[PSST: Express gladness! Honor promises to God! Rejoice forever!]
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Bible Lesson
“God the Only Cause and Creator”
for May 28 – June 4, 2017
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, CS
pegasus6524@gmail.com 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text – Ask students what makes you glad, for what in your life do you rejoice?
P.S.S.T. Responsive Reading – How do you express gladness? How would others know that you are a joyful person? What is stated in the Responsive Reading about God who is worthy to be praised?
P.S.S.T. Section 1 – In the subject of this Lesson, what does the word “only” mean? What passages in this section support and amplify God as the only creator? All there is, is God and that which God creates. What other words in this section agree with only? One, All-in-all, sole creator, all-inclusive, there is none else, there is no God beside me.
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – Ask students what they make of the statement in B6, “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?” Who is the “us” in that statement? What does the story of Hannah tell us about who the real creator is? How did Hannah honor the promise she made to God? Why was this important in Bible history? What important event did Samuel effect? See I Samuel 16:10-13.
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – How did various individuals in this Section praise the Lord with the work of their hands? What abilities do you have that can be used in praise of God? S12. From whom have they come to you? S10 and S11.
Pause now and read together the following hymns from the Christian Science Hymnal that share ideas about how we might praise the Lord (printed below): Hymns 275, 281, 282, 283.
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – What are the key words leading to prayers of petition in citations B16 and B17?
- Create
- Renew
- Cast
- Restore
- Uphold
- Cause
- Teach
- Lead
These prayers of petition are based on God as Creator and as omnipotent and infinite (S15). Has the only Creator created you? Can you ever stray from the power God has given you, who is all-powerful? If God is supreme in your life, can you ever fail? S18.
See citation S20 as a statement of what you possess from the One and Only Creator.
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – How are you like the disciples on Pentecost day? B21. What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Ghost? See Science & Health 588:7. What did the disciples do when they were filled with the Holy Ghost? What about our church today, how is it fulfilling its Pentecost purpose? What opportunities do we have to praise God in our church? Think of Wednesday evening meetings. S24. Read together the definition of Church in citation S22.
P.S.S.T. Section 6 – We return to the place where we started – gladness and rejoicing. See S&H 249:6-10. After studying and discussing this Lesson, ask students to complete these phrases:
- I am glad because_________________
- I rejoice because ____________________
Read together citation S29. That is a way of rejoicing forever.
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Hymn 275:
Praise now creative Mind, Maker of earth and heaven; Glory and power to Him belong,
Joy of the sun and skies, Strength where the hills arise, So let us praise with joy and song.
Ages have seen His might, Father we call His name; Nights of our mourning and sorrow end, Light blesses opened eyes, Joys like the dawns arise As we see Him our God and Friend.
Saviour from death is He; Life is our heritage; Mercy and goodness forever guide;
Ours is the risen Christ, Daily we keep our tryst, And evermore in Love confide.
Hymn 281:
Praise our great and gracious Lord, Call upon His holy name; Strains of joy tune every chord, All His mighty acts proclaim. How He leads His chosen Unto Canaan’s promised land, How the Word we have heard Firm and changeless still shall stand.
He has given the cloud by day, Given the moving fire by night; Guides His Israel on their way From the darkness into light. He it is who grants us Sure retreat and refuge nigh.
Light of dawn leads us on, ’Tis the dayspring from on high.
Hymn 282:
Praise the Lord, ye heavens, adore Him; Praise Him, angels, in the height; Sun and moon, rejoice before Him, Praise Him, all ye stars of light; Praise the Lord, for He hath spoken, Worlds His mighty voice obeyed; Laws that never shall be broken For their guidance hath He made.
Praise the Lord, for He is glorious; Never shall His promise fail; God hath made His saints victorious, Sin and death shall not prevail. Praise the God of our salvation; Hosts on high, His power proclaim; Heaven and earth, and all creation, Laud and magnify His name.
Hymn 283:
Praise we the Lord, for His mercy endureth forever. Let us extol Him with joyous and loving endeavor; Come let us sing, Praising our God and our King, Should we be silent? Ah, never.
Praise we the Lord, who our footsteps still holdeth from sliding; Daily He campeth about us, protecting and guiding; E’en while we sleep Watch doth He tenderly keep; Ever new mercies providing.
Praise we the Lord with a joyous and glad adoration; Lo, unto them that believe there is no condemnation; Now will we raise Songs of thanksgiving and praise, Christ is become our salvation.
