Article July 4, 1983 Issue

"First lessons" in moral and spiritual law (Part III)

JON GIB HARDER

Prepared for the Church Activities Department of The Mother Church. Fifth of eight articles.

Last week this series gave examples of how the Bible, as explained in Christian Science, provides ample illustration of the meaning of the Ten Commandments. This article continues with a discussion of the other two parts of the "first lessons" in the Sunday School, specified by Mrs. Eddy in Article XX, Section 3, of the Manual of The Mother Church.

The model for prayer we teach in our Sunday Schools is Christ Jesus' own prayer, the one he taught his disciples.^{See Matt. 6:9–13 .} "The Lord's Prayer is the prayer of Soul, not of material sense,"^{Science and Health, p. 14.} writes Mrs. Eddy, indicating its importance in spiritual education. Her spiritual interpretation of this prayer^{See Science and Health, pp. 16–17 .} brings pupil and teacher directly into touch with the Christ, Truth, present always to save and heal. All human needs, Mrs. Eddy tells us, are covered by this prayer. She further says, "Only as we rise above all material sensuousness and sin, can we reach the heaven-born aspiration and spiritual consciousness, which is indicated in the Lord's Prayer and which instantaneously heals the sick."^{Ibid., p. 16.}