Be “In the Know” about Life!

[PSST: Be “In the Know” about Life!]
Possible Sunday School Topics by Merrill Boudreaux
for the Christian Science Bible Lesson: “Life” for January 20, 2013

P.S.S.T. – Golden Text – A key word in the Golden Text is know or expanded, knowledge.  How do you increase your knowledge of God and Christ Jesus?  What tools do you have to aid this increase in knowledge?  The Bible, Science and Health, the Daily Lesson Sermons…  Look to the question in the chapter Recapitulation on page 495: 25 in S&H:  How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?  The question and answer anchors the seeker of knowledge as a student.  As a student then, ask students to make a list of 3 -5 questions they have or things they would like to know that they might find answered in this lesson on Life.

P.S.S.T. – Responsive Reading – Ask students, what do you know after reading the Responsive Reading?  Ask them to complete the phrase:  life is _______.  They may immediately say eternal.  Probe further to see if you can get them to life is manifested.  How is life manifested in your experience, how do you bear witness to this manifestation?  What record does the Bible bear of life manifested?  Example:  the age of Noah when he built the ark.

P.S.S.T. – Section 1 – What do you want to know about life eternal?  What question did the lawyer ask?  What was Jesus’ reply?  (B4)  In the chapter, Recapitulation, in S&H, [Mrs.] Eddy uses a teaching methodology of questions and answers.  Help students explore the questions and answers in that chapter.  Let them also know that this chapter is the basis for class instruction in Christian Science [and discuss what that is].

P.S.S.T. – Section 2 –   If you lived during the period of Jesus’ time on earth, how might you have knowledge of him?  As Jesus is no longer present on the earth, how can you have knowledge of him?  What else that relates to Jesus do we have with us?  The Christ.  How can you best prepare to be aware of, or acknowledge the Christ with us – right now?  See the definition of Christ in the Glossary of S&H, 583:10.  Look to citation S11 for a statement as to how we can know God manifest with us today.  What does the word worship mean?  Do we only do it in church?

P.S.S.T. – Section 3 – Would you gladly receive Jesus if he returned?  Why?  What about the Christ?  Do you gladly receive the evidence of God with us every day, every moment?  How can we perceive the presence of the Christ?  (S13)  What is the result when we apply the knowledge of the Christ?  (S14)  Do you wish to choose ignorance of God and its result or the knowledge or understanding of God and its result?  (S15)

P.S.S.T. – Section 4 – How does the knowledge of God make you strong, and not just physically strong?  Perhaps morally strong, compassionately strong, strong in wisdom, in art, in listening.  Can you feel it?  (S19)  What gives you power and strength?  (S20)  What did Peter and John do with their power and strength in citation B16?  What did the man do with his power and strength?

P.S.S.T. – Section 5 – Which knowledge do you wish: the knowledge of conformity or the knowledge of transformation?  (B17)  What blessings are you called upon to inherit in citation B19?  The knowledge of God and of mankind as the result of God delivers what?  (S22)  Is this a fable or a fact?  What does the knowledge of God bring to you in citations S23, S24, S25?  This is where the receptivity of the Christ opens thought, aids knowledge to be ready for the forever blessing.

P.S.S.T. – Section 6 –The greatest knowledge that Jesus left us is the new commandment in John 13: 34 and in citation S26.  What does your knowledge of the love for God and man allow you to accomplish?  (S&H 454: 17-24)  Not only is that a life worth living, but is life itself.  So ask yourself the question in citation S29 [“Am I living the life that approaches the supreme good?… “].  May eternal life, full of fruitful blessings, be upon you.  Ask students to write out a blessing on mankind based on their increased knowledge after studying this lesson.