Discussion Jumpstarter
Study leader reference - not a definitive answer
Question 9
His church-model grid labels many Anabaptist congregations as “Model 3” (strong community, little outreach) and says Jesus intended “Model 1” (strong accountability *and* strong outreach, costly, dying to self)—what concrete costs would your congregation have to pay to move toward Model 1, and which costs do we quietly refuse while still claiming to want “revival” or “impact”?
Another way to ask: If many churches have strong community but little outreach, what real sacrifices would your church need to make to grow in both accountability and outreach? Which sacrifices do we avoid even while saying we want “revival” or “impact”?
Discussion Jumpstarter
Direct Answer
Clyde teaches that moving from Model 3 to Model 1 would cost comfort, privacy, and individualism: it means real accountability, “dying to self,” and sacrificial investment in seekers alongside strong brotherhood life. The costs we often refuse are letting others “speak into our lives,” reallocating time and resources toward neighbors, and embracing the messiness and vulnerability of real relationships.
- Model 3 description: strong community—“Somebody’s barn burns down… quick to rebuild… Medical bills… take care of it”—but “little interest in reaching out to the neighbors.”
- He says many churches fit this: “Sadly, I think many Anabaptist churches are similar to a Model 3.”
- Model 1 vision: “Strong commitment… accountability… sacrificial love and investment, but strong desire to reach out to others.”
- Costly nature: “Model 1 is not easy. It means dying to self… letting other brothers speak into our lives.”
- Cultural resistance: “we live in an American culture that’s very individualistic.”
- He links outreach to submission: “Submitting to my brotherhood is connected to outreach… but there’s a cost.”