All In, All Alive - Revive the Fire Series

Devotional

Day 1: Apricots in Barren Soil

The apricot tree stood barren for years, its branches empty. Church members walked past it, assuming it would never bear fruit. Then one spring, buds appeared. By summer, ripe apricots hung where only dead wood had been. Jesus told His disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” Fruit comes not from striving, but from abiding. [00:39]

That tree mirrors our call: to stay connected to Christ amid seasons that feel fruitless. Just as sap flows unseen through the vine, the Holy Spirit works through our abiding. Jesus doesn’t measure productivity but faithfulness.

Where have you assumed “barrenness” in your life or relationships? Name one area where you’ll choose to trust Christ’s life-giving presence today. What dead place might He resurrect if you remain rooted in Him?

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit. Apart from me, you can do nothing.”
(John 15:5, NIV)

Prayer: Ask Jesus to reveal His sustaining presence in a situation where you feel spiritually dry.
Challenge: Spend 5 minutes sitting quietly outdoors, observing a plant or tree as a reminder of abiding.

Day 2: Hearing the Heavy Rain

Elijah climbed Mount Carmel, heard thunderous rain in the Spirit before a single cloud appeared. He sent his servant seven times to watch the horizon. The seventh time, a cloud “the size of a man’s hand” rose from the sea. What began as a whisper became a downpour. [08:08]

God often speaks in promises before He reveals breakthroughs. Like Elijah, we’re called to persist in prayer when circumstances mock our hope. The tiny cloud declared: “My word never returns void.”

When have you grown weary of waiting for God’s promises? Identify one “small cloud” in your life—a faint sign of His faithfulness. How might steady prayer shift your perspective?

“Ask the LORD for rain in the springtime; it is the LORD who sends the thunderstorms. He gives showers of rain to all people, and plants of the field to everyone.”
(Zechariah 10:1, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for one specific promise He’s given you, even if its fulfillment seems distant.
Challenge: Write “1 Kings 18:41-45” on your mirror or phone lock screen as a reminder to watch for His rain.

Day 3: Pruned for New Shoots

Bridget found a single apricot beneath the tree, its stone hardened by seasons of drought. She hammered it open, planted the kernel, and nurtured five saplings. Jesus said, “Every branch that does bear fruit, [the Father] prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” [22:38]

Pruning feels like loss, but it’s preparation. The Father cuts back good things to make room for greater harvests. Those saplings—born from one stubborn seed—now promise orchards.

What “pruning” have you resisted—a habit, relationship, or dream? How might surrender in this area position you for unexpected growth?

“He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
(John 15:2, NIV)

Prayer: Confess any resistance to God’s pruning in your life. Ask for trust in His process.
Challenge: Plant a seed (literal or symbolic) as an act of faith in God’s renewal.

Day 4: Wading Through Floodwaters

James and Rachel raced through London’s streets, arguing over the fastest route. They arrived simultaneously at a flooded underpass. Annoyance turned to laughter; frustration became teamwork as he carried her through knee-deep water. The early church thrived because they were “one in heart and mind.” [16:42]

Unity isn’t uniformity. Like the disciples, we’ll disagree on methods—but shared purpose anchors us. The floodwaters of mission require all hands, all hearts.

Where do you withhold collaboration because others’ approaches differ from yours? What step could you take today to prioritize unity over being “right”?

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”
(Acts 4:32, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to soften your heart toward someone whose methods frustrate you.
Challenge: Initiate a conversation with a church member you’ve avoided or disagreed with.

Day 5: Seeds in Earthquake Rubble

After the 2011 earthquake, a single tree stood amid collapsed buildings—its roots gripping deep into unshaken ground. Isaiah prophesied: “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.” [21:16]

Storms test what we’re rooted in. Financial giving, like Bridget’s apricot stones, plants seeds for generations. When we release our grip on resources, we invest in eternal infrastructure.

