Be a disciple! Learn to demonstrate the healing power of Truth!!

Be a disciple – learn to demonstrate the healing power of Truth!!!
Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Weekly Christian Science Bible Lesson on the subject of “Truth” for the week of July 20 – 26, 2009
Prepared by Janet Hegarty, C.S., of St. Louis, MO

Editor’s Note: The following application ideas for this week and the Possible Sunday School Topics that follow are offered primarily to help CEDARS campers and staff (as well as friends) see and demonstrate the great value of daily study and application of the Christian Science Bible lessons year-round, not just at camp! You can sign up to have them emailed to you free — in English by Monday each week, or by each Wednesday you can get a FREE TRANSLATION in French from Pascal or in Spanish from Ana. JUST SIGN UP at www.cedarscamps.org/newsletters

The disciples of Jesus were students of Truth. The word disciple comes from two Latin words, discipulus which means pupil and discere which means to learn. (American Heritage Dictionary) Jesus taught the disciples the truth of being through his spoken words many of which are recorded in the Bible and also by showing the disciples how an understanding and application of Truth brings healing. The disciples of Jesus learned to be healers themselves. They were regular people just like you are. They didn’t have any supernatural powers, but they did have a sincere desire to understand what was true about God and man. Once they understood what was true, they were very naturally able to be Christian healers by being a witness to the reality of this Truth in their lives and in the lives of others. Would you like to understand what is true about God and man and learn to be a healer? Mary Baker Eddy is convinced that you can do this. She says, “It is possible, – yea, it is the duty and privilege of every child, man, and woman, – to follow in some degree the example of the Master by the demonstration of Truth and Life, of health and holiness.” (Science and Health, 37:22) As you study the Lesson, pay particular attention to the Bible passages that mention Peter. Peter was an excellent student and a successful Christian healer. His example will encourage you and guide you as you learn about the Truth and about how to become a Christian healer yourself.

Golden Text: A natural desire to learn what is true and to live according to it. In the American Heritage Dictionary one definition of Truth is “that which is considered to be the supreme reality and to have the ultimate meaning and value of existence.” The words of the Psalmist in the Golden Text point out the essential need of mankind to know and to understand what is truly real. This is so important to mankind that great effort has gone into the search for Truth. Over the centuries mankind has searched and studied the world and all that it includes in great detail in order to define and understand Truth. Yet, the search continues and the answers that have surfaced through this study still have not satisfied the compelling desire of mankind to understand existence. It is interesting that the Psalmist didn’t look to the world around him to find Truth. He looked away from matter to Spirit to find his answers; and he was convinced that when he had learned the truth he would live according to it faithfully. Later in the lesson you will hear Peter, the apostle, express a similar thought. When some of the disciples turned away from following Jesus because they did not fully believe in him, Jesus asked if others would also leave. Peter’s response was, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” (B-9) This makes sense doesn’t it, once you understand what is really true it would be impossible to go back to your old way of thinking and agree again with those things that you have learned and proved to be untrue. About two thousand years ago Jesus said, “To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth.” (John 18:33) Let’s see what we can discover about the truth of being and then follow the example of Jesus by being a faithful witness to the truth.

Responsive Reading: Get off to a good start, find out the truth about God. If you had to work out a long word problem in math class and you made a mistake in your calculations at the beginning of the problem, even if you did everything right after that, your answer would still be wrong. In order to understand the truth of being we need to start by understanding the truth about God. If we misunderstand what God is we will never be able to know the truth about anything else. For example, if we think that God is anthropomorphic, in other words if we think God is like a human who is loving sometimes but is not loving at other times, we are making a mistake at the beginning of our reasoning and we will never reach the right conclusion. (S-4) God’s love is always perfect Love. To get off to a good start study the verses of the Responsive Reading to learn the truth about God. Make a list of what you learn about God and then check your thinking to be sure you’re not thinking about God as if God is a human.

Section 1: Jesus calls his disciples and teaches them how to be healers. When Jesus invited the disciples to follow him, he must have chosen the men he called because of their potential as healers. As Mary Baker Eddy explains healing was “first in the list of Christian duties” which Jesus taught. (S-3) We know more about the character of Peter than we know about the character of the other disciples because he was often the spokesperson for the disciples. His name also always comes first when the names of the twelve disciples are listed and as you will find in this lesson his words and actions are often recorded in the Bible. Peter was known to be earnest, courageous, vigorous, enthusiastic, and impetuous. (The New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible) Jesus rebuked Peter when Peter’s impetuosity caused him to cut off the soldier’s ear, but there are many more instances where Jesus expressed his appreciation of Peter’s character. Peter was earnest to understand the truth that Jesus taught and he vigorously held to the truth when casting out error. (S-4) Courage, earnestness, vigor, and enthusiasm are healing qualities. Can you think of other good qualities for healers to have? Be sure to love and appreciate these qualities when you see them in yourself and others – these are the qualities of future Christian healers.

