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PSST: EXPERIENCE THE SALVATION OF GOD!
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on
“Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?”
for Sunday October 9, 2022
by Lindsey Biggs, C.S of Maryland Heights, MO
540 460 3515 biggs.lindsey@gmail.com
P.S.S.T. FOR GOLDEN TEXT
“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.”
–Jeremiah 17:14
Who was the prophet Jeremiah who authored this quote? Bible Lens Research gives us a great synopsis of this faithful prophet.
Jeremiah was from a priestly family and received his call to prophecy when he was probably around twenty years old. He voiced God’s Word for some forty years, under Judean kings Josiah, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah. This period, the last part of the seventh and beginning of the sixth centuries bc, was a bleak time in Hebrew history. During Jeremiah’s lifetime, the Assyrian Empire fell to Babylon, which then conquered Judah. Jerusalem was destroyed, and the Jewish elite of the city were exiled to Babylon.
Though Jeremiah was spared this deportation, his life among his fellow Jews was challenging. He became known as the weeping prophet because of his distress over the people’s worship of other gods, his unsparing rebukes of their behavior, and the ridicule and persecution he suffered for his unpopular oracles. His prediction of the fall of Jerusalem, for example, led to his imprisonment (see 38:1–6). Nevertheless, Jeremiah remained faithful to his mission, offering messages of deep comfort and introducing the concept of a new covenant with Yahweh (see 31:31–33).
This may be a great prophet to discuss as a class. Are we ever too young to start serving God? Are we ever too old? How can we give young people greater confidence in their abilities to help and heal others? Many students have wonderful and inspiring testimonies to share. These testimonials build a foundation in their life for their journey with God. They become the “smooth stones” that David carried with him that helps them meet and master challenges that come up in their lives. See how you and your church community can help empower the young people in their lives to overcome challenges they may face.
“Step by Step” is a great collection of articles on topics that teens may face. It may be available in your Christian Science Reading Room (although it has been discontinued), Lending Library at your church, or you can access it on JSH Online with a paid subscription.
P.S.S.T. FOR RESPONSIVE READING
This passage from Isaiah 41:10 is one of my favorites; and the rest of the passages in this Responsive Reading are equally as powerful and comforting.
“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
Notice all the “I”’s represented in this passage. Who is the passage referring to? I love how this passage points our thought to God. To what God is seeing, knowing, and doing. That is where the power lies.
A beautiful hymn shares the idea:
“Not what I am, O Lord, but what Thou art; / That, that alone can be my soul’s true rest; / Thy love, not mine, bids fear and doubt depart, / And stills the tumult of my troubled breast.”
(Christian Science Hymnal, No. 195:1)
So many times the human mind can get stuck on limitations – my abilities, my faults, etc. But this passage turns our focus to GOD – who God is and what God is capable of doing. This quiets fear (as the beginning of the passage tells us to do) and gives us a sweet assurance of our oneness with our Father-Mother God, who, of course, already knows everything we need (as Christ Jesus says). Can your students pray in a way that transforms thought by realizing who and what God is? This breaks the dream of the little ego as being the center of the universe, and instead places our Father-Mother God exactly where He/She should be – at the center and circumference of the universe. and acknowledges our oneness with God, too. God is great and infinite, and also very close and so knowable.
Your class may enjoy exploring the role that Ego plays in healing through this Sentinel article: The Only Ego.
If your class is praying to tackle some of these world issues, here is another great article: One Ego, one harmonious government.
P.S.S.T. FOR SECTION 1 — THE NOTHINGNESS OF NOTHING IS PLAIN
How do we understand the nothingingness of error? Consider exploring the definitions for error and mortal mind in the Glossary of Science and Health. The first part of definition for mortal mind is NOTHING.
“The nothingness of nothing is plain; but we need to understand that error is nothing, and that its nothingness is not saved, but must be demonstrated in order to prove the somethingness — yea, the allness — of Truth.” (citation S5, p. 346)
How essential to know that everything that mortal mind says is nothing. It will always be nothing. If it’s not coming from God, and if it’s not God saying it, then we can immediately dismiss it as nothing. It has no power, no authority because it has nothing to stand on.
In healing we are demonstrating both of these things: the allness of Spirit, God, divine Love; and the nothingness of error, mortal mind, etc. Healing usually involves waking up to one or both of these things in some way.
Notice how many times the theme “awakening” appears in this Bible Lesson? What does awakening have to do with healing? Every healing is an awakening to the ever-present and permanent fact of reality – that you are a son or daughter of God, and therefore incapable of sin, sickness, or being deceived. Jesus overcame the serpent and that is so important and showed us that we can, too. We can cast it out with just as much authority as Jesus did, and not let it destroy our health, happiness, and success.
Jesus said, “the kingdom of God is within you,” so we all have ever-present access to this healing Christ and this healing consciousness here and now.
“For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (citation B2, Jeremiah 30:17, 22)
P.S.S.T. FOR SECTION 2 – COMMAND THE SITUATION
“Let neither fear nor doubt overshadow your clear sense and calm trust, that the recognition of life harmonious — as Life eternally is — can destroy any painful sense of, or belief in, that which Life is not.” (cit. S10, p. 495)
This is an essential point! These are decoys of thought! Don’t fall for them. “Clear sense and calm trust” are who you really are. Embody these and you will be receptive to the healing messages from divine Love. Those messages lead you from “sense to Soul” so it is important to listen and follow them. They will lead you up and out of whatever situation you may be facing.
