[PSST: Don’t be ‘list-less”! Write up your conversation with God!]
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) by Merrill Boudreaux
for the Christian Science Bible Lesson: “Everlasting Punishment”
for May 5, 2013
P.S.S.T. Golden Text – In the quiet of your thought have a conversation with God that lays out what you desire God to know about you. Then listen for what God wants to tell you She knows about you. If you find it helpful you may write down your statements and God’s statements.
P.S.S.T. – Responsive Reading – Take the Responsive Reading and make a list of the prayers of petition and the prayers of affirmation from this text. For example:
Petition Affirmation
Be merciful unto me Thou, Lord, art good, and
ready to forgive
P.S.S.T. – Section 1 – Help students to understand the weight and balance system for measuring items for sale and their cost as well as the justice system of the crimes or misdeeds and the punishment. Do not keep it there for one should also measure the good flowing to one without measure, pressed down and overflowing. What would students wish to include [in a list] on the balance scales to define themselves as compared to what might be on the scales as statements of error. For example:
Good Error
Wisdom I would argue that there
Understanding be nothing on this side.
Integrity
Kindness
Comfort
Honesty
P.S.S.T. – Section 2 – What are the thoughts the God thinks toward us or about us? (Citation B-6) What was Jesus thought about the man born blind compared to the thoughts of the individuals in this Bible story? (B-7) What are the qualities on the balance scale that assure healing? [Make a list and check it twice.]
Good Error
God is merciful no evil
The Lord preserves no sickness
Thou has delivered peace no disease
An expected end illusions
God lovingly governs all
Truth casts out all evils
God never punishes
P.S.S.T. – Section 3 – What are you willing to practice? Humility, mercy, justice, gratitude, honesty. Students may extend this listing.
P.S.S.T. – Section 4 – What does God require of you in Citation B-13? See also Micah 6:8. Ask the students: Do you wish to jump from one side of the scales to the other, or like a pendulum vibrate between sin or error and goodness? How can you assure you are stacking the scales of thought on the good side? See the answer to the question in [the S&H chapter called] “Recapitulation” on page 495: “How can I progress most rapidly in the understanding of Christian Science?”
P.S.S.T. – Section 5 – From where do you get your strength to be directed to right decisions, right paths, right actions? (Citation B-17) Read the Zacchaeus story in citation B-18. On what side of the scale was Zacchaeus making deposits? What was important to him? How did he demonstrate that importance? What is in the balance on the scale in citations B-19 and B-20?
Good Error
Thanks 0
Mercy
Healing
Integrity
Blessing
Close the class by reading Hymn 123 from the Christian Science Hymnal.