Section 2: Be willing to accept new spiritual ideas and to act on them. About a year ago I traded in my old cell phone for a new phone. The new phone was made by a different company than the phone I had traded in. I started to use the new phone right away. Well, more accurately, I should say I tried to use the new phone right away– but after about a half-hour of pushing buttons and mumbling to myself I hadn’t managed to do much at all. I was pushing the buttons just like I used to on my old phone, but nothing worked the way I expected it to work. Then a call came in and I did just exactly what I was used to doing on that old phone, but it didn’t work and I missed the call. At that point I had to admit that if I was going to use the phone successfully I needed to be willing to learn how the new phone worked and to use it in a new way. Peter certainly didn’t waste any time clinging to old ideas and habits. That’s one of the characteristics that made him such a good student. As soon as he knew that the strange figure which they saw on the water was actually Jesus walking on the water, Peter willingly accepted this revolutionary new idea and then he acted on it with enthusiasm. He was also humble enough to know when he needed to ask for help and he didn’t let pride keep him from asking. (B-7) In your study of Christian Science, when you find a spiritual idea that is new to you, follow Peter’s example, accept the idea as Truth and find an opportunity to immediately put it into practice in your day.

Section 3: Gain understanding through practical demonstrations of Truth. Peter and the ten other disciples who stayed with Jesus through the end of his ministry understood what Jesus taught. (B-9) These disciples had put what he had taught them about divine Love to the test in their own lives. (S-13) They had proved to themselves that the truth Jesus taught was true through healing. This is “the way of God’s appointing.” Jesus healed the sick, cast out sin and raised the dead. Those who follow him will also heal the sick, cast out sin and raise the dead. (S-11) Truth has all power over error, Life has all power over death and good has all power over evil. (S-15) You can prove this. Don’t be afraid to try. You know that God is good and God is the only power. Throughout the day when a suggestion that something bad is happening comes to your thought, refuse to accept this suggestion. Remember good has all power over evil. Stand firm in the truth that God is good and is the only power. (S-13) Day by day you will see proof of the healing power of Truth in your own life. Then your understanding and conviction of the power of Truth will grow.

Section 4: Love for God and man inspires courage and obedience to God. After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the apostles were unstoppable. They had seen firsthand the supreme power of Truth. They knew without a doubt that being is spiritual, that matter and all supposed material laws are powerless illusions, and as a result of this they gave tangible proof of these facts through their healing ministries. They understood the infinite love of God for man and there wasn’t any imprisonment or threat or punishment that could keep them from making the perfect love of God evident to mankind through their lives. (B-13) Gamaliel, who spoke out in defense of the apostles work, was a respected member of the Jewish Sanhedrin, a Pharisee, and a teacher of the law. Paul had been one of his law students. (Westminster) When suggestions of evil or sickness tempt you, remember the unflagging courage and obedience of the apostles. You can vigorously, courageously, and persistently protest these powerless and false suggestions. Then you will see the allness of God’s love in action in your life and in the world.

Section 5: The healing truth is powerful and effective. Peter certainly had conviction! Faced with a supposedly incurable disease of eight years standing, he simply said, “Jesus Christ maketh thee whole: arise, and make thy bed.” (B-15) Aeneas responded immediately. He was certainly “teachable, ready to choose [Christ’s] way.” (Christian Science Hymnal #318) He must have been convinced of the truth that lay behind the words of Peter. He readily acted on the new spiritual ideas, with enthusiasm! In this section we can find some of the power and effective truths that gave Peter his conviction: “The power of God brings deliverance to the captive.” “No power can withstand divine Love.” (S-22) “Instruct the sick that they are not helpless victims…” “…Truth overcomes both disease and sin…” (S-23) “…the right understanding of Him [God] restores harmony.” (S-24) Let’s put these powerful and effective healing ideas to work.  Log on to The Christian Science Monitor website, www.csmonitor.com, then apply these powerful healing ideas to the challenges you find in the lead article. Your prayers will have a healing impact on the world!

Section 6: Love’s healing truth is available to everyone! The second verse of our Hymn 139 sums up the message of this section: “Who walks with Love along the way, Shall talk with Love and Love obey; God’s healing truth is free to all, Our Father answers every call.” The account of the conversion of Cornelius is very significant. (B-18) It is the first public account of the baptism of a Gentile. (Dummelow) Both Cornelius and Peter must have been walking closely with Love and talking deeply with Love in order to break through the time-honored barriers of traditional Jewish beliefs. The fact that they did overcome these barriers shows the great depth of sincerity with which each of these men labored to obey the directives of Love. The flexibility and enthusiasm of Peter to discern and act immediately on a right idea are also evident. [“Be sure that God directs your way; then, hasten to follow under every circumstance.” Misc. 117:31]  And the courage and humility of Cornelius are also very apparent. Let’s add these qualities to our list of qualities to nurture and appreciate in one another as we encourage the Christian healer in each of us – sincerity, flexibility, humility, and obedience. In this account we have seen what great things the sincere spiritual obedience of two men can accomplish. Imagine the immense good our collective sincere prayers will accomplish as we persist in our daily practice of the healing truth!!!

