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Radical Reformation History  /  Lecture 20: The Anabaptist Revival  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 10
Dean contrasts “slaying in the Spirit” in the 1750s (people collapsing under conviction of sin) with what he calls a “fancy thing” today, and he links revival phenomena to deep self-introspection; if the “Jesus fire” Heinrich Dirks describes (knowledge of God + truth and love + eternal life + Holy Spirit) were truly kindled among us, what would repentance and assurance look like in practice, and what parts of our current spirituality might be exposed as shallow or performative?
Another way to ask: If the “Jesus fire” was really burning in us, what would real repentance and real assurance look like day to day? What parts of our faith today might be more for show than truly deep?

Direct Answer Based on the transcript, true “Jesus fire” would produce serious conviction of sin, honest self-examination, and heartfelt cries for salvation, followed by real joy and peace grounded in Christ’s saving words. It would expose spirituality that chases outward experience, excitement, or image without the weight of repentance and obedience.

Support from Transcript:

  • Dean explains 1750s “slayings” as people “so burdened from their sin…they just fell over” under “conviction of sin,” calling it “extremely serious and self-introspective.”
  • He contrasts that with today: “Very different than today where it’s a fancy thing to do just to get excited.”
  • Heinrich Dirks defines the fire as “the fire of the knowledge of God, the fire of truth and love, the fire of eternal life and the Holy Spirit,” and says together “the Jesus fire breaks out.”
  • Dirks’ aim is corporate: “Jesus’ fire already burns in many believers’ hearts, but…May it burn in our hearts as well.”
  • Dean gives a conversion pattern in Martin Bowen: deep lostness (“lost, lost”), crying “Lord, save,” then gospel assurance: “I am come to seek and to save that which is lost,” followed by “a stream of joy.”
  • He repeatedly ties revival to producing a church shaped by “Jesus Christ” and “the all things of Christ,” not merely phenomena.
Discussion Follow-ups What would it look like for confession and restitution to be normal in a congregation during awakening? Where might our worship style, testimonies, or social media Christianity be tempted toward “fancy” display rather than deep repentance and lasting obedience?

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