AN important phase of the Sunday school work which the teacher is required to consider is preparation, the act of making ready or fit beforehand—of qualifying.
Preparation is important, because, seen in its broadest sense, it involves one's entire living. In other words, the teacher's life should be the best preparation for teaching in the Christian Science Sunday School— as, indeed, it is for all work in the Christian Science movement; for our experience and proof of what is taught are proportionate to our actual understanding; and the more clearly we understand, the better we can impart our understanding to others. This, then, is the demand made upon us in teaching the religion which is based upon proof rather than upon mere profession. "The error of the ages," writes Mrs. Eddy in "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures" (p. 241), "is preaching without practice." And in "Miscellaneous Writings" she quotes this stanza (p. 338):
"Thou must be true thyself,
If thou the truth wouldst teach;
Thy soul must overflow, if thou
Another's soul wouldst reach;
It needs the overflow of heart,
To give the lips full speech."
