PSST: See through the mist! Genesis 1 shows us the way.

PSST: See through the mist! Genesis 1 shows us the way.
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Bible Lesson:

“Adam and Fallen Man”
November 5 -11, 2018

prepared by Lindsey Biggs, C.S., Maryland Heights, Missouri
biggs.lindsey@gmail.com 541.460.3515

P.S.S.T. Golden Text – This lesson is all about considering the work of God. Let’s consider together! What does “upright” mean? Check out the original language of Scripture to find some expanded definitions including some synonyms for “upright”.

P.S.S.T. Responsive Reading – This Responsive Reading is packed full of two very important Biblical chapters.
What does the first part – from Genesis 1 – Genesis 2:1 – tell you about creation? Perhaps read the whole Genesis 1 account together as a class to get a sense of all the flora, fauna, animals, and living beings that God has created.
What does it make you feel or tell you about creation? Calm? Safe? Happy? What does it make you feel or tell you about God? For me, I always feel a sense of awe, happiness, joy, gratitude, peace, and appreciation for our Creator when reading this.

What does this first account tell you about the Earth and God’s relationship with the Earth and all living things? How can this account be applied to healing environmental challenges, weather, and praying for our pets?

The second chapter moves in a different direction. What does this mist represent? Confusion, doubt, or fear? What does mist do? It prevents you from seeing clearly. It can be confusing or disconcerting. There may be an example someone can show (photo) of how mist obscures our view when driving a car or on a hike. How can we rise above the metaphorical mist?

What role does salvation play? Salvation wakes us up! This also comes up in Section 5. Consider looking up the definition of “salvation” in the glossary of Science & Health. Who or what wakes us up and causes us to be saved? Christ. See section 4 for more on this.

P.S.S.T. Section 1 – It’s neat to see perfect creation being exemplified in both the Old and New Testaments.

What did God create? What did God not create? Consider looking up “valueless and baneful” in the dictionary. Does anything that God did not create have any validity, reality or power? What are the qualities and attributes of the things God created? Consider looking up “good and worthy” in the dictionary. What does this tell us about you? What does this section say about satisfaction? Imagine what God feels — wholly satisfied. What does this section tell us about our own goals for satisfaction? Is it possible to feel satisfied? What leads to satisfaction? How can this help to overcome addiction? What does this section tell us about heredity and our true inheritance?

P.S.S.T. Section 2 – This section gives us some great examples of false beliefs that have been accepted and perpetuated about the relationship between men and women through a literal interpretation of Genesis 2, and the freeing sense that the Christ brings to us through the understanding of the spiritual creation of Genesis 1. How does Genesis 1 counteract many of the false, limiting views about gender? [Check out online Downloadable poems (in the upper right) –“Genesis 1 or Genesis 2” as well as “Gen 1 or Gen 2”..by Peter Ward]

We also see examples of how the serpent tempts. Don’t be afraid to share appropriate examples of how you have overcome temptations on a daily basis. Students will be more willing to share temptations they have to overcome (worshipping body image, addiction to screens, overeating, etc.) when we also share how we have to overcome these temptations, too.

Eve gives us a great example of repentance – recognizing it was evil that tempted her (not blaming someone else as Adam did), realizing she was deceived and thereby opening up the opportunity for a change of thought. This recognition naturally brings healing. It can also be helpful to talk about the distinction between the real, spiritual, man and woman of God’s creating and the false, limited view of male and female that we are presented with.

P.S.S.T. Section 3 – What are some examples of God’s protection and care you have experienced? Students often have some cool examples.

Here we also have an opportunity to check out some Bible timelines and see where the book of Daniel falls on the narrative timeline. Why were these Jewish boys living under the foreign power of King Nebeccandezer? What time period was the Babylonian Empire? The book of Daniel includes themes such as: what is it like for the Jewish people to live under foreign power, how do they remain faithful to their covenant with God when confronted with foreign customs and gods, God gives us special talents and gifts with which to glorify God, and God protects and cares for those who serve Him.

Passages that offer special reflection are “but if not” (Daniel 3:18) and “smell of fire” (Daniel 3:27). What does “but if not” mean? What do students think? Share the special significance of “smell of fire” from the article mentioned in the Met and its relation to complete healing today.

P.S.S.T. Section 4 – Have you ever wondered why you are dealing with a problem? What caused the problem? This section highlights the assurance that God is only good, full of compassion, mercy, and good to all. Jesus disciples were looking for a cause for the man’s blindness. Do we ever get tricked into looking for a cause for a problem? Do we think we aren’t good enough to have a healing? Jesus showed that every problem is an opportunity for God to be glorified, seen and expressed. It’s all about God!

When we start from the one Cause and Creator we can’t be tempted to believe in other little causes. Why did the disciples ask Jesus the question about sin? Is Christ still in the world today (John 9:5)? If Jesus isn’t here, who or what is it that does the healing? Consider exploring “Christ” in Science and Health, especially page 332 in the platform, as the “the true idea voicing good, the divine message from God to men speaking to the human consciousness…” References to the Holy Spirit/Holy Ghost might be neat, too.

P.S.S.T. Section 5 – The great thing about Christian Science is that it is here for us to prove. Do we have to accept Science on blind belief? What is the opposite of blind belief? Can we test it and prove it? A science is laws that are always governing all the time. It is available, ever-present, universal, located in every part of the globe. There is no place you can be separated from this Science. Notice how Mrs. Eddy essentially says “don’t just take my word for it – prove it for yourself! Then you will see if I have given you the correct interpretation of Genesis 1 and 2.” (C27) Mary Baker Eddy taught people of all walks of life – lawyers, judges, public officials, physicians, mothers, school teachers, people who needed or had been healed. She knew that this Science was for everyone! What are some ways you can let your light shine so people can see what this Science is all about?