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[Give loving attention to the strong demands of Love!]
CedarS Metaphysical (Met) Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on “Love” for the week of July 25-31, 2011
CedarS Metaphysical (Met) Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on “Love” for the week of July 25-31, 2011
by John Biggs, CS (541.316.0809, johnbiggscs@gmail.com) of Bend, Oregon
[bracketed italic additions by Warren Huff, CedarS Camps Director and Met Editor.]
[Editor's Note: The following application ideas for this week, and the Possible Sunday School Topics that will 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 thanks to Pascal, in German thanks to Helga or in Spanish thanks to a team of Ana, Erick, Claudia and Patricio. YOU CAN SIGN UP at www.cedarscamps.org/newsletters]
Who doesn't love Love?! The most enriching conversations often revolve around sharing what we love; we feel most connected to those we love; we all yearn to know more about who, how, and what we love. In this week's Christian Science Bible Lesson, we'll be learning more about how divine Love is an unwavering, ever-present foundation, pathway, and even Life itself!
Golden Text: Let's start on the right foot.
This is where we get to start: God loves you–and your neighbor, and your roommate, and your boss, and the person you haven't met yet just down the street. How about the people in Syria, or the folks in your government (all of them!), or those kids who hang out on the street corner in your downtown? Yep, them too. I love Hymns 144 and 145, which include the line, “In atmosphere of Love divine, we live and move and breathe.” We are all in this atmosphere and it has nothing to do with hometown, political stripes, [global position,] education, or gender. What does living in Love look like? This week, let's practice putting our trust in God's love. Some of the fruits of what this would look like are illustrated in the Responsive Reading.
Responsive Reading (RR): Live, Move and Breathe the “Atmosphere of Love”
Have you ever given yourself the gift of really considering how much God loves you? Don't even try to quantify it; just allow yourself to sink into it. As I write this CedarS “met”, I'm overlooking a beautiful lake in the Pennsylvania mountains, having just completed a week of serving as a practitioner at Crystal Lake Camps. One of the fun things about lakes is that when you're swimming, floating and playing in the lake, you're simply loving the water and the sun and just being very present in the joy of the moment. Standing on the shore of the lake, you peacefully let yourself enjoy the scenery and the reflections. You remember that joy is a present fact, and not something that needs quantifying and that it isn't something you could ever run out of. I'm really grateful to get to head to Adventure Unlimited, in Colorado, and to finish off my camp summer at CedarS — all of which (along with the other Christian Science camps which I look forward to visiting another time!) have beautiful lakes on or near camp property, as well as many smiling faces and joyful, committed staff. Joy, love, peace, and adventure are present at each of these camps – and even better, attending these camps gives one such a deep sense of the EVER-presence of Love. These camps are too full of Love for that Love to be anything but unlimited. No matter where we go, since “our Father loves us, for He calls us His children,” we can see the fruits of this foundational Love. [RR, 1 John 3:1, New Living Translation] Let's love each other – let's not be afraid – let's love God. There is no power that could ever block us from knowing divine Love.
[In the “Present Order of Services” in the Church Manual Mrs. Eddy specified that the “correlative scripture according the 1 John 3:1-3” be read right before the Benediction in every Sunday service. (Manual 120-121) According to the New Living Translation here is the rest of the “correlative scripture” not in this week's RR: “1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know him. 2 Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.”]
[In the “Present Order of Services” in the Church Manual Mrs. Eddy specified that the “correlative scripture according the 1 John 3:1-3” be read right before the Benediction in every Sunday service. (Manual 120-121) According to the New Living Translation here is the rest of the “correlative scripture” not in this week's RR: “1 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know him. 2 Dear friends, we are already God's children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.”]
Section 1: Love is calm
Citation B1 is such a beautiful way to start this lesson. I especially appreciate where it says, “He will rest in His love…” As I walk around and visit the various activities at the camps I'm at this summer, it's such a joy to see how the peace of Love is apparent. Returning to our image of those camp lakes, the lake doesn't have to go through some process before the trees and smiling faces can be reflected on the lake surface. God doesn't have to run around, trying to prove Her love for Her ideas. God IS Love, and this is naturally and immediately expressed in Her ideas [or reflection. There is nothing more rested, stress-free or humble than a reflection.] Therefore, we also don't have to rush around trying to frantically prove our love. Let's just live Love. As we practice trusting Love, let's remember to rest in this identification. Let's love the freedom suggested in citation S2 – no need to “figure out” the “precise form of God” – let's live as the [reflections and] representatives of divine Love, Mind. Throughout this lesson, Love is paralleled with Mind and intelligence. This isn't to say that Love should be humanly intellectualized, but is rather an encouragement to accept the fact that we do truly know we're loved, and this fact cannot be hidden from us. I love the definition of God in citation S3. “All-knowing” is the second attribute listed! Knowing all, God loves all; that means that anything unlovable isn't known of God and is unreal. Cherish that you are lovable. You don't have to try to prove it to folks or make folks love you – Mind knows that all Her ideas are lovable. Rest in this omniscient Love!
