Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs)
for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson:
“Spirit”
for August 1-7, 2022
(APOLOGIES FOR THESE BEING LOST IN CYBERSPACE SOMEHOW!)
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, C.S.
pegasus6524@gmail.com • 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT)/John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing” (New King James version, NKJV).
How would you live your life if you considered and truly understood that all you have or ever will be comes to you from Spirit? That your very life can never be denied, forfeited, or stolen from you? That looking to the flesh for your wellbeing is of no use, for your life is not in or has anything to do with the flesh? That which Spirit gives is never taken away.
Responsive Reading (RR)/Romans 8:1,2,5,6,9,14-17
Who or what is it that condemns you to suffer, to be sick, to sin, or even to die? The opening statement in the RR speaks clearly, “There is therefore now no condemnation….” It is impossible for Spirit to condemn that which Spirit creates – and there is no other creator. How do you desire to live – what is your model? The flesh, the carnal mind, the spirit of bondage? What are you heir to, from whom have you received your inheritance? Which would you prefer, inheritance from the flesh, that which is temporal or temporary, that which is worldly and fleeting? Or, that inheritance from Spirit with all the rights and privileges associated with Spirit and Spirit’s creation? The call is to awaken and live ye.
P.S.S.T. Section 1 – Consider what Job understood in citation B1/Job 33:4, “The spirit of God hath made me, and the breath of the Almighty hath given me life.”
Review the story of Job and his struggles and where this understanding ultimately found and left Job and how consequential a life he had because of this understanding. Consider how Job might have reasoned things through during his life when so much good, and then bad, and then good again came upon him. Remember, it is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing.
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – In this section is another big name in the Bible – Noah. How did Noah’s understanding that his life was because of Spirit have impact on him and all around him? Imagine for a moment the dire results if Noah believed that the flesh was his life and that he deserved punishment and destruction. We have a clear view of being overwhelmed by the flesh, and yet the significant benefit for one man and his family who understood his life to be the result of Spirit. Now consider that you are the direct beneficiary of Noah’s understanding. Put yourself in Noah’s shoes. How would you measure up? God remembered Noah and blessed Noah, and He remembered and blessed Job.
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – In this section is another big name in the Bible – Jesus Christ. Look to B13/Matthew 12:22-28 for a hint of Jesus’ understanding of what it means to live in the Spirit, not in the flesh. Not only did Jesus understand this, but he also taught it to others. Do you understand that you are a direct beneficiary of Jesus’ teachings and life? Ask students to summarize what they understand to be at the core of Jesus’ teachings? Example:
- “Jesus taught but one God, one Spirit…”
- Jesus’ proofs consist of the destruction of sin, sickness, and death.
- Spirit is God and cannot be sick.
- What is termed matter cannot be sick.
- Jesus gave his disciples power against anything not like Spirit – to cast it out of understanding.
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – Here is another big name in the Bible – Nicodemus. What did Nicodemus understand about Spirit as the creator and our not being created in the flesh? Consider what is written in B17/Galatians 5:16,22,23,25, “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh,” and “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Consider how these qualities were lived by each of the big names in the Bible we have considered so far. Now consider how we have also benefitted because of their teachings. Each of them – Job, Noah, Jesus, Nicodemus – demonstrated the Christ. See also Science & Health 583:10 for a scientific definition of Christ. See also SH 332:9-15. There is also a good memorization passage in S20/SH 249:6-10.
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – We call ourselves Christians. This is especially worthwhile following our understanding of the Christ from the previous section. See why being called a Christian and living as a Christian has impact on our lives and in our world. Read S24/SH 458:32-3, “Christianity causes men to turn naturally from matter to Spirit….” So we restate where we began in the Golden Text, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.”
P.S.S.T. Section 6 – What are you called upon to do as Spirit’s inheritor – live the Christ, walk in the Spirit, remember who you are, gain more correct views of God and man, realize that Life is Spirit never in nor of matter. What is the result as stated in S28/SH 264:28, “…we shall behold and understand God’s creation, – all the glories of earth, and heaven and man.”
