Sunday, January 20th, 2019 Roundtable

Finding Your Purpose in Life

This week’s Lesson Sermon Subject: Life

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Morning Prayers

Goodness never fails to receive its reward, for goodness makes life a blessing. As an active portion of one stupendous whole, goodness identifies man with universal good. Thus may each member of this church rise above the oft-repeated inquiry, What am I? to the scientific response: I am able to impart truth, health, and happiness, and this is my rock of salvation and my reason for existing.

— from Miscellany by Mary Baker Eddy, page 165




We, to-day, in this class-room, are enough to convert the world if we are of one Mind; for then the whole world will feel the influence of this Mind; as when the earth was without form, and Mind spake and form appeared.

— from Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, page 279: 27-2

Discussion points

399 — WATCH that you seek to love others, rather than to seek to have others love you. When you seek to have others love you, you are clinging to earth. When you seek to love others, without regard for whether that love is returned, you are on the highroad to heaven. Mrs. Eddy once said, “In human love you seek someone to love; in divine Love you seek to love.” At another time she said, “In human love you expect something for yourself; in divine Love you expect something for all.”

— Watching Point 399 from 500 Watching Points by Gilbert Carpenter




Forum post — Individuality by Chardelle from PA




Peter and John set an example for us in spiritual giving. They said to the lame man at the gate of the temple, “Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” (Acts 3:6) Peter and John gav e what each man owes his brother, even a recognition of him as God’s own image. Such Christly perception heals and saves and is the greatest benevolence there is.

There is a marked tendency to bestow our goods upon others without a proper provision for ourselves, which often results in our own self-depletion. To be neglectful of oneself under the guise of unselfishness is not the way of wisdom. This is letting our benevolence drop to the level of a personal giver and a personal receiver. It is a far greater sense of benevolence to understand that man moves in reciprocal relation to every other idea. Man receives all that God gives, and through reflection gives all that he receives. We are being most benevolent when we refuse to accept the personal sense testimony of limitation and poverty, and understand that man consciously exists at the standpoint of infinite supply or infinity.

— from Addresses by Martha Wilcox, page 252




RESPONSIVE READING: Psalm 25 : 4, 5, 10 Proverbs 4 : 23 Proverbs 8 : 35 Colossians 3 : 23, 24
4. Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths.
5. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
10. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
35. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.




When we wait patiently on God and seek Truth righteously. He directs our path.

— Citation 13 from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, page 254 : 2-6, 10-12




Forum post — It Breathes New Life Into Our Work by Florence Roberts




To preserve a long course of years still and uniform, amid the uniform darkness of storm and cloud and tempest, requires strength from above, — deep draughts from the fount of divine Love.

— from the Preface of Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, page ix




The soul of the Science is the practice of it.

— from Mary Baker Eddy: Christian Healer, Amplified Edition by Yvonne Caché Von Fettweis




The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD , endureth for ever: forsake not the work of thine own hands.

— Psalm 138:8 from citation 1 in the Bible portion of this week’s lesson




For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which god hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

— Ephesians 2:10 from citation 4 in the Bible portion of this week’s lesson




For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

— Philippians 2: 13 from citation 10 in the Bible portion of this week’s lesson




Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

— II Timothy 1:9 from citation 11 in the Bible portion of this week’s lesson




And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

— Romans 8 : 28 from citation 3 in the Bible portion of this week’s lesson




So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed…

— Acts 13 : 4 from citation 8 in the Bible portion of this week’s lesson




Forum post — Intention by Lynda from PA




A knowledge of the Science of being develops the latent abilities and possibilities of man. It extends the atmosphere of thought, giving mortals access to broader and higher realms. It raises the thinker into his native air of insight and perspicacity.

— Citation 8 from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, page 128 : 14-19




Final Readings

The advancing stages of Christian Science are gained through growth, not accretion; idleness is the foe of progress. And scientific growth manifests no weakness, no emasculation, no illusive vision, no dreamy absentness, no insubordination to the laws that be, no loss nor lack of what constitutes true manhood.

Growth is governed by intelligence; by the active, all-wise, law-creating, law-disciplining, law-abiding Principle, God. The real Christian Scientist is constantly accentuating harmony in word and deed, mentally and orally, perpetually repeating this diapason of heaven: “Good is my God, and my God is good. Love is my God, and my God is Love.”

Beloved students, you have entered the path. Press patiently on; God is good, and good is the reward of all who diligently seek God. Your growth will be rapid, if you love good supremely, and understand and obey the Way-shower, who, going before you, has scaled the steep ascent of Christian Science, stands upon the mount of holiness, the dwelling-place of our God, and bathes in the baptismal font of eternal Love. As you journey, and betimes sigh for rest “beside the still waters,” ponder this lesson of love. Learn its purpose; and in hope and faith, where heart meets heart reciprocally blest, drink with me the living waters of the spirit of my life-purpose, — to impress humanity with the genuine recognition of practical, operative Christian Science.

— from “Pond and Purpose” in Miscellaneous Writings by Mary Baker Eddy, pages 206-207




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