Finding the Way Back to Mayberry

Episode #33 (34), “Barney’s Replacement”

Introduction: A lawyer from the state attorney’s office interns as a deputy in Mayberry, and Barney gets the notion that Andy is going to replace him.

Lesson Points:
Faith (Matthew 17:20, Hebrews 11:1, Matthew 14:31, John 20:29)
Andy and Barney not only work together, they are best friends. Yet Barney has doubts about Andy’s intentions regarding the new deputy.

Pride (Proverbs 16:18, James 4:6)
Barney has too much pride to tell Andy his true feelings about the situation. “Proud—proud, proud, proud, proud, proud”—Andy

Dealing with People vs. Going by the Book (Philippians 2:3-4, Acts 20:35)
Barney is a stickler for procedures, until he gets arrested

Discussion:
1. Why didn’t Barney trust Andy and the explanation that Bob Rogers was working as a temporary deputy?

2. Why couldn’t Barney tell Andy the truth about his feelings?

3. Early in the episode, Barney went strictly by the book with respect to the bulletin board (“I’ll wait for the official verification.”) and the stop sign. Later, he said that people were more important than books, charts, and manuals. Why did he change his way of thinking?

4. Why was Barney (and maybe Andy to a lesser degree) skeptical about the predictability of statistical methods?

5. Why did Barney lack credibility as a door-to-door vacuum salesman?

6. Do you think there really was a Green River Ordinance?

Final Thought:
“I ain’t got time to stand around here and discuss trivial trivialities.” —Barney