CS Bible Insights

Dear Friends, Two main words that are the threads in this week's lesson are: "understanding" and "wisdom."

Mrs. Eddy writes the highest definition of "wisdom" on page 364 in Miscellaneous Writings.

"Christian Science refutes everything that is not a postulate of the divine Principle, God. It is the soul of divine philosophy, and there is no other philosophy. It is not a search after wisdom, it is wisdom: It is God's right hand grasping the universe, -- all time, space, immortality, thought, extension, cause, and effect; constituting and governing all identity, individuality, law, and power."

Here is a Word Study of the words understanding and wisdom from the Hebrew and Greek definitions and from the 1828 Webster's Dictionary. And a chart of the attributes and qualities of Mind. (Please know these can be added to eternally!)

Word Study for the Lesson on Mind

Qualities of MIND

_________________

Responsive Reading - last verse: James 1:17

James 1:17 Every good gift

_________________

Research on Timothy t0 go with the verse II Tim. 3:14,15 in Section 5.

This research is long, but it tells about Timothy's background, about the importance of Sunday School, and about Timothy's discipleship. I found it very interesting, and especially helpful with this verse.

II Tim 3. 14 to 15 Research on Timothy

_________________

SH 269:14-16 Metaphysics resolves things into thoughts, and exchanges the objects of sense for the ideas of Soul.

SH 575:13-14 Spiritual teaching must always be by symbols.

In thinking about the passage about the "Poor wise man delivering the city," I couldn't find anything that was especially inspiring in commentaries or in the original language. So I attempted to just pray and take notes on what was coming to me. I'm going to share those notes.

Eccl 9.14 to 15 one wise man

___________________________

Here is some research on the two main stories in this week's Lesson:

II Kings 6.8: Elisha and the Syrian Army

Notice that Elisha, the prophet or spiritual seer, was one who "with spiritual perception and wisdom delivered the city."

______________________

Matt 17: Epileptic Boy

_________________

CHILDREN'S IDEAS:

At the beginning of the school year, many students are in sports camps and preparing for participation in athletics. Here is a sheet of references and thoughts that I've used with high school and college students in praying for this preparation.

Ideas for praying for athletics

Ideas to work with to learn the seven synonyms:

These ideas can be adapted to any age child and used at home or in Sunday School. I'm giving you a list of attributes of all seven synonyms, but know that you can add to them eternally. They can be used for little booklets, charts to list them for class, on rings or on beaded necklaces to take home, on a train for a bulletin board with places to put the attributes on in the train cars, etc. etc.

synonyms

Here are two sheets with qualities and attributes of the synonyms. Just know there are infinitely more of them. Working with small children, you can begin with just the names of the synonyms, (even making flash cards of the names for God) and then add one or two qualities as they are able, and then build on them up through high school.

page 1 list of synonyms and attributes

page 2 synonyms and attributes

Sometimes it is helpful to think about the synonyms and what they free us from. Here is a chart that might support that idea. This chart can be duplicated for each child and played like a game. Draw a card (compassion, intelligence, substance, flexibility, etc.) and place the card under the correct synonym. Or it can be made into a large wall chart and discussed that way. Or it can be made individually with one synonym on each chart. (This chart comes from www.biblosfoundation.org in the Teaching Section.)

7 syn chart

FLASHCARDS FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN:

Synonym flash card words

Samples of flashcards for Seven Synonyms

__________________

". . . Mind should be and is supreme, absolute and final." 219:4

Hope these ideas are helpful!

Kathy

Dear Friends, In my study, I'm seeing a major thread or theme of 'inspiration' and 'inspired'. Notice how many times these words are used, or a story or event includes the idea of inspiration. Inspiration can mean the breathing in of God's Word. When we read and study the Scriptures, we are doing just that, breathing in the Word of God, inspiring it. Then we, in turn, have to breathe it out or expire the Word through sharing, healing, testifying, working for church, etc. Here's how the Scriptures describe it referring to Jesus:

22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (John 20:22)

Word Study for Lesson on "Spirit"

Two quotations taken from letters by Mary Baker Eddy found at the Mary Baker Eddy Library.

“It should be natural for Christian Scientists to speak the mother tongue, to think spiritually, to talk spiritually, to read the Scriptures spiritually, and thus declare themselves and their generation on God’s side, yea, to characterize their language and their love as spiritual not material.” (Mary Baker Eddy Library Accession #A10320)

Isabell Stewart records Mrs. Eddy as saying, "When the early church lost the spiritual interpretation of the Scriptures, they lost the healing power."

______

Here is some research to support your deeper study of this week's Lesson on "Spirit."

Research on II Tim. 3:16, 17

Gen. 1:26, 27 image and likeness

Research on the widow woman and Elisha and the oil

Research on Jesus teaching on the Sea of Galilee

_______________

IDEAS FOR WORKING WITH CHILDREN AND THE BIBLE:

prayers for young children

Synonyms for God

Ideas for young children

_______