Bible Lesson Questions (version 2.01)

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. Why is it that Paul (in the Responsive Reading from Galatians) refers to Christ and the Spirit as providing us with freedom from slavery?
2. What are the responsibilities and benefits of such freedom?

1. According to Bible citation #1, what is God, and what is the only means by which we can worship God as he really is?
2. Where can we find God and stand on "holy ground" (Bible citation #2), and how should we honor God's presence?

1. What are "angels," as mentioned in the story of Lot and his family in Sodom (Bible citation #6)?
2. How do angels relate to the Holy Spirit? (To explore the role of the Holy Spirit, browse http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/comforter.htm.)

1. In Bible citation #8, who were Ahab and Jezebel, and how did they fit into the story about Elijah?
2. What was the role of the angel in the story about Elijah?
3. How can we today respond to angels?

1. How is it that the Spirit "gives life"?
2. What are the implications of considering together the two statements from Bible citations #11 and #12?

It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless.

What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.

3. What are the implications of considering the two statements above together with the statement in Bible citation #13?

The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

4. Which of the two Genesis accounts of the creation of man better coincides with Bible citation #13, Gen 1:26,27 or Gen 2:7?

1. As illustrated in Bible citation #14, Jesus was not just another healer among the many charlatans of his time and region, but what made his healings different?
2. Why did Jesus expect his disciples and other followers to heal others, even after he was no longer with them?

1. Bible citation #17 tells us, "Rejoice then, you heavens and those who dwell in them!" (NRSV) Who should rejoice, and why?

Note: In Rev 12:9, the "dragon" is identified as "that ancient serpent, named the Devil, or Satan, that deceived the whole world" (TEV), and the Devil or Satan means the accuser or slanderer. In Bible citation #17, the dragon was thrown out of heaven, and God alone rules. In the Lord's Prayer we celebrate the coming of the Kingdom of God, otherwise known as the Kingdom of heaven. Elsewhere we read,

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom... (Psa 143:1,13)

The kingdom of God has come to you. (Luk 10:20)

The kingdom of God is within you. (Luk 17:20,21)

The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe the Good News! (Mar 1:15)

Browse also http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer2.htm

2. Though not as graphically depicted as the warfare that the Revelator described in Bible citation #17, Paul's description in the Responsive Reading (Gal 5:16,17) explains the conflict between the Spirit and the flesh. Just as the account in Revelation celebrates God's victory and rule, how should we appropriately acknowledge and celebrate the omnipotence of God, Spirit?

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.)]