The Golden Text this week is from Isaiah.

The Golden text always sets the key theme for the lesson, and I think this is a really interesting choice for a lesson on Soul. Mary Baker Eddy consider the idea behind this Golden Text to be the “keynote of Christian Science” (See Miscellaneous Writings p366). What does this statement mean to you in the context of this lesson on Soul?

The Responsive Reading this week is from Jeremiah 31 & 32and sets out God’s new covenant with His people. What is a covenant? and what does this “new covenant” reveal about our relationship with God?

(Section 1) Mary Baker Eddy explains that “We run into error when we divide Soul into souls, multiply Mind into minds and suppose error to be mind, them mind to be matter and matter to be a lawgiver, unintelligence to act like intelligence, and mortality to be the matrix of immortality.” S&H 249:32 I don’t like to walk into error let alone run into it! What are the philosophical blunders that this passage is encouraging us to avoid?

(Section 2) The story of Ruth is used to illustrate much of this week’s lesson. Can you recount the story in your own words? It’s tough when relationships end,  far worse when loved ones die. What can support us through these challenges?

(Section 3) We read in Science and Health that “The rich in spirit help the poor in one grand brotherhood, all having the same Principle, or Father; and blessed is that man who seeth his brother’s need and supplieth it, seeking his own in another’s good.” S&H 518:15-21 Boaz was certainly keen to help Ruth. How have you been a blessing to others, how have others blessed you?

(Section 4) This section assures us that “All things work together for good to them that love God.” Romans 8:38 . What is demanded of us in loving God? What does it mean to be “governed by Soul”?

(Section 5) In this section Ruth and Boaz marry. All the S&H citations in this section come from the chapter on Marriage, but these ideas are also relevant to boyfriend-girlfriend relationships.  What lessons have you learnt about maintaining harmonious relationships? And how to choose a boyfriend/girlfriend/husband/wife.?

(Section 6) What light does an understanding of God as Soul, shed on Jesus healing?

This week’s lesson is on “Soul”, one of my favorite but perhaps one of the least understood synonyms for God. As the Bible lesson explains:

Here are some questions to prime the pump for our discussion on Sunday:

• Is soul breathed into matter? or is it an aspect of God reflected in His/Her creation?
• (In considering the entire lesson) What is Soul? What qualities and attributes do we associate with Soul?
• (Section 2) The Bible tells us that God made the heaven and the earth Jeremiah 32:17 , and that “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” John 1:3 .  How does Soul’s creation differ from sense-experience? And how does the latter yield to the former?
• (Section 3) How do you think Jesus heal the blind man at Bethsaida?
• (Section 4) Please note how the idea of blessing appears in this section. What is the meaning of “bless” and “blessings”? How do we bless God? And how does God bless us?
• (Section 5) What is identity? What is man? Who are we?
• (Section 6) What is the Kingdom of heaven? And how can it be at hand ?(See Matt 10:7 )

Look forward to seeing you on Sunday, bring any other question you may have then, and feel free to post comments, question, or answers below!

Daniel

And again this one of the synonyms for God that Mary Baker Eddy identified. In reality Love isn’t some vague human emotion – nor can it be dismissed as an evolved pschological trait. In Christian Science God is Love – the very source and grounds of our being. In CS Love isn’t abstract and wooly it is practical and what’s more Love is identified with Principle (note how this crops up in this week’s  lesson – if you have a print out of the lesson mark all the places Principle is mentioned).

The first Bible citation in Section 1 points out:

Section 1 really sets the scene for the whole lesson, bringing out how God=Love is infinite, All-in-all – and how this light shines on all. Section 2,3,4 bring out how God’s love for us is made practical and tangible on the human scene.

How many different types of relationships and love can you find featured in this week’s lesson?

Many of the Science and Health passages in section 4, are taken from the chapter on Marriage – the ideas in this chapter aren’t just for married people they are good for all relationships.

• What does S&H say about “beauty wealth and fame”?
• Instead what should one look for in a partner?
• What 4 things lead to happiness strength and permenance?
• What’s is needed for “happy and permenant companionship”?

