Bible Study from November 23rd, 2019

Seek ye the LORD while He may be found

This week’s Lesson Sermon Subject: Soul and Body

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Bible Study Questions and Readings

“To The Mother Church

“Beloved Brethren: — Until recently, I was not aware that the contribution box was presented at your Friday evening meetings. I specially desire that you collect no moneyed contributions from the people present on these occasions.

“Let the invitation to this sweet converse be in the words of the prophet Isaiah: ‘Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.’

“Invite all cordially and freely to this banquet of Christian Science, this feast and flow of Soul. Ask them to bring what they possess of love and light to help leaven your loaf and replenish your scanty store. Then, after presenting the various offerings, and one after another has opened his lips to discourse and distribute what God has given him of experience, hope, faith, and understanding, gather up the fragments, and count the baskets full of accessions to your love, and see that nothing has been lost.

With love, Mary Baker Eddy.”


From Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy,
page 148-149

Topic: Come Feed your Soul

Moderator: Shahidat from MD

Bible Readings: Isaiah 55; Daniel 1

Questions:

  1. What is Isaiah inviting people to partake of in this chapter?
  2. What does it mean to “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found”? Is there ever a time when the Lord cannot be found?
  3. How did the four young Hebrew men follow Isaiah’s invitation and what was the result?
  4. How can we follow Isaiah’s invitation today?


Notes from the Discussion




Remember this (perfume).

We are careful with our perfume, and with the flowers we bring into a room, but, a thousand times more important is the atmosphere that each of us has brought here today. Each thought we think is sending into this presence either joy, support, inspiration and constructive stimulation, or the dull, musty odor of timidity, or the sharp disagreeable smell of self-importance.

I have known a most daintily groomed person to bring into a room such an atmosphere of self — either egotistic, hurt pride or self-effacement — as to cause an awkward silence, that positively produces a musty odor.

What we want is the sweet odor of forgiveness; the scented flowers of humility; the pungent odors of majesty and power; the woodsy smell of peace and rest; the perfume of joy, gladness, and gratitude; and the fragrance of real love.

You are not only giving forth an atmosphere filled with fragrance, but also one illumined with color.

You give tone to every group of which you are a part.

Despite the difference in the physical structure between insects and men, they exhibit the same qualities. “Mad as a hornet,” “busy as a bee,” “industrious as an ant,” etc.

Let us silently accept God’s presence; gratefully appreciate its meaning; humbly awaken to its import; and pledge ourselves anew to fulfill His Holy purpose for us.

— from “Association 1946”Notes from Association Addresses, 1943 to 1946 by Una Willard


Click here to read more from Una Willard — Notes from Association Addresses, 1943 to 1946 by Una Willard




We must therefore inquire what is the true preparation for receiving this grace. The Prophet describes it by the word “thirsty.” Those who are puffed up with vain confidence and are satiated, or who, intoxicated by earthly appetites, do not feel thirst of soul, will not receive Christ; because they have no relish for spiritual grace. They resemble those persons who are in want of nourishments, but who, because they are filled and swollen with wind, loathe food, or who, being carried away by their own vain imaginations, feed on their own stupidity, as if they were in want of nothing. The consequence is, that they who are puffed up with pride or a false opinion of their own righteousness, or whom the allurements of the flesh have seized with lethargy, despise or reject the grace of God. It is therefore necessary that we have “thirst,” that is, an ardent desire, in order that it may be possible for us to receive so great blessings.

— from Calvin’s Commentary




… the gospel covenant excludes none that do not exclude themselves.

— from Matthew Henry Bible Commentary




My Household

Beloved: — A word to the wise is sufficient. Mother wishes you all a happy Christmas, a feast of Soul and a famine of sense.

Lovingly thine, Mary Baker Eddy Box G, Brookline, Mass.

— from Miscellany by Mary Baker Eddy, page 263




Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

— Isaiah 55: 6 from the Responsive Reading portion of this week’s lesson


Found: To set or place; to establish, as on something solid or durable; as, to found a government on principles of liberty. To fix firmly.

— From Webster’s 1828 Dictionary




When satiated in the material deream you are not seeking God.

— from Bible Study




Make hay while the sun shines.

— Proverb from early sixteenth century.




Discipline yourself to stay with God.

— from Bible Study




Seek God diligently every day.

— from Bible Study




Keep your gratitude and love high.

— from Bible Study




The pains of sense are salutary, if they wrench away false pleasurable beliefs and transplant the affections from sense to Soul, where the creations of God are good, “rejoicing the heart.”

— from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, page 265




The Hebrew captives focused on God and refused to be mesmerized.

— from Bible Study




To obey the Scriptural command, “Come out from among them, and be ye separate,” is to incur society’s frown; but this frown, more than flatteries, enables one to be Christian.

— from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, page 238




Christian Scientists must live under the constant pressure of the apostolic command to come out from the material world and be separate. They must renounce aggression, oppression and the pride of power. Christianity, with the crown of Love upon her brow, must be their queen of life.

— from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, page 450




Dabble: To do any thing in a slight or superficial manner; to tamper; to touch here and there.

— From Webster’s 1828 Dictionary




To love God, and to love man, God’s idea, — these comprehend the whole meaning, duty, and purpose of being.

— George L. Lowe




If you’re going through hell, keep going.

— Winston Churchill




Lead, kindly Light, amid the encircling gloom,
Lead Thou me on;
The night is dark, and I am far from home,
Lead Thou me on.
Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see
The distant scene; one step enough for me.

— Hymn 169 from the Christian Science Hymnal