Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson:
“Unreality”
for September 26-October 2, 2022
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, C.S.
pegasus6524@gmail.com • 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT)/Job 34:4:
“Let us judge for ourselves what is right; let us decide together what is good.” (Christian Standard Bible)
If we agree with what is implied in the GT – that we are all in this together – then let us consider how our thinking and actions impact others, all others. Deciding individually and collectively what is real, what is true, does indeed inform our actions. Consider the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10.
Responsive Reading (RR)/James 3:11-13; Psalms 37:3-6,18,23,27,28, 29,31
You are not alone. God is with you in the journey you are on. So Psalm 37:3 tells us, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.”
See also Proverbs 3:5,6.
These are guidelines for our work in seeing what is real and following it. What are some other benefits of knowing and following the real , mentioned in the RR?
- Commit thy way unto the Lord;… and he shall bring it to pass.
- The Lord knoweth the days of the upright; and their inheritance shall be for ever.
- The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord:
- The Lord… forsaketh not his saints;
- The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.
P.S.S.T. Section 1 –
If there is any argument as to whether something is real or unreal, look to Genesis 1 as stated in citations B1/John 1:1-3 and B5/Genesis 1:31 to see what was so in the beginning and for ever.
Reason then, if it was good in the beginning and continues to be good only, then where is there room for a suggested unreality, or ungood? Do you doubt this? Do you doubt that this truth is in harmony with God, with good, with the divine principle, with Love?
See S2/Science & Health 130:9-19. See the following statements in citations S4/SH 418:20-22 and S5/SH 287:10,32:
- Truth is affirmative
- Truth… governs all reality
- Truth is divine
- Truth cannot be contaminated
- Truth is real
These statements can aid in your arguing on the side of what is real, and not being tricked into believing there is something – anything – else.
P.S.S.T. Section 2 –
Why do we look to the scriptures for guidance? See cit. B6/II Tim. 3:16:
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”
See also Tenet 1 in Science & Health (497:3):
“1. As adherents of Truth, we take the inspired Word of the Bible as our sufficient guide to eternal Life.”
The inspired word is sufficient. Is Genesis 1 the inspired word? How about Genesis 1:31? What do you conclude? God made all, it was good, it is good. What does good assure us of, all of us? Harmony, happiness – for men and women. No one is left out.
P.S.S.T. Section 3 –
What courage was shown in the scripture story in citation B13/Luke 5:18-25?
Where do you think such courage came from?
Do you have such courage? Read together citation S16/SH 412:23 and citation S17/SH 142:31.
This is why you are able to heal. The world has need of you.
Read together Hymn 382 from the Christian Science Hymnal (words printed here):
Hymn 382
What is thy birthright, man, / Child of the perfect One;
What is thy Father’s plan / For His beloved son?
Thou art Truth’s honest child, / Of pure and sinless heart;
Thou treadest undefiled / In Christly paths apart.
Vain dreams shall disappear / As Truth dawns on the sight;
The phantoms of thy fear / Shall flee before the light.
Take then the sacred rod; / Thou art not error’s thrall;
Thou hast the gift of God— / Dominion over all.
P.S.S.T. Section 4 –
Following along with this thought, what are your directions in the section?
- Seek good and not evil
- Establish judgment in the gate
- Walk not in the counsel of the ungodly
- Unto the upright there ariseth light in darkness
- Teach me to do thy will
- Since God is all there is no room for his unlikeness (Back to Genesis 1:1 and 1:31)
- Evil is a deception
- Good cannot result in evil
P.S.S.T. Section 5 –
Here is a good memorization opportunity in citation B20/John 8:32: “…ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” See the full statement in John 8:31,32.
What does it mean to continue in the word of God?
How about Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:31 again.
Is the story about Peter’s freedom in citation B21/Acts 12:1-11 a miracle, or is it instructive for us to be followers of the truth, followers of what is real?
What part of “follow me” do you not understand?
“He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways” (B22/Psalms 91:2,11).
Can you ever imagine angels leading you astray?
Read together citation S24/SH 299:15: “By giving earnest heed to these spiritual guides they tarry with us, and we entertain ‘angels unawares.’”
How can you cultivate angels – who tell you the truth only, who tell you what is real only? Listen humbly, quietly, earnestly. Agree to follow their leadings.
Angels are produced by God’s power; they bring deliverance, they free mankind, they guide away from unreality to that which is real.
P.S.S.T. Section 6 – Memorize citation B26/Job 37:14: “…stand still, and consider the wondrous works of God.”
Read together Hymn 317 from the Christian Science Hymnal (words printed here):
Hymn 317
Still, still with Thee when purple morning breaketh, / When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee, / Fairer than morning, lovelier than the daylight, / Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee.
Alone with Thee, amid the changing shadows, / Solemn the hush of nature, newly born; / Alone with Thee, in breathless adoration, / In the calm dew and freshness of the morn.
So shall it ever be in the bright morning, / When hearts awaking see the shadows flee, / O, in that hour, and fairer than the dawning, / Rises the glorious thought, I am with Thee.
As it was in the beginning, so it will ever be, what? Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:31. So what do you conclude to be real? God is all, made all, made it good. Thus, man – made in His image and likeness – is good.
