[PSST: Discuss how YOU can become as a child & enter heaven!]
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for
the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson:
“Mortals and Immortals”
for May 10-16, 2021
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, C.S.
pegasus6524@gmail.com • 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text — Hear God’s voice, see God’s face, be satisfied!
Begin the conversation with students about the Golden Text (Ps.17:6,15) by sharing examples of how they have communicated with God or examples from the scriptures where individuals have spoken to or heard God’s voice.
Think about this idea— if you look into your brother’s/sister’s face, how have you seen God?
Read together Hymn 108 from the Christian Science Hymnal (words printed here):
Hymn 108
Here, O my Lord, I’d see Thee face to face; Here would I touch and handle things unseen; Here grasp with firmer hand th’ eternal grace, And all my weariness upon Thee lean.
Here would I feed upon the bread of God; Here drink anew the royal wine of heaven; Here would I lay aside each earthly load, Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.
And as we rise, the symbols disappear; The feast, though not the love, is past and gone; The bread and wine remove, but Thou art here, Nearer than ever, still my shield and sun.
Feast after feast thus comes and passes by; Yet passing, points to the glad feast above, Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy, The Lamb’s great bridal feast of bliss and love.
P.S.S.T. Responsive Reading — Role-play having a talk with God.
Read together the scripture story in the Responsive Reading (Ps. 27:8; Genesis 32:24-30). How is this story like having a conversation with God?
This is also a good role-play opportunity.
P.S.S.T. Section 1 – Explore lessons for us today as learned by Jonah
How important is stillness and listening when communicating with God?
How important is it to act when you have heard God’s direction? Think about the story of Jonah and his actions in Jonah, Chapter 1. See also citation S4 in Science & Health, p.182:12, “It is impossible to work from two standpoints.”
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – When God looks on you, does She smile?
You are pleasant to behold. Especially when observing your qualities of the second degree and rapidly to the third degree as outlined in citation S7, SH 115:25-5.
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – Apply God’s messages meant especially for YOU!
Read citation B10 (Isaiah 43). What are some key words/phrases directly from God to you?
- Fear not
- I have redeemed you
- I have called you by your name
- You are mine
- I will be with you
- I will make a way for you – (a way out of “no way!”)
Read together citation S15 (SH 428:19,26) as a further commitment from God to communicate with you, to guide you.
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – How can YOU strengthen “feeble flutterings?”
If we desire to “fathom the nature and quality of God’s creation” (cit. S16, SH 262:7-16,24), what must we do? What might we consider to be feeble flutterings? How do we strengthen these feeble flutterings? Begin from a higher standpoint than looking to matter as able to communicate anything to us of the nature of God and of our nature as created by God, Good. (This citation offers a bounce-back resilience discussion example in CedarS GEMs.)
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – How can YOU become as a child & enter heaven?
How did Jesus showcase a little child as emblematic of how to enter the kingdom of heaven? Citation B12 (Matthew 18:2-5,10)
Read together in Science & Health 323:32, “Willingness to become as a little child and to leave the old for the new, renders thought receptive of the advanced idea.”
P.S.S.T. Section 6 – Hear God whispering “You are my beloved child…”
What was Jesus teaching with the healing of the man with leprosy in cit. B14 (Luke 5:12,13)? See what Mary Baker Eddy shares in cit. S24 (SH 426:16-19). How are we to behold each other, even the vast diversity among humankind? What is it that we have in common? What is it that unites us? What does God see when She beholds us?
Part of cit. S26 (SH 370:2,18-20) states: “… we must forsake the mortal sense of things, turn from the lie of false belief to Truth, and gather the facts of being from the divine Mind.”
God is even now whispering to YOU, “You are my beloved child in whom I am well pleased.” (Matt. 3:17)
P.S.S.T. Section 7–How could you look like an angel to those near you?
What is the blessing to be found in Numbers 6:24-26 (cit. B15)?
Stephen in cit. B16 (Acts 6:8-10,15) was one of the youngest followers of Jesus Christ. Stephen was so filled with Christ’s spirit – how did his face appear to those who looked on him?
Would that be said of each of us?
