PSST: Feel God loving and sustaining you today!
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on
“God the Preserver of Man”
for June 12, 2022
by Lindsey Biggs, C.S of Maryland Heights, MO
540 460 3515 biggs.lindsey@gmail.com
P.S.S.T. for Golden Text
To sustain means:
To bear; to uphold; to support; as, a foundation sustains the superstructure; to hold; to keep from falling; to maintain; to assist or relieve (1828 Webster Dictionary)
Consider having a discussion with your students on all the ways that God has supported them and sustained them. I’m sure there will be much inspiration shared on all the ways that God has healed, helped, supported, and sustained them.
P.S.S.T. for Responsive Reading – Overcome fear and doubt and know that God loves you
What does preserve mean to your students?
How does God preserver their soul?
What are some helpful ways that we can think of soul?
How about your sense of true identity? Your capacity to see and know the Truth? Your capacity to heal? Your capacity to feel your oneness with your Source?
The Responsive Reading contains Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount.
Why does Jesus tells us not to worry? What does worrying do? Does it help us to see God? What type of mind is Jesus telling us to have? I.e. the opposite of a doubtful mind.
How does overcoming fear and doubt help us?
P.S.S.T. for Section 1 — Trust in the Lord and find rest
Trust means:
Confidence; a reliance or resting of the mind on the integrity, veracity, justice, friendship or other sound principle of another person [i.e. God] (1828 Webster)
Having trust in God gives us rest. It enables us to rest our thoughts on something besides self and instead rest our thoughts on the omnipotence and goodness of God. Having confidence in God, which comes from understanding who and what God is, relieves us of stress, doubt and burden. It enables us to reach beyond the limitation of the human minds and to exceed our normal abilities.
What are some times when your students have trusted in God? Have they utilized his trust in God in academics or sports?
Have they ever participated in a “trust walk” – perhaps at camp? What was that like? What can we learn from those experiences?
How was trust a factor in the children of Israel’s experience? What did they place their trust in? What are the many ways that God sustained them and loved them throughout their wilderness journey?
P.S.S.T. for Section 2 – Overcoming those waves; not letting them overcome you
Your classes may enjoy exploring this TeenConnect article together:
Conquering the waves of fear
The author shares an experience she had a camp:
Later, as we got on the river, I was keeping these thoughts in mind. We approached one particular rapid where the evidence of potential danger was particularly dramatic. There was a big drop, plus crashing waves and many obstacles to navigate. But because I had been prayerfully preparing for this, not only was I able to overcome my own fear, but I was also able to help the campers who were afraid. Together, we held to this idea from the Bible: “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). This idea enabled us to look beyond the “darkness” of danger and to know that God was with us, right there in the middle of those waters. There was a noticeable change in the mental atmosphere, and as the fear lifted, everyone on our raft was able to move through the rapids with joyful strength and freedom. That rafting expedition was a huge success.
This section has some awesome Bible passages that your students can take with them to camp or on whatever activities they might be doing this summer:
II Timothy 1:7
“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
Romans 8:37
“in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
P.S.S.T. for Section 3 – Dwelling in the house of God gives us courage and strength
What does it mean to be planted in the house of the Lord?
How can we be sure that we are planted ourselves on this true foundation?
What spiritual qualities do we feel we have when we are planted in the house of the Lord? Spiritual confidence, strength, resilience, etc.
This Bible passage tells us that we shall flourish when we are planted in the house of the Lord.
Consider exploring the final verse of Psalm 23:
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Talk about what that means. How do we “dwell in the house of the Lord”?
“Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy. Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine ‘powers that be.’”
We always have the right to feel newness and freshness with things we do! Try new things, embrace new opportunities, feel the Holy Spirit moving on the waters of thought and forming the perfect, spiritual concept. This divine energy of Spirit is an attractive force and enables us to “rise higher and higher from a boundless basis”. How is the Holy Spirit giving your class new energy, new desires, and new abilities?
P.S.S.T. for Section 4 – Supply is ever-present
God is the Source of supply of joy, opportunity, childlikeness, light, vitality, energy, finances. Whatever we need, God has got it!
“They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.” Psalms 34:10 This basically says there is no lack!
Jesus proved that supply and goodness are ever present. Right there, in the desert, where there appeared to be no provision, Jesus proved that Love was there. Supply was there, even though the disciples couldn’t see it. So whatever situation we come across, we can affirm that it is already chock full of good ideas. It is already complete with all of the goodness we need. And we can prove it. Jesus didn’t believe in lack and we don’t need to either.
Philippians 4:19
“my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
So whether it’s a financial need for college, getting good grades, or the need for companionship, or any other needs your students might be facing, God has got it. The supply, the talent, the joy, all come from God and God is able to meet those needs perfectly.
“In the scientific relation of God to man, we find that whatever blesses one blesses all, as Jesus showed with the loaves and the fishes, — Spirit, not matter, being the source of supply.” (S16/SH p. 206)
P.S.S.T. for Section 5 – God can give you perfect peace
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3
Whether we are needing mental health or physical health, the effect comes from keeping our thoughts imbued with the Christ.
Your students may enjoy this testimonial: A permanent healing of panic attacks
There are also other great mental health articles here.
Mary Baker Eddy writes:
“Beloved Christian Scientists, keep your minds so filled with Truth and Love, that sin, disease, and death cannot enter them. It is plain that nothing can be added to the mind already full. There is no door through which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness. Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefited.”
(The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, p. 210)
P.S.S.T. for Section 6 – God gives us the energy we need to accomplish what we need
“…And let us not be weary in well-doing…” (B21, Galatians 6:9)
This section is full of all the ways that God sustains us, preserves us, and gives us the energy that we need to accomplish what we need to do.
“Mind-science teaches that mortals need ‘not be weary in well doing.’ It dissipates fatigue in doing good. Giving does not impoverish us in the service of our Maker, neither does withholding enrich us.” (S26, SH p. 79)
It dissipates fatigue to do good! It gives us Life, energy, and joy.
Are your students embarking on a work task this summer? Or serving as a camp counselor? If so, these ideas can be helpful in not only in helping sustain them, but giving them the joy they need to uplift those around them.
“It is proverbial that Florence Nightingale and other philanthropists engaged in humane labors have been able to undergo without sinking fatigues and exposures which ordinary people could not endure. The explanation lies in the support which they derived from the divine law, rising above the human. The spiritual demand, quelling the material, supplies energy and endurance surpassing all other aids, and forestalls the penalty which our beliefs would attach to our best deeds.”
(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, p. 385:1–11)
What does this truly show us about energy? How can your students apply this truth this summer?
P.S.S.T. for Section 7 – Embrace each day with an expectancy of good!
“To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings.” (S32, p. vii:1–2)
I love this passage because it gives us such a sense of eager enthusiasm to see what God has unfolded this day.
It reminds me of this hymn, too, which also embodies such an expression of active joy:
“Father, we Thy loving children / Lift our hearts in joy today, / Knowing well that Thou wilt keep us / Ever in Thy blessed way. / Thou art Love and Thou art wisdom, / Thou art Life and Thou art All; / In Thy Spirit living, moving, / We shall neither faint nor fall.
“Come we daily then, dear Father, / Open hearts and willing hands, / Eager ears, expectant, joyful, / Ready for Thy right commands. / We would hear no other voices, / We would heed no other call; / Thou alone art good and gracious, / Thou our Mind and Thou our All.
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 58:1, 2)
Enjoy your classes!
