PSST: Live your God-given joy and freedom today!

PSST: Live your God-given joy and freedom today!
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Bible Lesson on

“Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?”
for October 11, 2020

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

P.S.S.T. for Golden Text

What a beautiful promise of the comforting and healing power of God’s love that is given in this week’s Golden Text (Isaiah 25:8). What does it mean that “the rebuke of the people” shall be taken away from the earth? How is this a promise of God’s transformative salvation for everyone? Notice that the passage says God will wipe the tears off all faces. A universal promise! No one can be beyond the redeeming power of God’s healing love. God’s promise includes all people everywhere! How does this understanding expand your sense of love and the way you express love in your community?

P.S.S.T. for Responsive Reading

What does it mean to be “redeemed”? Have you ever redeemed a situation? What kind of relationship with God is depicted in this verse (Isaiah 43:1): Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine?

How can Isaiah 43:2 be applied to situations when we feel overwhelmed?

Younger kids might like exploring “A Psalm For You” published in the Christian Science Sentinel (October 12, 2020 issue). It includes sheet music and a sweet music video.

P.S.S.T. for Section 1 – God’s love and mercy are for everyone!

Since God is “of purer eyes than to behold evil,” (B1/Habakkuk 1:13) what does God see and know about you? How does it feel to know you are a beloved, perfect idea with a wealth of spiritual qualities and abilities to shine out?

What does it mean to you to know that God’s mercy is everlasting? (B2/Ps 100:5) So, there isn’t a time when you could be unloved, unforgiven, or outside of God’s love for you. We can rest assured in a relationship that is secure with God! How about the fact that this same mercy and truth endures throughout “all generations”? That same love and mercy surrounds your parents, grandparents, and even kids that you may have someday! It shines out like the sun for all!

We don’t often think that God is incapable of anything, but this passage shows us that God is incapable of producing anything sick or sinful. (S2/SH 356:19) Isn’t it cool to think about God as only being able to produce good all the time? In your dorm rooms, homes, or classrooms, God is producing good each moment! Just like we, as the image and likeness of God, are incapable of experiencing anything that isn’t good. So, if we want to say “I can’t” we can say it to anything unlike God, good.

P.S.S.T. for Section 2 – The parable of the tares and the wheat

One of Jesus’ parables is featured in this section — the parable of the tares and the wheat. The younger classes might enjoy seeing some illustrations of this parable in the book Jesus Little Parables of the Kingdom by Diane Worfolk Allison (newly reprinted and available in the Reading Room or Online Shop). You can also watch a video interview with the illustrator.

What do the tares represent in your life? How can we separate the tares from the wheat mentally? How does prayer help us to do this – to discern between the real and the unreal? What would a consciousness filled with “wheat” look like? We can be a mental gardener by uprooting those tares and magnifying the wheat in our lives.

P.S.S.T. for Section 3 – God’s love transforms us!

Let’s explore the story of Jesus and Zacchæus (B10/Luke 19:1-10). Zacchæus climbed up a tree just to see Jesus as he passed by. What does this tell us about Zacchæus’ desire? What qualities was he expressing? Do you think he was surprised when Jesus said he would visit his house? What do you think it would be like for Jesus to say he would come over to your house for dinner? Why do you think Zacchæus had a change of heart?

How does this story illustrate freedom from oppression for the people in the community through the spiritual transformation or change of heart that Zacchæus had? How can we pray to know that Christ is guiding the hearts and minds of people in our community to make right choices that benefit all? What does this story tell us about how we can pray for government officials in our communities? [even those with negative ads about them all the time.]

This story has some similarities to Saul/Paul’s conversion story. What are some similarities and differences that you can find?

Mary Baker Eddy tells us that “Divine Love corrects and governs man.” (S12/SH 6:3) Jesus really illustrates this! What are some ways that you can recognize Jesus demonstrating this? Think about all the times when Jesus corrected someone’s behavior. Was it through stoning, punishment, blaming, or shaming? No!

Jesus exemplified perfect love, and that perfect love healed! People felt it! And they simply wanted to be better. It was like holding up a mirror and helping them see who they really wanted to be! They realized that the love of God was more satisfying than anything else, and they were willing to feel more of that presence by leaving their old lives and habits behind and embarking on a new path that was fulfilling.

P.S.S.T. for Section 4 – Let your mind rest on God.

When things get tough or stressed, Isaiah gives us the recipe for staying at peace! “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” (B12/Isaiah 26:3)

Keep your thought centered and focused on God! This results in peace. Why? Because we feel God’s strong ever-presence surrounding us! What a great gift! So, if we want to experience more peace in our lives, dive into deeper moments with God. Think about passages that you know and love while walking to school, doing your homework, or playing sports. Take time in the mornings to acknowledge God through studying the Bible Lesson and prayer. Reflect on God in the evenings through gratitude for the good in your life. These activities are like putting on your armor each day! It helps to keep our thought aligned with God instead of accepting error’s suggestions.

P.S.S.T. for Section 5 – Live the vitality of Life each day!

“all is Life…” Mary Baker Eddy says (S25/ SH 347:6–7). How can we see and acknowledge the presence of Life, a synonym for God, everywhere? What are some qualities of Life? Check out the seven synonyms and attribute pdf published by MyBibleLesson or make up your own list. Activity, liveliness, movement, playfulness, vivaciousness, readiness, abundance, bountifulness, etc. We can live and express these qualities!

We don’t need to let any quality of God diminish in our experience! We can express more joy, more freshness, more spontaneity, more energy, so that our sense of Life expands each day! We can acknowledge Life and the qualities of God we see around us in the trees, squirrels, birds, etc. We can be a perpetual witness to the ever-presence and harmonious activity of Life in ourselves and in our communities.

P.S.S.T. for Section 6 – Praise God!

We conclude with the invitation to praise God! Praise God and rejoice that we are spiritual, made in the image and likeness of God. Praise God and rejoice that God made man free! We have the opportunity to prove these things each day – to prove our spiritual nature and dominion.

Let's “hold fast” to these truths in thought each moment – clinging to God so there is no room for anything else (B17/I Thessalonians 5:21). We can grow spiritually every day by expanding our expression of patience, meekness, love, and doing good deeds, too. (S29/4:3–5) What a great way to demonstrate the reality God made each day!

Enjoy your class!