PSST: Be Spirit-moved to be tenderhearted, freely sharing love, joy, peace…
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“Spirit “
for Sunday August 8, 2021
By Amy and Tom Evans, former staff members and big fans of CedarS
amy.evans821@gmail.com & trej85@gmail.com
PSST for the Golden Text [Gal. 5:22, 23] — [Fearlessly share “love, joy, peace…”]
What does it mean for love, joy, peace, etc to be the “fruit of the Spirit”? (v. 22)
How are you witnessing those qualities bear fruit in your experience?
What about Paul’s statement “against such there is no law”? (V. 23)
Talk about the freedom to practice love, joy, peace… these qualities bring blessings. Have you noticed them throughout the lesson this week?
PSST for the Responsive Reading — [Be Spirit-moved to be tenderhearted…]
The Ephesians part of the Responsive Reading starts with “The Lord hath anointed me to…” (Eph. 4:1) What has God directed [and divinely purposed] you to do?
What does that have to do with Spirit?
Talk also about the last verse [Eph. 4:32] in the Responsive Reading.
How are you being kind and tenderhearted to others?
P.S.S.T. for Section 1 – Spirit is all
The first citation emphasizes the allness of God (Isaiah 45:5-6).
What does this have to do with Spirit?
How have you experienced God’s allness?
Talk about the testimony of Spirit in S&H citation S3/252:15-18, 31-8.
How does it differ from the material sense?
P.S.S.T. for Section 2 – Spirit is good
Talk about the spirit described in this section: understanding (Bible citation B4/Job 32:8); good (Bible citation B5/Ps. 143:10); truth (Bible citation B6/I John 4:6).
How are those qualities evident?
How are you making sure that you are only hearing God and not false prophets (Bible citation B6, I John 4:6)?
How are you discerning spiritual good (S&H citation S4/505:20-21)?
Mary Baker Eddy says in S&H citation B7/428:8-12, 19 that “We must realize the ability of mental might to offset human misconceptions and to replace them with the life which is spiritual, not material.” How are you doing this?
How can you be sure that you have the “true idea of good” (S&H citation S8/325:2-5)?
P.S.S.T. for Section 3 – Spirit is peace
What was going on during David’s reign in citations B8 & B9/II Sam. 5:4 & I Chron 12:16)?
How did God’s presence in David’s reign create peace?
Discuss S&H citation S11/340:16. What is so significant about this passage?
What does Mary Baker Eddy say that the first commandment can do? (hint: everything!)
P.S.S.T. for Section 4 – Spirit is love
How are you focusing on spirit and understanding and not on the flesh [I Cor. 14:15)?
What is Paul talking about when he refers to being carnally minded in Romans 8:6/cit. B12?
How do you avoid that type of thinking?
Consider the “calm, strong currents of true spirituality” (cit. S14/99:23).
How have you witnessed the effects of “true spirituality” in your experience [or that of others]?
How have you felt the “unspeakable peace which comes from an all-absorbing spiritual love” (cit. S15/264:24)?
P.S.S.T. for Section 5 – Spirit is calming
In Bible citation B15/Mark 4:39 make a connection between Jesus’s command “Peace, be still” and Paul’s statement in the Golden Text, “against such there is no law.” (Galatians 4:23).
Was Jesus bringing peace to the situation, or was he recognizing the peace of God’s being which always has been and always will be?
Read S&H citation S18/184:27 about the woman cured of consumption and then talk about how Mary Baker Eddy might have prayed when she sat quietly by the woman’s side.
P.S.S.T. for Section 6 – Spirit is healing
What is significant about the healing of the healing in Bible citation B18/Luke 8:27-35?
How did restoring the man to be “clothed, and in his right mind” demonstrate Spirit?
Connect this healing with the verse in II Timothy 1:7/cit. B19 that God gives us power, love, and a sound mind.
Look at citations S26/411:23-1 and S27/421:11-21 to see how Mary Baker Eddy explains how to heal.
How is this similar to what Jesus did?
How are you applying these truths and healing?
P.S.S.T. for Section 7 – Spirit is freedom
What is “freely given to us of God” (citation B20/1st Cor. 2:12)?
How are you gravitating Godward (cit. S30/265:5-13)?
What does Mary Baker Eddy say will be the result of drawing closer to Spirit (hint: 265:10)?
How are you experiencing an “enlarged individuality, a wider sphere of thought and action, a more expansive love, a higher and more permanent peace” (cit. S30/265:5-13)?
