Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson:
“MATTER”
for March 14-20, 2022
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, C.S.
pegasus6524@gmail.com • 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT)/Jeremiah 23:29 – “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the Lord; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?”
After reading together the Golden Text, read also Hebrews 4:12:
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Since the word of God is so powerful, ask students to share how they would define and identify the “word of God.”
Where can the word of God be found? Where can it be heard?
How do students practice stillness and listening?
Share an example of when the disciples of Jesus Christ heard this word on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2:2. What was the result in Acts 2:4? How were their lives changed from that day forward? – so powerful was the word of God!
P.S.S.T. Responsive Reading/Jer. 10:2-1; God “fills heaven and earth” Jer.23:24
Can you also hear, receive, the word of God? What is required of you to do so? If God “fills heaven and earth” (see last verse of Responsive Reading), then agree that the word of God is all around.
Ask students to consider inspiration as evidence of the word ever available.
Have students ever been inspired to act, to do a thing, to take a first step, even though the whole way wasn’t clear, because the KNEW it was the right and best thing to do? Think about the following examples from the scriptures:
- Moses turning aside to see the burning bush [Exodus 3:1-3]
- Moses getting water from a rock [Exodus 17:5,6]
- Jesus healed the Nobleman’s son from a distance [John 4:46-53]
Students may choose to add other examples.
P.S.S.T. Section 1–How did examples just shared of inspiration acted on occur? Were they miracles? Or, the natural result of God with us, ever present, always available, meeting every need? See this statement in Science & Health vii:20, “Though empires fall, ‘the Lord shall reign forever.’”
The word of God shall reign forever, for ever be with us. How can we best cultivate hearing this word? See Isaiah 30:21, “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Note that it says “and” — when you turn to the right AND to the left. So, nothing is left out, nothing is left to chance. Be assured.
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – What can you be assured of? That you do have wisdom, you do have understanding. Spirit, not matter, is your guide. (See citation B6/Job 28:12,23. Why? Because “…we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God” (cit. B7/I Cor.2:12).
See another big example of the word of God at work in Daniel’s life in the scripture story in citation B8/Daniel 2. A whole nation was blessed because of Daniel’s listening. Read together citation S11/SH 84:11-18.
What events in our world at present can benefit from your listening for and to the word of God, that will impact the “universal welfare”?
Read together Hymn 251 from the Christian Science Hymnal (printed here):
Hymn 251, 252
O Word of God, most holy, O wisdom from on high, O Truth, unchanged, unchanging, O light of earth’s dark sky,
We bless Thee for the radiance That from the hallowed page, A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age.
O Word of God the Father, Thou art the gift divine, And still thy light is lifted, O’er all the lands to shine.
It is the chart and compass To guide us to our Lord; It is the heaven-drawn picture Of Christ, the living Word.
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – Like Mary Baker Eddy and Bible characters, we too can apply the word of God to our personal and world needs. Be assured that according to citation B9/Acts 2:21, “…it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Like Lazarus in John 11:43, like Elijah in I Kings 19:11-12, and like Paul in Acts 28:3-5, these results were not based on speculative theories or material law (see citation S18/SH 209:25). On what shall we base our decisions – astrology, advertising, popularity, those with seeming power? No. See what the gospels say: Matthew 7:7, Luke 11:9. See also a personal example shared by Mary Baker Eddy in Retrospection & Introspection 13:18-24:
“My mother, as she bathed my burning temples, bade me lean on God’s love, which would give me rest, if I went to Him in prayer, as I was wont to do, seeking His guidance. I prayed; and a soft glow of ineffable joy came over me. The fever was gone, and I rose and dressed myself, in a normal condition of health. Mother saw this, and was glad. The physician marvelled;…”
Like Mary Baker Eddy and the gospel characters, we too can apply the word of God to our personal and world needs. See your aid in SH 4:3-5,
“What we most need is the prayer of fervent desire for growth in grace, expressed in patience, meekness, love, and good deeds.”
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – Expect proofs of the word of “God with us.”
Another phrase for word of God might be “law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus” (citation B11/Romans 8:2), which frees from the law of sin and death. What is this law of the Christ? See Science & Health 583:10 for the spiritual definition of Christ, “CHRIST. The divine manifestation of God, which comes to the flesh to destroy incarnate error.”
What does the word “manifest” mean? Perhaps, presence, be seen or active, ever available… In other words, “God with us.”
See a statement from Christ Jesus in Matthew 17:20, “…nothing shall be impossible unto you.”
What mountain, or formidable challenge, do you have to overcome? Agree to put it on the altar and listen for the word of God to provide the truth that alters the situation. Be confident in this statement from Science & Health (cit. S24/SH 326:12),
“We must forsake the foundation of material systems, however time-honored, if we would gain the Christ as our only Saviour. Not partially, but fully, the great healer of mortal mind is the healer of the body.”
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – A nice summation here is “Fear not”.
Though “The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted”; and, “Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth” (cit. B16/Psalms 46:6,10; S26/SH 97).
It doesn’t matter what matter throws at us – tyrants, climate change, aggravation, political or social polarization – the word of God stands ready as our aid to defend ourselves and our world to defeat a supposed foe.
Read together Hymn 258 from the Christian Science Hymnal (printed here):
Hymn 258
Oft to every man and nation Comes the moment to decide, In the strife of Truth with falsehood, For the good or evil side.
A great cause, God’s new Messiah, Shows to each the bloom or blight, So can choice be made by all men Twixt the darkness and the light.
New occasions teach new duties, Time makes ancient creeds uncouth; They must upward still and onward Who would keep abreast of Truth,
And serenely down the future See the thought of men incline To the side of perfect justice And to God’s supreme design.
Though the cause of evil prosper, Yet ’tis Truth alone is strong; Though her portion be the scaffold, And upon the throne be wrong,
Yet that scaffold sways the future, And behind the dim unknown Standeth God within the shadow Keeping watch above His own.
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