Editorial June 3, 1916 Issue

Sunday School Work Progressive

Annie M. Knott

All superintendents and teachers in Christian Science Sunday schools are supposed to be thoroughly acquainted with the by-law in the Manual of The Mother Church which relates to the work of the Sunday school. Indeed all the activities of the Christian Science church lay hold upon vital truth, and are therefore of interest to every one who attends the services, and all should be deeply interested in this nursery of Christian character. We should never forget our Leader's statement that "progress is the law of God" (Science and Health, p. 233), and this certainly relates to the work of the Sunday school as well as to individual unfoldment. Progress means that teachers and pupils alike should be doing better work today than they did a year ago, and bringing forth fruits in accordance therewith.

In the Sunday school of The Mother Church, in Boston, it is customary for the superintendent to read on the first Sunday of each month the whole of Article XX, relating to the Sunday school, as given on pages 62 and 63 of the Manual, and the teachers cannot fail to be deeply impressed by the requirement stated in Section 2, which reads as follows: "The Sabbath school children shall be taught the Scriptures, and they shall be instructed according to their understanding or ability to grasp the simpler meanings of the divine Principle that they are taught." The next section deals specifically with the "first lessons," but here too the requirement of the preceding section holds good, for it deals with the Scriptures. It also insists that "the instruction given by the children's teachers must not deviate from the absolute Christian Science contained in their text-book." The Scripture teaching must therefore be in accord with Principle, and not mere personal opinion, and this calls for progressive spiritual unfoldment on the part of both teachers and taught.

Just here it is well to remember that Christ Jesus was evidently a very close student of the Bible, for he used the inspired word as his weapon in every encounter with error. His great victory in the wilderness was won in this way, and after his resurrection we find him bringing to his disciples such an understanding of the Scriptures as made their hearts burn within them. Should not we strive to do the same for the children today? We are told that Paul was mighty in expounding the Scriptures, but this was after he had learned the difference between the letter which killeth and the spirit which giveth life. In his epistle to the gentle Timothy he says, "From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation." Our Master said, "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life," and this is what the Christian Science Sunday school is designed to bring to the children,—life manifested in health, purity, truthfulness, and loving obedience.

Send a comment to the editors

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit

Sunday School Work Progressive

We'd love to hear from you!

Sign up for unlimited access