PSST: “Overcome evil” EVERY TIME by knowing your “ABILITY & OPPORTUNITY” are COORDINATE IDEAS, GOD-GIVEN TO YOU!
(see Golden Text & Section 6 especially)
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“Ancient and Modern…”
for classes on November 27, 2022
Questions by former CedarS Program Director, Steve Henn, C.S. steven.henn@gmail.com
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for the GOLDEN TEXT/ Romans 12:21
“Be not overcome of evil; but overcome evil with good.”
How is evil overcome with good? (Look at SH p. 304 for the “doctrine of Christian Science” as well as citation S30/571 & **P.S.)
What evil would attempt to overcome us? See **P.S. on citation S30/571
Once we have overcome evil in our own experience, how can we be supportive to others who need to overcome evil with good?
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for the RESPONSIVE READING (RR): Rock On
What is your starting point? What is your focus?
Do you begin with God and Her supremacy as the starting point of all logic and experience?
How can we be sure to keep our starting point consistent?
Those of your students who have been to CedarS may know the “Rock Song” which combines the verses of Ps 18:3 and Ps 18:46 and is a great reminder of how we should start each and every day, and how we should respond to each and every challenge we face.
[Warren: There’s a link below to Stephen Hanlin, a CedarS counselor and a CedarS 365 Hymn Sing leader, doing the motions while singing “the Rock Song” (in a round for 44 seconds). Here’s the link: https://www.facebook.com/238522559504897/videos/382837602949483
“The Rock Song” was also selected by former CedarS counselor, Erin Williams, for “CedarS Round-the-Clock” Trilogy of CDs that she put together as a campership benefit project for CedarS 50th anniversary summer of 2011. Erin sang and played the prelude and opening hymn for CedarS June 7, 2020 Zoom Hymn Sing. You can hear Erin leading this call-and-response song by clicking on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPHaT93Uob4 (You can skip the ad.)]
Possible Sunday School Topics CS (PSSTs) for SECTION 1: 1st Lessons
How fully do your students trust in God? How can we act on our trust? Why should we trust in God?
1st Lessons: How does citation S6 relate to the First Commandment and First Great Commandment as given by Moses and Jesus?
How do these commandments help us to learn about trusting in God?
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for SECTION 2: *Give God the credit!
How unreasonable is the king being? (citation B8/Daniel 2:1-47)
Is mortal mind ever this unreasonable – asking to be interpreted without giving any evidence of what is to be understood?
What examples do we have of this irrational approach to reality?
*To whom does Daniel give credit when is interpretation of the king’s dream is well-received?
How often do we give God all the credit for our own successes?
How does giving God credit help us to trust in Him more?
How does it help us to acquaint ourselves with the Science of Being? (cit. S10/84:14)
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for SECTION 3: memorize “…be a law”
What is discernment and why should we practice it as students of Christian Science?
How do we increase in our discernment of reality?
How often does our discernment demand us to be resilient, patient, and faithful?
How often does the Science Jesus taught win out over material beliefs?
What power does evil, mortal mind, and error have? (cit. S14/186:17)
Passage to Memorize: citation S16/442:30 “Christian Scientists, be a law unto yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake.”
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for SECTION 4: Faith & “higher attainments”
What is the basis of Jesus’ healing work? How did Jesus see others’ faith? (cit. B12/Matt. 9:2)
Why is this important? Do we ever allow our faith to be seen and known?
If we hesitate to do so, what stops us?
Why should we consider making our faith known?
Why was Jesus’ healing work so consistent?
What are the “higher attainments” Mary Baker Eddy is speaking of in citation S21/367:24?
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for SECTION 5: Practice stillness
How do we “stand still” in our thought? (cit. B14/Job 37:14) How often do we practice stillness?
What wondrous works can we witness when we are still? Can your students practice stillness this week?
Activity: Practicing stillness during silent prayer at church. During silent prayer at church, how do your students use that opportunity? How can you work with them to improve their silent prayer?
Can you share ideas about how stillness can help with silent prayer: seeking to behold God’s wondrous works? What does that look like in silent prayer?
Can you practice silent prayer with your students during church?
Consider writing out some prayerful thoughts that your students could reflect on during silent prayer. What other options can your students think of for silent prayer?
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for SECTION 6: **God-supplied ability & opportunity
What is the animating force behind all that we do?
How does committing all of our works to God make a difference in our approach to and the impact of our work? (cit. B17/Proverbs 16:3)
What is the “true light” of all things? (cit. S28/276:12-14)
What is the “perfect model” that we can hold before our thought? (cit. S29/407:24) Consider building that model with your students.
**P.S. Passage to Memorize that answers how to “overcome evil with good” Golden Text: cit. S30/571:15 “At all times and under all circumstances, overcome evil with good. Know thyself, and God will supply the wisdom and occasion for a victory over evil. Clad in the panoply of Love…” [W: See an early Met, “KNOW THAT YOUR “ABILITY & OPPORTUNITY ARE COORDINATE IDEAS” AND THEN “RISE TO THE OCCASION!” It was originally posted on this citation on CedarS website on December 5, 2002] Or click on or cut and paste https://cedarscamps.org/inspiration/article/-b-know-ability-opportunity-are-coordinate-ideas-rise-to-the-occasion-b/
