Discussion Questions

Michael describes repeated Amish community “restarts” (Camden → Greentop → North Adams → Athens) driven by church conflict; what does that pattern reveal about what the Amish system is trying to accomplish through structure and “ordinance,” and what does it suggest about what only Christ can provide that structure cannot? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Michael talks about Amish groups starting over again and again because of church fights. What does that show the Amish rules are trying to do, and what can only Christ give that rules and structure can’t?

Michael said he always believed “the Amish were right,” and the main question was “which church was the right church”; how did that assumption shape his view of God and salvation, and where did it begin to crack as he read Anabaptist history and early church sources? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Michael assumed the Amish were right and the only question was which Amish church was the right one. How did that shape what he thought about God and being saved, and what started to change when he read early church and Anabaptist history?

When Michael read *Walking in the Resurrection* (Schleitheim, 1527), he became convinced their excommunication practice was wrong because it was “backed up with scripture”; what does this imply about God’s intentions for church discipline, and how does it confront the way many churches (Amish and non-Amish) use authority to control outcomes? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Michael saw that their way of excommunication seemed “supported by scripture,” yet he believed it was still wrong. What does that suggest God wants church discipline to be for, and how does it challenge churches that use authority to get the results they want?

Michael concluded, “we were a bunch of unbelievers, excommunicating more unbelievers”; what theological assumptions about the church, baptism, and regeneration are exposed by that statement, and how would early Christians have understood who the “church” actually is? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Michael said, “we were unbelievers, excommunicating more unbelievers.” What does that reveal about what he believed about the church, baptism, and being born again, and who would early Christians say the real “church” is?

Michael’s turning point involved hearing that past sins can be “washed and blotted out…white as snow,” and he realized he could “know” forgiveness rather than hope vaguely; what does this reveal about God’s character toward repentant sinners, and why did that feel like a “new thought” even though he grew up believing God forgives? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Michael heard that sins can be fully washed away and realized he could know he was forgiven, not just hope. What does this show about how God treats people who repent, and why did it feel new even though he always heard God forgives?

After that change, Michael described gossip, foul language, and other “commonly accepted” sins falling away through conviction and “power and victory”; what does his testimony suggest about the difference between behavior management and Spirit-empowered transformation, and where do you see those two approaches competing in your own Christian environment? JumpstartAnother way to ask: After his change, Michael said things like gossip and bad language started to fall away through conviction and God’s power. What’s the difference between just managing behavior and real change from the Spirit, and where do you see both in your church world?

The bishop told Michael, “today we’re not here to talk about the scripture…we’re here to talk about our ordinance,” and said scripture is “so holy” it should be handled mainly in the Sunday setting with testimony time; what view of God and of ordinary believers is implied by that, and how would the early Christians (with widespread scripture reading and exhortation) have reacted? JumpstartAnother way to ask: A bishop told Michael they were there to talk about “ordinance,” not Scripture, and that Scripture should mostly be handled in the Sunday setting. What does that say about how they viewed God and regular believers, and how might early Christians have responded?

Michael pressed the ministry on John 3 (“born again of water and Spirit”) because his uncle asked what “Spirit” means; what did Michael’s uncertainty reveal about the Amish catechesis he received, and what would it look like for a church to ensure members can actually explain and pursue new birth rather than merely comply with church expectations? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Michael wasn’t sure what “Spirit” means in John 3 when asked about being born again. What does that say about what he was taught, and what would it look like for a church to make sure members can explain and seek new birth instead of just following rules?

Michael contrasted the 1955 “bisheless” letter being treated as decisive with his comment, “I’m not sure what the people done before 1955…they had the Bible”; how does that tension expose competing authorities (Bible vs. inherited rulings), and where might modern evangelicalism have its own “1955 letters” (unstated traditions) that function like final authority? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Michael noticed a 1955 letter was treated like the final word, even though people before then had the Bible. How does this show a struggle between the Bible and man-made rulings, and what “unwritten rules” in evangelical churches might act the same way today?

Ephraim warned about the “reactionary thing”—looking back at darkness and running from it rather than “eyes on Jesus” running to Him; based on Michael’s fears for his children, the pain of shunning, and the temptation to define yourself by what you left, what concrete practices would help a family pursue Christ positively without drifting into either bitterness or a new form of legalism? JumpstartAnother way to ask: Ephraim warned about living mainly as a reaction to what you left instead of running toward Jesus. With fears for the kids, the hurt of shunning, and the pull to define yourself by your past, what practical habits could help a family follow Christ without becoming bitter or falling into new legalism?