Sunday, December 29th, 2024 Roundtable
Emmanuel, Being Interpreted is, God With Us
This week’s Lesson Sermon Subject: Christian Science
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Morning Prayer
Let the Bible and the Christian Science textbook preach the gospel which heals the sick and enlightens the people’s sense of Christian Science. This ministry, reaching the physical, moral, and spiritual needs of humanity, will, in the name of Almighty God, speak the truth that to-day, as in olden time, is found able to heal both sin and disease.
from Miscellany, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 147
May the grace and love of God be and abide with you all.
from Miscellany, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 187
Daily Watch
349 — WATCH that you hold a clear perception of the relation of Science and Health to Mrs. Eddy’s own life. One is the letter, and the other the Spirit.
It is of little use for a student to learn the beautiful truths of Science and Health, if he fails to learn how to protect and to utilize this understanding. It is an intellectual attainment to gain a higher knowledge of God, of His law and power; then comes the need to demonstrate and to protect this higher sense, as well as to gain skill in stepping down one’s knowledge to the point where it becomes acceptable and understandable to humanity, so that they will be imbued with a desire for it. Mrs. Eddy’s life and demonstration alone reveals the spirit of these vital points.
Science and Health is like an instruction manual in navigation; the practical side can be gained only by experience, from one’s own and from that of another who has successfully braved the storms and hidden reefs. Our Leader took the ship of Science, which she had built under God’s direction, and sailed it successfully into the harbor of peace. Her life cannot be ignored. It must be studied, in order that one may follow her as she followed Christ, since the Spirit that animated her was God.
Discussion points
Mary Baker Eddy, Her Spiritual Footsteps by Gilbert C. Carpenter
9. 109 : 11-27
For three years after my discovery, I sought the solution of this problem of Mind-healing, searched the Scriptures and read little else, kept aloof from society, and devoted time and energies to discovering a positive rule. The search was sweet, calm, and buoyant with hope, not selfish nor depressing. I knew the Principle of all harmonious Mind-action to be God, and that cures were produced in primitive Christian healing by holy, uplifting faith; but I must know the Science of this healing, and I won my way to absolute conclusions through divine revelation, reason, and demonstration. The revelation of Truth in the understanding came to me gradually and apparently through divine power. When a new spiritual idea is borne to earth, the prophetic Scripture of Isaiah is renewedly fulfilled: “Unto us a child is born, … and his name shall be called Wonderful.”
“Brighten the corner where you are.” — From His View “I” Am Free Now by Florence Roberts
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” — Christ Jesus (Matthew 5:16)
“The wonderful thing about happiness is that it can grow in any soil, exist under any conditions. Like Truth, it defies environment and conditions, for it abides in spiritual sense. This God-given joy is steadfast, because it depends upon Principle and not persons. It is only the joy of the Christ which makes our joy full. As thought is freed from self-love and self-will, we find happiness surpassing anything of which we have hitherto dreamed. One might possess everything materially tangible in the world and still not be happy. Happiness does not depend upon having, but upon being; not in possessing, but on enjoying.”
from The 1936 Primary Class, by Bicknell Young
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” — Christ Jesus (John 12:32)
1. vii : 1-26
To those leaning on the sustaining infinite, to-day is big with blessings. The wakeful shepherd beholds the first faint morning beams, ere cometh the full radiance of a risen day. So shone the pale star to the prophet-shepherds; yet it traversed the night, and came where, in cradled obscurity, lay the Bethlehem babe, the human herald of Christ, Truth, who would make plain to benighted understanding the way of salvation through Christ Jesus, till across a night of error should dawn the morning beams and shine the guiding star of being. The Wisemen were led to behold and to follow this daystar of divine Science, lighting the way to eternal harmony.
2. xi : 9-21
The physical healing of Christian Science results now, as in Jesus’ time, from the operation of divine Principle, before which sin and disease lose their reality in human consciousness and disappear as naturally and as necessarily as darkness gives place to light and sin to reformation. Now, as then, these mighty works are not supernatural, but supremely natural. They are the sign of Immanuel, or “God with us,” — a divine influence ever present in human consciousness and repeating itself, coming now as was promised aforetime,
To preach deliverance to the captives [of sense],
And recovering of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty them that are bruised.
More Light by William D. McCrackan, from the Christian Science Journal, September 21, 1918
Responsive Reading: Micah 5 : 4 • Isaiah 9 : 6, 7 • Isaiah 40 : 4, 5
4. And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.
6. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
4. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
1. Isaiah 11
6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
The Power of a Right Idea by Martha Wilcox
1. vii
A book introduces new thoughts, but it cannot make them speedily understood. It is the task of the sturdy pioneer to hew the tall oak and to cut the rough granite. Future ages must declare what the pioneer has accomplished.
“Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” — Matthew 1 : 23
Golden Text: Micah 5 : 2
“Thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
God is faithful to His people, Israel, even when they go astray and despite their prolonged rebellion against their long-suffering, covenant-keeping God. He remains faithful to His erring children for He promised to send a Kinsman-Redeemer Who would save His people from their sins. And the birth place of their Messiah was identified as Bethlehem – Ephratah – the little town of David.