Section 2: One Love
Citation B4 is a great reminder whenever we have a laundry list of things to do and commitments to fulfill. One of the challenges I have often heard from many people is that there's just too much to do for there to be time to read the Bible Lesson, or to even really pray at all. What if we replaced the common paradigm of a day being chopped up into little sections, such as pray in the morning, eat, rush, work, pray, have fun, go to sleep? What if we wiped all that out and replaced it with “Love God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might”? Our lesson reading would be joyous – our commute would be an opportunity to unite with God's ideas in productivity – our activities with campers, friends, family or even strangers would be free and confident in our understanding of Love as the guide. Shall we practice that this week? [See some of the ways that Mrs. Eddy suggests to “give legs to our love” in this met's final quote from “Love”, Misc. 249-250] In citation B5 we have a reference to being God's witnesses. In a court case, the witnesses don't try to win the case all by themselves. They just share what they know to be true. Can we go through each day sharing only and acting based only on what we know to be true? In citation S4 we have a beautiful reminder of who we are as the loved of Love – we are included in Love. These sentences about Love being the only self-existence remind me that we're not a bunch of little separate consciousnesses, riding around in spaceships made of matter until we finally discover how to reunite with our Father-Mother. We ARE the ideas of God and any other suggestion is irrelevant illusion. Love the firmness of these sentences; it's a real mark of love that there is no gray area here! Not sure how to arrive at this destination of Love? Start with Love (S5) and where do you think you'll end up?!
Section 3: Ideas of Love are all united
Love DOES rule all (B9)! This isn't up for debate. When we're building a house or planning a project, we want to know that the basis of that project is founded on a rock, because then naturally the project will follow that order and safety. Citation B10 reminds us that we should honestly consider that God is All, and work confidently from that standpoint. Since we are so loved (B11, S8) we should never fear that the responsibility for our project lies in our personal hands. “Divine Love…causes them to multiply, – to manifest His power.” Divine Love impels harmony from Her very nature. This naturally includes our health, employment, and relationships. The very fact that we are God's ideas means we ARE guided, and this guidance includes only joyful, fulfilling opportunities. For all our years growing up, while my brother and I certainly did play together and spend many happy hours together, there was also a very strong-seeming undercurrent of inharmony, which resulted in many random outbreaks of arguments, fights, and dislike. We finally had our “breakthrough” when we quit trying so hard to follow some pre-imagined script and just allowed ourselves to relax in each other's company, and to simply see what the other had to share. Today my brother is one of my best friends and I'm so grateful that this brotherhood and friendship does not rely on either one of us, but is rather the omnipotent impulsion of Love, being expressed. Unity is the natural state of the ideas of Love.
