PSST: Stop choosing to change from life in Mind to life in matter or see everything turn to dust, to ash. (2)
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on:
“Matter”
for March 13-19, 2023
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, C.S., for CedarS Camps
pegasus6524@gmail.com • 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT)/Isaiah 42:5,8:
“Thus saith God the Lord, he that created the heavens, ands stretched them out; he that spread forth the earth, and that which cometh out of it; he that giveth breath unto the people upon it, and spirit to them that walk therein:… I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”
Ask students to summarize what they read in the Golden Text in response to the question, “What does God the Lord say?”
Responsive Reading (RR)/I Timothy 6:20; Psalms 135:5,13,15-18; & Psalms 71:1,3,5,19
Read together the Responsive Reading. If you were the Psalmist writing these words, how would you answer the question, “What is it that I know for sure?”
Perhaps:
- I know that the Lord is great
- I know that our Lord is above all gods
- I know that idols are the work of men’s hands
- I know that I can trust the Lord
- I know that God is my rock, my fortress, my strong habitation, my hope
- I know that there is none like our God
P.S.S.T. Section 1 – How many Minds are there?
What does this Mind do for me?
- He performs all things through me
- He is all the wisdom I need and have
- He gives me understanding, so I am never confused
When we reason things through, where do we begin, with Mind or with matter? So where do we end up? Starting with Mind, we arrive at Truth or intelligence. Starting with matter, we end up with human illusions. Like what? That which is an opposite statement of all that God is. Only one Truth can be true, everything else is a lie, a false statement; we call it an error in statement or in belief.
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – In reading the scripture story in citation B8/I Kings 13, what is the result when a nation chooses to change gods – from Mind to life in matter? Everything turns to dust, to ash.
What are issues facing people around the world today crying out for a return to Mind for guidance and direction?
What does citation B9/Isaiah 58:11 tell us? “The Lord shall guide thee continually,…”
Therefore, are you ever alone, are you abandoned?
Your success, your aid, your very life, is found by turning to Mind, the only intelligence there is. It saves from war, famine, drought, poverty, unemployment, sickness, captivity of any kind.
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – What does it mean to cry unto the Lord? When you cry to God, what assurance do you have that She hears you?
Ask students to share any example from their experiences where they cried to the Lord and know that She heard them.
How was the woman in the scripture story in citation B12/Luke 13 like a child crying out? What proof is given that God heard her? What proof was there that matter could provide no help, no aid? Answer the question: Is matter substantial?
Read together cit. S18/Science & Health 417:10-16. Turn away from __________. Turn always to _______, so that you will always win, regardless of what the claim is.
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – What are some recurring key words in this section? Wisdom, understanding. Ask each student to write down for their eyes only what is it they wish to understand, what is it they desire to be wise about?
Perhaps:
- How to have more friends
- How to be a better friend or sibling
- How to do better in school or athletically
- What to do with my summer or time away from school
Read together from citation S22/279:26,
“A logical and scientific conclusion is reached only through the knowledge that there are not two bases of being, matter and mind, but one alone, – Mind.”
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – What is the prayer of petition in the scripture part of this section?
- Teach me…
- Turn away…
- Cause me…
What do the words omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience mean? Can there be more than all? All precludes anything else, anything not included in all. Read together Hymn 267 from the Christian Science Hymnal (words printed here).
Hymn 267
Our God is All-in-all, His children cannot fear;
See baseless evil fall, And know that God is here.
Our God is All; in space No subtle error creeps;
We see Truth’s glowing face, And Love that never sleeps.
We see creative Mind, The Principle, the Life;
And Soul and substance find, But never discord, strife.
O, Perfect and Divine, We hear Thy loving call,
And seek no earthly shrine But crown Thee Lord of all.
P.S.S.T. Section 6 – Answer these questions:
- If Spirit is all and is everywhere, what and where is matter?
- Can a straight line turn into a curve, or can a curve ever become a straight line?
- Does matter ever have a place in Spirit?
- Can opposites ever mingle or unite?
- Can Good ever be other than Good?
- Can matter ever be a part of man?
- Can Life ever terminate?
