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PSST: Let your spiritual sense guide you
P
ossible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on

“Soul”
for Sunday, Aug. 14, 2022

by Lindsey Biggs, C.S of Maryland Heights, MO
540 460 3515 biggs.lindsey@gmail.com


P.S.S.T. for Golden Text

There are many resources on ChristianScience.com for exploring the Psalms.

“A Psalm for You” is a delightful, uplifting song; there are also 5 different videos on the historical context and scholarship of the Book of Psalms: Overview, Characters, Types of Psalms, Themes and Psalms and Me. Just scroll down to the videos section on this page on ChristianScience.com for these and other resources.
[Warren: These Sunday School resources from the ChristianScience.com website includes a series of podcast by Barry Huff on each part of The Lord’s Prayer.  You can hear them on YouTube at https://youtu.be/9NgKgVA7fzM .

In your deeper Bible Lesson Study time you may wish to go straight to the podcast related to the lines of The Lord’s Prayer with their spiritual interpretation that are featured in various sections of this week’s Bible Lesson:

SECTION 2 (citations B6/Matthew 6:9, cit. S4/14:22; cit. S6/16:24-29)

More on The Lord’s Prayer ABBA “FATHER” at https://youtu.be/aub1ySqzLNM
More on The Lord’s Prayer “Hallowed be Thy name” at https://youtu.be/ga80Zaqke0o

SECTION 3 (cit. B9/Luke 11:2; cit. S9/16:30-31) and
SECTION 4
(cit. B12/Matt. 6:10; cit. B13/Luke 22:42; cit. S12/17:1-3)

More on The Lord’s Prayer “THY KINGDOM COME” & “THY WILL BE DONE” at https://youtu.be/XnqTv4v9cAU

SECTION 5 (citation B14/Matt. 6:11; cit. S17/17:4-5)

More on The Lord’s Prayer “OUR DAILY BREAD” at https://youtu.be/A1pa7nT-_dQ

SECTION 6 (citation B16/Luke 11:4; cit. S21/17:6-7)

More on The Lord’s Prayer “FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS” at https://youtu.be/EeHfjXOs8do

SECTION 7 (citation B23/ Matt. 6:13 (to :  ); cit. S27/17:)

More on The Lord’s Prayer “Lead Us NOT INTO TEMPTATION” at https://youtu.be/z5UVPJDWy0w

SECTION 8 (citation B25/ Matt. 6:13; cit. S32/17:12-15)

More on The Lord’s Prayer “FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY” at https://youtu.be/Y81HTwsVrJU

 For these and more go to and scroll down from: https://www.christianscience.com/youth/sunday-school-teachers?icid=Homepage:main-menu:Sunday%20School%20Teachers


P.S.S.T. for Responsive Reading – Listen to God’s voice

How many voices are there?

Psalm 66:8 tells us that we want to allow God’s voice to be heard.
Hymn 58 tells us that we would hear and follow no other voices, but God’s voice.

God’s angel messages are constantly communicating to us, telling us what we need to know. We can be so grateful for this communication and constantly turn to it to guide us.

Sometimes in decision making, it can be difficult to discern which voice will lead us to the right path. Do you have an experience you could share with your students when you heard God’s voice guiding you? Perhaps they have an experience when God’s voice gave them the guidance they need? Explore JSH Online for inspiring experiences of how people have turned to God’s voice for guidance. Here is one example: The Right Path For Me

Here are some additional references that could be nice supplements to your discussion:

“Come we daily then, dear Father, / Open hearts and willing hands, / Eager ears, expectant, joyful, / Ready for Thy right commands. / We would hear no other voices, / We would heed no other call; / Thou alone art good and gracious, / Thou our Mind and Thou our All.”
(Christian Science Hymnal, No.  58:2)

The Psalmist saith: “He shall give His angels charge over thee.” God gives you His spiritual ideas, and in turn, they give you daily supplies.

(Miscellaneous Writings 1883–1896, Mary Baker Eddy, pp. 306:29–2)

Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: Jeremiah 7:23

Christ is the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness.

(Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, Mary Baker Eddy, p. 332:9–11 Christ)


P.S.S.T. for Section 1 — Use spiritual sense to discern reality

Do your students know about their spiritual sense? We all have one! What are the qualities of spiritual sense listed in citation S3 (p. 298)? What are examples of when your students have used their spiritual intuition? We all have intuitions about things. I’m sure they have great examples. Share experiences together.

What does spiritual sense contradict? Why is this so? What role does this play in healing?


P.S.S.T. for Section 2 – Three steps for prayer

Jesus gives us 3 important steps for prayer. What are they? (See cit. B6/Matthew 6:6, 9)

Why do you think it’s important to “close the door”?
What difference does this make?
What does “reward you openly” mean?

Have your students ever prayed with the Lord’s Prayer and found healing? It’s a prayer that Christians all over the world share together. Why do you think Jesus gave us this prayer? Which passages are most significant to your students?


P.S.S.T. for Section 3 – Live in the Kingdom of Heaven – harmony – now!

What does the “Kingdom of Heaven” mean to your students? Is there a way we can live in that Kingdom here and now? Explore the definition of the Kingdom of Heaven together. (cit. S8, p. 590). There is also a neat corresponding definition in the glossary for “Heaven”.

“Thy kingdom come.

Thy kingdom is come; Thou art ever-present.” (cit. S9/ p. 16)

This tells us something of our oneness of God! Ever-present means there isn’t ever a time when God is missing or lacking. Demonstrating this could be one of the ways we can live and prove the Kingdom here and now!


