This is the discussion sheet I will use with my junior high Sunday School students on August 3, 2008. Its title is the title of the Bible Lesson that students of Christian Science have been studying since July 28. “SH” refers to Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
Love 8-3-08 Sara Lincoln
The Lord says, “I have always loved you,” loved YOU, (Malachi 1: 2). What does Love have to do with your intelligence, opportunities, happiness, and health?
Does Love just happen to you, or do you also need to look to Love and thank Love?
In Article VIII of the Church Manual, Mary Baker Eddy gives us a ’Rule for Motives and Acts.’ What does this rule say about Love? What ‘rule’ seems most important to you?
Every Sunday, the Christian Science church service concludes with a statement about love, I John 3: 1-3. Let’s read this passage from several different translations of the Bible then write down some main points in our own words.
What is the “doctrine of absolute Christian Science”? SH 454: 9
“Man and woman as coexistent and eternal with God forever reflect, in glorified quality, the infinite Father-Mother God.” SH 516: 21. What are five of your best qualities, and what makes them ‘glorified’? Which of the qualities named in Galatians 5: 22, 23 would you like to express more of and receive more of?
When David was a young man, about your age, he offered to fight and defeat a big threat to Saul’s army. The threat was ______________. Tell us that story from
I Samuel 17.
How does this statement from our textbook apply to David, and to you? SH 571: 15
“David reigned over all Israel and executed judgment and justice unto all his people,” (II Samuel 8: 15)but one time he abused his powers as king: he took the wife of another man and killed the man. Tell us that story from II Samuel 11: 2-5
Which of Moses’ commandments did David violate?
Did God forgive David? ______ LOVE inspired David to admit his sin and to pray
(Ps. 51: 10): “Create in me a ____________ ___________, O God; and renew a ____________ __________ within me.” It was a sincere desire and from then on, “David did that which was right in the eyes _____ _____ ________.”
(I Kings 15:4, 5) We can learn from David’s experience that Love knows only our ___________________ and helps us know it too.
In Jesus’ time, a blind man was crying out for mercy and he called Jesus a “son of David” (Luke 18: 35-43). How could that be since David lived 1000 years before Jesus?
In Revelation, the Apostle John presents Jesus as saying, “I am the root and offspring of David, the bright and morning star.” (Rev. 22: 16).
Who is the ‘I’ that is both the parent (root) and child (offspring) of David?
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Truth
This is the discussion sheet I will use with my junior high Sunday School students on July 27, 2008. Its title is the title of the Bible Lesson that students of Christian Science have been studying since July 21. “SH” refers to Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy.
Truth 7-27-08 Sara Lincoln
“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8: 31-32 Why do you suppose Jesus chose ‘truth’ instead of another one of the synonyms for God?
“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” Where is this question used? This question ends with four additional words: ___ ______ ____ _____
The person about to give testimony in a court of law has her hand on the Bible. Why?
What does the first tenet (basic teaching) of Christian Science say about Truth and
the Bible? Put this tenet in your own words:
Truth is a synonym for ________ but our textbook also combines another name with Truth: ____________ SH 30:19; 31:15; 251:13; 316:7; 473:10-12
Jesus used a metaphor to show how practical truth is. He said that anyone who looks for truth, accepts the truth, and applies the truth is like a person building a house on rock instead of sand. Let’s read this parable, Luke 6: 47-49. Jesus was not just talking about a material house. He was talking about ____________________. You are not building a house right now, but you are choosing ________________ thoughts and relying on the ________________ they give you. What is the spiritual meaning of rock?
Where is truth when you want it and need it? The Psalmists gave good answers to that question. Put each answer in your own words:
Ps. 145: 18-19
Ps. 27: 4-5
Do you look for truth, or does Truth look for you?
A woman had a disease. She had spent ‘all her living’ on medical treatments, but the doctors could not cure her. See Luke 8: 43-48. One day she worked her way through the crowd in order to get close to Jesus. When she touched his robe, she was healed immediately. Jesus said it was______ __________that had made her whole.
