Bible Study from December 16th, 2023

Life, without birth and without end, Emitting light! (from Christ and Christmas by Mary Baker Eddy)


This week’s Lesson Sermon Subject: Is The Universe, Including Man, Evolved By Atomic Force?

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Bible Study Questions and Readings

Bless Christmas morn, though murky clouds
Pursue thy way,
Thy light was born where storm enshrouds
Nor dawn nor day!

Dear Christ, forever here and near,
No cradle song,
No natal hour and mother’s tear,
To thee belong.

Thou God-idea, Life-encrowned,
The Bethlehem babe —
Beloved, replete, by flesh embound —
Was but thy shade!

Thou gentle beam of living Love,
And deathless Life!
Truth infinite,— so far above
All mortal strife,

Or cruel creed, or earth-born taint:
Fill us today
With all thou art — be thou our saint,
Our stay, alway.

— “Christmas Morn” from The Christian Science Hymnal, by Mary Baker Eddy, Hymn 25


Topic: Life, without birth and without end, Emitting light! (from Christ and Christmas by Mary Baker Eddy)

Moderator: Thomas from NY

Main Readings: Matthew 1:18-25, 2:1-23; Luke 1:26-56, 2:1-40

Optional Readings: The Birth of Jesus, compiled by Thomas (see link to pdf below)

Questions:

  1. What do we know about Saint Catherine’s Monastery? (Quick historic question)
  2. How is the statement, “good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people” relevant to us today? — Luke 2:10
  3. What is the significance of Jesus being, “holy to the Lord” and how does it apply to us? (Luke 2:23, Jesus is presented at the Temple; 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”; Isaiah 43:21, “This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.”)
  4. What does, “God with us” mean? (“they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” — Matthew 1: 23; “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” — Isaiah 7:14; “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” — Romans 8:35)

Notes from the Discussion


Being “holy to the Lord” is to be a “first-born” – “to be set apart to the service of God” as a priest.

— Bible Hub

“Jesus the Christ was the first who awoke to the consciousness of his sonship; hence he is the first-born among many brethren. The Bible reveals man as made in God’s image, and the real man is therefore spiritual and perfect. Even today man is spiritual and perfect in his essential nature, and sin, disease and death are mortal beliefs about man.” (From: 1899 Sentinel – Lectures by Rev. Arthur Reeves Vosburgh, C.S.B)

“…he is termed our Elder Brother; so that he becomes the first-born among many brethren:” (From: 1891 Journal – “Jesus, As He Appears to Christian Scientists” author unknown [Sarah J. Clark was Editor]


(12/27/03) My beloved Students: May this dear Christmas season be to you a Christ risen, a morn, the break of day. There is nothing jubilant attached to the birth of a mortal-that suffers and pays the penalty of his parents’ misconception of man and of God’s creation. But there is a joy unutterable in knowing that Christ had no birth, no death, and that we may find in Christ, in the true sense of being, life apart from birth, sorrow, sin and death. 0 may your eyes not be holden, but may you discern spiritually what is our Redeemer.

— from Divinity Course and General Collectanea, (the “Blue Book”), by Mary Baker Eddy, page 128


Article: “How Mrs. Eddy used “Christmas Morn” to Heal a Patient”, from The Healer, by David Keyston, pages 145 to 146


Click haere for a free downloads of our magazine by Plainfield Christian Science Church Independent

— “Christ and Christmas,” Part 1, Love is the Liberator, November 2020

Click haere for a free downloads of our magazine by Plainfield Christian Science Church Independent

— “Christ and Christmas,” Part 2, Love is the Liberator, November 2021


Love is the liberator.

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