Soul & Body - November 17-23, 2008

S&H 218:7 "The consciousness of Truth rests us more than hours of repose in unconsciousness."

I don't think Mrs. Eddy was referring to unconsciousness from being hit on the head too hard - I think she meant NOT being conscious of who we really are.  Lets work this week on being FULLY conscious of Truth - and see where it takes us.

As we think about our next time together, I want all of you to consider very deeply what I am about to say. Let's pretend that I know for sure that there will be a guest in our class this next Sunday.  This guest is someone who has never been to a Christian Science Sunday School and doesn't know very much about it.  Please consider the type of class you would like to have to welcome this individual and what types of things you know and love about Christian Science that would be worth sharing.  Also think about what it means to really listen if someone poses a question.  Having this type of attitude as we go to class each week, will help us all be better listeners and better participants.

Let's get to the lesson.

Golden Text & Responsive Reading

What does the Golden Text establish as Soul & Body?

Here is the GT from The Message: "...God's temple is sacred - and you, remember, are the temple."

From Psalms 90:17 - think of the word "establish" - which means to set and fix firmly or unalterably - What should you be establishing about yourself and your relationship to God?  Make a List - keep checking it.

Section I
B1 - If you do nothing else this week, but exactly what this citation says - you will have done much.  "Stand still and consider the wondrous works of God."

S2 - What does Mrs. Eddy mean by "man is not a material habitation for Soul..."?  What is your identity?  Are you labeling yourself with limiting thoughts?

S4 - How do these statements provide a reality check for your real identity?

S6 - If God fashions all things after His own likeness - wouldn't it be helpful to know God as well as you can, so you can see yourself more clearly?   What's stopping you?

Section II
B6 - The strong man referred to in this citation is error/evil - so knowing that, can you see what Jesus was trying to get his listeners to realize?  You have to control error and take away any power that you may have given to it.  See Marker 9 in S&H.

S8 - What are the images of your thinking that you are impressing upon your body?  Are they images that are limited or unlimited?  Watch your thinking.

S9 - Starting with page 400 line 9 - list the actions Mrs. Eddy says you need to take to have harmony & health.  I'll help with the first one:  Forsake discord - (do you know what forsake means?)

S10 - Stand porter - What conclusions about life, health and body to you want to experience?  Make sure those are the only concepts you are letting enter your thought.

Section III
B11 - What is meant by "overcometh the world"  Why is it important to believe that Jesus is the son of God?

S12 - This is one of my favorite passages in Science & Health - what does it mean that Spirit is the primitive and ultimate source of man's being?

S14 - Have any of you dealt with limitations of mortal heredity?  Here is the counterfact to that belief.

Section IV
This whole section is so clear about Life, energy, ability, rest & action
read B16 - Isaiah 40:31 - a bible favorite - they that wait upon the Lord...  Look at all you get by waiting on the Lord - The question to ask yourself is how do you wait?  What does it mean to wait?

Do you know what a Yoke does?  It shares the burden of the work.  Here is that passage from The message:

"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me.  Watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

S16 - Are you saying things to yourself - about yourself that are limiting you?  Are you defining yourself physically?  Are you accepting limitation as your reality?  Let's stop referring to ourselves in any way but spiritual and perfect.

S18 - Spiritual demand - look to each demanding situation and ask what is the spiritual demand - is it discipline, focus, to express grace, humility, courage - the demand of spirit comes with its own supply to fulfill it.  Turn your so called physical demands into spiritual power.

S19 - If this statement is true, and it is, how would you make all your work/experience Holy?  And if you did it - what is the result?

Section V
What is important about knowing where seeing and hearing come from according to these Bible passages?

B21 - Pay attention - it was the blind man's faith in the Christ that healed them.  It is the same for you.

S22 - Let's talk about this statement.  Does death restore sight, hearing and strength?  What are we hoping for?  Death - or the death of mortal beliefs?

Section VI
B24 - How does this relate to the Golden Text?  What did we learn in the lesson that helps us know what our temple is?

S27 - What does it mean to divest thought?  What are some of the false trusts we need to get rid of?  Bring a list it may include things like - strength comes from muscles, intelligence comes from the brain, think of your own false trusts.  I hope you see how important it is to do this.  If you can see what is false and replace it with what is true - it establishes your temple!  And that relationship with God!

I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

Have a great week - and as always you can call, e-mail me, or leave me a comment on the blog.

Mama J

November 10-16 * Mortals & Immortals

Hi everyone,

Sorry I missed sending out the Questions last week - it was just super busy for me and clearly I did not heed my own rice and ping pong ball theory!!

I know that you all are in the middle of your finals, so lets try and think through the lesson using the questions as an opportunity to explore how understanding the answers can help you take those tests!

Golden Text & Responsive Reading
What does it mean to be "earthy"?  Is there anything wrong with being "earthy"?

Are you corruptible or incorruptible?

If you are stedfast and unmoveable - how can you be "abounding" in God's work? - Or how is it possible to abound in God's work without being stedfast & unmoveable?  Try and see how these two seemingly opposite ideas are actually needed for doing God's work.

Section I
B4 -  What is the spirit of adoption?

Section II
B5 - What can you do to "be in Christ"?  What is your reward for doing it?

B6 - Ask yourself which way you are sowing - to flesh? or to spirit?

B7 - What does the story of the adulterous woman tell you about "human" nature?  And what does it show about the presence of The Christ?
Why does it matter to you?
Do you look at situations from a "human" perspective or through the lense of Christ?  Do you know how to look at things the way Christ Jesus did?  Let's try and do that this week.

S9 - What is a counterfeit?

Section III
B8 - What kind of thought did the nobleman have to be able to accept so calmly Jesus' healing message for his dying son?  Are you that receptive when offered the Truth from practitioners, parents, friends?  Why or why not?

S14 - This is a great Truth to stick with when working out a problem.  Are you really insisting mentally that harmony is the fact?

Section IV
B10 - As a Christian Scientist what does it really mean to be "born again"?  Bring your thoughts on this to class.

S19 - Do you need to be "born again" if you are completely clear about the first statement here?  "Immortal man is not and never was material, but always spiritual and eternal."

Section V
B12 - Do you have any idea about the significance of the transfiguration?  What really happened here?  How were Peter and James and John able to see Moses and Elias?  Did it change them in anyway?

B14 - What do you think it means to see "face to face"?

S24 - "entirely separate" is the Life divine - if it is separate - where is it? Are you living in the dream of matter of in the Life Divine?

S25 - Here is a "when" statement.  These always mean you have some work to do - what is the work you need to do according to this statement?

S26 - Do you want to be able to reason correctly? (could help on tests) Here is how to do it - Keep one fact before your thought - SPIRITUAL EXISTENCE!!!!

I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday. Have a great week.

Mrs. J