PSST: “Come and see the works of God:” Psalm 66:5
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson:
“Is the Universe, Including Man, Evolved by Atomic Force?”
for December 13-19, 2021
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, C.S.
pegasus6524@gmail.com • 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT)/Acts 15:18, “Known to God from eternity are all His works”.
Please read the GT together.
Ask students to define the word “all”.
Then ask, Who is left out of “all”? Who can be ignored by God? Is there anyone in the universe who God does not know?
The past two lessons have assured us that “God is the Only Cause and Creator” and that God is “the Preserver of Man.” This is your basis in prayer to include everyone because God includes everyone.
P.S.S.T. Responsive Reading/Gen 1, Ps 150 & 66 “COME & SEE THE WORKS OF GOD” (Ps 66:5)
This verse, the last in the Responsive Reading (RR), is OUR CALL TO ACTION!
The RR showcases Genesis 1 in the line of what God created. Even though it moves from day to day, it is not exhaustive. How can it be? Imagine how many pages of text would be required to include all that God created. One could conclude that Genesis 1 is representative of “all” until one arrives at Genesis 1:31, which states, “And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” What are some key words in that passage? “every thing”, “was very good”. God has done the work, it is our task to come and see, to behold it.
As mankind develops the tools and instruments to look farther into the universe, we already know what will be found: every thing created by God, and every thing is good.
P.S.S.T. Section 1 – KNOW that NOTHING CAN DIM YOUR BEING or CANCEL YOUR SHINING!
This statement is borne out in citation B2 from Psalm 147:4,5, “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.”
Consider for a moment that you are one of those stars and a bright one at that!
Can anyone or anything dim your being, cancel your shining?
Once again, we are called upon in citation B4/Job 37:14 to “stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.” Have you ever done that? Perhaps when looking at the stars at night, walking in a field or garden of flowers, or on a busy city street or your school campus. Look to the Science & Health portion of this section; what stands out to you when reading it? Perhaps:
- “God creates and governs” [cit. S2/295:5]
- “The universe is filled with spiritual ideas which He evolves” [cit. S2/295:6]
- “Immortal men and woman are …drawn by perfect Mind” [cit. S4/247:15]
- “Man and the spiritual universe coexist with God” [cit. S6/267:10]
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – GO to GOD with ANY QUESTION AND EXPECT A REPLY.
There is a good memorization opportunity in citation B6/Isaiah 45:11, “Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.”
You can go to God with any question and expect a reply, an answer. Ask students to write down for their eyes only a question they would like to ask God. Perhaps at some future class they might share that question and the answer they received.
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – SHARE HOW GOD’S BEEN THERE FOR YOU (and for others).
If one thinks there is no answer, look to citation B9/Daniel 4:3, for reassurance: “How great are his signs! And how mighty are his wonders!”
Mary Baker Eddy tells us in citation S12/SH 139:4-8, “From beginning to end, the Scriptures are full of accounts of the triumph of Spirit, Mind, over matter.”
Ask students to share a favorite scripture story that points to the presence of God, of God being there for an individual or group. When sharing a story, ask students to extend it as a pointer of God being there for us, in this time and place. God is as aware of you today as he was aware of the characters in the scripture stories shared.
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – SEE LIFE “UNFOLDING … the UNIVERSE, EVER PRESENT & ETERNAL.”
Read together citation S21/SH 306:25, “Undisturbed amid the jarring testimony of the material senses, Science, still enthroned, is unfolding to mortals the immutable, harmonious, divine Principle, – is unfolding Life and the universe, ever present and eternal.”
What is the reassurance for you? No matter where you are in the universe, or with whom, God is there. Christian Science helps you prove/demonstrate this is so.
Read together Hymn 297 from The Christian Science Hymnal (words printed here):
Hymn 297
Science, the angel with the flaming sword, / God’s gift, the glory of the risen Lord; / Light of the world, in whose light we shall see / Father and perfect Son, blest unity;
Calm of Shekinah where hope anchors fast, / Harbor of refuge till the storm be past; / Sweet, secret place where God and men do meet, / Horeb whereon we walk with unshod feet;
Place of communion with the Lamb of God, / Fold where the sheep must pass beneath His rod; / Ark where the dove may close her faltering wings, / Love’s law divine that makes us priests and kings;
Loosener of prison bands at midnight hour, / Of self-forged chains that fall through Love’s all-power; / Christ’s morning meal by joyous Galilee: / Science, thou dost fulfill all prophecy.
Do you know that you are part of this prophecy of Genesis 1? – Every thing that God made was good.
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – [LIKE JESUS, SHOW CONTEMPT FOR GENETIC HEREDITY, BAD OR GOOD.]
The scriptures, both Old Testament and New Testament, affirm the same truth as stated in citation B21/Romans 8:16,17: “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:” and that we are therefore “heirs of God”.
What do you think it means to be an heir of God? Jesus was clear about this [W: He spat on the concept that (either a good trait or) a birth defect, such as a man’s blindness, could be caused by his human parents. See John 9:1-7/citation B20 and Cobbey Crisler’s insights about it in a double-starred** GEM, plus in a link to a full YouTube reenactment.]
We regularly have the passage in citation S24/476:32-5 (“Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man…” ) as part of our weekly Lesson Sermon. Please read it together.
Now take the subject of this week’s Lesson and answer the question. Yes or No!
There can be only one creative force. Which is it?
P.S.S.T. Section 6 – RECONSIDER THE IDEA OF “ALL” AND THAT NO ONE CAN BE LEFT OUT!
As you read the Bible portion of this section, what stands out to you in answering the question posed by the topic of this week’s Lesson topic? (“Is the Universe… Evolved by Atomic Force?”)
Perhaps:
- God hath shown us light
- The Lord reigneth
- I will speak of thy wondrous works
- Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom
And, from Science & Health cit. S32/331:16, “Everything in God’s universe expresses Him.”
Consider this and think to where we began this Lesson – Define the word “all”. Who can therefore be left out?
