Subject — Substance
Author: Plainfield Christian Science Church Independent
Date: 2026-09-06T08:30:15+00:00
Description: 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, by Mary Baker Eddy.

1. Table of Contents

2. Date of Lesson

3. Subject, Golden Text, and Responsive Reading

4. Lesson Sermon — The Bible
5. Lesson Sermon — Science and Health
6. The Daily Duties
7. About the preparation of this lesson

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Subject — Substance

GOLDEN TEXT: Luke 15 : 31

“Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.”

RESPONSIVE READING: Psalm 23 : 1-6

1.     The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2.     He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3.     He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4.     Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5.     Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6.     Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Lesson Sermon

The Bible

1. Isaiah 55 : 1, 3, 9, 11

1     Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

3     Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.

9     For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

11     So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

2. I Kings 17 : 1, 8-16

1     And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the inhabitants of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As the LORD God of Israel liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.

8     And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying,

9     Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee.

10     So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

11     And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, Bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand.

12     And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

13     And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son.

14     For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth.

15     And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days.

16     And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

3. II Corinthians 9 : 6 (He)-8, 11

6     He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7     Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8     And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

11     Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.

4. Luke 10 : 21 (to 1st ,)

21     In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit,

5. Luke 12 : 22-32

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.

24     Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

25     And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

26     If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

27     Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28     If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

29     And 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.

6. Philippians 4 : 1, 4-7, 9, 11 (for I have), 19, 20

1     Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

4     Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

5     Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6     Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7     And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

9     Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

11     …for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

19     But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

20     Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Science and Health

1. vii : 1-2

To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings.

2. 494 : 10-11

Divine Love always has met and always will meet every human need.

3. 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.

4. 170 : 8-17

Christian ideas certainly present what human theories exclude — the Principle of man's harmony. The text, "Whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die," not only contradicts human systems, but points to the self-sustaining and eternal Truth.

The demands of Truth are spiritual, and reach the body through Mind. The best interpreter of man's needs said: "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink."

5. 124 : 25-26 (to 1st .), 32-11

Spirit is the life, substance, and continuity of all things.

The elements and functions of the physical body and of the physical world will change as mortal mind changes its beliefs. What is now considered the best condition for organic and functional health in the human body may no longer be found indispensable to health. Moral conditions will be found always harmonious and health-giving. Neither organic inaction nor overaction is beyond God's control; and man will be found normal and natural to changed mortal thought, and therefore more harmonious in his manifestations than he was in the prior states which human belief created and sanctioned.

6. 278 : 1 (Is)-5, 12-16, 29-3

Is Spirit the source or creator of matter? Science reveals nothing in Spirit out of which to create matter. Divine metaphysics explains away matter. Spirit is the only substance and consciousness recognized by divine Science.

That matter is substantial or has life and sensation, is one of the false beliefs of mortals, and exists only in a supposititious mortal consciousness. Hence, as we approach Spirit and Truth, we lose the consciousness of matter.

We define matter as error, because it is the opposite of life, substance, and intelligence. Matter, with its mortality, cannot be substantial if Spirit is substantial and eternal. Which ought to be substance to us, — the erring, changing, and dying, the mutable and mortal, or the unerring, immutable, and immortal?

7. 62 : 13-28

Taking less "thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink"; less thought "for your body what ye shall put on," will do much more for the health of the rising generation than you dream. Children should be allowed to remain children in knowledge, and should become men and women only through growth in the understanding of man's higher nature.

We must not attribute more and more intelligence to matter, but less and less, if we would be wise and healthy. The divine Mind, which forms the bud and blossom, will care for the human body, even as it clothes the lily; but let no mortal interfere with God's government by thrusting in the laws of erring, human concepts.

The higher nature of man is not governed by the lower; if it were, the order of wisdom would be reversed.

8. 257 : 22-29

Finite mind manifests all sorts of errors, and thus proves the material theory of mind in matter to be the antipode of Mind. Who hath found finite life or love sufficient to meet the demands of human want and woe, — to still the desires, to satisfy the aspirations? Infinite Mind cannot be limited to a finite form, or Mind would lose its infinite character as inexhaustible Love, eternal Life, omnipotent Truth.

9. 301 : 5-20

Few persons comprehend what Christian Science means by the word reflection. To himself, mortal and material man seems to be substance, but his sense of substance involves error and therefore is material, temporal.

On the other hand, the immortal, spiritual man is really substantial, and reflects the eternal substance, or Spirit, which mortals hope for. He reflects the divine, which constitutes the only real and eternal entity. This reflection seems to mortal sense transcendental, because the spiritual man's substantiality transcends mortal vision and is revealed only through divine Science.

As God is substance and man is the divine image and likeness, man should wish for, and in reality has, only the substance of good, the substance of Spirit, not matter.

10. 312 : 20-26

Mortals believe in a finite personal God; while God is infinite Love, which must be unlimited.

Our theories are based on finite premises, which cannot penetrate beyond matter. A personal sense of God and of man's capabilities necessarily limits faith and hinders spiritual understanding.

11. 135 : 17-20

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?

12. 578 : 4-18

PSALM XXIII

[DIVINE LOVE] is my shepherd; I shall not want.

[LOVE] maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

[LOVE] leadeth me beside the still waters.

[LOVE] restoreth my soul [spiritual sense]: [LOVE] lead-

eth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of

death, I will fear no evil: for [LOVE] is with me; [LOVE'S]

rod and [LOVE'S] staff they comfort me.

[LOVE] prepareth a table before me in the presence of

mine enemies: [LOVE] anointeth my head with oil; my cup

runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of

my life; and I will dwell in the house [the consciousness]

of [LOVE] for ever.

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 2026 Plainfield Christian Science Church, Independent

Sunday, September 13th, 2026 — Subject: Substance

1. Sunday, September 13th, 2026 — Subject: Substance

2. Date of Lesson

3. Subject, Golden Text, and Responsive Reading

4. Lesson Sermon — The Bible
5. Lesson Sermon — Science and Health
6. The Daily Duties
7. About the preparation of this lesson

1. by

2. Date of Lesson

3. Subject, Golden Text, and Responsive Reading

4. Lesson Sermon — The Bible
5. Lesson Sermon — Science and Health
6. The Daily Duties
7. About the preparation of this lesson