CedarS Metaphysical Application Ideas for the Christian Science Bible Lesson “Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?” for 10-10-10
By Phebe Telschow, St. Louis, MO [bracketed italics by Warren Huff]
If we had asked just about anyone before the days of Christopher Columbus if the world was flat, they would have said, “Of course!” So it is these days when we approach the question, “Are sin, disease, and death real?” Most folks will answer that question with a resounding “yes!”
There are plenty of times in life when the truth is the exact opposite of popular opinion. Have you ever noticed that popular opinion is usually based on a material sense of things? Long ago, people thought the earth was flat because it LOOKED flat to them. As far as they could tell, earth stretched to the horizon and that's where it ended. In fact, many old maps labeled uncharted areas – especially in the ocean – with the warning, “Beyond this point there be dragons.” It's an apt metaphor for a common belief about the so-called timeline of mortal life. The mortal senses argue that life only extends to a certain point, and then it stops, and then it's as though we find ourselves in an uncharted place surrounded by dragons. (Check out the 6th section of this week's lesson and then we'll talk about dragons!) [–and about drag-ons or drag-on beliefs!]
But, just like the world has always been round despite material sense testimony and popular opinion, so it is with the fact that sin, disease, and death are unreal. Of course it's one thing to say this, and it's another to feel and know and prove this in our own lives. How exactly are we going to reason through the question in this week's subject and get the right answer? Speaking of maps and charts, Mrs. Eddy tells us that the Bible is “our chart of life.” (See Science and Health, p 24:4)
Remember Jesus' example? When he was tempted by the devil in the wilderness, he answered every false suggestion with a statement of truth, of divine law directly from Scripture – from God's own Word. Mrs. Eddy did the very same thing. They did this because they both knew that there's no arguing with God's Word. It's simply the absolute truth.
We need to deal with a question like “Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?” in exactly the same way. This week's lesson sermon offers us a very solid approach. Here are some study questions to help us dig in and do our own work on this important topic. You will want to have your lesson sermon close at hand as you read through these questions.
Golden Text (GT) and Responsive Reading (RR):
You'll notice these passages from Psalms talks a lot about “enemies”. Who or what are the enemies? [“flesh” (sin) GT; “the sorrows of hell … the snares of death; and “an evil disease” (RR)] What are we learning about who and what God is from these passages? How would you define God based on what you're reading here? What does that understanding of God do for all of us in relation to our enemies?
(SH 5 and 6) Why would Mrs. Eddy describe “knowledge” in this way? What's the difference between knowledge and understanding? Which would you like to pursue, and how do we go about doing that?
(SH 11) What is one of the most wonderful and little known benefits of overcoming a belief in the reality (power, desirability, inevitability) of sin?
(SH 16) What's the basis of reality according to the material senses? How does divine Science determine reality?
What's “the last enemy”? Has it been destroyed? If so, how? Who destroyed it?
(B24) What are “the leaves of the tree” and why are they so healing? (Read on to the citations in Science and Health for this section…)
(SH25) Remember the tree in the 2nd chapter of Genesis at the beginning of the lesson? Compare, contrast, and describe “the tree” in Revelation. What is the tree in Revelation and what does it symbolize?
PSST for “Are Sin, Disease, and Death Real?” for October 4-10, 2010
by Amy and Tom Evans, St. Louis, MO
Of course not! We are daily confronted with this question. Don’t forget the right answer. Name some subtle ways in which this question is posed to you each day (Fatigue at school, jealousy towards a peer, a sneeze…).
PSST for the Golden Text
“I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” Wow, that’s bold! What is behind this trust in God? What pact exists between people and our Father-Mother God which allows us to trust Her so fully? What simple commands can you apply to a situation which allow you to say without doubt that God is in control and protecting you?
PSST for Responsive Reading
What is it like to “walk before God in the light of the living”? Is that the way you always walk/act? Are there any requirements to live your life that way? Does it require a great deal of effort to follow God’s bright light? Are there physical light waves coming from God or is this a light of understanding? Are you creating any light or witnessing God’s provision in your life? Here is a little flash video from a former CedarS Counselor, David Bates, on TMC Youth to get you thinking about light-like ideas to banish the darkness of sin, disease, and death.