Was this woman seeking relief or truth? ______ Was Truth also seeking her? ______
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus mentioned some states of thought that are ‘blessed.’ Which beatitude applies to this woman’s story?
Jesus knew he was ‘the light’ and said so (John 8: 12). The Pharisees did not like it that Jesus made such claims about himself. How about you? What claims do you make about yourself?
Tell us about a time you remembered to ‘tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth’ about yourself.
Truth 7-27-08 Sara Lincoln
“Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8: 31-32 Why do you suppose Jesus chose ‘truth’ instead of another one of the synonyms for God?
“Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?” Where is this question used? This question ends with four additional words: ___ ______ ____ _____
The person about to give testimony in a court of law has her hand on the Bible. Why?
What does the first tenet (basic teaching) of Christian Science say about Truth and
the Bible? Put this tenet in your own words:
Truth is a synonym for ________ but our textbook also combines another name with Truth: ____________ SH 30:19; 31:15; 251:13; 316:7; 473:10-12
Jesus used a metaphor to show how practical truth is. He said that anyone who looks for truth, accepts the truth, and applies the truth is like a person building a house on rock instead of sand. Let’s read this parable, Luke 6: 47-49. Jesus was not just talking about a material house. He was talking about ____________________. You are not building a house right now, but you are choosing ________________ thoughts and relying on the ________________ they give you. What is the spiritual meaning of rock?
Where is truth when you want it and need it? The Psalmists gave good answers to that question. Put each answer in your own words:
Ps. 145: 18-19
Ps. 27: 4-5
Do you look for truth, or does Truth look for you?
A woman had a disease. She had spent ‘all her living’ on medical treatments, but the doctors could not cure her. See Luke 8: 43-48. One day she worked her way through the crowd in order to get close to Jesus. When she touched his robe, she was healed immediately. Jesus said it was______ __________that had made her whole.
Was this woman seeking relief or truth? ______ Was Truth also seeking her? ______
In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus mentioned some states of thought that are ‘blessed.’ Which beatitude applies to this woman’s story?
Jesus knew he was ‘the light’ and said so (John 8: 12). The Pharisees did not like it that Jesus made such claims about himself. How about you? What claims do you make about yourself?
Tell us about a time you remembered to ‘tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth’ about yourself.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Life
This is the discussion sheet I will use with my junior high Sunday School students on July 20, 2008. Its title is the title of the Bible Lesson that students of Christian Science have been studying since July 14. “SH” refers to Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy
Life 7-20-08 Sara Lincoln
You were born to your biological parents. Did they give you life? ________________
People are likely to start asking questions about life when
What questions about life are you asking?
Where does one find answers to questions about life?
Is it ‘ignorant’ people, or ‘thinkers’ who ask questions?
How do you know if you are a thinker or just going along with others’ ideas?
In your daily conversations with your Pastor, does the Pastor ask you questions or give you answers?
Let’s look at some ‘answer’ passages and ask ‘what question does this passage answer’?
(1) “Life is, always has been, and ever will be independent of matter; for Life is God, and man is the idea of God, not formed materially but spiritually, and not subject to decay and dust.”
SH: 200 9-13
The question was _________________________
(2) “Divine Principle is the Life of man. Man's happiness is not, therefore, at the disposal of physical sense.” SH: 304: 17-19
The question was __________________________
(3) “To calculate one's life-prospects from a material basis, would infringe upon spiritual law and misguide human hope.” SH 319: 5-7
The question was _________________
About the time of David, 3000 years ago, thinkers wrote down some stories in response to the question, ‘who were the first humans?’ They described a man made of dust and a woman made of a rib bone, Adam and Eve. These two forgot the Lord’s command not to eat (take in) the knowledge of evil and its actions, so they were expelled from their happy home. The story of Adam and Eve was not a very helpful model, so the authors of Genesis also told the story of Abram. Because he had a strong sense of the Creator as his only Life and Mind and was willing to trust in good, he was led forward, not expelled. He heard the Lord’s directive to do what? Gen. 12: 1-5.
What do you like about the description of Abraham in our textbook?
To trust in good is to experience the life-preserving power of _________________ __________________________.