You may also be intersted in checking out this video podcast at TMC Youth.com

http://tmcyouth.com/media/library/love-and-sexuality

The speaker Ginny Leudeman came and spoke to us here in Scarborough a few years ago.

This week’s Bible lesson in on Mind – another of Mary Baker Eddy’s seven synonyms for God. The Golden text is from Philippians (2:5).

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.

And the question of the week video on tmcyouth.com asks:

Question of the Week

if there is just one Mind (one God and intelligence of the universe), then how come there are so many disasters (like Haiti) and so on.

Do check out the video before Sunday and we’ll watch it again in class before discussing this topic.

There lots in the lesson to help us answer this question and to spark other discussions.

The first section reminds us “The time for thinkers has come”. How do God’s thoughts and mortals differ? The section ends with Mary Baker Eddy – the author of Science and Health – and founder of our church – describing herself as “a willing disciple at the heavenly gate, waiting for the Mind of Christ.” (S&H ix:16)

In section 2 – we see how Solomon serves God with “a perfect heart and with a willing mind”. We see how God opens the way, blesses and rewards, those with the right motives. Here there are perhaps some links back to last week’s question about “moral freedom”. There is also a big clue in this section to what it really means to have “that Mind which was also in Christ.”

The third section focuses on Christ Jesus himself. We read of his childhood as described in the Gospel of Luke – and how at the age of twelve he was found discussing religious and spiritual matters with the learned men of the church. It is perhaps no coincidence that 12 is the age one can unite with The Mother Church. In this section we are reminded that “we owe (Christ Jesus) endless homage.” Why?

The fourth section contains the bible story of the woman healed by touching Jesus garment. Jesus felt her spiritual touch – even while the multitude thronged him. The story illustrates how Christ Jesus read “mortal mind on a scientific basis”, and the passages in Science and Health explain this form of mental discernment or intuition and the essential role it continues to play in the healing the sick today.

The Fifth section features Jesus overcoming the power of death when he heals Jairus’ daughter (see Luke 8 40-55) and reminds us that while the same God-given healing power is available in every age – we need the “Mind .. which was also in Christ Jesus” if we are to “repeat the ancient demonstrations of prophets and apostles” (S&H 243:12)

The sixth and final section explains how having the Mind that was in Christ Jesus is the “foundation of fellowship” - how it is needed to establish the brotherhood of man. It’s a great section to work with in overcoming disputes in families, at work, in our churches and the world. The lesson ends with the sixth Tenet of Christian Science from Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy:

6. And we solemnly promise to watch, and pray for that Mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus; to do unto others as we would have them do unto us; and to be merciful, just, and pure.  (S&H 497:24)

BTW I have just posted all the Tenets of Christian Science on this site.

Check out the Bible resources and the Question of the week on TMCYouth.com

There is plenty is this week’s lesson for us to discuss this week, the Commandments, God’s covenant, the journey from sense to Soul.  Recipe for happiness.

This week’s lesson subject is “Spirit” – and the sub-theme is Fruits of the Spirit.  You can read “Cultivate the Fruits of the Spirit” in the Christian Science Sentinel .  Below are just some ideas I am thinking about as I prepare for Sunday’s Bible Lesson Class for teenagers in our Sunday School.

The Golden text which sets the theme for the lesson is from the King James Bible: -

Ephesian 5: 9 – the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;

The verse preceding it in the Bible speaks of the light of Spirit (as opposed darkness )and The Good News Bible, translates this week’s golden text:

for it is the light that brings a rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

When we study the Science of Christianity and live in this light of Spirit we can all expect our own “rich harvest of every kind of goodness, righteousness, and truth”. (Note it doesn’t say “wealth, fame, material possessions”. ) The Bible Lesson contains a lot of really helpful ideas about how to be more fruitful how to reap that “rich harvest”– how to be more productive and how to do more good works, including healing.

