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Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) & Hymns to Uplift Them and All!
for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson:
“Spirit”
for January 30-February 5, 2023
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, C.S., for CedarS Camps
pegasus6524@gmail.com • 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT)/Galatians 6:8: “…if you plant in the field of the Spirit, from the Spirit you will gather the harvest of eternal life.” (Good News Translation in Today’s English Version, 2nd edition)
Where are your feet firmly planted, in Spirit or in matter? That is, where is your understanding, where is your striving to learn more, where is your commitment to grow? What do your students know about gardening or farming, about planting, fertilizing, harvesting? This lesson will be a good focus to recommit to the things of Spirit. You might begin by reviewing the “Scientific Statement of Being” in Science & Health 468:8-15.
Responsive Reading (RR)/II Thessalonians 2:13,15; Isaiah 40:10-13 & 42:5,8.
What is Paul’s guidance to the Thessalonians in II Thess.2:15?
What is an epistle? Another word for the letters that Paul wrote to the churches that he helped form, when he was traveling away from them.
Do your students know the names of the churches Paul helped form?
Where can they find these names?
P.S.S.T. Section 1 – Paul’s guidance to the churches is: be led by Spirit in all decisions, in how to be “in community” with each other. See citation B4/Gal.4:6,7, for an example of such guidance. To acknowledge that we are the sons of God, that God hath sent the Spirit to us, we are heirs of God.
What is an heir? What have you inherited? Mary Baker Eddy continues this guidance in the Science & Health portion of this section.
Ask students to state what guidance they read from this section —
- The starting point
- How to begin
- How to worship God
- To what should we consecrate existence (What does consecrate mean? – perhaps commit, dedicate, pay attention to…)
- Spirit and God are not separate; why?
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – How was the prophet Elijah sustained (fed) while he followed Spirit’s direction? See also cit.S9/SH 507:3-6. We are fed, clothed, appearance expressed by the fatherhood/motherhood of God.
What are some qualities you think of when you think of father and mother?
Do you realize that you give evidence of the existence of God, Spirit?
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – What is the prayer found in citation B8/Proverbs 8:1,20,21?
Read together Hymn 90 from the Christian Science Hymnal for a further prayer (words printed here):
Hymn 90 (& 488)
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah, Pilgrim through this barren land: I am Thine, and Thou art mighty, Hold me with Thy powerful hand. Bread of heaven! Bread of heaven! Feed me now and evermore.
Open is the crystal fountain, Whence the healing waters flow; And the fiery cloudy pillar Leads me all my journey through. Strong Deliverer! Strong Deliverer! Still Thou art my strength and shield.
It is Spirit that leads, guides, imparts, unfolds, uplifts, as stated in cit.S14/SH 505:16-17,22. How do we know if we are making progress toward our desired goals? What are some benchmarks? Better listening, more willingness to serve, an improvement in learning, growth in humility.
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – Read together cit. S19/SH 63:5, to see more clearly a statement of your true nature. Why is this so? It is because of Spirit, as stated in cit.S20/SH 513:17.
Ask students to recall some Bible characters who were protected when led by Spirit:
- Moses at the burning bush, Exodus 3:3
- Paul and the viper, Acts 28:3
- Peter in prison, Acts 12
- Jonah, Jonah 1
- John on Patmos, Revelation 1:9
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – Here is another prayer that may be of help as you consider being led by Spirit. Read together citations B20/Psalm 143:1,8,10 and B21/Psalm 73:26.
This might be a good opportunity to review the disciples at Pentecost in Acts 2. Imagine what it must have been like to be in that room, or one of the individuals hearing the disciples speak in their own language.
Read together Hymns 30 and 276 from the Christian Science Hymnal (words printed here):
Hymn 30 (& 31, 32, 452, 453, 454, 455, 456)
Brood o’er us with Thy shelt’ring wing, ‘Neath which our spirits blend Like brother birds, that soar and sing, And on the same branch bend. The arrow that doth wound the dove Darts not from those who watch and love.
If thou the bending reed wouldst break By thought or word unkind, Pray that his spirit you partake, Who loved and healed mankind: Seek holy thoughts and heavenly strain, That make men one in love remain.
Learn, too, that wisdom’s rod is given For faith to kiss, and know; That greetings glorious from high heaven, Whence joys supernal flow, Come from that Love, divinely near, Which chastens pride and earth-born fear,
Through God, who gave that word of might Which swelled creation’s lay: “Let there be light, and there was light.” What chased the clouds away? ‘Twas Love whose finger traced aloud A bow of promise on the cloud.
Thou to whose power our hope we give, Free us from human strife. Fed by Thy love divine we live, For Love alone is Life; And life most sweet, as heart to heart Speaks kindly when we meet and part.
Hymn 276 (& 277)
Peace be to this congregation; Peace to every heart therein; Peace, the earnest of salvation; Peace, the fruit of conquered sin; Peace, that speaks the heavenly Giver; Peace, to worldly minds unknown; Peace, that floweth as a river From th’ eternal source alone.
O Thou God of peace, be near us, Fix within our hearts Thy home; With Thy bright appearing cheer us, In Thy blessed freedom come. Come with all Thy revelations, Truth which we so long have sought; Come with Thy deep consolations, Peace of God which passeth thought.
P.S.S.T. Section 6 – Ask and answer the question posed in cit.B24/Psalm 139:7,9,10. Read together Hymn 317 from the Christian Science Hymnal (words printed here):
Hymn 317
Still, still with Thee when purple morning breaketh, When the bird waketh, and the shadows flee, Fairer than morning, lovelier than the daylight, Dawns the sweet consciousness, I am with Thee.
Alone with Thee, amid the changing shadows, Solemn the hush of nature, newly born; Alone with Thee, in breathless adoration, In the calm dew and freshness of the morn.
So shall it ever be in the bright morning, When hearts awaking see the shadows flee, O, in that hour, and fairer than the dawning, Rises the glorious thought, I am with Thee.
Who is it that is still with you (and with whom you still are)? Spirit or matter? See an answer in cit.S30/SH 266:27.
You are Spirit’s idea, so walk with Spirit, talk with Spirit, live in Spirit.
