1. Date of Lesson

2. Subject, Golden Text, and Responsive Reading

3. Lesson Sermon — The Bible

4. Lesson Sermon — Science and Health

5. The Daily Duties

6. About the preparation of this lesson

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Subject — Is The Universe, Including Man, Evolved By Atomic Force?

GOLDEN TEXT: Job 37 : 23

“Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.”

RESPONSIVE READING: Proverbs 3 : 1, 2, 5-8, 25, 26

1.     My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

2.     For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

5.     Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

6.     In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

7.     Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

8.     It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

25.     Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

26.     For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

Lesson Sermon

The Bible

1. Proverbs 3: 19, 20

19     The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

20     By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

2. Psalm 95 : 3 (to ,), 4-7 (to .)

3     For the LORD is a great God,

4     In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also.

5     The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.

6     O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

7     For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

3. Exodus 14 : 5 (to 1st ,), 13, 14, 21 (to back), 22 (to :), 23 (to 2nd ,), 26 (to 3rd ,), 28 (to Pharaoh), 31

5     And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people,

13     And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.

14     The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

21     And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back…

22     And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground:

23     And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea,

26     And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians,

28     And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh…

31     And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses.

4. Exodus 15 : 22, 23 (to :), 24, 25 (to :)

22     So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water.

23     And when they came to Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter:

24     And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink?

25     And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD shewed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet:

5. Exodus 16 : 1 (to 2nd ,), 2, 3, 8 (to 1st ,), 8 (the LORD heareth) (to :), 11, 12

1     And they took their journey from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin,

2     And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness:

3     And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger.

8     And Moses said, … the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him:

11     And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

12     I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel: speak unto them, saying, At even ye shall eat flesh, and in the morning ye shall be filled with bread; and ye shall know that I am the LORD your God.

6. Psalm 78 : 10, 11, 19, 33, 35

10     They kept not the covenant of God, and refused to walk in his law;

11     And forgat his works, and his wonders that he had shewed them.

19     Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?

33     Therefore their days did he consume in vanity, and their years in trouble.

35     And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.

7. Luke 10 : 41 (And Jesus) only

41     And Jesus …

8. Luke 11 : 14 (was casting)-17 (to ;), 20

14     …was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

15     But some of them said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub the chief of the devils.

16     And others, tempting him, sought of him a sign from heaven.

17     But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation;

20     But if I with the finger of God cast out devils, no doubt the kingdom of God is come upon you.

9. Luke 12 : 22, 23, 29 (seek)-32

22     And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

23     The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

29     …seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

30     For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

31     But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

32     Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

10. Psalm 24 : 1, 2

1     The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

2     For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.

11. Amos 4 : 13

13     For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

Science and Health

1. 295 : 5-8

God creates and governs the universe, including man. The universe is filled with spiritual ideas, which He evolves, and they are obedient to the Mind that makes them.

2. 507 : 15-21

The universe of Spirit reflects the creative power of the divine Principle, or Life, which reproduces the multitudinous forms of Mind and governs the multiplication of the compound idea man. The tree and herb do not yield fruit because of any propagating power of their own, but because they reflect the Mind which includes all.

3. 133 : 8-10, 13-15

In Egypt, it was Mind which saved the Israelites from belief in the plagues. In the wilderness, streams flowed from the rock, and manna fell from the sky. … In national prosperity, miracles attended the successes of the Hebrews; but when they departed from the true idea, their demoralization began.

4. 135 : 6-20

The miracle introduces no disorder, but unfolds the primal order, establishing the Science of God's unchangeable law. Spiritual evolution alone is worthy of the exercise of divine power.

The same power which heals sin heals also sickness. This is "the beauty of holiness," that when Truth heals the sick, it casts out evils, and when Truth casts out the evil called disease, it heals the sick. When Christ cast out the devil of dumbness, "it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake." There is to-day danger of repeating the offence of the Jews by limiting the Holy One of Israel and asking: "Can God furnish a table in the wilderness?" What cannot God do?

5. 124 : 20-31

Adhesion, cohesion, and attraction are properties of Mind. They belong to divine Principle, and support the equipoise of that thought-force, which launched the earth in its orbit and said to the proud wave, "Thus far and no farther."

Spirit is the life, substance, and continuity of all things. We tread on forces. Withdraw them, and creation must collapse. Human knowledge calls them forces of matter; but divine Science declares that they belong wholly to divine Mind, are inherent in this Mind, and so restores them to their rightful home and classification.

