PSST: Even though God doesn’t play favorites,
you’re always favored by divine Love’s ever presence.
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs)for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson:
“Doctrine of Atonement”
for April 10-16, 2023
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, C.S., for CedarS Camps
pegasus6524@gmail.com • 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT)/Romans 2:11: “…God does not show favoritism.”
Because God is All-in-all, all are included as the loved of Love with inalienable rights. See Science & Health 106:7-9, “God has endowed man with inalienable rights, among which are self-government, reason, and conscience.” Let’s look to this Lesson to celebrate the rights divinely bestowed on each of us.
Responsive Reading (RR)/Galatians 3:28; Acts 10:34-38,43; Acts 11:1,17,18,21
How does Paul state that all are endowed with these rights (Galatians 3:28)?
Read together Hymn 135 from the Christian Science Hymnal (words printed here).
Hymn 135
I know no life divided, O Lord of life, from Thee; In Thee is life provided For all mankind and me: I know no death, O Father, Because I live in Thee; Thy life it is that frees us From death eternally.
I fear no tribulation, Since, whatsoe’er it be, It makes no separation between my Lord and me: Since Thou, my God and Father, Dost claim me as Thine own, I richly shall inherit All good, from Thee alone.
How would you summarize the message in this hymn? Perhaps, we are not separated from God, from each other; don’t be afraid for God has provided for each of us. Let us emphasize: No separation.
P.S.S.T. Section 1 – How can we be enemies, one from another? Can we be strangers, foreigners, if we are in the household of God? Think about when you travel or meet someone for the first time – how do you assess whether they are friendly, someone you’d like to get to know? When you look into their face what do you see? What do you desire that they see when they look at you?
Read together Hymn 196 from the Christian Science Hymnal (words printed here).
Hymn 196
Now is the time approaching, By prophets long foretold, When all shall dwell together, One Shepherd and one fold. Now Jew and Gentile, meeting From many a distant shore, Around one altar kneeling, One common Lord adore.
Let all that now divides us Remove and pass away, Like shadows of the morning Before the blaze of day. Let all that now unites us More sweet and lasting prove, A closer bond of union, In a blest land of love.
Perhaps students can share experiences from encountering someone for the first time, maybe from another country or town or school.
Read together citation S2/Science & Health 19:6.
What do you consider the law of Love to be?
Maybe John put it wisely in John 13:34,35,
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
Mary Baker Eddy states in citation S4/467:9-10, “It should be thoroughly understood that all men have one Mind, one God and Father, one Life, Truth, and Love.”
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – Here is a question for each one –
Do you align yourself with someone who causes divisions, or with someone who is a unifier?
Do you judge by personality, or do you seek to see what is in the heart of another?
Read together citation S11/451:2.
What does it mean to you to be Christian? Are those of other religious beliefs to be included in your definition of what it means to be Christian?
Remember, divine rights are bestowed on each one of us. Why?
There is only one God, one First Cause, and each of us is a reflection of that First Cause.
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – What is a prayer that seeks to be open to all that God has decreed for that which God created? See citation B14/Psalm 51:10,15,16.
What do you suppose are some inalienable rights bestowed on man?
Sin, sickness, slavery, wrath, suffering? OR, blessings, everlasting peace, humility, gratitude, love?
Are these rights exclusive to you, or are all included?
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – How did Jesus show compassion and love to the ten men who were lepers in citation B19/Luke 17:11-16?
How about us, how do we show compassion and love?
Read together citation S21/4:3-5, “What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds.” This is a good definition of grace.
What are some variations on the word “grace”?
Gracious, graceful. Perhaps students can share experiences where someone has expressed grace toward them.
Remember, grace is also an inalienable right.
Both giving and receiving.
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – Jesus is often referred to as the good shepherd. What do you think characteristics of a good shepherd might be?
Read together citation B22/John 10 for some ideas.
Do you wish to emulate those shepherding qualities?
Read together Mary Baker Eddy’s poem “Feed My Sheep” as stated in the Christian Science Hymnal 304-309 & 573-576 (printed here):
Feed My Sheep
Shepherd, show me how to go O’er the hillside steep,
How to gather, how to sow,— How to feed Thy sheep;
I will listen for Thy voice, Lest my footsteps stray;
I will follow and rejoice All the rugged way.
Thou wilt bind the stubborn will, Wound the callous breast,
Make self-righteousness be still, Break earth’s stupid rest.
Strangers on a barren shore, Lab’ring long and lone,
We would enter by the door, And Thou know’st Thine own;
So, when day grows dark and cold, Tear or triumph harms,
Lead Thy lambkins to the fold, Take them in Thine arms;
Feed the hungry, heal the heart, Till the morning’s beam;
White as wool, ere they depart, Shepherd, wash them clean.
At the heart of this prayer is, “I and my Father are one” (cit. S23/315:3). Oneness is an inalienable right.
What does likeness imply? Original and a reflection. Think for a moment that everyone you encounter is reflection.
Read together Science & Health 476:32-5:
“Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God’s own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick. Thus Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is intact, universal, and that man is pure and holy.”
P.S.S.T. Section 6 – Being a follower of Jesus Christ is an inalienable right. See citation B24/Ephesians 5:1,2.
We read in citation S27/54:8-13, “Who is ready to follow his teaching and example?” Jesus was a follower of God, and so can we be.
P.S.S.T. Section 7 – Read together citation S30/361:16-18, “As a drop of water is one with the ocean, a ray of light one with the sun, even so God and man, Father and son, are one in being.”
Read together Hymn 157 from the Christian Science Hymnal (printed here). This is a wonderful summary for this Lesson and another statement of your inalienable rights.
Hymn 157
Jesus’ prayer for all his brethren: Father, that they may be one,
Echoes down through all the ages, Nor prayed he for these alone But for all, that through all time God’s will be done.
One the Mind and Life of all things, For we live in God alone;
One the Love whose ever-presence Blesses all and injures none.
Safe within this Love we find all being one.
Day by day the understanding Of our oneness shall increase,
Till among all men and nations Warfare shall forever cease,
So God’s children all shall dwell in joy and peace.