Section 4: Love is for everyone
Love sees all. (B12) Love knows everything about you, and guess what? Love still loves you. [We feel the most happy and at-home when and where we feel fully-known and fully-loved. Campers and visitors feel so at-home at CedarS because we strive to fully know and fully love them spiritually.] Divine Love sees nothing unlike itself, and Love sees all. The story in citation B14 is a lovely illustration of the naturalness of Love. Even when the nobleman seemed to doubt that Jesus could heal without being present at his son's side, this doubt did not prevent the power of Love. Could any decision ever remove us from Love? No. Citation S15 reminds us of the gentle, ever-present efficacy of Love, expressed in grace and supply. Any satisfaction or fulfillment we could ever want is actually already present. Mary Baker Eddy's hymn “Satisfied” closes with the line “Who doth His will – His likeness still – is satisfied.” This seems to me to be the living of grace. As the representative or likeness of God, we are naturally full and satisfied, healthy and serene. Citation S16 tells of the natural purity and simplicity of good. Satisfaction and all-inclusiveness are the natural outcome of one infinite God, good. And this will never change! (S17)
Section 5: Love the natural goodness of yourself
Could you start your day with the song of joy included in citation B16? Think of it as a commitment: “I WILL praise THEE!” You are wonderfully made; let's trust the fact that you are the idea of Love and thus include all of Love's qualities. Citation B18 reminds us that nothing is left out of the redeeming, purifying and healing joy of love. Nothing can keep us from the healing of Love, and Love leaves “no stone unturned”. Nothing is outside of the healing province of Love. Citation B19 tells us again of the importance of knowledge and intelligence when considering Love; as the idea of Love, could we contain or know anything opposed to Love? Let's love goodness. Anytime you see anything good around you, love it and express gratitude to God for this gift. Being at summer camp is certainly an easy way to see goodness all around, but rather than camp being the one place where we feel surrounded by good, let's commit to discovering that same wonder and love everywhere. God loves you too much to only show you His love during a session at camp; all the joy and adventure you experience at camp is present [to appreciate and “love into view”] at home, at Sunday School, at school, in the workplace and in church. I certainly am grateful for all the opportunities camp affords to see the unbreakable law of Love; let's love that this is the law forever, everywhere! Citation S22 reminds us that the desire to recognize good, in healing of any kind, is not about asking God to change Her sick or unhappy idea into a happier idea. Let's change our focus to see what God already made. Any other focus is essentially asking God to do more; but He is infinite Love! He did a perfect job when He thought of you – and He is always thinking of you. Let's commit to seeing this always complete and treasured work of God at camp, at home, in the morning and at night – every place you go. [“CedarS Around the Clock” delivers this precious message in 46 camp songs for $25 that all goes to camperships! An order form is available online at: http://blog.cedarscamps.org/ ] And isn't it great that citation S23 brings back the theme of intelligence again; we cannot be kept from knowing the presence of Love.
Section 6: Founded on a rock
We are already established in Love. (B20) This section is a glorious review of the forever presence of divine Love. If you think that you, personally, are the cause of a bad day OR a good day (or that someone else is), step back. God establishes us in every good word and work, and loves us so much that there's no possibility of a bad word or work holding any power or even any existence. Let's commit to believing the love that God has for us! (B21) If you tell someone you love them, you want them to know you mean it, right? You want them to trust you and believe you and your loving words and actions. Practice giving yourself the gift of fully trusting God's love. Nothing can keep you from this peace and glory. The citations from Science and Health certainly speak to the grandeur of Love. In Miscellany 158:9-10 we read, “We live in an age of Love's divine adventure to be All-in-all.” Let's love the majesty of this adventure! [-and fulfill its demands* and its promise!] Safe and loved at-home and abroad, at camp and at church, on the roads and in the air, Love will never ever let you go; and [by giving loving attention to that fact and loving and living it into view*,] you will never forget it!
*[Let's embrace and fulfill Mrs. Eddy's “strong demands on love” as she outlines on her Miscellaneous Writings article, “Love” (249-250) article:: “I make strong demands on love, call for active witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements as its results. Unless these appear, I cast aside the word as a sham and counterfeit, having no ring of the true metal. Love cannot be a mere abstraction, or goodness without activity and power. As a human quality, the glorious significance of affection is more than words: it is the tender, unselfish deed done in secret; the silent, ceaseless prayer; the self-forgetful heart that overflows; the veiled form stealing on an errand of mercy, out of a side door; the little feet tripping along the sidewalk; the gentle hand opening the door that turns toward want and woe, sickness and sorrow, and thus lighting the dark places of earth.” (250:16) “Let there be light”; this week and beyond –give legs to your love to be that light of Love!]
*[Let's embrace and fulfill Mrs. Eddy's “strong demands on love” as she outlines on her Miscellaneous Writings article, “Love” (249-250) article:: “I make strong demands on love, call for active witnesses to prove it, and noble sacrifices and grand achievements as its results. Unless these appear, I cast aside the word as a sham and counterfeit, having no ring of the true metal. Love cannot be a mere abstraction, or goodness without activity and power. As a human quality, the glorious significance of affection is more than words: it is the tender, unselfish deed done in secret; the silent, ceaseless prayer; the self-forgetful heart that overflows; the veiled form stealing on an errand of mercy, out of a side door; the little feet tripping along the sidewalk; the gentle hand opening the door that turns toward want and woe, sickness and sorrow, and thus lighting the dark places of earth.” (250:16) “Let there be light”; this week and beyond –give legs to your love to be that light of Love!]
