Article August 18, 1951 Issue

Factual Questions and Practical Proofs

Teachers of those classes where the pupils are studying the Lesson-Sermon in the Christian Science Quarterly know that it is their responsibility to go to the class prepared to ask question, for, according to Section 3 of Article XX of the Manual of The Mother Church by Mary Baker Eddy, the essential content of the "next lessons" is questions and answers. Teachers have found that if the lesson is to be interesting and helpful to the pupils, the questions must not only bring forth the grand facts of Christian Science, but they must also point out the practical value of these facts when understood and applied in human affairs. Pupils are not likely to be interested in factual questions unless they recognize that the facts, when demonstrated, are important to their wellbeing. This is not surprising, for we know that most adults who take up the study of Christian Science have been attracted to it because they have recognized that it is of practical benefit to those who study and apply its teachings.

Older students hear many testimonies of Christian Science healing, by which they are constantly reminded of the operation of the Christ, Truth, in human affairs. They hear these at Wednesday evening meetings; they read them in The Christian Science Journal and the Christian Science Sentinel; and they have the benefit of healings they have observed in their own and others' experiences over a period of years. Our Sunday School pupils may not have had all these advantages, but since our Leader has provided for Scriptural instruction in the Sunday School (see Manual, Art. XX, Sect. 2), pupils should become familiar with many Biblical episodes and narratives which illustrate the spiritual truths that they are taught.

The Bible abounds in convincing illustrations. One teacher tells of his experience in presenting the Lesson-Sermon on the subject of "Love." During a discussion of God's loving care for all His children, the subject of shortages came up. The teacher asked, "How did Moses deal with shortages?" Naturally the pupils remembered that when Moses led the children of Israel through the wilderness manna appeared without human processes of production, and water came from the rock. And the pupils accepted this as an example of the superiority of God's law of love over the belief of lack. The teacher then questioned them about Elijah's experience in dealing with shortages, also that of Elisha and of Jesus. The pupils recalled certain instances in the experience of each when lack was supplanted by abundance in proof of the ever-availability of divine Love's provision.

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