PSST: Enjoy Liberty You Can Understand, Rejoice in & Share!
Possible Sunday School Topics (PSSTs)for The Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson:
“Truth”
for July 23, 2023
prepared by Steve Henn for CedarS Camps
P.S.S.T. Golden Text (GT)/Psalms 19:8: “The Lord’s instruction is right; it makes our hearts glad. His commands shine brightly; and they give us light.”
Where can we look to find the Lord’s instruction?
What are the best parts of scripture for us to study deeply and know God’s teaching?
What are God’s commands, and how do they shine brightly?
How can a command of Truth give light? What type of light does Truth give?
Responsive Reading (RR)/
What is liberty? How does liberty relate to light?
What does it feel like to be in a state of complete freedom?
How does that compare to being in an environment, inside or outside, that is radiating with light?
How does Truth help us to see and feel this freedom; how does Truth help us to experience this liberty?
P.S.S.T. Section 1:
What does it mean to seek and strive for Truth? What does it look like? What actions can we take? How often should we take these actions if we truly want to find Truth? What does yearning feel like? Do your students yearn for truth? What is the result of pursuing Truth? What are we capable of when we put God first?
P.S.S.T. Section 2:
How much effort do your students put into the pursuit of Truth on a daily, weekly basis? (cit. B5/Proverbs 23:12, 23, 26) How hard is this work? How hard should it be?
What is the value of putting in the effort necessary to find Truth? {cit. B7/I Cor. 2:9-12)
What must we value above all else if we are to truly find Truth in our daily lives?
(“Understanding…” (cit. S11/506:5; cit. S12/322:3-9; cit. B6/I Kings 3:9)
P.S.S.T. Section 3:
How openly do your students show their love for Truth? (cit. B8/Ps:40:8 I delight… I have not hid… declared… not concealed…)
How consistently do they commit themselves to following God’s directions, rules, laws?
How much preparation do we put into receiving Truth? What does it look like to prepare our hearts, and what is the result of preparing our hearts and minds for Truth?
P.S.S.T. Section 4:
How courageous is Jesus in this section? (cit. B14/Luke 13:11-17)
What reasons does he have to not be so courageous?
How does he stand against those reasons and still commit himself to Truth?
How often are we presented with an opportunity to be a fearless witness of Truth? Do we ever shrink from that moment? What would happen if we embraced it?
P.S.S.T. Section 5:
How much does God love us? (cit. B18/James 1:17, 18)
What does it mean to be a firstfruit? What value is put on the firstfruits?
Look up what it meant to Jesus students in their time.
What are the responsibilities that follow being a firstfruit?
The first born in a family had a position of privilege in Jesus’ time, but also a position of responsibility.
How seriously do your students take the responsibility of being aware of and familiar with Truth?
How often do they share it?
What does it take to share Truth with our fellow students, coworkers, family?
What tempts us to not, and how can we overcome those temptations?
What is the result of not sharing? What is the possibility if we share? (cit. S25/37:22)
P.S.S.T. Section 6:
How often do your students genuinely rejoice in the awesomeness of Truth?
How often do they marvel in the amazingness of God’s law and the blessings we receive from it?
Take a moment to write a list of all the great things we have to be grateful for because of God – and press your students to go beyond the surface to the truly deep blessings we receive from Truth on a daily basis.
How does this type of reflection help us to purify our hearts?
What is the benefit and blessing of being pure in heart – for us and those around us?