[If you have been grateful for any of CedarS weekly inspirational emails, this would be a wonderful time to share your appreciation in the form of a gift–as generous as divine Love directs-in support of our work. Remember that CEDARS weekly “Mets” or Metaphysical Newsletters, Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) and Possible Younger Class Lessons (PYCLs) are all provided at no charge to the 1,200 campers and staff blessed each summer at CEDARS–as well as to thousands of CEDARS alumni, families, Sunday School teachers and friends who weekly find these “Mets”, PSSTs and PYCLs on our website or through CS Directory. CedarS most significant recurring needs are spelled out at http://www.cedarscamps.org/giving/unrestricted-gifts.htm . Just click here to use a credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover card) or a virtual check to make monthly or one-time donations to CedarS' in support of spiritual growth. International supporters can give to CedarS via PayPal using built-in currency exchange rates by filling in an amount under International Donors and clicking on the “Donate Online” button.
Please also help us fulfill our mission by telling every “un-camped” family you know about CedarS! We have a few bunks left for campers in one-week 5th session–plus a couple of cabins and air-conditioned bedrooms with attached baths left for Family Campers, 50th Jubilee celebrants and Bible conferees. We'll gladly send anyone a DVD and info to help get them to camp – including more on: CedarS financial aid forms; programs for all ages; session dates & rates; online enrollment; transportation….]
[Camp Director's Note: This sharing is the latest in an ongoing, 11-year series of CedarS Bible Lesson “Mets” (Metaphysical application ideas) contributed weekly by a rotation of CedarS Resident Practitioners and occasionally by other metaphysicians. (Ask and look for “Possible Sunday School Topics “and “Possible Younger Class Lessons” in subsequent emails.) These weekly offerings are 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 “and Sunday School idea 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 (and angels) 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, Executive Director director@cedarscamps.org]
[PSST: Share the infinite Love that IS enough! (S29)]
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on
“Love” for study during the week of July 25-31, 2011
by Tom Evans, St. Louis, MO trej85@gmail.com
[bracketed italics by Warren Huff, Director of CedarS Camps, “your home away from home.”]
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on
“Love” for study during the week of July 25-31, 2011
by Tom Evans, St. Louis, MO trej85@gmail.com
[bracketed italics by Warren Huff, Director of CedarS Camps, “your home away from home.”]
PSST Golden Text:
How do we know if God lives in us?
How do we know if God lives in us?
PSST Responsive Reading:
Why is 1 John 3 so familiar to Christian Scientists? (It is the “correlative scripture” to the Scientific Statement of Being at the end of Sunday Church services.) Do your students know this? “As we live in God, our love grows more perfect” (1 John 3:17). Give examples of living in God and love growing more perfect. Use experiences in your life or examples from others.
Why is 1 John 3 so familiar to Christian Scientists? (It is the “correlative scripture” to the Scientific Statement of Being at the end of Sunday Church services.) Do your students know this? “As we live in God, our love grows more perfect” (1 John 3:17). Give examples of living in God and love growing more perfect. Use experiences in your life or examples from others.
PSST Section 1:
Section 1 is all about defining God. God is not material. Exodus 3:14 reports God telling Moses that God's name is “I AM THAT I AM.” When you make a statement beginning with “I am”, who are you talking about? As Mrs. Eddy says in citation S2 “No form nor physical combination is adequate to represent infinite Love.” Talk about what God is exactly. Where do the synonyms fit in? What about the concept of divine Love? How does this relate back to 1 John 3? Afterwards have your students define what God is or simply describe God. “God is Love” is actually a quote from 1 John. It's not something Christian Scientists made up. What does it really mean to be “Love”? What are examples of this? In other churches, you will find “God is Love” written on the wall, but you will also find the concept that “God is wrathful.” How can we say with confidence that God is only “Love”? Think about the definition of God in the Glossary (S3). Do your students agree? What examples from your / their personal experience verify this definition? [Think about how awesome it is that God is “the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise,…” I have found it helpful whenever booting up a computer to affirm that no computer or lesser intelligence can take the place of our omnipresent God that simultaneously sees and does all perfectly, “coordinating far-flung events with divine precision.” (a snippet from one of Arnold Exo's lectures I was told)]
Section 1 is all about defining God. God is not material. Exodus 3:14 reports God telling Moses that God's name is “I AM THAT I AM.” When you make a statement beginning with “I am”, who are you talking about? As Mrs. Eddy says in citation S2 “No form nor physical combination is adequate to represent infinite Love.” Talk about what God is exactly. Where do the synonyms fit in? What about the concept of divine Love? How does this relate back to 1 John 3? Afterwards have your students define what God is or simply describe God. “God is Love” is actually a quote from 1 John. It's not something Christian Scientists made up. What does it really mean to be “Love”? What are examples of this? In other churches, you will find “God is Love” written on the wall, but you will also find the concept that “God is wrathful.” How can we say with confidence that God is only “Love”? Think about the definition of God in the Glossary (S3). Do your students agree? What examples from your / their personal experience verify this definition? [Think about how awesome it is that God is “the all-knowing, all-seeing, all-acting, all-wise,…” I have found it helpful whenever booting up a computer to affirm that no computer or lesser intelligence can take the place of our omnipresent God that simultaneously sees and does all perfectly, “coordinating far-flung events with divine precision.” (a snippet from one of Arnold Exo's lectures I was told)]
PSST Section 2:
This section might be summarized as understanding God spiritually, not materially. Why is it such a big deal for Moses (Deuteronomy), Isaiah, David, and Samuel to have one God? Citation B7 even says “O God, my heart is fixed.” Is this your experience? Is this too lofty of a goal? Can you / have you been “fixed” on God despite other temptations? Citation S6 says that Christian Science calls God the “All-in-all.” How does this help you? Read citation S7. Where do you stand? How did you think of God when you fell off of your bike? How about when you stubbed your toe last week? Use examples from your students' experience. How did you pray about it? Was it, “God I'm hurt, fix my problems!” or “God, help me to see that I'm whole right now.” Why might one be more effective than another? How can you make sure that you understand God?
