Bible Lesson Questions (version 2.02)

The answers to all of these questions can be found (1) in the Bible Lesson itself, (2) in the Bible Lesson Study Aid [BLSA] at http://www.bibletexts.com/bl.htm, (3) in other webpages on the BibleTexts.com website, the homepage of which is at http://www.bibletexts.com, or (4) in Recommended Bible Study Books/Resources that are listed at http://www.bibletexts.com/reviews/index.htm.

1. How might the Golden Text be considered to be a concise proclamation of the Gospel (the Good News) of Christ Jesus?
2. How does Jesus' "healing all who were oppressed by the devil" illustrate Jesus' mission and illustrate the role of the Holy Spirit? (Golden Text -- and see BLSA footnotes.) As aids in answering this question, you may want to browse to the following web links.

The devil: The term Devil is synonymous with Satan, the Accuser, the Slanderer, the Prosecuting Attorney. (http://www.bibletexts.com/glossary/satan.htm)

The Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit (KJV: Holy Ghost) is also known in Joh 15:26 as the Spirit of truth and the Comforter (the Advocate, the Counselor, the Paraclete, the Defense Attorney). (http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/comforter.htm)

1. In Bible citation #1, what is the significance of the son being named "Immanuel" and of "drinking milk and eating honey"? (See BLSA footnotes.)
2. How does the prophesy of Bible citation #2 provide the conclusion for the prophesy of Bible citation #1? (See BLSA footnotes for both citations.)
3. What is the significance of the twelve year old Jesus' statement to his parents, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" (Bible citation 3, NRSV -- and see BLSA footnotes.)

1. Peter in Bible citation #5 emphasizes the point that Jesus is the Messiah, or Christ. How does the royal nature of the term Messiah, "the one anointed" [as king], relate to Jesus' mission as a liberator, providing salvation from sin?
2. How did the royal nature of Jesus the Messiah coincide with (1) his taking students (disciples), (2) his sending them out as apostles (meaning "those sent") to follow in Jesus' footsteps of liberating, saving, and healing others, and (3) his referring to his disciples as his brothers and sisters (e.g., Mar 3:35; Joh 20:17)?

1. How did Jesus' raising of Lazarus illustrate Jesus' royal/ Christly nature and ilustrate his view of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha as part of his royal/Christly family?
2. How did Jesus raising of Lazarus illustrate the laws and authority of God's government?

1. Bible citation #9 describes Jesus' driving the moneychangers out of the Temple courtyard. How does this illustrate Jesus' royal/Christly authority?
2. How does this also illustrate his defense of his "Father's house" to which he referred in Bible citation #3?
3. How was this act of "rebuking sin" an important part of reflecting what Mary Baker Eddy describes as "the sweet amenities of Love?" (Church Manual, 40:7-11) What are the other three "amenities of Love" that Jesus also consistently exemplified and required of his followers?

See also section 2.d.3. at http://www.bibletexts.com/terms/prayer2.htm.

1. Bible citations #1 and #2 refer to the unfaithfulness and unworthiness of King Ahaz as king of Judah and refers to his adverse affects on his people. Bible citation #2 also prophesied the faithfulness and worthiness of the future Messiah, "the one anointed" [as king], whom we know to be Christ Jesus. How would you compare/constrast Ahaz's royal life and Jesus' royal/Christly life? How would you compare/contrast the outcomes of the lives?
2. Bible citation #12 teaches, "Live the rest of your earthly lives controlled by God's will and not by human desires." How does compliance with this illustrate our royal heritage as part of the family of Christ? (See also Rev 1:6 and Rev 5:10, which describes how Christ 'has made us kings and priest unto God and his Father.')

1. How does this week's Bible Lesson show the authority of the kingship/rulership of Christ, not only 2000 years ago but today?
2. How can we best honor "our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?" (Bible citation #14)

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.)]