PSST: Put off your old selfhood and find Christ!
Wednesday, July 5th, 2023
By Lindsey Biggs, C.S., Maryland Heights, Missouri
PSST: Put off your old selfhood and find Christ!
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“Sacrament”
JULY 3–9, 2023
by Lindsey Biggs, C.S of Maryland Heights, MO
540 460 3515 biggs.lindsey@gmail.com
P.S.S.T. for Golden Text
I like to think about this theme for this lesson in terms of transformation – just like a caterpillar is transformed into a butterfly. You could say that when Jesus met his disciples they were like caterpillars, and after his resurrection they became like butterflies – awakened to the spiritual reality of things and enabled to use their newfound spiritual understanding of reality.
When we awake to our true spiritual identity we are transformed. The Christ is always here to awaken us a little bit more each day to who and what we are as the image and likeness of God. This allows us to be a transparency for God, good, and to be of service to God.
P.S.S.T. for Responsive Reading
What do some of these passages mean to your students in 1st and 2nd Corinthians about bearing the image of the earthy and bearing the image of the heavenly? See if your students can interpret Paul’s meaning.
What are some ways that you can put on incorruption – that you can put on immortality? (I Cor 15:53)
Can a spiritual idea of God ever really become corrupt? This reminds me of the statement we hear at the end of each church service:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.” (I John 3:2, 3)
Consider how this relates to the process of baptism that we read about in Section 3.
P.S.S.T. for Section 1 — Being of service to God
What does it mean to be of service to God? (citation B1, Romans 12:1, 2)
Why would we want to present ourselves as a living sacrifice to God? Is this what Jesus did?
How can students be of greater service to God? How about in something as simple as expressing the qualities of God – being a reflection for divine qualities such as helpfulness, kindness, patience, creativity, etc. When we express God’s qualities we allow God’s light to shine through us. This helps to uplift and bless those around us. And it’s something that is simple enough that students can put into practice each day as a way to be of service to God, good.
P.S.S.T. for Section 2 – Deny a false sense of self and follow Jesus
What does it mean to “deny yourself”? (citation B5, Matthew 16:24)
What selfhood is this referring to? How is this different from your student’s spiritual individuality? How does denying a false selfhood enable our spiritual qualities – our spiritual selfhood – to shine through more clearly each day?
P.S.S.T. for Section 3 – Spiritual baptism
What does baptism mean? Consider exploring the definition of baptism in Science and Health in the Glossary as well as page 241 (citation S12).
How can students “submerge themselves in Spirit” each day? How does this help to cleanse and purify us?
Baptism is also defined this way “Our baptism is a purification from all error” on page 35 of Science and Health (citation 17).
This type of baptism helps us to put off “material beliefs and false individuality” (cit. S5, 242:1).
What does it mean to know yourself spiritually and scientifically (citation S7, 359:11–14)?
Why is it helpful to identify yourself that way? Do you think Jesus could have gone through the crucifixion and resurrection if he wasn’t identifying himself spiritually and scientifically?
P.S.S.T. for Section 4 – Passover, Bread, Cup
What does Passover mean? What specific time in Jewish history does this commemorate?
Bible Lens Research has this to say:
“The feast of unleavened bread commemorated the Israelites’ hasty departure from Egypt (see Exodus 12:33, 34, 39), a circumstance seen as allowing no time to bake bread with yeast. In practice, this feast was combined with Passover.
“Jews living in Jerusalem often provided places for visitors to celebrate during the yearly gathering, so the Savior’s charge to locate a site wasn’t unusual. However, the specifics of his directions (see also Mark 14:13–15; Luke 22:10–12) illustrate Jesus’ foreknowledge of the location.
“Jesus’ words “My time is at hand” are viewed as an announcement of his coming passion events—especially his arrest, crucifixion, and resurrection. But the disciples, not discerning the impending crisis, may have assumed that he meant the Passover meal.”
What does the symbolism of bread mean?
Consider discussing as a class some of these symbols such as cup and bread.
Mary Baker Eddy defines bread as “the great truth of spiritual being, healing the sick and casting out error. Their Master had explained it all before, and now this bread was feeding and sustaining them.” (cit. S13, 32:15–34:9)
This section indicates the importance of spiritual growth – something that can be considered a counterfact to idleness. She writes that we must yield to “each lesser call in the growth of Christian character” (cit. S16, 291:5–9). What are some examples of this?
What are some ways your students can grow in “Christian character”?
Why is this important and how does it help us grow in following Christ?
P.S.S.T. for Section 5 – Cast your net on the right side and find
What does this passage mean to your students?
“if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (cit. B15, II Corinthians 5:17 if)
Can your students think of people or examples in the Bible of putting on the “new man”?
What are some ways students can take part in the resurrection?
What does it mean to cast your net on the right side? [See Downloadable insights at bottom of online page at https://cedarscamps.org/inspiration/article/psst-put-off-your-old-selfhood-and-find-christ/]
Why does this make such a big difference?
What are some examples of things that your students have participated in that were “fruitless” until new light was shed on the situation? (see citation S17, 34:18–29 (next page))
Notice that it was hearing their Master’s voice that awakened the disciples.
Consider exploring the definition for Christ on page 332 of Science and Health.
Mary Baker Eddy defines it as “the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness.”
So, the Christ is within all of us – for all time (it didn’t leave when Jesus ascended). It awakens us to the Truth of being, to our true identity, and to cast our mental net on the right side.
It awakens us from “fruitless toil” into the actual understanding of divine power.
Mary Baker Eddy defines that benefit of spiritual understanding in these passages. Spiritual understanding enables us to:
gain the reality of Life,
the control of Soul,
and perceive Truth/divine Principle.
She writes that this is necessary in order to reveal our divine capabilities. Finally, she says that to hasten this experience, we should turn our thoughts towards divine Principle and relinquish error. (cit. S18, 322:3)
What are some practices your students can incorporate to gain more and more spiritual insight and understanding each day?
Enjoy your classes!