This section might be summarized as understanding God spiritually, not materially. Why is it such a big deal for Moses (Deuteronomy), Isaiah, David, and Samuel to have one God? Citation B7 even says “O God, my heart is fixed.” Is this your experience? Is this too lofty of a goal? Can you / have you been “fixed” on God despite other temptations? Citation S6 says that Christian Science calls God the “All-in-all.” How does this help you? Read citation S7. Where do you stand? How did you think of God when you fell off of your bike? How about when you stubbed your toe last week? Use examples from your students' experience. How did you pray about it? Was it, “God I'm hurt, fix my problems!” or “God, help me to see that I'm whole right now.” Why might one be more effective than another? How can you make sure that you understand God?
PSST Section 3:
This section could be summed up as God's greatness. The writers of Deuteronomy measured the greatness of Israel by its closeness to God. Wow! How do you measure your own greatness? How close do you feel to God? What is God's pleasure? (B11) Mrs. Eddy writes that “there is no power apart from God” (S9). What do you think about this? Do you agree? How do you only see God's power around you, especially when it seems like there are other “evil forces” at work? Relate this back to citation B10 and your closeness to God. Does your class follow the logic of “one Father” and its implications on humanity in citation S10? How many times do you see the greatness of God or the power of divine Love mentioned? The section ends with the statement, “No power can withstand divine Love” (S13). This is very similar to citation S9. Again, do you agree? Give an example of divine Love being the only power.
This section could be summed up as God's greatness. The writers of Deuteronomy measured the greatness of Israel by its closeness to God. Wow! How do you measure your own greatness? How close do you feel to God? What is God's pleasure? (B11) Mrs. Eddy writes that “there is no power apart from God” (S9). What do you think about this? Do you agree? How do you only see God's power around you, especially when it seems like there are other “evil forces” at work? Relate this back to citation B10 and your closeness to God. Does your class follow the logic of “one Father” and its implications on humanity in citation S10? How many times do you see the greatness of God or the power of divine Love mentioned? The section ends with the statement, “No power can withstand divine Love” (S13). This is very similar to citation S9. Again, do you agree? Give an example of divine Love being the only power.
PSST Section 4:
This section focuses on faith and humanity's role in following God's direction. Think about this from the three different perspectives included in the Bible citations of this section: B12 David (900 BCE) as king knowing that God guides wherever he goes; B13 Isaiah (540 or so BCE) welcoming Israel back from the captivity in Babylon and reminding them of the importance of following God; B14 Jesus (33 CE or so) healing someone who is not even present. Jesus faced doubt from people (S16). What does our faith look like? (Try citation S20) If we are going to “mentally contradict every complaint…” we first have to trust that God really is All-in-all (like section 3). Older classes can see how one section builds on the ideas of another. Also, if we don't really think God is all, then we are just using positive thinking and our mental contradictions are based on nothing. If the principle is not in place (we don't trust or understand God) then why even attempt to heal? How can the selections from Psalms (B12) and Isaiah (B13) in this section be a description of what Jesus was thinking when he healed the nobleman's child?
[Click here to order the camp song “Whither” with words from citation B12 (Ps. 139:7). It's sung by Erin Williams who assembled the 3-CD set, “CedarS Around the Clock” as a fund-raiser to benefit CedarS 50th Jubilee Campership fund.]