What “earthquake” in your life (crisis, loss, or change) revealed where your roots lie? How could generosity deepen your trust in Christ’s unshakable kingdom?

“Give, and it will be given to you… pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.”
(Luke 6:38, NIV)

Prayer: Thank God for His provision in a past season of lack.
Challenge: Review your giving (time, money, or gifts) and increase one area by 10% this month.

Sermon Summary

We feel broken, and we meet Jesus in that brokenness. We hold the apricot tree outside our building as a prophetic picture: what looked barren began to bear fruit, and that fruit signals a stirring of life among us. We will prioritize abiding in Christ, because remaining in him produces lasting fruit and glorifies the Father. We will practice the presence of Jesus so that our ordinary tasks carry heaven into our streets, workplaces, and homes. We will expect growth that God brings, not try to manufacture it, and we will trust the Spirit to build through our faithful obedience.

We will pray for spiritual showers and ask God for fresh provision, knowing that God sometimes waits for his people to cry out. We will keep the main thing the main thing: inviting people to follow Jesus, running Alpha, discipling new believers, and investing in the next generation. We will form spiritual habits that shape us into resilient disciples: scripture-formed study, Spirit-led obedience, authentic community, and practices of prayer, belonging, serving, and giving. We will choose to be all in rather than treating this place like a hotel; being all in means getting wet for others, carrying the burdens of our neighbors, and joining life together.

We will accept pruning as a purposeful act of preparation. Pruning cuts what looks lifeless so deeper roots and stronger trunks can develop, producing more and better fruit in seasons to come. We will steward multiplication by planting seeds, growing disciples, and blessing our neighborhood with tangible care for families, schools, and the vulnerable. We will resource mission through generosity, not out of obligation but out of surrendered trust that God multiplies what we place in his hands. We expect more than a glimpse; we expect heavier rain, deeper roots, and multiplied life for Jesus' sake.

Key Takeaways

1. Remain in Christ to bear fruit Abiding in Jesus shapes every action and prevents fruitless effort. Our discipleship will focus on relationship, not merely behavior, so our witness flows from union with him. Remaining means daily dependence on the Spirit, and that dependence produces visible transformation in our neighbors. [04:30]
2. Pray for spiritual showers often Asking God for rain trains us to depend on divine timing and provision. Persistent prayer cultivates hunger and opens the door for surprising, communal encounters with God. When we pray together we invite the Spirit to move beyond our plans into his renewal. [13:20]
3. Embrace pruning as preparation for fruit Pruning removes what distracts or drains so new shoots can break through. Hard seasons refine our priorities and reveal deeper root-life beneath visible loss. We will interpret pruning as formative, not punitive, and expect it to precede greater fruitfulness. [22:38]
4. Belong, pray, serve, give These rhythms form resilient disciples by embedding faith into daily life. Group life prevents isolation and makes spiritual growth practical, while serving and giving align our hearts with kingdom purposes. Steady participation outlasts impulse and shapes character for long obedience. [20:28]
5. Multiply life by planting seeds Reproducing disciples looks like teaching, inviting, and cultivating new leaders and communities. Small acts of faith, like preserving an apricot stone, point to patient, intentional multiplication. We will invest in younger generations and local mission so new trees take root and bear fruit. [24:01]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:39] - Apricot tree as parable
[02:12] - Growth versus bearing fruit
[04:30] - Remain in me, vine and branches
[06:20] - Life in all its fullness
[08:08] - Signs of rain and growth
[13:20] - Ask for rain, spiritual provision
[15:09] - Shape: scripture formed and Spirit-led
[19:28] - All in: belonging and service
[22:38] - Pruning and resilience
[24:01] - Multiplication: planting seeds
[29:09] - Investing in the next generation
[31:07] - Giving fuels mission
[33:06] - Heavy rain and forward vision

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
John 15:5 (ESV)
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

Zechariah 10:1 (ESV)
“Ask rain from the Lord in the season of the spring rain, from the Lord who makes the storm clouds, and he will give them showers of rain, to everyone the vegetation in the field.”

