PYCL: Think together about how the Lesson’s 4 stories show Soul’s blessing on man. (#1, 2)
Possible Younger Class Lesson ideas for the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson on
“Soul”
for July 26 thru Sunday, August 15, 2021
by Kerry Jenkins, CS, of House Springs, MO
kerry.helen.jenkins@gmail.com • 314-406-0041
Pycl #1: [Don’t be caught list-less!] List together ways we daily feel God’s blessings of ‘spiritual good’.
Since there is a big emphasis on how God blesses us this week in our lesson, ask the students why Soul might be most associated with blessing? A helpful clue is in citation S1/60:29-31) about how happiness is something we can hold onto better when we are looking for it in Soul!
In what ways do we feel God’s blessing each day? Can you make a list together of any ways? Because soul, as a word in the Bible, is associated with “spiritual sense”, and Mary Baker Eddy tells us that “Spiritual sense is the discernment of spiritual good.” (505:20-21) can we discern spiritual good? List what we see/experience that is a result of ‘spiritual good’. Consider how our ability to discern this good around us, and attribute it to Soul/God, might make us more aware of how we are being blessed by God/Soul. These blessings are consistent, constant, and abundant. Our practice of discerning them makes them more and more apparent to us! You could begin with a list, and then perhaps, weather permitting, take a little walk outside to see what you can discern together of Soul’s blessing/spiritual goodness.
Pycl #2: Share Bible stories in this Lesson [Jesus healing the deaf/dumb & feeding 5,000 + Ruth and Elisha’s blessings] and think together about how they show Soul’s blessing on man.
Look at all the stories contained in this lesson together. Maybe you cut each one out of a paper copy of the Bible lesson. Lay them on the table. Have the children pick which one they want you to tell to them. After you have shared each story (There is Jesus’ healing of the deaf and dumb man from Mark 7:31-37/cit. B18; Jesus feeding the multitudes from Matt. 14:14-21/cit. B15; part of Ruth’s story from Ruth 2: 2,3,5-7,8,11,12/cit. B9; and Elisha making the big pot of stew go from poisonous to nutritious/cit. B7)
When you retell the stories make sure to explain the details that children might not know. For example, what was unusual about Ruth being in Israel? Why did she want to follow her mother-in-law?
Why was it important that she happened to gather grain, her first day out, in the field of Boaz, rather than some other farmer?
Why would “meal” make the pot of stew safe to eat? What really happened?
What law was in operation when a couple of fish and loaves of bread fed multitudes?
Think together about how these stories illustrate Soul’s blessing on man.
Pycl #3: Ask students to think of a time when they had the very most fun— personally & in a group.
Think about citation S13/15:26-30 which tells us that these qualities help God’s blessings appear to us: “Self-forgetfulness, purity, and affection, practice, understanding…” Or in citation S16/58:7-12 where it says: “Unselfish ambition, noble life-motives, and purity,…these constituents of thought, mingling, constitute individually and collectively true happiness, strength, and permanence.”
Share some ideas about what unselfish ambition, noble life-motives, and purity mean.
Also, think about the last part together about how they make us happier both collectively, and individually. What does collectively mean?
Do the students (if they are just a bit older) think that these qualities sound boring?
Think of a time when they had the very most fun in their lives.
Analyze each of their stories and find the elements that contain these qualities in each of their memories!
Since Soul is aligned with spiritual sense, or how we feel God’s presence, maybe we can think about what qualities Soul expresses that make it easier for us to hear, feel, see, God/Soul. Ruth’s story is helpful here, but all of them work!
Pycl #4: Share Goldfish crackers and Swedish Fish together while you review the Beatitudes!
With the smaller children I think acting out the story of Jesus feeding the multitudes is fun.
Bring Goldfish crackers for fish, or Swedish Fish chewy candy, and maybe a sleeve of crackers for a “loaf” of bread. When you go to “multiply” these things you can simply open the sleeve of crackers and pretend there are many loaves. Or just stick to the fish part, kids are not picky!
Talk about the young “lad” who brought these snacks with him. Do you think you would have wanted to share if Jesus had asked you to give up the snack you planned on sharing with your family?
Talk about how love expands when you share and sing the song together “Love is something when you give it away”. You can find this on YouTube. [ https://youtu.be/IclFQj4l3F0 ]
This is a perfect song to illustrate the infinite nature of Soul and Soul’s blessings!
Share the crackers and fish together while you review the Beatitudes!
Pycl #5: You can also act out the story of Elisha. Bring a big cooking pot with you to Sunday School. Pretend to drop things in the “stew”. Think what things “poison” our community, whether it’s school or family, or some other setting. Maybe it is holding a grudge against someone, or gossiping about someone, or being annoyed at a sibling. These could be things you pretend to throw in the “stew”.
What can we throw in to keep these things from poisoning the stew?
How about a kind word, a willingness to turn away from gossip and change the subject, or to think about good qualities one of our siblings possesses?
One aspect of this story that is instructive is highlighted by citation S11/273:1-4,18 “There is no material truth.” That means that nothing in matter is a law that cannot be overcome by Soul. That is why we can have healing!!
Have a great week in Sunday School!!