PSST for Section 1
B3 God is a transforming power. How has divine Mind touched your life this week, today? Are you paying attention? Do you ever get so caught up in the sorrow that you are not open to the good? How do we get rid of the “sackcloth” attitude? (Teachers, explain what sackcloth is, how it was always used to mourn publicly and attract attention to one’s sense of loss read more). How does our reliance on God turn us from sorry to joy?
S3 Do you think of Divine Mind as your best friend? Is this surprising? What kinds of things does your BFF do for you? How do you feel supported by your best friend? What does it mean for God, Mind, to be your best friend? How do you think about God? How do you talk about God? Do you always say “Him, Father, God…”? How do you hear others describe God? Is there an “official” Christian Science way to talk about God?
PSST for Section 2
When B6 says that “God created man in his own image,” what do you think the image of God is? What does it look and act like? The first “but” in the Bible appears in B7, the second chapter of Genesis. What does that mean to you? What does the word but signify? What happens before “but”? Think about the definition of knowledge in S6. What is true knowledge? What kind of knowledge are we seeking? What is the difference between knowledge and understanding?
PSST for Section 3
The serpent in the Garden of Eden was described as more subtle than any other creature. How do we guard against subtlety? How is sin subtle? How do you make sure that you aren’t being fooled by subtle thoughts that are completely unlike you? Think about S14. How do you change your course and do right when you’ve been doing wrong? Think of someone else you has done that. What needs to change in order to turn away from doing wrong and immediately doing good? Do you think it’s possible? What laws can we declare to be unsound and unable to govern us?
PSST for Section 4
What does in mean in B15 when it says “I have found a ransom”? How does God protect and preserve us from “going into the pit”? What is the pit that Job is describing? Why don’t we need to be concerned or afraid of it? S17 states that the “same power which heals sin also heals sickness.” Why is this? Is there are difference between lies? When you see through the nothingness of one lie, is it difficult to see through the nothingness of another lie? The following tmcyouth video challenges us to think differently about sin, disease, death, and evil. What stands out to you in it?
PSST for Section 5
What are some ways that we are preserved by God? Give an example of how you have trusted God completely, without any idea of how He would lead you. What do you think Paul means when he says that the “last enemy to be destroyed is death” (B19)? How have you witnessed the destruction of death? What kind of dying thoughts can you get rid of, and keep out of your experience? Look at S21. Think about the importance of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. Why do we value those events? What do most religions recognize as the significance of the crucifixion (hint: think about sin)? In Christian Science, we go one step further and recognize the significance of the resurrection. What did Jesus prove the nothingness of with his resurrection? How does this make Christian Science unique from other religions?
PSST for Section 6
How many times is the word salvation found in this section? What is salvation and why is it important to us? When John refers to a “wonder in heaven” in B22, is he talking about the kingdom of heaven that Jesus spoke of? How is the tree described in B24 different from the tree in the garden of Eden? Is there a choice of fruit for you to select from? Good or evil? Do we really choose? Is the right (moral, uplifted) choice always clear? How is the red dragon “ripe for destruction” (S27)? What does that mean? Apply this to your own life. Think about the talking serpent in Genesis 2. How is it different from the great red dragon in Revelation? Is there a difference between 1 x 0 and 1,000,000 x 0? How does man’s existence (S29) come to light? What is this light? What does real existence look like?
Special Announcements:
1) Registration has now opened for Cedars 50th anniversary jubilee over the August 19-22, 2011 weekend, and all Cedars alumni and supporters are warmly invited! To learn how you can participate in this special celebration, please visit www.cedarscamps.org/50th
2) You now can–and we hope you now will–use your Visa and Mastercard as well as Discovery Card and American Express and virtual checks to make monthly and one-time donations.
Thank you for considering writing a monthly check payable to CedarS Camps and mailing it to: CedarS Camps, 19772 Sugar Drive, Lebanon, MO 65536; or for calling Warren or Gay Huff at (636) 394-6162 to discuss gifts of securities or property you are considering giving to benefit CedarS.
Enjoy!