[PSST: Receive and share the blessings of peace!]
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) by Merrill Boudreaux
for the Christian Science Bible Lesson: “God the Preserver of Man”
for December 15, 2013
P.S.S.T. Golden Text – Please read the full blessing in Numbers 6:24-26. Why is this called the Aaronic blessing? Who was Aaron? See Numbers 6:22-23. Are you a son of Aaron, a child of Israel? [See definition, S&H 583:5-9 "Christ's offspring"] Then this blessing is upon you also.
P.S.S.T. – Responsive Reading – What are the blessings of peace stated in the Responsive Reading (RR)? This is your heritage as a child of God. See also Psalms 16:6. The ultimate blessing is “great shall be the peace of your children.” Ask students to think about a place or situation where peace is needed. Then ask them to write out a prayer treatment for that place or situation that applies the truths they understand from Christian Science.
P.S.S.T. – Section 1 – Can you trust God to do for you what God has said She will do? Read aloud the Bible portion of this section. What has God said She will do for you in these passages? You may wish to read all of Psalms 91 and 23. Read Citation S-6. Why is today “big with blessings”? Could it be otherwise?
P.S.S.T. – Section 2 – Read the story of Hagar and Ishmael in citation B-6. Help students understand the backstory of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar. What was the great nation that issued from Ishmael? What is the direct blessing for you and all the children in the line of Abraham? See Malachi 2:10. That means Jew, Christian, and Muslim. Here is another opportunity to write out a prayer treatment about what it means to be brothers, and to truly understand the role of brothers in relationship to each other.
P.S.S.T. – Section 3 – Why would Jesus go into a synagogue? Please remember he was a Jew by lineage – of the house of David. There were yet no Christian churches. Help students write out the following equations:
Divine Mind and Idea
Cause and Result
Creator and Creation
Understanding supplants error
Truth silences mortality
Harmony silences discord
P.S.S.T. – Section 4 – From where do we get or find peace? (B-15) What is the law referred to in citation B-15? Certainly the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes. What are some basic laws you have learned in Christian Science? Using Concord, search the Bible and Science and Health under the broad topic, “law.” Ask students to choose a couple of passages that speak to them about laws that provide comfort and peace to them. One of the laws is one Father. Citation S-19 is a great statement to memorize.
P.S.S.T. – Section 5 – What is the result stated in citation S-25 of having one God for all mankind? Another great memorization opportunity. Is there really only one God? What about Allah? What other names do you have for God? Good, Love, Life… Why is it perfectly acceptable to call God by these other names? They help to give a fuller view of the infinite nature of God. See also S&H 286:16-17.
P.S.S.T. – Section 6 – This lesson has been provided so that you might have joy and peace that comes from understanding yourself and all others as the children of the one God. The Comforter explains this. See Citations B-22 and B-23. What does the Comforter afford you to do on behalf of mankind? See the cover of Science and Health for the clues. Ask students to write some key words they are taking away from this lesson.
Examples:
Unity
Brotherhood
One God, good
Peace
Dwell together
Ends wars
Heritage
Blessing
….
You might wish to conclude this lesson with a reference to the prayer that meets all human needs, The Lord’s Prayer – especially the first two words, “Our Father.”
