Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs)
for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson:
“God the Only Cause and Creator”
for May 30-June 5, 2022
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, C.S.
pegasus6524@gmail.com • 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT)/Psalm 86:10, “…thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone.”
If God is indeed great, wondrous, and the only God, where is He when bad things happen in our human experience?
Perhaps a better question to ask is, where are we, if indeed God never changes?
Think of God as true North and us as perhaps looking elsewhere even for a moment.
What happens in athletics when we take our eyes off the ball? Perhaps this is a good lesson for us to rededicate ourselves to looking to God for guidance and then acting to our neighbors in ways that align with the God who is always there for each of us.
That means no one left out, abundant good, life, all needs met, for each of us.
Responsive Reading (RR)/Psalm 111 & Job 22 & Job 9
Ask students to write down one thing in their lives for which they can praise God.
Ask them to keep that note in a place where they can look at it when problems come up or they feel challenged by wondering where is God in a difficult time.
Read together Hymn 86 from the Christian Science Hymnal (printed here).
Hymn 86 (& 87)
God’s glory is a wondrous thing, Most strange in all its ways, And of all things on earth, least like What men agree to praise.
O blest is he to whom is given The instinct that can tell That God is on the field, although He seems invisible.
And blest is he who can divine Where right doth really lie, And dares to side with what seems wrong To mortals’ blindfold eye.
For right is right, since God is God; And right the day must win; To doubt would be disloyalty, To falter would be sin.
P.S.S.T. Section 1 – Ask students to read aloud the Aaronic Blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 (printed here). There is much comfort in this prayer blessing provided by Aaron to the children of Israel.
24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
(Numbers 6:24–26)
What are some key words of comfort students might identify in this section of the Lesson?
- God be merciful
- God bless us
- No God beside me
- Let the skies pour down righteousness
- Be ye glad and rejoice
- The Lord is the greatness, power, glory, victory, and majesty
- We thank thee and praise thy glorious name
Think about these statements as one considers that God is at hand even though he may seem to be invisible.
Read together Jeremiah 23:23,24 (printed here):
23 Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD, and not a God afar off?
24 Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD.
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – Think about the powerful statements that open this section: “…God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him;…And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:27,31)
Here is a recommitment to dedicate ourselves to looking to this true North statement whenever some problem appears.
Read together citation S7 (Science & Health 491:12). What do you acknowledge as true when faced with a problem? One God, us created good.
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – Do you see yourself in citation B11/Isaiah 40:31?
Please note that Jesus often gave thanks to God before he performed a healing. How did the friends of the man in the Bible story in citation B13/Luke 5:18-15 express their gratitude even before the healing of their friend?
Their courage was based on God’s ever-present government as stated in citation S16/180:25. Partially it states, “…man knows that with God all things are possible.”
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – If your own confidence needs to be reassured, see what God says to you in citation B15/Isaiah 42:5,6:
- God created the heavens
- He spread forth the earth
- He gives breath unto the people
- He called you in righteousness
- He will hold your hand
- He gives you as a light
What do you think it means to touch the hem of his garment, as stated in the story in citation B17/Matthew 9:20-22? What truths might be substituted for the word “hem”? One God, us created good, reflection, remaining perfect, the expression of God’s being.
Read together Hymn 88 from the Christian Science Hymnal (printed here)
Hymn 88 (& 89)
Gracious Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would gracious be, And with words that help and heal Would Thy life in mine reveal; And with actions bold and meek Christ’s own gracious spirit speak.
Truthful Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would truthful be, And with wisdom kind and clear Let Thy life in mine appear; And with actions brotherly Follow Christ’s sincerity.
Mighty Spirit, dwell with me: I myself would mighty be, Mighty, that I may prevail Where unaided man must fail; Ever by triumphant hope Pressing on and bearing up.
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – What does it mean to “salute one another with an holy kiss.” How are we to behold one another, especially when problems appear? See Science & Health 476:32-5:
“Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God’s own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick. Thus Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is intact, universal, and that man is pure and holy.”
In many ways this is a statement of church and how we church-goers are to treat one another. See the spiritual definition of “Church” in Science & Health 583:12-19:
“CHURCH. The structure of Truth and Love; whatever rests upon and proceeds from divine Principle.
“The Church is that institution, which affords proof of its utility and is found elevating the race, rousing the dormant understanding from material beliefs to the apprehension of spiritual ideas and the demonstration of divine Science, thereby casting out devils, or error, and healing the sick.”
P.S.S.T. Section 6 – Are you a work of God? Are your fellow humans works of God? Then praise God, bless God for His goodness. My prayer for you is found in citation S31/264:28:
- Learn the way
- Recognize men’s spiritual being
- Behold and understand God’s creation
- Be glorified
These statements of truth are a great comfort when problems confront us.
Read together Hymn 359 from the Christian Science Hymnal (printed here)
Hymn 359
Trust the Eternal when the shadows gather, when joys of daylight seem so like a dream; God the unchanging pities like a father; Trust on and wait, the daystar yet shall gleam.
Trust the Eternal, for the clouds that vanish No more can move the mountains from their base Than sin’s illusive wreaths of mist can banish Light from His throne or loving from His face.
Trust the Eternal, and repent in meekness Of that heart’s pride which frowns and will not yield, Then to thy child-heart shall come strength in weakness, And thine immortal life shall be revealed.