As you answer the question, ‘who was the first man,’ will you choose Adam or Abraham as your answer? _______________ Why?
Life, 7-20-08, continued
Abram heard the Lord say, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Gen. 15: 1-6) but Abram wondered how this ‘reward’ would continue if he had no children. The Lord said, you will have as many children as there are ___________ ____ the ______________. Abram believed the Lord. He really did trust in good, and that’s what man does, what you and I do, no matter what the situation. We trust in good.
About 2000 years after Abraham, Paul said (in his letter to the Hebrews, 11: 8, 11, 12) that Abraham and Sara were both examples of __________________ What do you think they were examples of?
Who has the greatest possibilities in life, a person aged 12, 22, or 62?
Isa. 40: 28, 31.
Jesus saw a dead man being carried out of the city of Nain. What possibilities for life did that man have? Luke 7: 11-15
Can you think of any other examples when Jesus proved that life is true and disease / death are not true?
Three of Jesus’ disciples got to see Jesus talking with Elias (Elisha) and Moses who had been dead for hundreds of years. Let’s read about it in Mark 9: 2-10.
Were Elias and Moses dead?
What new thing, or reminder, about life was the most useful in today’s lesson?
Life 7-20-08 Sara Lincoln
You were born to your biological parents. Did they give you life? ________________
People are likely to start asking questions about life when
What questions about life are you asking?
Where does one find answers to questions about life?
Is it ‘ignorant’ people, or ‘thinkers’ who ask questions?
How do you know if you are a thinker or just going along with others’ ideas?
In your daily conversations with your Pastor, does the Pastor ask you questions or give you answers?
Let’s look at some ‘answer’ passages and ask ‘what question does this passage answer’?
(1) “Life is, always has been, and ever will be independent of matter; for Life is God, and man is the idea of God, not formed materially but spiritually, and not subject to decay and dust.”
SH: 200 9-13
The question was _________________________
(2) “Divine Principle is the Life of man. Man's happiness is not, therefore, at the disposal of physical sense.” SH: 304: 17-19
The question was __________________________
(3) “To calculate one's life-prospects from a material basis, would infringe upon spiritual law and misguide human hope.” SH 319: 5-7
The question was _________________
About the time of David, 3000 years ago, thinkers wrote down some stories in response to the question, ‘who were the first humans?’ They described a man made of dust and a woman made of a rib bone, Adam and Eve. These two forgot the Lord’s command not to eat (take in) the knowledge of evil and its actions, so they were expelled from their happy home. The story of Adam and Eve was not a very helpful model, so the authors of Genesis also told the story of Abram. Because he had a strong sense of the Creator as his only Life and Mind and was willing to trust in good, he was led forward, not expelled. He heard the Lord’s directive to do what? Gen. 12: 1-5.
What do you like about the description of Abraham in our textbook?
To trust in good is to experience the life-preserving power of _________________ __________________________.
As you answer the question, ‘who was the first man,’ will you choose Adam or Abraham as your answer? _______________ Why?
Life, 7-20-08, continued
Abram heard the Lord say, “Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Gen. 15: 1-6) but Abram wondered how this ‘reward’ would continue if he had no children. The Lord said, you will have as many children as there are ___________ ____ the ______________. Abram believed the Lord. He really did trust in good, and that’s what man does, what you and I do, no matter what the situation. We trust in good.
About 2000 years after Abraham, Paul said (in his letter to the Hebrews, 11: 8, 11, 12) that Abraham and Sara were both examples of __________________ What do you think they were examples of?
Who has the greatest possibilities in life, a person aged 12, 22, or 62?
Isa. 40: 28, 31.
Jesus saw a dead man being carried out of the city of Nain. What possibilities for life did that man have? Luke 7: 11-15
Can you think of any other examples when Jesus proved that life is true and disease / death are not true?
Three of Jesus’ disciples got to see Jesus talking with Elias (Elisha) and Moses who had been dead for hundreds of years. Let’s read about it in Mark 9: 2-10.
Were Elias and Moses dead?
What new thing, or reminder, about life was the most useful in today’s lesson?
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