This section focuses on faith and humanity's role in following God's direction. Think about this from the three different perspectives included in the Bible citations of this section: B12 David (900 BCE) as king knowing that God guides wherever he goes; B13 Isaiah (540 or so BCE) welcoming Israel back from the captivity in Babylon and reminding them of the importance of following God; B14 Jesus (33 CE or so) healing someone who is not even present. Jesus faced doubt from people (S16). What does our faith look like? (Try citation S20) If we are going to “mentally contradict every complaint…” we first have to trust that God really is All-in-all (like section 3). Older classes can see how one section builds on the ideas of another. Also, if we don't really think God is all, then we are just using positive thinking and our mental contradictions are based on nothing. If the principle is not in place (we don't trust or understand God) then why even attempt to heal? How can the selections from Psalms (B12) and Isaiah (B13) in this section be a description of what Jesus was thinking when he healed the nobleman's child?
[Click here to order the camp song “Whither” with words from citation B12 (Ps. 139:7). It's sung by Erin Williams who assembled the 3-CD set, “CedarS Around the Clock” as a fund-raiser to benefit CedarS 50th Jubilee Campership fund.]
PSST Section 5:
This section elaborates more on the power of divine love over material limitations and suggestions. Look at the event in Matthew 9 (B18) where Jesus heals a paralyzed man. How do the other Bible citations from II Samuel, Psalms, Jude, and Philippians help to explain what Jesus was praying? Why did the Bible Lesson Committee choose to define God again in this section? (S23 “Intelligence….God”) What does intelligence have to do with Love? Can you connect the healing incident with citation S24? You may wish to relate this understanding of God with citation S7: “This human sense of Deity” vs. “God and man as the infinite Principle and infinite idea…”
This section elaborates more on the power of divine love over material limitations and suggestions. Look at the event in Matthew 9 (B18) where Jesus heals a paralyzed man. How do the other Bible citations from II Samuel, Psalms, Jude, and Philippians help to explain what Jesus was praying? Why did the Bible Lesson Committee choose to define God again in this section? (S23 “Intelligence….God”) What does intelligence have to do with Love? Can you connect the healing incident with citation S24? You may wish to relate this understanding of God with citation S7: “This human sense of Deity” vs. “God and man as the infinite Principle and infinite idea…”
PSST Section 6:
How does God establish us “in every good word and work”? (B20) There are many connections to 1 John in this lesson. If you have a chance, read the book of 1 John to get a better sense of it before Sunday School. In section 5 (S24), Mrs. Eddy talks about healing stopping around 300 CE. 1 John was written well after Jesus' death, maybe 100 CE or so. This writer was doing his best to document the truth–the LOVE, which was understood and applied by the earliest Christians. The final two citations from Science and Health can really broaden your students' understanding of Love. Talk them over. What do they think? What does “enough” mean? Define it. When you say that you have enough, what are you saying? Think about this in the context of citation S29. Give an example of “enough” Love. What does that look like?
How does God establish us “in every good word and work”? (B20) There are many connections to 1 John in this lesson. If you have a chance, read the book of 1 John to get a better sense of it before Sunday School. In section 5 (S24), Mrs. Eddy talks about healing stopping around 300 CE. 1 John was written well after Jesus' death, maybe 100 CE or so. This writer was doing his best to document the truth–the LOVE, which was understood and applied by the earliest Christians. The final two citations from Science and Health can really broaden your students' understanding of Love. Talk them over. What do they think? What does “enough” mean? Define it. When you say that you have enough, what are you saying? Think about this in the context of citation S29. Give an example of “enough” Love. What does that look like?
[PYCLs: Review synonyms by songs, crates, board games…]
Possible Younger Class Lesson ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on
“Love” for July 31, 2011
by Kerry Jenkins, CS, House Springs, MO kerry.helen.jenkins@gmail.com (314) 406-0041
[bracketed italics by Warren Huff, Director of CedarS Camps, “home away from home.”]
Possible Younger Class Lesson ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on
“Love” for July 31, 2011
by Kerry Jenkins, CS, House Springs, MO kerry.helen.jenkins@gmail.com (314) 406-0041
[bracketed italics by Warren Huff, Director of CedarS Camps, “home away from home.”]