“You command the situation if you understand that mortal existence is a state of self-deception and not the truth of being.” (cit. S9, p. 403) We all want to command the situation! That’s the spirit of dominion and authority! We possess this type of dominion when we understand that mortal existence is not the Truth of being – but that divine reality is the perfect, true substance and intelligence of our existence. We discern this reality with our spiritual sense, and as we align our thinking with these facts, healing happens.
“I hope, dear reader, I am leading you into the understanding of your divine rights, your heaven-bestowed harmony, — that, as you read, you see there is no cause (outside of erring, mortal, material sense which is not power) able to make you sick or sinful; and I hope that you are conquering this false sense.” (cit. S8, p. 253:9)
Isn’t this fascinating? There is no cause that can make you sick or sinful! So, we have the right to always be healthy, happy, and well. That is our natural state of being as seen in the Bible in Genesis 1. If it’s not coming from God, then it has no authority over your being or your identity. You can conquer this false sense. All the angels of God are championing your success.
By the way, this is part of a great camp song that your students may enjoy being reminded of, if they have attended CedarS CampS. See if they will sing it for you! 🙂
“The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.” (cit. B7, Psalm 18:46)
P.S.S.T. FOR SECTION 3 – OVERCOME SIN WITH DIVINE LOVE
What is sin? How do your students separate themselves from sin? Are their ways they have been able to be a great role model/example for someone else?
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (cit. B11, Colossians 3:2) This can be a great first step to guarding ourselves!
“Christian Science commands man to master the propensities, — to hold hatred in abeyance with kindness, to conquer lust with chastity, revenge with charity, and to overcome deceit with honesty.” (cit. S16, p. 405)
From this passage we can see how clinging to the synonyms for God, help us to resist error.
Cling to divine Love and resist hatred and unkindness.
Cling to Truth and overcome dishonesty and fear of punishment.
Cling to Soul and find everpresent satisfaction and delight.
Each synonym is an antidote to the various claims of sin we face. And we never have to feel like we are doing it alone. We have an abundance of resources to help us from Sunday School teachers, to practitioners, to fellow students, teachers, mentors, to lend a helping hand. Lean on your network when there are hurdles you are trying to overcome.
P.S.S.T. FOR SECTION 4 – RECOGNIZE YOUR DIVINE AUTHORITY
“…you have divine authority for denying that necessity and healing the sick.” (cit. S21, p. 390)
Do your students think of themselves as having “divine authority”? Of course, as students in school, they may feel that there seem to be many “authorities” over their lives. But their true authority – that comes from the Christ – is within them and enables them to break the dream of the senses, matter, and limitation each day. They can carry themselves with confidence – confidence that they can pray and heal each situation. This is a God-inspired confidence – it comes from knowing who and what we are as the sons and daughters of God. It can’t be taken away – it’s a form of self-government that is always with us, regardless of age.
“Health is not a condition of matter, but of Mind; nor can the material senses bear reliable testimony on the subject of health.” (cit. S20, p. 120)
What does this show us about the nature of health?
Is it mental, spiritual? Is it material and physical?
What do their healings prove about the nature of health?
Isn’t health the natural status of man who is made in the image and likeness of God?
Check out this article about someone who proved just this: The Power to Push Back
P.S.S.T. FOR SECTION 5 – EXPERIENCE THE JOY OF HEALING
“Sorrow is turned into joy when the body is controlled by spiritual Life, Truth, and Love.” (cit. S28, p. 14)
Yes, our sorrow is turned to joy when we experience healing! It’s natural for us to run, play, and experience joy and freedom. When we get “back out there” after a healing, it is a time of rejoicing – in a renewed sense of strength and oneness with God.
Do you students have a healing they can share – one that gave them great joy? Or even a spiritual insight that gave them great joy – a realization about their relationship with God?
What role does joy play in healing?
How long does healing take? “Become conscious for a single moment that Life and intelligence are purely spiritual, — neither in nor of matter, — and the body will then utter no complaints.” (cit. S28, p. 14)
The laws of God are as timeless as God is. They worked while Jesus was here and they will continue to be available and ever-present for humanity 2,000 years from now. “Plead with an honest conviction of truth and a clear perception of the unchanging, unerring, and certain effect of divine Science.” (cit. S26, p. 418)
An unchanging power was with us yesterday, today, and forever. Now that instills confidence!
P.S.S.T. FOR SECTION 6 – SALVATION AND DOMINION
“Salvation. Life, Truth, and Love understood and demonstrated as supreme over all; sin, sickness, and death destroyed.” (cit. S29, p. 593)
Explore this definition of salvation. Notice that it includes salvation from all claims of error! It includes demonstrating our eternal and perfect identity as children of God.
Your students may have encountered Christian friends who ask “have you been saved?” Consider this question together from a spiritual perspective. Yes, we all have been saved! Jesus’ life and demonstrations mean we can all be saved from the claims of matter or error right here and now. We have the ability to experience the Kingdom of Heaven more and more as a present reality now and forever.
“behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (cit. B24, II Corinthians 6:1, 2)
ENJOY YOUR CLASSES!
