Discipleship fruit

How do we measure discipleship (or 'how do we know if we're making disciples or not)?

My friend (Tom) and I have been wrestling with this issue off-and-on for the past 20 years or so. We recently restarted the conversation because his "pastors cluster" is debating the subject.

Traditionally churches have tracked things like attendance, financial giving, baptisms, and whatnot to measure their effectiveness. For some time people have said maybe these aren't the best things to use. Maybe the don't tell the whole story.

We have been trying to figure out a metric to use for the making of disciples. If we want our churches (or Christians) to be making disciples, how do we know if we're doing it or not?

Tom is of the opinion we somehow have to factor in the 'fruit of the Spirit' (the verse below). If someone is growing as a disciple the Spirit should be producing these things in their life. In other words, they should be becoming more loving, more joyful, more at peace, etc., etc..

So the question remains: How do we measure this?

One method could be self-assessment. Do *I* think I am more loving, more joyful, etc., than I was 6 months ago, or a year ago? Or maybe, on a scale of 1-10, how would I rate myself? Then, say, 3 months later, check again...

That may be helpful, but how do we factor in mood changes, circumstantial indifference, "dark night of the soul" situations, seasons of life, etc.?

I suppose we could also have someone else evaluate us... but... nah.

So, this is where we are. Maybe there simply ISN'T a metric to use for discipleship. I don't know. I guess at least it gives me something to think about sometimes...

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"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" - Galatians 5:22-23