Bible Lesson Questions (version 1.00)

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.com/bl.htm, or (3) in other webpages on the BibleTexts.com website, the homepage of which is at http://www.bibletexts.com.

1. The term "light" is frequently mentioned in this week's Bible Lesson, for which "Truth" is the subject. How does light, as used in the Lesson, relate to Truth?

1. The Bible teaches us to pray, "Teach me your ways, O LORD; make them known to me. Teach me to live according to your truth" (Bible citation #B2). In our study of the Bible and other inspiring writings, why would it be considered darkness to selectively choose to quote and profess just what justifies our current beliefs and actions and to selectively ignore what we find that contradicts our current beliefs and actions?
2. Why is it wise not to "go back to our foolish ways" (Bible citation #B3)?

1. Why is the Holy Spirit characterized as "the Spirit of truth" (Bible citation #B6, as well as Joh 14:17; 15:26; 16:13)?
2. How does one's thinking, speaking, and living illustrate whether or not one "can tell the difference between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (Bible citation #B6)?
3. Why should each of us judge ourselves (and not others!) by how well we measure up to Jesus' thinking, speaking, and living?
4. Why is Jesus the sole authoritative example by which each of us should measure our genuine spiritual and human progress? (See also Joh 13:15; 1Pe 2:21; Church Manual 41:1.  For more references, see also "Example of Jesus" at http://www.bibletexts.com/topics/e.htm.)

1. What lessons can we learn from Ananias in Bible citation #B9? Where could such lessons be put to use? (For another encounter with Paul, see Gal 4:13,14.)
2. How does Ananias' experience with Paul illustrate the light and power of the Spirit of truth?

1. After all the terrible things that Paul had done before becoming a Christian, how was he later able to heal others?
2. How forgiving is each of us toward those who seem to have done harm to our loved ones, to our community, to our nation, or to ourselves? As Christians and Christian healers, how important is such forgiveness? (See also http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer2.htm and http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer4.htm.)
3. How does this section illustrate the light and power of the Spirit of truth?

1. If we "convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching" (KJV: "reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine"), how does this illustrate our grateful acknowledgment and celebration of the Good News of the Kingdom of God? (See http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer2.htm. See also Church Manual 40:7-11)
2. How does this section illustrate the light and power of the Spirit of truth?

1. As a little boy, I used to hear from my dear mom almost every morning, "Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee." (Bible citation #B13) Why is this a helpful way to begin each day or to begin any new task?
2. How can this section and this Bible Lesson help us illustrate the light and power of the Spirit of truth?

1. How does the Reverend Irving Tomlinson's 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 component 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.)]