P.S.S.T. for Section 4 – Yield to God’s harmonious will

What is the difference between human will and divine will? Do your students have an experience to share when they yielded to the divine will and found that plans unfolded more harmoniously?

What are some examples of human will they have seen? Perhaps on TV, in sports or academics?

“love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” (cit. B10, Deut. 6:5) When we love God, we are happy to relinquish our human will because we know and trust that God’s, our Father’s, will is perfect and good for us. We can be happy and satisfied with listening to what God reveals about each situation.

Yielding to the divine will can be symbolized as allowing our boat to be controlled and directed by the channels of God. It takes an openness and humbleness to really listen and obey. I find that yielding goes along with divine will whereas pushing sometimes goes along more with human will. You often hear of athletes who “push” their way through pain or an injury. Yielding is more like allowing the petals of a flower to open up naturally and beautifully – it paves the way for healing by allowing God’s spiritual view to take hold of our consciousness.


P.S.S.T. for Section 5 – Give us grace, gratitude, and gentleness for today

 What are some spiritual insights we can gain from the story of Jesus multiplying the loaves and the fish?

What can “daily bread” symbolize for your students? How can we think of it beyond simply the food we need for today (although that is very important, too)? What are some ways that God has supplied the provisions your students need? Perhaps it’s tuition for school or camp, a daily sense of inspiration and feeling close to God, meeting a physical or a relationship healing. Gratitude opens our thought to seeing all the ways that God loves us and cares for us. Perhaps starting the class with a sharing of gratitude could be a great way to rejoice in God’s rich bounty.

What are 3 constant prayers? “Self-forgetfulness, purity, and affection are constant prayers.” (cit. S20, p. 15) Consider exploring these 3 qualities deeper. Why do you think Mary Baker Eddy chose these 3 qualities as constant prayers?

What does grace mean to your students? Why do you think Mary Baker Eddy chose “grace” as a pairing for this passage of the Lord’s Prayer?


P.S.S.T. for Section 6 – Forgiveness and moving forward

Forgiveness is a daily part of life especially when living in relationships with friends, teachers, roommates, siblings, etc. How does forgiveness make relationships go more smoothly? What are some instances when your students have forgiven a friend or a sibling? What difference did that make in their relationships?

“Sorrow for wrong-doing is but one step towards reform and the very easiest step. The next and great step required by wisdom is the test of our sincerity, — namely, reformation.” (S23, p. 5) These are essential points in relationships. We want to feel sorry for the things we have done wrong and it’s even better when that sorrow leads the way to reformation – to realizing that we want to do and be better.

Reformation, or reforming, means: “Correcting what is wrong; amending; restoring to a good state.” (1828 Webster Dictionary)

I love that idea of “restoring to a good state” – restoring to our original blessedness as the image and likeness of God (as stated in Genesis 1).

If sin is simply “missing the mark” then it’s natural for us to be restored to our natural state as children of God. Sin really doesn’t have any part of us. It’s a misconception of who we are as the image and likeness of God and of all the good that God provides for us.

If you’re able to find the Radical Acts card game, it has some great discussion questions on forgiveness. It has been discontinued from the Christian Science Publishing Society, but your Reading Room Librarian may be able to locate a copy for you from other Reading Rooms around the country or world (through the All Things Reading Room Google Group).


P.S.S.T. for Section 7 – Overcome temptation and find freedom

Bible Lens Research has this to share regarding temptation:

“Temptations and trying are translated from distinct Greek words with similar meanings (peirasmos, dokimion). Both can imply testing or proving, as coins are tested for authenticity. Genesis 22:1–13 reports God’s testing of Abraham’s faith, and Psalms 66:10 affirms, “Thou, O God, hast proved us: thou hast tried us, as silver is tried.”…Worldly temptations, whether outward afflictions or inner impulses, are to be welcomed joyfully—embraced as opportunities to exercise faith and grow spiritually.…The person who withstands temptation through reliance on God is depicted by a commentary this way: “A mature believer is one whose character has begun to conform to the image that God intends it to have—the very character of Christ. Such a person may be described as wanting nothing. . . . In other words, integration and wholeness are becoming a reality in one’s faith.”…James 1:13 (citation B21) asserts that God does not tempt anyone. As Jesus illustrates at the outset of his career (see Matthew 4:1–11), evil is to be resisted and destroyed through God’s power.” (Christian Science Sentinel)

What are some temptations the world faces? How can we “stand porter” to not let these temptations tempt us? What are some ways your students resist error? Anything that claims that happiness, joy, self-worth, and success are somewhere “out there” can be a temptation. Anything that draws us away from recognizing the “kingdom of heaven within” can give us pause for a deeper look. God leads us to things that are deeply satisfying, that enable us to grow and expand our thinking. What are some temptations that your students have overcome?


 P.S.S.T. for Section 8 – See the perfect man and find healing

What does this statement mean to your students?
“the kingdom of God is within you.” (cit. B26/Luke 17:21)

How is this point essential to happiness and satisfaction?

Mary Baker Eddy tells us one of the ways that Jesus healed. Can your students find it in this section? Why did this make a difference in Jesus’ healing work? Was Jesus accepting the material senses? Consider pairing citation S30 (SH p. 476) with the previous page in Science and Health (p. 475) under the question “What is man?”. See how pairing these ideas together helps us truly “see” the perfect man and find healing.

Enjoy your classes!

 

 

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