A number of active, working Christian Scientists were asked to write us letters telling how they study the weekly Lesson-Sermon in the "Christian Science Quarterly." Following are excerpts from some of these letters.
It seems to me that the most effective approach to the Lesson-Sermon is to be found in Mrs. Eddy's words in Science and Health (p. vii), "The time for thinkers has come." It is vital that one's work with the lesson be thoughtful and inquiring. Many people tend to overread and under-think. Unless the active faculty of reasoning is brought into play, little will be gained in the spiritualization of thought, which is the prime purpose of the Lesson-Sermon.
In my own work with the lesson, I have found that turning statements into questions—both in the Bible and in Science and Health—activates right reasoning and results in increased understanding of the subjects of the lessons. For example. One week when the subject was "Life," the Bible citations included the familiar one from John (8:51), "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." Now, everyone is keenly (if personally!) interested in the demonstration of overcoming death. How shall we reach that beatified state wherein the dark cloud of death will never loom upon vision, much less experience? By holding steadfastly to the Christly way and view of life! Similarly, one of the correlative citations from Science and Health brought this pertinent question to thought: What conviction on my part will open up the boundless vistas of ageless, deathless, fearless, sinless, diseaseless life? And the passage which raised the question provided the answer (p. 90): "The admission to one's self that man is God's own likeness sets man free to master the infinite idea. This conviction shuts the door on death, and opens it wide towards immortality." Only the admission of true identity as reflection will bring liberation from bondage and the freedom to demonstrate immortality.
