(Editor’s Note: The following background information and application ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson for this week are offered primarily to help CedarS campers and staff see and demonstrate the great value of daily study of the C.S. Bible lessons year-round, not just at camp. If more information or the text of this Lesson is desired, please see the Director’s Note at the end. The citations referenced in the “met” (metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the King James Version of the Bible and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. These two books are the ordained pastor of Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world. Other reference books are fully noted at the end.)
Realize your spirituality and kick out mortal mind’s deceitful lies of separation!
Application Ideas for the Bible lesson on “SOUL” for February 7-13, 2005
by Corde Hanzlik, C.S. (Austin, TX)
The Soul Lesson is often focused on demonstrating our awareness of God through our spiritual sense and senses. It is not surprising then, that for many, this seems a difficult or elusive Lesson. Mortal mind doesn’t want us to know God! So this week is our special opportunity to realize our spirituality and kick out mortal mind’s deceitful lies of separation.
The Golden Text in this week’s Lesson on Soul tells us of the nearness of God as it repeats the covenant, His guarantee of good for us. The Responsive Reading indicates that even in a worst-case scenario, total destruction to Jerusalem, houses, life, God will restores all to peace and order. The biblical Jews didn’t live in areas where the different peoples got along. (They still don’t today.) In fact there was almost constant warfare. Still, the promise of God’s care for them stood firm. It seems that we are constantly having challenges of every sort. As we pray through them and trust God completely, giving up our own idea as to how things should work, we have our peace. He does it right!!! Every time!!!
Section 1 Covenant, Covenant, Covenant – One God, One man
We have the ‘if, then’ idea expressed. “If ye walk…, then I will” (B3) The rest of the Bible citations remind us of all that God has done and is doing for us. What is our part of the contract? “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God” a little bit? No, “with all thine heart, with all they soul, and with all thy might.” (B4) Mrs. Eddy refers to this verse in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures as a command! As the El Dorado – the best, highest, holiest! (S&H 4) S&H 5 should be our incentive for commitment to the divine covenant.
Section 2 Uh oh! In trouble again.
The Children of Israel have a hard time getting this covenant thing straight. The Midianites were the bad guys, but Gideon is chosen to teach the Israelites their repentance lesson. Thank heavens there were/are prophets! The Lord did remind the Children of Israel,”I am the Lord your God”. (B 6:10) Are we sometimes like Gideon in asking, “If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us?” (B6:13) The Lord cut to the answer – it doesn’t make any difference as to “why”, the point is, I’ll prove to you again who I am.” (Through you, Gideon)
In the Science and Health we read the definition of Children of Israel. Sound familiar. Might it be our description as well? (S&H 6) We have the keynote of the Soul Lessons, “Spiritual sense is a conscious, constant capacity to understand God. ” (S&H 9) Hurrah that we have our ‘escape’ promise as we “forever developing, broadening and rising higher, … enlarged and perfected”! (S&H 10)
Section 3 Gideon saves the day!
Gideon was a good witness to the prophecy that he heard about himself. It is interesting that the dream didn’t go directly to Gideon (the barley cake), but finally was told to him. Do we listen to friends who have a vision of some issue that we need to pay attention to? Some way to work things out?
The Children of Israel trusted in the army of Gideon rather than in the power of God. Read Judges 7:1-12 to find out the solution to his over-powerful army. So Gideon’s reduced army( 300), without weapons – unless you call trumpets, pitchers, and lamps weapons of mass destruction, attacked, the enemy ran away! (Gideon was very obedient. You could imagine him saying to the Lord, ” Yeah, right, pitchers and trumpets?”) At last, peace!
What is our mission? Oooo, key word, unselfishly. (S&H 11) Then we have our dominion. In all of the military training that Gideon received, he probably did not have a course on how to use pitchers. Do you think? No. It took spiritual vision. (S&H 13 and 14) There is only one law, God’s and His Science. (S&H 15)
Section 4 Permanent fashion! Real beauty.
Piercing was an “in” thing back in Bible times too! But, we have the warning to put it all off. It’s not what counts! Clothes do not make the man, or woman. We have the “beauty of the Lord our God”. (B13)
Matter doesn’t prove who and what we are. (S&H 16) Neither does “Custom, education, and fashion”. So, let’s cook up a storm with the recipe that Mrs. Eddy gives us! (S&H 18) See how she instructs us to “look away” then “hold”. (S&H 19)
Section 5 Is there enough good for everyone? All mankind?
Not only is there enough, but there is abundant satisfaction for all.
Why? Because “Soul has infinite resources”! (S&H 20) What is our real identity? Notice that nothing is said about a physical appearance. Take apart the sinless joy sentence. (S&H 23) It boils down to “Joy constitutes man.” How often does mortal mind try to fool us on this quality? In the last citation, what is the time frame that Truth imposes on us for change? “At length”! (S&H 24) We’ve got to make the exchange sometime. Guess we should get on with it! Go for the joys of Soul!
Section 6 Jesus shares Soul
Aren’t we, like the man sick of the palsy, sick of whatever issues plague us? Jesus tells us too, “Be of good cheer! You are forgiven!” Of course the scribes didn’t like that attitude. It was a theological issue with them. Aren’t most problems we have theologically based – more than one God, false teaching of creation? We have Genesis one! One perfect God, one perfect man, with dominion.
Jesus knew the Law. He practiced the Law. (S&H 25) We can and do too! (S&H 26) It is God’s government. (S&H 27,29) God is the healer. (B24) Right theology – no separation! (S&H 28) Our thought-awakening is reflection! We are governed by Soul! (S&H 29)
Camp Director’s Note: The above sharing is the latest in a long series of CedarS Bible Lesson “mets” (metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians. This document is intended to initiate further study as well as to encourage the application of ideas found in the Weekly Bible Lessons as printed in the Christian Science Quarterly and as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms.* Originally sent JUST to campers, staff and CedarS families who wanted to continue at home and in their home Sunday Schools the same type of focused Lesson study and inspiration they had felt at camp, CedarS lesson “mets” are in no way meant to be definitive or conclusive or in any way a substitute for daily study of the lesson in the books. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit more dimension, background and daily applicability to some of the ideas and passages being studied. The Lesson-Sermon speaks individually through the Christ to everyone, providing unique insights and tailor-made applications for each one. We are glad you requested this metaphysical sharing and hope that you find some of these ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.)