This weekly Metaphysical Newsletter is provided at no charge to the 1,200 campers and staff we are on track to bless again this summer at CEDARS–as well as to CEDARS alumni, families and friends who request it, or find it on our website. But, current and planned gifts are much-needed to help cover the costs of running this service and of providing camperships.
CLICK HERE RIGHT AWAY TO SUPPORT CEDARS WORK (and a Christian Science lecture here)! Please help us give our campers and counselors the tools to be “future active workers in the Christian Science Movement.” (CedarS 2nd Fundamental concept) In this and coming weeks, several thousand dollars are needed to underwrite special lectures at CedarS by member(s) of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship.
We continue to be thrilled and extremely grateful that some large, hoped-for FOUNDATION GRANTS came through on top of several small and large individual gifts, so that we have enough campership contributions to guarantee that any Christian Science Sunday School student who wants to come to CedarS this summer can do so. We still do have some openings for our 4th session (July 26-Aug. 8) and 5th session (Aug. 9-15) and for individuals of all ages at Family Camp and “Celebrate Marriage” weekend! Please encourage all the friends and C.S. Sunday School students you know to be touch about the possibilities of attending one of these life-changing and blessing sessions! It will also be VERY helpful to have help in covering transportation costs to get all dear ones to camp! Thanks for your donation (or your church’s) of transportation funds and for your gift of earned airline tickets or frequent flyer miles.
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Camp Director’s Note: This sharing is the latest in an ongoing, 8-year series of CedarS Bible Lesson “mets” (metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians. (To keep the flow of the practitioner’s ideas intact and to allow for more selective printing the “Possible Sunday School Topics” come in a subsequent email.) This weekly offering is intended to encourage further study and application of ideas in the lesson and to invigorate Sunday School participation by students and by the budding teachers on our staff. Originally sent JUST to my Sunday School students and 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, application 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. The thoughts presented are the inspiration of the moment and are offered to give a bit more dimension and background as well as new angles on the daily applicability of some of the ideas and passages being studied. The weekly Bible Lessons are copyrighted by the Christian Science Publishing Society and are printed in the Christian Science Quarterly as available at Christian Science Reading Rooms or online at eBibleLesson,com or myBibleLesson.com. The citations referenced (i.e. B-1 and S-28) from this week’s Bible Lesson in the “met” (metaphysical application ideas) are taken from the Bible (B-1 thru B-24) and the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. (S-1 thru S-30) The Bible and Science and Health are the ordained pastor of the Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Bible Lesson is the sermon read in Christian Science church services throughout the world. 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 the ideas helpful in your daily spiritual journey, in your deeper digging in the books and in closer bonding with your Comforter and Pastor.
Enjoy!
Warren Huff, Camp Director director@cedarscamps.org (636) 394-6162

PSST for Golden Text – Why would anyone want to be taught in God’s way? Do your students see the humility inherent in this cry? What is so attractive about God’s truth that King David would want to walk in it?

PSST for Responsive Reading (RR)- It appears pretty clear that there are two sides to the relationship between man and Truth. What roles does God fill in the revelation of Truth? What responsibilities does man have in the search for Truth?

PSST for Section 1 –
B3 – Essential to Jesus’ mission and ministry was the phenomenon of healing. How are your students healing in their daily lives? Do they see themselves as healers – as having “power against unclean spirits…”?

PSST for Section 2 –
B7 – What is it that allowed Peter to walk on the waves? How long did it take for Jesus to respond to Peter’s cry for help? What does this have to do with our daily experiences? How does this story teach us more about Truth?

PSST for Section 3 –
B9 – Ask your students the same question Peter asks in this citation – whether they like Christian Science or not, help them understand what their options are. Help them see clearly that they are not separate from the rest of the world in their concerns, troubles, issues, fears, etc…and that the teachings of Jesus afford the most practical and effective response to any troubles they could ever experience.

S24 – How do your students get the “right understanding of Him” that “restores harmony”? How do they get out of an “ignorance of God” that “produces apparent discord”?

PSST for Section 6 –
B17 – What does God look at to determine a good man? What are God’s standards of righteousness? Are they based on religion, creed, or a particular system of beliefs? What are God’s “eyes on”?

S30 – What is the victor? Who has access to it?

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Website: www.cedarscamps.org
Email: warren@cedarscamps.org Tel: (636) 394-6162