The last chapter in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy is called Fruitage – and contains testimonies of healing sent in by people who had been healed through reading Science and Health and studying and applying Christian Science. The lesson this week and every week contains ideas about how to heal and be healed.

The first section of the lesson reminds us that Jesus taught in parables, and the responsive reading is the parable of the sower and the seed. This parable can help us to understand – and thus avoid – the kind of thinking and activities that stop the seed from being fruitful – and yielding a harvest of 30-fold, 60-fold or 100-fold. What do you think the different scenarios in the parable represent? How did Christ Jesus explain them? What lesson can you learn for your life?

Section 2 – really helps us to think about the question: How did Christ Jesus heal? How can we heal? How can we cultivate the same kind of thought and spirituality that enabled Jesus to heal so effortlessly?

Section – 3 There lots to think about in every section and every Bible verse and passage from Science and Health that’s in the lesson. But one thing I am getting from this section 3 is the need to weed our thinking – we need to “watch and pray” to avoid temptation (see Matt 26:41) or as Science and Health puts it “Be watchful, sober, vigilant”.

Section – 4. Here we learn of Jesus Christ as the true vine and God as the “husbandman” (what is husbandman? ) What was Christ Jesus mission? What do we “most need”? And why? What are the signs that we are winning?

Section – 5. Here we read of Jesus healing on the Sabbath – and the Jobsworth who said he shouldn’t be healing on the Sabbath! Jesus knew the high law the over-ruled the petty limited sense of law that made the ruler of the synagogue indignant. The Science and Health passages in this section explain the superiority of this high law of Spirit and give some really practical pointers for our own healing work.

Section – 6. The final section of this week’s lesson reminds us that the early Christian Church grew because of the healing work of the first apostles – and that Christians today are still under “direct orders ..to heal the sick as well as the sinning” (Science and Health p 138). And this is so essential to our church.

Our church is built on the divine Principle, Love. We can unite with this church only as we are new-born of Spirit, as we reach the Life which is Truth and the Truth which is Life by bringing forth the fruits of Love, — casting out error and healing the sick.

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy p 35

The subject of this week’s Bible Lesson is “Love” – the 26 subjects for the lesson were choosen by the Churches founder, Mary Baker Eddy and they are repeat twice each year. The subjects may be the same, but every Lesson is unique – so it is always good to look for the sub-theme – and the Golden Text – always gives and indication of what this might be. This week is all about God’s “tender mercies” – how many times does the phrase appear in the lesson? Look out for the way this idea appears throughout the lesson. The theme is illustrated with the life or Saul/Paul.

Tender Merriam Websters online dicctionary defines tender in part  as

: marked by, responding to, or expressing the softer emotions : fond, loving <a tender lover>
4 a : showing care : considerate, solicitous <tender regard> b : highly susceptible to impressions or emotions : impressionable <a tender conscience>
5 a : appropriate or conducive to a delicate or sensitive constitution or character : gentle, mild <tender breeding> <tender irony> b : delicate or soft in quality or tone <never before heard the piano sound so tender — Elva S. Daniels>
6 obsolete : dear, precious

The First Section of the Lesson – helps us to understand God’s nature as Love and his tenderness better. Here we learn of God as Father and Mother.

It’s appropriate that Jane is taking the class this week! She gives lectures around the UK and overseas on “God’s Fathering and Mother in our lives.” as a member of the Christian Science Board of Lectureship.

The second section of the Lesson begins our exploration of the life of Paul, tough in this section he is still called Saul. Here we see how God’s tender mercies “blot out [] transgressions” and “divine Love corrects and governs man” – and wow ! If Saul can be transformed, anyone can!

What’s more we see how by mastering “mortal beliefs, animality and hate” we can rejoice in “the proof of heailng – in a sweet and certain sense that God is Love.” (S&H 569:11-3)

That’s all I have time for now, but enjoy exploring the lesson this week and have wonderful time exploring these and other  ideas from the lesson on Sunday! And bring any questions you have…

Daniel

PS every week there is always an article on the lesson on spirituality.com this week’s can be read online now!