Understanding the DCC Growth Model: Inside-Out Discipleship (2)

Overview

At Discipleship Community Church (DCC), we embrace a distinctive approach to church growth that contrasts with the traditional "outside-in" attractional model. Our "inside-out" model, known as the **4H Model**, prioritizes deep, biblical discipleship over numerical growth alone. Below, we explain the difference between these models and outline how the DCC model works, with a focus on transforming lives from the heart outward.

The Attractional "Outside-In" Model

The attractional model, popularized in the late 20th century by leaders like Bill Hybels (Willow Creek) and Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Church), focuses on drawing people into the church through large-scale events and programs. Its process typically follows this flow:

Community Outreach: Host events like dramas, car shows, or service days to attract the broader community.

Crowd Gathering: Draw a crowd to the church building through engaging worship services or programs.

Congregation Integration: Guide the crowd into a "Growth Track" to become regular attendees, encouraging them to serve and give.

Core Development: Develop committed leaders from the congregation to form the church’s core.

This model has been very effective for building large churches, particularly within networks like the Association of Related Churches (A.R.C.). However, it often prioritizes attendance and activity over deep spiritual transformation.

The DCC "Inside-Out" Model:

The 4H Approach

At DCC, we believe true growth begins with the transformation of the individual heart and radiates outward to impact homes, the church community, and daily life. Our **4H Model**—Heart, Home, House, Habits—flips the attractional model upside down, starting with discipleship and building outward. Here’s how it works:

1. HEART: The heart is the "original sanctuary" where faith begins (Romans 10:9-10). We focus on introducing people to Jesus and making disciples first, not just church attendees. Through tools like our **New Creations class** (a 3-week course with a 21-day devotional), we equip believers to share their faith with their "oikos" (Greek for "household," referring to those they regularly interact with who are far from God). This fosters authentic relationships and evangelism.

2. HOME: The home is the "second sanctuary" redeemed for Christ (Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Joshua 24:15). We empower parents to be the "pastors of their home," raising their families in God’s ways (1 Peter 2:9; Ephesians 5-6). DCC supports this through resources like **Sunday take-home guides** tied to sermons for home Bible Study beyond Sunday. We also take time teaching on practices like honoring the Sabbath through rest and remembrance.

3. HOUSE: God’s house, the church, is the "third sanctuary" where our discipleship community gathers (Acts 2:42-47). We worship, serve, pray, give, and hear God’s Word together, modeling the early church’s practices. After Sunday services, we share a meal to build fellowship, reflecting the biblical practice of breaking bread together.

4. HABITS: Our habits reflect our identity as Jesus’ disciples and drive Kingdom impact. We equip members through classes like the 8-week Freedom class, a 9-week Financial Peace University, and future courses on marriage, parenting, and workplace worship. These empower believers to live out their faith consistently or “habitually.”

The DCC 4H Model can be summarized as:  

“Discipleship is formed in the HEART, flows into the HOME, flourishes in God’s HOUSE, and bears fruit in our daily HABITS.”

Unlike the attractional model’s focus on drawing a crowd, our inside-out approach invests in transforming individuals into disciples who impact their families, church, and world for Christ.