I often tell my incarcerated friends that they hold a significant spiritual advantage over those in the free world. Their circumstances naturally foster a tight-knit community—a depth of connection many outside avoid if they can.

This struck me even more during my studies in Berlin, where I had the privilege of delving into the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. When the nationalists in Germany forced many confessing Christians into the shadows, Bonhoeffer grew frustrated with pastors who abandoned the teachings of Jesus in allegiance to Hitler and the German Reich Church. In response, he established an underground seminary in Finkenwalde, Germany.

His time there inspired him to write a guide for cultivating intentional, purposeful community among believers while forced into the margins of society. Today, that guide is known as the book Life Together.

Naturally, I wanted to introduce Life Together to some of my incarcerated friends, who agreed to study it with me and explore Bonhoeffer’s vision of a community of believers living with one another and living for one another.

Here are the results of our six-week study of Life Together in prison—I hope you enjoy!