Article September 1, 2013

The evolution of the Christian Science Lesson-Sermon

Robert L. Shaul

Originally published in the 1974 pamphlet titled "Speaking to You: The Bible Lesson"

In the second Epistle to Timothy we read: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is proﬁtable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect. . . ." II Tim. 3:16, 17;

The Christian Science Lesson-Sermons evolved in place of personal preaching so that the spiritual message of the Bible with its key, the Christian Science textbook, could be presented in a pure and unadulterated form. But before the Bible and Science and Health became, in Mrs. Eddy's words, the "impersonal pastor," See Miscellaneous Writings, p. 322:10; various evolutionary and progressive steps had to be taken.

To those familiar with today's Bible Lessons their history is a movement toward clarity and simplicity of form.

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