, because I've got a chapter about languishing...the West is where we're languishing the most, where we should be languishing the least."
  — Christine Caine (65:01)

• Christine’s closing encouragement:
  "I can’t promise anything will get better externally [but] Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. All the promises of God are in Christ Jesus—yes and amen. Therefore, we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us."
  (68:50)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On the difference between "being marked by God" and "marketed by man":
  • "It's better to be marked by God than marketed by man." (30:53)
• On sanctification and the hard work of daily surrender:
  • "You don't really know whether you're in it for yourself or for God until the next round of pruning... It's supposed to be a daily process." (34:55)
• On ambivalence to suffering and the universal call to flourish:
  • "There is no way I can promise anyone that anything's going to get better externally ... but you can have him at all times." (63:52)
• On the global perspective:
  • "For God so loved the world... If flourishing only means [possessions or comfort], then we can all pack up and go home because this thing does not work and it's not real.” (57:38)
• On the underground church:
  • "The only thing we ever learned was how to witness to our prison guard on the way to our execution... That, to me, is flourishing faith.” (67:34)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• Introduction and lighthearted banter: 00:37–03:41
• Christine joins and shares about her journey: 03:41–07:29
• Enduring faith & sanctification: 07:29–10:44
• Olive tree metaphor and biblical symbolism: 14:01–18:36
• Flourishing in hardship, roots, and community: 18:36–24:22
• Discussion on real Christian maturity and misunderstanding of spiritual growth: 26:29–30:16
• Pruning, dying to ambition & ongoing crushing: 30:16–38:44
• Jackie’s reflection on ambition, Christine on selfish vs. godly ambition: 39:47–43:39
• Gardening metaphor for pruning dead things: 43:39–48:20
• Anointing, Holy Spirit, and genuine spiritual power: 49:08–54:52
• Integrating Word and Spirit, enduring faith: 54:52–56:55
• Global challenges, justice, and flourishing anywhere: 56:55–63:52
• Faith and flourishing in persecuted churches: 65:01–68:50
• Closing encouragement: 69:07–end

Episode Tone & Language

• Honest, deeply spiritual, sometimes humorous, and always practical.
• Christine brings warmth, gravity, and hope, rooted in decades of ministry experience and global perspective.
• Jackie and Preston infuse the conversation with authenticity, vulnerability, and real-life application.

Final Thoughts

This episode is a powerful and challenging resource for Christians hungry to move beyond superficial spirituality and into an enduring, fruitful walk with Jesus. Christine Caine’s global outlook, scriptural depth, and personal vulnerability are matched by the Perrys’ thoughtful questions and relatable reflections, making this a must-listen (or must-read!) for anyone seeking true spiritual maturity and lasting fruit in every season of life—with or without olives.

For details on Christine Caine’s new book, The Faith to Flourish, and links to her ministry, see the episode show notes.