Some questions regarding this week's Bible Lesson (version 2.00)

The answers to all of these questions can be found (1) in the Bible Lesson itself, (2) in the "Bible Lesson study aid" at http://www.bibletexts.co, or (3) in other webpages on the BibleTexts.com website, the homepage of which is http://www.bibletexts.co.

1. What is the meaning of the Golden Text, in the context of the entire Bible paragraph in which it is found? How can each of us apply that meaning to our daily lives -- at work, at school, in the family, in the community, etc.?
2. For those who are thankful for God's salvation and for those who need God's salvation, what is the value of praising God's greatness?

1. Why are Ezra's words in Bible citation #1 considered to be part of a prayer? (As food for thought, browse http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer.htm.)
2. What do prayerful thoughts and prayer-inspired lives have to do with individual and community safety and salvation? How is God the basis for such safety and salvation?

1. According to Bible citation #3 and today's daily news, people do some very dishonest, inhumane, and even heinous acts, yet the writer of Bible citation #5 tells us he will not fear under any circumstance. What is the basis for such absolute fearlessness? Is such fearlessness practical in today's world?

1. In Bible citation #6 we are told that God will always provide us with a way out of any "test"/difficulty. In real life, what can one do if one actually has fully gone down the path of the prodigal son, as described in Bible citation #7?

1. How does the story of the prodigal son and of the prodigal son's brother illustrate the value of the Lord's Prayer?

Note: As food for thought, browse http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer.htm and the five major links to associated web pages, http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer1.htm, http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer2.htm, http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer3.htm, http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer4.htm, and http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer5.htm.)

1. How do Jesus' healings in Bible citation #9 illustrated how God is dependable as the preserver of man?
2. In the King James Version, the Greek word that should be translated as demon is incorrectly and consistently translated as devil, including in Bible citation #9. In the biblical context what is the difference between demons and the devil (also known by the Hebrew name of Satan)?

Note: For an explanation of how Mary Baker Eddy made the needed correction in the Cross and Crown "Seal of Christian Science," see http://www.bibletexts.com/versecom/mat10v08.htm. Other resources for answering this question may be found at http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/demon.htm and http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/satan.htm.

1. Why is it important to testify (to bear witness) to examples of God's loving care for us all?

1. How does the Reverend Irving Tomlinson' explanation of the composition of the Bible Lesson apply to this week's Bible Lesson?

"The Golden Text may be said to contain the fundamental thought with which the sermon deals.... The responsive reading, while entirely separate from the sermon, deals with the same subject... Usually, the first Science and Health reference in each section hints the leading thought in that section, which the Bible selections and the other Science and Health selections in the section develop." (TCSJ, Vol 40, p 483-487.)

SOME NOTES ON THE HISTORY OF THE BIBLE LESSON

In 1898 when Mary Baker Eddy chose the 26 subjects for an entirely new Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lesson format, the Reverend Irving Tomlinson was one of the original members of the newly constituted Christian Science Bible Lesson Committee.

From 1888 to 1899 the Christian Science Bible Lesson Committee simply had directly copied to the Christian Science Quarterly the Bible citations that had been prepared by the multi-denominational International Lesson Committee [ILC] for the weekly International Sunday School Lessons used by Protestant churches. (The Church of Christ, Scientist, had no representation on that committee.) To those Bible Lessons the Christian Science Bible Lesson Committee added correlative citations from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, which provided explanations of the Bible texts chosen by the ILC. Until 1898 the ILC-based Bible Lessons were a key primary of both Christian Science church services and Christian Science Sunday School, which until 1895 included adult Sunday School classes.]

To read the Rev. Tomlinson's complete article, browse http://www.bibletexts.com/articles/j040p483.htm. To read more about the history of the Christian Science Quarterly Bible Lessons, including the official use of other translations in addition to -- and for one entire year replacing -- the King James Version, browse http://www.bibletexts.com/bl-ver.htm.)]