Isaiah 61:3 (ESV)
“They may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.”

Observation questions

What does Jesus compare Himself to in John 15:5, and what does He say is required to “bear much fruit”?
The apricot tree outside the church was initially barren but later bore fruit. What did this symbolize about seasons of waiting and God’s timing? [00:39]
According to Zechariah 10:1, what are believers instructed to ask God for, and how does this connect to spiritual growth?
In the sermon, pruning was described as “preparation for fruit.” What visible and invisible results does pruning produce? [22:38]

Interpretation questions

Why might Jesus emphasize remaining in Him as the key to fruitfulness instead of focusing on outward effort or growth strategies?
How does the metaphor of “asking for rain” (Zechariah 10:1) challenge believers to view their role in spiritual renewal versus God’s role?
The sermon described pruning as “formative, not punitive.” How does this perspective change how we interpret difficult seasons in our lives or community? [22:38]
Isaiah 61:3 calls believers “oaks of righteousness.” What qualities do deep roots and strong trunks (resilience) provide during cultural or personal “earthquakes”? [21:37]

Application questions

“Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5). What ordinary task or relationship in your life (work emails, parenting, etc.) could shift if you consciously practiced dependence on Christ’s presence this week? [05:54]
Persistent prayer for “spiritual showers” requires humility and hunger. What specific area in your community (e.g., schools, relationships, workplaces) feels dry, and how could you start praying boldly for God’s renewal there? [13:20]
Pruning often involves releasing distractions or habits that drain spiritual vitality. What is one thing you sense God might be asking you to let go of to make space for deeper roots?
The apricot stone was planted patiently to multiply life. What small, intentional step could you take this month to invest in someone’s spiritual growth (e.g., inviting them to Alpha, sharing your story, mentoring)? [24:01]
“Belong, pray, serve, give” are rhythms for resilient disciples. Which of these feels most challenging to prioritize right now, and what practical adjustment could help you lean into it? [20:28]
Generosity “releases money’s creative potential.” How could reorienting your view of giving from obligation to joyful trust change your approach to supporting God’s mission? [31:07]

Sermon Clips

And I think it can be a bit like that sometimes. We can come and we can treat the church like a bit of a buffet and just come and receive and and that's great, but actually, you can't stay in a hotel forever, can you? It's not not good. You know, it's lovely to lie back and let someone pick up your drink and then walk it away and and to tidy up the bins and, oh, you come back to your room, it's completely tidy. This is great. My towels are folded, and I've even got a chocolate under the pillow. This is incredible. Love the hotel. But but we're not a hotel. This is God's house. [00:18:55] (33 seconds) #ChurchNotHotel

The idea of bearing fruit. You know, it's interesting about growing and bearing is different. It's not our job to grow the church. It's not my job even as the church leader to grow the church. There's actually hours in the day that I can't actually do my job. It's normally around pickup time or drop off time. Between four and six, please don't call me. But in those hours, Jesus built his church through his people. Our job is just to bear the fruit as we do what we're called to do. [00:02:12] (32 seconds) #BearFruitNotGrow

And generosity we found is part of that surrender. In fact, we found that Jesus can do a heck of a lot more with the 90% that we keep, the 10 we give rather than the 100% we wanna hold to ourselves. It's kingdom mass. He he does it in a way that we will never really understand, but Luke six thirty eight says, give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. I've said it before, but giving limits money's destructive power and releases its creative potential. [00:31:49] (37 seconds) #KingdomGiving

I really believe we've seen the beginning of something, the first drops of rain, but I believe there is heavy rain coming. There is more fruit coming, that the church will be rooted, that we'd be open handed, that we would be alive in our spirit, in our hearts, to be all in and all alive for his name and his name alone. And everybody said, amen. Amen. Amen. [00:32:59] (29 seconds) #RainOfFruit

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All In, All Alive - Revive the Fire Series - 17/05/2026