Find ways on a daily basis to show gratitude for and obey God’s law!
PSST: Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“CHRISTIAN SCIENCE”
for classes on December 25, 2022
Questions by former CedarS Program Director, Steve Henn, C.S.
steven.henn@gmail.com
POSSIBLE SUNDAY SCHOOL TOPICS (PSSTs) for the GOLDEN TEXT
“Great peace have they which love thy law: . . . I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight.” Psalm 119:165 (to :), 174
What is God’s law? Spend time with your students defining what law is in general, and then what God’s law is in particular.
Refer to the various sources of Her law – the 10 Commandments given to Moses, and the two great commandments as Jesus summarized them. [Warren: When Moses (played by me) visits groups in CedarS Bible Lands Park, I often ask them to take Ten Pledges (Downloadable from BONUS, ROUND SUNDAY SCHOOLS TOOLS FROM “MOSES”). The PLEDGES are ways to apply the freeing spirit of the Ten Commandments as guidelines for what to say, do and think about most in order to be THE BEST VERSIONS OF OURSELVES.]
Also look up what Mary Baker Eddy says about God’s law and where it comes from.
[W. “God’s law is in three words, “I am All;” and this perfect law is ever present to rebuke any claim of another law.” (No & Yes 30:11–13. Mary Baker Eddy starts defining God as “The Great I Am,” based on Exodus 3:14 where God identifies Himself to Moses on Mount Sinai as “I Am that I Am.” Later when Moses returns with the Hebrew nation who he brought out from Egypt slavery into the wilderness, God gives him the 10 Commandments as a way to liberate them, not just from physical slavery, but also from mental slavery and all its heavy and unneeded baggage.]
Then, ask why loving this law [and freeing guidelines] brings great peace, and why it should be our delight.
PSSTs for the RESPONSIVE READING (RR):
How do your students recognize God’s goodness?
What does it look like to make a joyful noise, to see God’s beauty, to appreciate the goodness of God’s creation? [Ps. 98:4]
How can your students express their gratitude for God’s law on a daily basis?
Why is it important to do so? [“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily:” Isa. 58:8]
POSSIBLE SUNDAY SCHOOL TOPICS (PSSTs) for SECTION 1:
What is significant about Joseph’s role in the birth of Jesus? [cit. B3, Matt. 1:19]
What can we learn about his response to the announcement of Jesus’ birth?
How about Mary – what was her role in Jesus’ birth? [cit. B3, Matt. 1:19]
What can we learn about her approach to being in communion with God? How do their roles help to usher in the Christ idea to human consciousness?
What can we do throughout our week to express and reflect Joseph and Mary’s qualities [“that ushered Jesus into human presence … (to) be understood and demonstrated” ? (cit. SH5, 325:26)]
POSSIBLE SUNDAY SCHOOL TOPICS (PSSTs) for SECTION 2:
How is God’s law like a light? [“Is the wise man of to-day believed, when he beholds the light which heralds Christ’s eternal dawn and describes its effulgence?” (SH8, 95:23)]
How does God’s law act as a guiding light to students of Christian Science today?
Do your students ever doubt their connection to God, Soul?
Are they ever tempted to question the validity of their inspiration?
How does this section provide comfort and confidence?
POSSIBLE SUNDAY SCHOOL TOPICS (PSSTs) for SECTION 3:
What makes up the “good soil” (citation S12, 270:31-5) that leads to Christ Jesus’ natural healing activities?
How can we cultivate this soil in our own lives and in the lives of others?
What attributes must we develop in ourselves as students of Christian Science in order to demonstrate the law of Truth on a reliable, and scientific basis?
POSSIBLE SUNDAY SCHOOL TOPICS (PSSTs) for SECTION 4:
What evidence do we have that “Christian Science is the law of Truth”? [cit. S14, 482:27]
How do we know that we can rely on these laws in any situation?
What can your students do this week to demonstrate even the simplest element of God’s law?
Having done that, how can your students learn from and build on the confidence developed in early success?
POSSIBLE SUNDAY SCHOOL TOPICS (PSSTs) for SECTION 5:
What attributes of Christian Science are revealed in this section?
How does this section teach us to practice and grow in Christian Science?
What are the core principles/[facts] of Christian Science practice that this section presents? [cit. S25, 417:10-16]
Which principle is most clear or understandable to each of your students?
Encourage each of your students to identify a principle that they wish to work with to understand more deeply this week.
POSSIBLE SUNDAY SCHOOL TOPICS (PSSTs) for SECTION 6:
What is the foundation of Christ’s healing work? [cits. S27, 136:, & S29, 269:21-25]
What laws are at the core of our practice of Christian Science? [cit. S29, 269:21-25]
What is the outcome of standing on this foundation? [cit. S30, 506:10-12]