PCYL– Review synonyms and their layout in the lesson subjects:
It's important to give the kids perspective on these weekly lessons; do they notice that these lessons recently are a series of synonyms? Why did Mrs. Eddy choose them? Why did she “leave one out”? You can emphasize, if they don't come out with it themselves, that the synonyms are not only Bible-based, but are ways that we can understand and know God better. Why do we (should we) want to know God? Sharing healings here is a great way to illustrate the practical reasons why we want to know God. Ultimately it is so that we can heal like Jesus! What does knowing/loving God “do” for us? It makes us happier to understand the nature of reality, of Good and it makes us happier to bless others, which is the result of knowing God.
[To illustrate how the same God can be described by so many different words and have so many names you might ask the students if they have more than one name; like a middle name, last name, nickname, name of endearment … You might want to tell them that if you were to blindfold them and were able to place an elephant in between them for them to feel and describe; one would tell about its truck, another about its tail, another about its ear… And everyone would be right. So, it is with the correct description in synonymous terms of different aspects of one and the selfsame God.]
It's important to give the kids perspective on these weekly lessons; do they notice that these lessons recently are a series of synonyms? Why did Mrs. Eddy choose them? Why did she “leave one out”? You can emphasize, if they don't come out with it themselves, that the synonyms are not only Bible-based, but are ways that we can understand and know God better. Why do we (should we) want to know God? Sharing healings here is a great way to illustrate the practical reasons why we want to know God. Ultimately it is so that we can heal like Jesus! What does knowing/loving God “do” for us? It makes us happier to understand the nature of reality, of Good and it makes us happier to bless others, which is the result of knowing God.
[To illustrate how the same God can be described by so many different words and have so many names you might ask the students if they have more than one name; like a middle name, last name, nickname, name of endearment … You might want to tell them that if you were to blindfold them and were able to place an elephant in between them for them to feel and describe; one would tell about its truck, another about its tail, another about its ear… And everyone would be right. So, it is with the correct description in synonymous terms of different aspects of one and the selfsame God.]
PYCL– What/who is God?
What answers do they have other than synonyms? If they give synonyms then ask them to elaborate-give examples of what they mean. The great “I AM” story is any excellent jumping off point for discussing the identity of God. This is one example of how God defines Himself. What does that mean for us? How should we use the word “I”? The littlest ones might enjoy some “post-it” stickers with “I Am…” (happy, kind, obedient, constructive (I've been talking with my four-year-old today about the difference between “constructive and destructive” after he proudly showed me a big chunk of our front stone wall that he pounded into rubble “all by himself” with a shop hammer), and so on.)
What answers do they have other than synonyms? If they give synonyms then ask them to elaborate-give examples of what they mean. The great “I AM” story is any excellent jumping off point for discussing the identity of God. This is one example of how God defines Himself. What does that mean for us? How should we use the word “I”? The littlest ones might enjoy some “post-it” stickers with “I Am…” (happy, kind, obedient, constructive (I've been talking with my four-year-old today about the difference between “constructive and destructive” after he proudly showed me a big chunk of our front stone wall that he pounded into rubble “all by himself” with a shop hammer), and so on.)
PYCL– A song.
There's a wonderful camp song that goes: “Love is something if you give it away, give it away, give away. Love is something if you give it away, you end up getting more. Love is something like a magic penny; hold it tight and you won't have any! Lend it, spend it, and you'll have so many, they roll all over the floor!” Many of you will know a tune to it. You can ask around and see if someone can teach it. Or, you can always make up a simple tune if you are so inclined. [Or to but it online from iTunes go to iTunes (Song 5) or from CedarS go online for an order form for the CedarS version of it for $25 as sung by Erin Williams who put together “CedarS Around the Clock”, a 3-CD compilation of camp songs, as a CedarS 50th Jubilee benefit to fund camperships. Other camp songs in this weeks lesson include “Whither” (iTunes song 27) with words from citation B12 (Ps. 139:7) and one simply called “Love” (iTunes song #29).]] Most kids in our area know at least the first half of the “Majic Penny” song, but I learned the whole thing as a child and love the image and did as a kid too. I even remember thinking of it as a guiding idea to being loving.
There's a wonderful camp song that goes: “Love is something if you give it away, give it away, give away. Love is something if you give it away, you end up getting more. Love is something like a magic penny; hold it tight and you won't have any! Lend it, spend it, and you'll have so many, they roll all over the floor!” Many of you will know a tune to it. You can ask around and see if someone can teach it. Or, you can always make up a simple tune if you are so inclined. [Or to but it online from iTunes go to iTunes (Song 5) or from CedarS go online for an order form for the CedarS version of it for $25 as sung by Erin Williams who put together “CedarS Around the Clock”, a 3-CD compilation of camp songs, as a CedarS 50th Jubilee benefit to fund camperships. Other camp songs in this weeks lesson include “Whither” (iTunes song 27) with words from citation B12 (Ps. 139:7) and one simply called “Love” (iTunes song #29).]] Most kids in our area know at least the first half of the “Majic Penny” song, but I learned the whole thing as a child and love the image and did as a kid too. I even remember thinking of it as a guiding idea to being loving.
