"An authentic great Awakening is when people can't stop talking about what God is doing."
What Matters Most-Leonard Sweet
This is a reflection of genuine spiritual growth & what we call "fruit." It's a Christian concept that might be somewhat foreign in application to those outside the church. The farming metaphor isn't difficult to comprehend, but the personal application is unique.
As we grow, we have to ask the question, "What are we producing?" This is a common question in business models, but when it is applied to the church & a Christian lifestyle it can be easily misconstrued. While numbers (# of people, $ of generosity, etc.) can be part of the positive measurement, it is incomplete to stop at this step. If our lives are dedicated to expanding God's Kingdom efforts in and through us, we should see markers of our efforts in the lives that we impact. While we may not be able to quantitatively measure that progress, it should be qualitatively reflected in our conversations.
Too often we choose to be consumed with talking about the mundane, complaining about what we don't like, or gossiping about other people's lives. There are two possible explanations for falling into this pattern: we don't recognize the things that God is doing in us or nothing God-driven is taking place. The stories we tell will reveal God's depth of involvement in our story. As the Church we should be committed to weaving the tales of God's supernatural work in us & working diligently to see that theme continued in those around us.
That is how growth (fruit) will be measured--in tales of life transformation and God's Spirit at work.
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