[PSST: Lift up all humanity! Counter demeaning views of all individuals. (GT)]
Possible Sunday School Topics for the Christian Science Bible Lesson
“Adam and Fallen Man”
for May 1-7, 2017
prepared by Merrill Boudreaux, CS
pegasus6524@gmail.com 314-308-1059
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT) – What does the opening of the Golden Text tell us? Clearly that God is with us, has not abandoned us, is mindful of us, and that not only is God our God but that we are His/Hers.
The second part states that God has broken the bands of our yoke. What does that mean to your students? Perhaps our burdens are removed. More importantly the claim from the Adam dream that because of Adam and Eve’s disobedience all of humanity is remanded to grovel and … eat dust all our days; that all humanity is forever cursed. This second part of the Golden Text tells us that we are lifted up, that indeed we are upright. Ask students how this truth, this lifting up of humankind is a direct counter to the belief that any individual on the world stage should be viewed. This truth, this uprightness is not limited to one sect, race, or tribe but is the forever truth that man is upright, whole, and free. Read together Hymn 119 from the Christian Science Hymnal (below).
P.S.S.T. Responsive Reading – Let’s carry forward the idea of illumination, or God, Spirit, shedding light on and before each of us. How is the light of God’s truth expressed in the Responsive Reading?
- His glory shall be seen upon thee
- All humanity, Gentiles and kings, shall come to this light
- The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord
- He commanded and it stood fast
- The counsel of the Lord stands forever
- Because God looks from heaven, in harmony, to behold all the sons of men we are charged to behold the upright and the result is peace
What also are we called to do? Mark the perfect man. See Science & Health 476:32-5 as an excellent memory opportunity.
Now let us look to the rest of this Lesson to see the illumination of what God created and maintains.
P.S.S.T. Section 1 – How did God create man? B2. What did God see in this creation? Is this still true today? Is this you today? How many creators are there? S2. How many creations are there? What are some of the qualities of this creation mentioned in citation S4? Declare for yourself that this is what you can also see when beholding mankind.
P.S.S.T. Section 2 – What is the essential belief from the bible story in this section? “And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam…” What is symbolic about being made to close one’s eyes and to sleep? Perhaps that humankind can be blinded to all the good that is rightfully man’s as listed in Genesis 1. What else does sleep portend? Turning away from light, illumination, belief that one has lost perfection (S9). Help students remember this story introduces a new concept of God – called Lord God or Jehovah, and that this Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground. Ask students what they think happens if someone throws dust in their eyes? How can they recover from this temporary blindness? What can they do about it? Live with it, or hastily wash it away? Is this the same approach that can be used when a false view – let’s call it sin, sickness, accident, disease, or death – is thrown into your sight? Can that which is perfect ever lose its perfection – lose sight of perfection? (S9).
P.S.S.T. Section 3 – What is the essential belief in the Bible story in this section? “…in the day that ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.” What is the trick here? Claiming to open the eyes while actually closing them to perfection and seeing blindly into a “dust” storm. Note also the offer to be as gods; note the lower case “g” rather than a capitol “G” reserved for the one God. Note also the offer of bothness rather than oneness, that is seeing both good and evil rather than good only, perfection only. Are you still being tricked today? What does Mary Baker Eddy say about this error of belief in citation S14? Note the bothness she identifies. What must you claim for yourself? Mortal, material, non-intelligent you, or the perfect, intelligent, illumined you?
P.S.S.T. Section 4 – What is the promise for you and all humankind stated in citation B5? Can the eyes filled with dust see clearly? You must first do what? Remove the dust. How can you do that? See SH 201:17-18 (below).
Read together the Bible story in citation B7. How does this healing act relate to what we have been talking about in this Lesson? Read together citation S17. Pay particular attention to lines 3-6. What is Mary Baker Eddy’s guidance to us in Miscellany 210:2 (below)?
P.S.S.T. Section 5 – Are there laws about man and the universe that have become clear to you by studying this Lesson? State them here. See also citation B10. What a wonderful thing to be free from sin and death, to be free from blindness in how we behold ourselves and all mankind.
Read together Hymn 135 in the Christian Science Hymnal (below).
Do you realize the power and impact of the laws of the universe you are seeing more clearly? See citations S24 and S25.
P.S.S.T. Section 6 – What is the blessing or benediction to you in citation B12? This is incontrovertible. What does that word mean? Indisputable, undeniable, unquestionable. With this truth you can speak with authority. See SH 14:25 (below). You have this Life divine and no trickster can blind you to it.
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Hymn 119:
“Holy Spirit, source of gladness, Come with all Thy radiance bright;
Lift all burdens and all sadness; O’er Thy children shed Thy light.
Let the Love that knows no measure, Now in quickening showers descend;
Bring to us the richest treasure Man can wish or God can send.
Send us Thine illumination; Banish all our fears at length;
Rest upon this congregation, Spirit of unfailing strength.”
Science & Health 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.”
“The way to extract error from mortal mind is to pour in truth through flood-tides of Love.”
Miscellany 210:2:
“Beloved Christian Scientists, keep your minds so filled with Truth and Love, that sin, disease, and death cannot enter them. It is plain that nothing can be added to the mind already full. There is no door through which evil can enter, and no space for evil to fill in a mind filled with goodness. Good thoughts are an impervious armor; clad therewith you are completely shielded from the attacks of error of every sort. And not only yourselves are safe, but all whom your thoughts rest upon are thereby benefited.
“The self-seeking pride of the evil thinker injures him when he would harm others. Goodness involuntarily resists evil. The evil thinker is the proud talker and doer. The right thinker abides under the shadow of the Almighty. His thoughts can only reflect peace, good will towards men, health, and holiness.”
Hymn 135:
“I know no life divided, O Lord of life, from Thee; In Thee is life provided For all mankind and me: I know no death, O Father, Because I live in Thee; Thy life it is that frees us From death eternally.
“I fear no tribulation, Since, whatsoe’er it be, It makes no separation Between my Lord and me: Since Thou, my God and Father, Dost claim me as Thine own, I richly shall inherit All good, from Thee alone.”
Science & Health 14:25:
“Entirely separate from the belief and dream of material living, is the Life divine, revealing spiritual understanding and the consciousness of man’s dominion over the whole earth. This understanding casts out error and heals the sick, and with it you can speak “as one having authority.”
