[Sent earlier to whole Met list by mistake,
instead of just to Sunday School teachers]
PSST: Be close to God’s word throughout your day [to not be taken in by any fake views & news of evil’s reality.] (6+)
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs) for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson:
“Unreality”
for September 27-October 3, 2021
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, C.S.
pegasus6524@gmail.com • 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT) Psalms 112:4, 7 “Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”(NIV)
There is much to unpack in this week’s Golden Text. What specifically is this passage saying to each student?
- No fear
- Assurance
- Protection
- Guidance
- Stand firm
- How to live in relationship to others
- Trust in the Lord
You may already note that this Lesson is about what is so, what is real between us and God, our Creator. By extension then, it will reveal what is to be excluded from how we live and embrace each day of our eternal lives.
P.S.S.T. Responsive Reading (RR): Right off is a question that requires an affirmative answer and speaks of assurance: “Am I a God at hand… and not a God afar off?” (Jer. 23:23)
What kind of prophet are you? That is, what kind of truth-teller are you?
What is the basis for the words coming out of your mouth?
What are you called to say to your neighbor – what truth shall you speak?
Where do you get these truths to speak?
See Jeremiah 23:35 and Psalm 85:8,12 found at the end of the Responsive Reading.
P.S.S.T. Section 1 – Challenge yourself every day to speak the truth about your neighbor.
The opening of this section, citation B1/Ex 23:1, aligns with which commandment? “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16, New Revised Standard Version, NRSV).
Challenge yourself every day to speak the truth about your neighbor, whether in your heart and thoughts, or with your tongue from your mouth. Agree to not deceive another or to be deceived by others, speaking as a false prophet. See cit. B5/I John 4:1,6. What shall be the basis of your reasoning (thinking) about others, and even about yourself? See the guidance from Mary Baker Eddy in Science & Health (SH) 476:32-5:
“Jesus beheld in Science the perfect man, who appeared to him where sinning mortal man appears to mortals. In this perfect man the Saviour saw God’s own likeness, and this correct view of man healed the sick. Thus Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is intact, universal, and that man is pure and holy.” (SH 476:32-5)
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – Sometimes students may have heard others say, “Don’t judge me” or “Why are you judging me?”
This implies that judging is a bad thing. Look to B6/John 7:24 for clarity around that word, judging. What does this passage declare about how to judge appropriately? What does the word “righteous” mean? Right thinking and right acting. So once again, the call is to be a prophet for the good news.
When you are called to tell the news about a person or incident, what shall be your report? Use the story in cit. B8/Numbers 13 for guidance.
What is your basis for judging and reporting? The material senses, or spiritual sense? (cit. S7/SH 298:8-18). As a student, see this further guidance from Mary Baker Eddy about what you seek to learn from your schooling: “Academics of the right sort are requisite. Observation, invention, study, and original thought are expansive and should promote the growth of mortal mind out of itself, out of all that is mortal” (SH 195:19).
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – Cultivate a spiritual sense, spiritual view, of things
Read the story in cit. B12/II Kings 4:1-7.
What did the woman report, how did Elisha respond?
What was the true report, that from the physical senses, or that from the spiritual view that Elisha had?
Ask yourself, how did Elisha see what others did not?
How can you cultivate such a spiritual sense, spiritual view, of things? See cit. S11/SH 471:13-17. See also cit. S14/SH 264:13-15.
Read together Hymn 423 (or 69) from the Christian Science Hymnal (printed here):
Hymn 423 (or Hymn 69)
“Give me, O Lord, an understanding heart, That I may learn to know myself in Thee, To spurn the wrong and choose the better part And thus from sinful bondage be set free.
“Give me, O Lord, a meek and contrite heart, That I may learn to quell all selfish pride, Bowing before Thee, see Thee as Thou art And ‘neath Thy sheltering presence safely hide.
Give me, O Lord, a gentle, loving heart, That I may learn to be more tender, kind, And with Thy healing touch, each wound and smart With Christly bands of Love and Truth to bind.”
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – “Lessen evil, disease, and death” with Christian Science prayer treatment.
Ask students to write out a Christian Science prayer treatment that speaks to judging with the truth about some issue in the world with which they are familiar. (Examples: wildfires, flooding or storms, immigration, climate change, pandemic…)
This is an opportunity to put into practice what has been shared in this Lesson. Why do this? See S16/SH 450:19-22, “The Christian Scientist has enlisted to lessen evil, disease, and death; and he will overcome them by understanding their nothingness and the allness of God, or good.”
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – “Take your stand…” “Reverse the case. Stand porter…”
See what is declared of you, o faithful witness: cit. B20/Psalm 91:9,10.
Ask students to memorize SH 392:24-27: “Reverse the case. Stand porter at the door of thought. Admitting only such conclusions as you wish realized in bodily results, you will control yourself harmoniously” (Part of cit. S26).
[Warren: LISTEN to a “Daily Lift” of cancer healed by applying “REVERSE THE CASE. STAND PORTER AT THE DOOR OF THOUGHT… AND SHUT OUT THESE UNHEALTHY THOUGHTS AND FEARS.” (cit. S26/392:24)]
Read together Hymn 12 (or 13) from the Christian Science Hymnal (printed here):
Hymn 12, 13
“Arise ye people, take your stand, Cast out your idols from the land,
Above all doctrine, form or creed Is found the Truth that meets your need.
Christ’s promise stands: they that believe His works shall do, his power receive.
“Go forward then, and as ye preach So let your works confirm your speech,
And prove to all with following sign The Word of God is power divine.
In love and healing ministry Show forth the Truth that makes men free.
“O Father-Mother God, whose plan Hath given dominion unto man,
In Thine own image we may see Man pure and upright, whole and free.
And ever through our work shall shine That light whose glory, Lord, is Thine.”
P.S.S.T. Section 6 – Cultivate listening and be close to God’s word throughout your day.
How beautiful are your feet that publisheth peace! That’s you, o prophet, o truth teller, o righteous judge. See the article “Beautiful Feet” by Jean Stark Hebenstreit in The Christian Science Journal of September 1999 – accessible through jsh.christianscience.com. [ https://journal.christianscience.com/issues/1999/9/117-9/beautiful-feet ]
Read together cit. B24/Deuteronomy 4:35: “Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightiest know that the Lord he is God; there is none else beside him.”
[The Common English Bible (CEB) states it: “You were shown these things so that you would know this: The LORD is the only God. There’s no other god except him.”]
Now declare, affirm, that you know, can hear, can speak only the word (truth) as revealed to you by God. Agree that you will cultivate listening and be close to God’s word throughout your day.
Read together Hymn 251 from the Christian Science Hymnal (printed here):
Hymn 251
“O Word of God, most holy, O wisdom from on high,
O Truth, unchanged, unchanging, O light of earth’s dark sky,
We bless Thee for the radiance That from the hallowed page,
A lantern to our footsteps, Shines on from age to age.
“O Word of God the Father, Thou art the gift divine,
And still thy light is lifted, O’er all the lands to shine.
It is the chart and compass To guide us to our Lord;
It is the heaven-drawn picture Of Christ, the living Word.”
