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P.S.S.T.– Rejoice; you are subject to the divine “powers that be.”
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson:
“Is the Universe, Including Man, Evolved by Atomic Force?”
for December 12-18, 2022
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, C.S., for CedarS Camps
pegasus6524@gmail.com • 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT)/Isaiah 55:12: “You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills, the trees of the field—all the world around you—will rejoice.” (The Living Bible)
What a powerful promise and affirming statement is the Golden Text! When the daily news seems filled with problems, disasters, wars, famine, cruelty, we can anchor ourselves in this promise. We do it, not just as wishful thinking but with assurance that our Creator knew what He was doing and is daily aware of us and how we relate to each other. Why? Because our Creator knows what we are made of and that we are made for goodness.
Begin by asking students to share one thing about which they rejoice. Now think about the fact that the mountains, hills, trees, and the world around us rejoice for each of us. Why? Because they too know of what stuff we are made.
Consider for a moment that you are in a forest, or a field of flowers, or in a fruit orchard, or on a mountaintop… How might you feel, what might you see, what might you hear? How is all of this just a hint of the majesty of our Creator.
Remember, you are made of God-stuff, of Good-stuff, and so is everyone else. Now let’s all clap our hands.
Responsive Reading (RR)/Isa.55:10,11,13; Isa.65:19,23; Isa.11:6,9.
What in the Responsive Reading are specifics for prayer treatment about issues our world seems to be facing?
- Rain and snow coming down to water the earth, to end droughts, to fill our rivers and reservoirs
- Plants bringing forth buds and fruit to end hunger and sufficient to feed all
- The word of God, the truth of our being, is permanent and ever available to all to prosper all, to end poverty
- Permanency of trees fit for man’s being well, no snags to trap a man, but providing freedom, showing we are never cut off, removed, or prohibited from being in the presence of our Creator
- Weeping, anger, hurt feelings, suspicion of others, crying desperation cease as we see all dwell together in harmony
- We are led by a little child, child-like care, comfort, purity, innocence. See the spiritual definition of “children” in Science & Health (SH) 582:28-29.
The demand and command is included in the RR/Isa.11:9, “They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain…” You are capable of knowing this.
P.S.S.T. Section 1 – Read together citation B2/Jeremiah 29:11, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
What God, our Creator, is thinking comes to pass. What God is thinking about you is what is so.
What is God thinking about you? Thoughts of peace, not evil, giving you an expected end, and an expected present life, right now. See how you are currently blessed as stated in cit. B3/Jer.17:7,8.
What a powerful statement is cit. S1/SH 519:3, “Deity was satisfied with His work.” Who or what is the work of God? You are God’s work, His handiwork. God did not make junk, never made a mistake. This is significant!
Read together cit. S6/SH 264:13. Not only do you never need another consciousness, but there is no other consciousness but the One Mind, your mind, your consciousness.
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – There is a good role-play exercise in cit. B6/Exodus 3:1-5. Role play Moses, the angel, the burning bush, God.
Moses had to open thought to be inspired. It begs the question: How often do we miss things, do we miss occasions to be inspired? Let us make a commitment to be inspired at lease once each day. See how Christian Science can help in cit. S12/SH 264:28.
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – Here is another role-play opportunity.
Role play: the angel Gabriel, Mary, Mary’s cousin Elisabeth. Imagine what a holy and inspired time is included in this story. As students prepare for the role play, ask them to think deeply about these characters and how they might feel in the same circumstance.
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – Did these two previous role-play examples occur accidentally? Or were they part of God’s plan for Her creation? Are you part of God’s plan? If so, what has God planned for you? Read together again Jeremiah 29:11 (from Section 1). This is God’s plan for you.
If you are feeling dark or stormy, or a storm is brewing or raging around you, where is your help to come from? See a possible answer in Hymn 148 from the Christian Science Hymnal (words printed here).
Hymn 148
In heavenly Love abiding, No change my heart shall fear; And safe is such confiding, For nothing changes here. The storm may roar without me, My heart may low be laid; But God is round about me, And can I be dismayed?
Wherever He may guide me, No want shall turn me back; My Shepherd is beside me, And nothing can I lack. His wisdom ever waketh, His sight is never dim; He knows the way He taketh, And I will walk with Him.
Green pastures are before me, Which yet I have not seen; Bright skies will soon be o’er me, Where darkest clouds have been. My hope I cannot measure, My path in life is free; My Father has my treasure, And He will walk with me.
How do you know that you abide in heavenly love? How did Moses, Mary, Elisabeth, Christ Jesus – in the bible stories reviewed in this lesson – know that? Are you willing to embrace the freedom that comes from heavenly love? Read together cit. S25/SH 271:26-30.
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – Are you willing to open your eyes to a world created by Spirit, not by an atomic force? If so, look to this section to reveal what you can see:
- A holy city (including your town or community)
- God wiping away your tears or the tears of any person who is in pain
- You are blessed of your God
- Your whole world is filled with the glory of God
Take heart that our Creator uses only good stuff to make you, and a place for you.
Read together citaeion S31/SH 249:6-10: “Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy. Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine ‘powers that be.’ Such is the true Science of being.”
Rejoice; you are subject to the divine “powers that be.” These powers are spiritual, not atomic. Matter does not enter at all.