6. 140 : 7-18

Not materially but spiritually we know Him as divine Mind, as Life, Truth, and Love. We shall obey and adore in proportion as we apprehend the divine nature and love Him understandingly, warring no more over the corporeality, but rejoicing in the affluence of our God. Religion will then be of the heart and not of the head. Mankind will no longer be tyrannical and proscriptive from lack of love, — straining out gnats and swallowing camels.

We worship spiritually, only as we cease to worship materially. Spiritual devoutness is the soul of Christianity.

7. 505 : 16-17, 20-25

Spirit imparts the understanding which uplifts consciousness and leads into all truth. … Spiritual sense is the discernment of spiritual good. Understanding is the line of demarcation between the real and unreal. Spiritual understanding unfolds Mind, — Life, Truth, and Love, — and demonstrates the divine sense, giving the spiritual proof of the universe in Christian Science.

8. 530 : 5-12

In divine Science, man is sustained by God, the divine Principle of being. The earth, at God's command, brings forth food for man's use. Knowing this, Jesus once said, "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink," — presuming not on the prerogative of his creator, but recognizing God, the Father and Mother of all, as able to feed and clothe man as He doth the lilies.

9. 494 : 10-11, 13 (to)-19

Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need. … to all mankind and in every hour, divine Love supplies all good.

The miracle of grace is no miracle to Love. Jesus demonstrated the inability of corporeality, as well as the infinite ability of Spirit, thus helping erring human sense to flee from its own convictions and seek safety in divine Science.

10. 470 : 32-5

The relations of God and man, divine Principle and idea, are indestructible in Science; and Science knows no lapse from nor return to harmony, but holds the divine order or spiritual law, in which God and all that He creates are perfect and eternal, to have remained unchanged in its eternal history.

11. 139 : 4-9

From beginning to end, the Scriptures are full of accounts of the triumph of Spirit, Mind, over matter. Moses proved the power of Mind by what men called miracles; so did Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha. The Christian era was ushered in with signs and wonders.

12. 369 : 5-8 (to Jesus)

In proportion as matter loses to human sense all entity as man, in that proportion does man become its master. He enters into a diviner sense of the facts, and comprehends the theology of Jesus …

13. 200 : 4-7

Moses advanced a nation to the worship of God in Spirit instead of matter, and illustrated the grand human capacities of being bestowed by immortal Mind.

14. 566 : 1-11

As the children of Israel were guided triumphantly through the Red Sea, the dark ebbing and flowing tides of human fear, — as they were led through the wilderness, walking wearily through the great desert of human hopes, and anticipating the promised joy, — so shall the spiritual idea guide all right desires in their passage from sense to Soul, from a material sense of existence to the spiritual, up to the glory prepared for them who love God. Stately Science pauses not, but moves before them, a pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night, leading to divine heights.

The Daily Duties

by Mary Baker Eddy

Daily Prayer

It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to pray each day: "Thy kingdom come;" let the reign of divine Truth, Life, and Love be established in me, and rule out of me all sin; and may Thy Word enrich the affections of all mankind, and govern them!

Church Manual, Article VIII, Sect. 4

A Rule for Motives and Acts

Neither animosity nor mere personal attachment should impel the motives or acts of the members of The Mother Church. In Science, divine Love alone governs man; and a Christian Scientist reflects the sweet amenities of Love, in rebuking sin, in true brotherliness, charitableness, and forgiveness. The members of this Church should daily watch and pray to be delivered from all evil, from prophesying, judging, condemning, counseling, influencing or being influenced erroneously.

Church Manual, Article VIII, Sect. 1

Alertness to Duty

It shall be the duty of every member of this Church to defend himself daily against aggressive mental suggestion, and not be made to forget nor to neglect his duty to God, to his Leader, and to mankind. By his works he shall be judged, — and justified or condemned.

Church Manual, Article VIII, Sect. 6

Take Notice

To Christian Scientists: — See Science and Health, page 442, line 30, and give daily attention thereto.

from Miscellany, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 237

“Christian Scientists, be a law to yourselves that mental malpractice cannot harm you either when asleep or when awake.”

Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, page 422

This Bible Lesson was prepared by Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent. It is composed of Scriptural Quotations from the King James Bible and Correlative Passages from the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, 1910 Edition, by Mary Baker Eddy.

Copyright 2023 Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent

Table of Contents

Sunday, December 17th, 2023 — Subject: Is The Universe, Including Man, Evolved By Atomic Force?

Date of Lesson

Subject, Golden Text, and Responsive Reading

Lesson Sermon — The Bible

Lesson Sermon — Science and Health

The Daily Duties

About the preparation of this lesson