Progress Attained through the Lesson-Sermon
In the establishing of the Christian Science movement our beloved Leader, Mary Baker Eddy, realizing the dangers of personal opinion, was led to ordain the Bible and "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" to be the only pastor of the Church of Christ, Scientist.
It is self-evident that no person can do our thinking for us. Through the study of the Lesson-Sermon we are aided in gaining the true consciousness of God, good, and of His kingdom. The Christian Science Quarterly gives the Lesson-Sermon week by week. On its first page is an "Explanatory Note," which informs us that in this Sermon no human opinion is expressed, and that it consists of excerpts from the Bible, with correlative passages from Science and Health, the inspired Christian Science textbook. As we continue the daily study of the Lesson our consciousness becomes more and more receptive of spiritual truth; and as we review our progress, it is encouraging to remember that the effort for spiritual unfoldment has been our own, and that "progress is the law of God, whose law demands of us only what we can certainly fulfil" (Science and Health, p. 233).
On first turning to Christian Science, the student may start by reading the "Responsive Reading" and one section of the Lesson-Sermon each day, being under the impression that that is all that is intended, and that it is enough. Then increased interest, gratitude for healings both moral and physical which accompany the study, lead to a desire to learn more, and thus to the reading of other sections each day. Eventually the student probably not only reads but studies the whole Lesson daily.
The daily study of the Lesson-Sermon is a protection not only to each Christian Scientist, but to the Christian Science movement as a whole, for this oneness in study enables us all to be of one Mind, expressing and reflecting the one Being. What a marvelous thing it is that in these troublesome times there are throughout the world Christian Scientists praying to the true God and reflecting thoughts which are for "the healing of the nations"! In times of emergency when all Christian denominations may be called upon to pray for the solution of some particular problem, we can be unspeakably grateful to our Leader for providing the Lesson-Sermons. As Christian Scientists we recognize that through this study we are helped to gain the understanding that meets all human needs.
The more the student studies, the more the spiritual sense of God's universe comes to him, and with it a happier aspect of life. He may rest assured that although at times he may seem unable fully to understand all he is reading, and although the mesmerism of sleep or apathy may try to claim him, nevertheless he will have imbibed something more of truth in his consciousness.
During this period progress may not always be easy, and many material problems may have to be met and overcome; but trials, troubles, and tribulations give the student just those very opportunities to demonstrate what he understands, and he will look back upon them with gratitude when the great privilege comes of finding himself called upon to help others through Christian Science. If he experiences impatience at not progressing sufficiently quickly, he will find, by analyzing his thinking and comparing it with what it was before he knew of Christian Science, that there has been a remarkable change for the better. The student will by now have gained the knowledge of how to pray understandingly to God, who is ever-present Love. He will know that nothing can deny him the time, the place, the opportunity, the intelligence, the alertness, and the harmony with which to continue his studies.
Students are deeply grateful for Mrs. Eddy's inspired words, "Spirit imparts the understanding which uplifts consciousness and leads into all truth;" and for her explanation that "this understanding is not intellectual, is not the result of scholarly attainments; it is the reality of all things brought to light" (ibid., p. 505). So we find that progress in Christian Science is not confined to one class of persons, but is understandable by all, whatever their work, walk in life, education, upbringing, or nationality. We find that our first belief in Christian Science has progressed into faith, and faith into an increasing measure of spiritual understanding.
Soon comes the desire to probe deeper into the spiritual truths of the Bible Lesson and all our Leader's works, including Science and Health. The need for a dictionary, a Bible dictionary, a Bible concordance, and the Concordances to Mrs. Eddy's writings thus becomes insistent. Honest and faithful study will have shown us that God is the source of all our supply, and through our realization of this truth the books will be forthcoming. Each one of them is worth many times its weight in gold, because of the joy, health, love, and spiritual understanding it helps us to gain.
Earnest study of the Lesson-Sermon enables the student to understand and better appreciate the loving work done by the Readers for the services; and if he has now become a member of a branch church, he will also be able to realize that it is his part, through mental preparation, to know that no inharmony can interfere with the good that comes from the study of that Lesson-Sermon.
Thus as we look back we realize that "progress is born of experience" (ibid., p. 296), and like Paul we can say, "I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ."
