Sunday September 19th, 2021 Roundtable
Walking Through Fiery Trials
This week’s Lesson Sermon Subject: Matter
Click here to play the audio as you read:
Morning Prayers
“GOD is a Spirit” (or, more accurately translated, “God is Spirit”), declares the Scripture (John iv. 24), “and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” If God is Spirit, and God is All, surely there can be no matter; for the divine All must be Spirit.
— from Unity of Good, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 31
There is no matter, no substance but Spirit. Stand there, know it, draw all other physical conclusions from this one all Truth.
— from Divinity Course and General Collectanea, (the “Blue Book”), by Mary Baker Eddy, page 111
Discussion Points
35 — WATCH lest, because of the general belief that all of man’s joy and happiness come through matter, the prospect of losing matter in all its desirable forms before you have established the continuous joy and satisfaction that comes from communion with divine Mind, cause you to neglect to work on the problem of turning away from it with any real sincerity and determination.
It helps to know that even from the human standpoint, the so-called pleasures that man fancies come from matter, really come from mortal mind and are largely anticipation. Man thinks he enjoys matter under the claim of mesmerism. Someone has wisely said, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
When one has reunited himself to the eternal source of all happiness, which is divine Mind — from which he has never really been separated — how great will be the happiness that will flow into him, joy that is permanent, and that brings him perfect peace — a happiness that infinitely transcends the lower sense of pleasure he now fancies he gains through mortal mind calling itself matter! The problem of denying matter is always made easier when we realize that we are denying, not an external material world, but the mesmerism which causes the external world to seem to be material. Matter is not what you see, but the way you see it.
— from 500 Watching Points by Gilbert Carpenter
Golden Text — “My son, attend to my words; For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.” — Proverbs 4 : 20, 22
Forum post — “Hebrews 11” by by Jeremy
Forum post — “I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.” by Susan
Forum post — “Believe the Works” by JC
“Questions And Answers”, from Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy
Click here for hymn: — 123, from The Christian Science Hymnal, 1932 edition
The bringing up, as of a child; instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts, and science is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.”
— from 1828 Webster’s Dictionary
I tell you truth when I say there is only one source of all good — God. The conscious recognition and acceptance of this fact acknowledged by every activity of the mind, not two or three times a day — but every few moments all day long — no matter what the outer self is doing, and this maintained, will enable anyone to express his perfect freedom and dominion over all things human.
— from Collectanea, by Mary Baker Eddy
Despotism may govern without faith, but liberty cannot. How is it possible that society should escape destruction if the moral tie is not strengthened in proportion as the political tie is relaxed [increased liberty]? And what can be done with a people who are their own masters if they are not submissive to the Deity?
— from Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville, 1830’s
Article — “From the Press” in The Christian Science Sentinel, October 26th, 1918, by Bicknell Young
Article — “Character” by Mary Baker Eddy
Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.
— from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, page 261
If the devil were to write his beatitudes, they would probably go something like this:
1. Blessed are those who are too tired, too busy, too distracted to spend an hour once a week with their fellow Christians – they save me the effort of trying to keep them from God’s blessings.
2. Blessed are those Christians who wait to be asked and expect to be thanked – its pretty easy to keep them from working for God.
3. Blessed are the touchy who stop going to church – they are my missionaries.
4. Blessed are the trouble makers – they shall be called my children.
5. Blessed are the complainers – I’m all ears for them.
6. Blessed are those who are bored with the minister’s mannerisms and mistakes – for they get nothing out of his sermons.
7. Blessed is the church member who expects to be invited to his own church – for he is a part of the problem instead of the solution.
8. Blessed are those who gossip – for they shall cause strife and division – that pleases me.
9. Blessed are those who are easily offended – for they will soon get angry and quit.
10. Blessed are those who do not give their offering to carry on God’s work – for they are my helpers.
11. Blessed is he who professes to love God but hates his brother and sister – for they shall be with me forever.
— author unkown
Since my study of “Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures” by Mrs. Eddy, the truth of the Scriptures has been illumined to me. In Psalm 46 : 1, I, find this beautiful promise, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” These words have been very helpful to me, for I begin to see that as God is good, good is our refuge, and that each of us may say “my refuge,” because this refuge is for the rich and the poor, for those who are well and for the afflicted alike, for all nations, at all times, in all places, under every circumstance. This refuge is necessarily unlimited, unchangeable, ever present, and a strong refuge.
— Excerpt from Christian Science Sentinel, January 6, 1906, by Anna Robinson
Cure for Epidemics.
1. Stop talking and thinking about contagious diseases.
2. On arising in the morning repeat the Lord’s Prayer in the spirit of holiness.
3. As soon as breakfast is over, before taking up your duties of the day, take your Bible and carefully read the Ninety-first Psalm, knowing “that God is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” You might linger over the lines of this beautiful Psalm: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler … Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; there shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” (You will observe that David said, “His truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” Evidently David had more faith in God’s protecting power than he had in vaccine virus and poisonous lotions.)
4. When conversation or thoughts about disease and contagion come to you during the day, think over the inspiring words you read in the morning.
5. In the evening read the twenty-third Psalm, re-read the Ninety-first Psalm, repeat the Lord’s Prayer, and take care above all, to observe the first of the Ten Commandments, “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.” If you observe this commandment “in spirit and in truth,” you will not let disease of any name or nature become the chief in your thought and conversation.
It is but just to state that we got the inspiration for this prevention and cure of disease, from the writings and teachings of Rev. Mary Baker G. Eddy, Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, and have found this mode of treatment of infinite value in whatever case it has been applied.
It has been asked what Christian Scientists will do in a time of contagion. This is what one Christian Scientist has done to direct the thoughts of the people into higher and healthier channels. If there is anything pernicious in this advice we hope it will be pointed out to us. Weatherford (Texas) News.
— from Christian Science Sentinel, March 16, 1899
Article — “The Smell of Fire” Christian Science Journal, March 1920, by Louise Knight Wheatley
Article Notes from a Class Taught by Laura Sargent