God’s Word speaks history into being, years and sometimes centuries before it is acted out on the pages of time, and this insignificant little town in the region of Judah was proclaimed to be the chosen place from whence the promised Messiah would come.
But although this verse identifies the birth-place of Christ with astonishing accuracy, it further proclaims with equal authority that this coming Ruler of Israel: “Who was the promised Deliverer of God’s people,” would be Deity – God with us – Emmanuel. His beginnings were from of old and His existence was rooted outside time, space, and matter, for He the One Who spoken everything into being. His origin has been from eternity and His divine Personage is secured from everlasting to everlasting: “His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of immeasurable time.”
God’s Word speaks history into being, and of the hundreds of prophecies that foretold of His first coming, not one had failed in its fulfilment, for all were accomplished to the last detail of every jot and tittle in Holy Scripture.
If the Bible foretold of the first coming of Christ with such astonishing accuracy, should we not anticipate with certainty the soon return of the Lord Jesus to complete His promises to His people, Israel, at the end of the coming prophesied ‘time of Jacob’s trouble’? And should we not prepare our hearts for the any day return of Christ Jesus for the Church? For God has spoken the future into being, God’s Word stands fast for ever and ever, and nothing contained in the entire Bible will fail of its full and final accomplishment.
“Do all things without murmurings and disputings:” — Philippians 2:14
The peaceful character of Christ’s kingdom and subjects. (1-9) The conversion of the Gentiles and Jews. (10-16)
Verses 1-9 The Messiah is called a Rod, and a Branch. The words signify a small, tender product; a shoot, such as is easily broken off. He comes forth out of the stem of Jesse; when the royal family was cut down and almost levelled with the ground, it would sprout again. The house of David was brought very low at the time of Christ’s birth. The Messiah thus gave early notice that his kingdom was not of this world. But the Holy Spirit, in all his gifts and graces, shall rest and abide upon him; he shall have the fulness of the Godhead dwelling in him, ( Colossians 1:19 , Colossians 2:9 ) . Many consider that seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are here mentioned. And the doctrine of the influences of the Holy Spirit is here clearly taught. The Messiah would be just and righteous in all his government. His threatening shall be executed by the working of his Spirit according to his word. There shall be great peace and quiet under his government. The gospel changes the nature, and makes those who trampled on the meek of the earth, meek like them, and kind to them. But it shall be more fully shown in the latter days. Also Christ, the great Shepherd, shall take care of his flock, that the nature of troubles, and of death itself, shall be so changed, that they shall not do any real hurt. God’s people shall be delivered, not only from evil, but from the fear of it. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? The better we know the God of love, the more shall we be changed into the same likeness, and the better disposed to all who have any likeness to him. This knowledge shall extend as the sea, so far shall it spread. And this blessed power there have been witnesses in every age of Christianity, though its most glorious time, here foretold, is not yet arrived. Meanwhile let us aim that our example and endeavours may help to promote the honour of Christ and his kingdom of peace.
Verses 10-16 When the gospel should be publicly preached, the Gentiles would seek Christ Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, and find rest of soul. When God’s time is come for the deliverance of his people, mountains of opposition shall become plains before him. God can soon turn gloomy days into glorious ones. And while we expect the Lord to gather his ancient people, and bring them home to his church, also to bring in the fulness of the Gentiles, when all will be united in holy love, let us tread the highway of holiness he has made for his redeemed. Let us wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life, looking to him to prepare our way through death, that river which separates this world from the eternal world.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on Isaiah 11
“…keep your grin ahead of your groan. Mrs. Eddy once said, ‘Some of you are taking life too seriously. A sense of humor is a saving grace.'”
Watching Point 495, from 500 Watching Points by Gilbert Carpenter
Let error kill itself. It comes to you for life and you give it the only life it has – in belief.
from Divinity Course and General Collectanea, (the “Blue Book”), by Mary Baker Eddy, page 215
A Gift to the World: Mrs. Eddy’s Christmas Message by J. Suber
“Not matter but Mind satisfieth.” — Quote on Mary Baker Eddy’s souvenir spoon
As we begin the time known as the holy days, let us, like the shepherds of old, be awake and attuned to hear the heavenly sound, with a peace uncontaminated by materialism, a peace that worldliness cannot invade.
“To such shepherds appeared this angelic message. It did not come in confusion or discord. It came in the midnight hour, when the world was asleep in material darkness, and none but the shepherds were awake. It came in heavenly harmony, and was heard only by those whose minds were receptive to the heavenly chorus. The air was stirred with that wondrous song, as a multitude of the heavenly host swept down from the skies, to bless the earth with ‘glory to God in the highest, peace on earth and goodwill toward man.’ The theme belongs to Heaven. There is a ring in the words that is not of this world.”
from the Unity Watch for Thursday, November 24th, 2022