PYCL Q&As (ACTIVITIES) of Mind to ENGAGE classes:
DESCRIBE MIND. WHERE ARE WE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION/ADVICE/WISDOM/DIRECTION? DON’T JUST WORK HARDER, BE HUMBLE AND ASK MIND! GO ON A ROAD TRIP OF GOODNESS. WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR?
Possible Younger Class Lesson ideas for the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“Mind”
for Sunday, February 19, 2023
by Kerry Jenkins, CS, of House Springs, MO
kerry.helen.jenkins@gmail.com • 314-406-0041
PYCL #1: DESCRIBE MIND.
ACTIVITY: Usually with little ones I keep a long-term synonym project going. So by now you may have a mobile, or a box train, or a big tree, all with synonyms and qualities of those synonyms inside or hanging from them! It is helpful, in any case, to ask the children for their thoughts on Mind.
What qualities do they think of when they think of Mind? Some are super obvious, such as intelligence, wisdom, and understanding. But there are others that show up, like creator (think what invents, creates), ruler or governor. See how many qualities you can come up with together. It is okay to have them overlap with other synonyms.
PYCL #2: WHERE ARE WE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION/ADVICE/WISDOM/DIRECTION?
Talk about how we might ask our moms, dads, friends, or teachers for answers to things. Have we ever tried pausing to ask Mind? We know that Mind/God knows all things and is all-presence. Wouldn’t it make sense to ask this same Mind for direction when we feel like we don’t know what to do next?
It can seem like there’s “no one” there when we ask God something. But this isn’t true. Mind’s voice may not sound like a person, but it comes to us as intuition, as spiritual sense, and very often it also comes to us as a loving parent or adult and sometimes friends or peers.
If we ask Mind first, we tend to feel more peaceful about what we hear and what we take in. We also find that we can tell the difference, if we pause to ask Mind, between good and not so good advice or direction.
The whole Responsive Reading is helpful. It encourages us to wonder about where true wisdom actually derives, and it ends with: “…the Lord giveth wisdom: out of this mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” And before that it explains much about how we can really put our all into searching for divine wisdom, rather than just relying on human “advice” or human understanding. (Job 28:12 where , 14-16, 20,23,28; Prov. 2:3-6 if ).
PYCL #3: DON’T JUST WORK HARDER, BE HUMBLE AND ASK MIND!
How many times do we find ourselves working super hard, or thinking that there is no way but to stay up all night or struggle and toil, and forget to ask Mind if there is another way? In James 1:5/citation B3 it says: “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
When we find ourselves thinking that everything is “up to us” it’s a sure sign that we need to let humility in and recognize Mind’s role in our day. Discuss together where we might be able to pause in our days to see if we are trying to “do it all by ourselves” rather than check in with Mind.
What if we have a big homework assignment due at the end of the week? Discuss whether we might do better asking Mind how to approach our workload first, rather than carry it around as a burden all week and then struggle through it with so much effort.
PYCL #4: GO ON A ROAD TRIP OF GOODNESS.
ACTIVITY: Bring in some old fashioned maps, just for fun. Alternatively make up some with cool “sights” that are along certain routes. Have the children pick out a road trip path.
Read from citation B15/Prov. 2:6-9 “He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous:”. What does that mean? See what they say. Does it mean that if you are good/righteous then you get wisdom, like a reward? No! Mind doesn’t “make deals” with man. Rather, when you pick a path of right, of good, then you end up seeing a much bigger view, a more spiritual outlook.
Now go back to your maps and see where the roads lead.
Do they go by certain scenes or cool sights?
When we pick a route on the map that goes by beautiful scenery then that’s what we get to see, right?
In the same way, if we follow the paths of Mind we will see wisdom unfolded to us, beauty, grace, and so on.
PYCL #5: WHAT WOULD YOU ASK FOR?
Citation B6/1Kings 3:5-7, 9-12 (to;) is the story of King Solomon asking for wisdom when he hears God in a dream.
Do you think God/Mind is always communicating with us, His creation?
How do the students think Mind might be speaking to them today?
Read or tell the story from this section.
Do you think Solomon asked for the right thing?
What does wisdom give us that a more material bestowal does not and cannot?
One CedarS friend suggested to me this week that she noticed that he asked for wisdom, not to have no challenges! He was given the wisdom to face and overcome the challenges!
This is progress and growth, both are a source of joy.
Have fun in Sunday School!