PYCL– Revealing Love [“rising higher and higher from a boundless basis”S&H 258:14]
We see this lesson revealing more of God to us. As we follow the first great commandment we see more revealed. [If you have a sturdy box or a plastic “milk crate” you could show your students that the crate(s), like the commandments might be seen as restrictive, boxing one in. However, when turned upside down, and stood upon, the crate(s) or Commandment(s) can be seen as a way to rise higher and see more.] Citation B6 tells us that God is active in our experience-opening, raising, loving, preserving, and relieving! Can you “see”, “touch”, Love? Do you doubt its existence? And notice citation B7 attempting to describe with words, the infinite nature of God-Love.
We see this lesson revealing more of God to us. As we follow the first great commandment we see more revealed. [If you have a sturdy box or a plastic “milk crate” you could show your students that the crate(s), like the commandments might be seen as restrictive, boxing one in. However, when turned upside down, and stood upon, the crate(s) or Commandment(s) can be seen as a way to rise higher and see more.] Citation B6 tells us that God is active in our experience-opening, raising, loving, preserving, and relieving! Can you “see”, “touch”, Love? Do you doubt its existence? And notice citation B7 attempting to describe with words, the infinite nature of God-Love.
PYCL– Stepping stones:
“The starting point of divine Science” discussed in citation S5 is that “God, Spirit, is All-in-all…” We made a board game once that began with this quote as a “starting point” for the game. We can try a series of stepping stones to dig into this idea more deeply. This could vary according to the age group you have. The idea is that for the youngest children it gives them something physical to do while they learn [to reinforce the idea]. You could make a series of “stepping stones” out of cardboard [or carpet scraps] or something like that. This might be slippery if they are jumping from one to the next so think about ways to make them less so. (Duct tape, rubberized mats, yoga mats underneath, something like that?) They could be placed in the shape of a heart on the floor to represent this week's lesson or just a circle; either way, they would be symbolic of the infinite nature of Love. The stepping stones could simply have the synonyms on them and the littlest ones could say their names as they hop or jump from one to the next. Older children could add qualities to fill it out such as: honesty, kindness, joy, vitality, creativity, integrity and so on, linking one synonym to the next. If you wish to complicate it, you can do dead ends that go “into” a wall with things that don't belong to God's nature. If they are old enough, when they land on a synonym, they can talk about what that synonym means to them.
“The starting point of divine Science” discussed in citation S5 is that “God, Spirit, is All-in-all…” We made a board game once that began with this quote as a “starting point” for the game. We can try a series of stepping stones to dig into this idea more deeply. This could vary according to the age group you have. The idea is that for the youngest children it gives them something physical to do while they learn [to reinforce the idea]. You could make a series of “stepping stones” out of cardboard [or carpet scraps] or something like that. This might be slippery if they are jumping from one to the next so think about ways to make them less so. (Duct tape, rubberized mats, yoga mats underneath, something like that?) They could be placed in the shape of a heart on the floor to represent this week's lesson or just a circle; either way, they would be symbolic of the infinite nature of Love. The stepping stones could simply have the synonyms on them and the littlest ones could say their names as they hop or jump from one to the next. Older children could add qualities to fill it out such as: honesty, kindness, joy, vitality, creativity, integrity and so on, linking one synonym to the next. If you wish to complicate it, you can do dead ends that go “into” a wall with things that don't belong to God's nature. If they are old enough, when they land on a synonym, they can talk about what that synonym means to them.
PYCL– A few extra points:
I like the idea of breaking down citation S10. What does the brotherhood of man consist of? It consists in essence, of God! It does not consist of “blood”, similar interests, religion, location, politics, etc.
I like the idea of breaking down citation S10. What does the brotherhood of man consist of? It consists in essence, of God! It does not consist of “blood”, similar interests, religion, location, politics, etc.
Citation B12 illustrates citation B14, the idea of healing without being “present”. Most kids will be familiar with this as Christian Scientists, but sometimes it's good to point out that God's presence is everywhere, making healing natural from anywhere at all!
Citation S22 might make a good discussion point. I think it's easy to forget that God doesn't provide us with “more” good when we pray for it!
Have a great Sunday!
