A Christian Science lecture is a gift from Christian Scientists to their community. It is an area of church outreach that unites all members—both new and seasoned workers — in adherence to the Master's injunction "Love thy neighbour as thyself." Mark 12:31 And prayerful preparation for the giving of such a lecture is an enriching experience.
Selecting a speaker, choosing a site, arranging for publicity, inviting guests—the human footsteps involved are many. But underlying them all must be a solid foundation of spiritual understanding. Otherwise, such activity would be mere human busyness. A Christian Science lecture is intended to inspire and heal, to explore the practical application of the great spiritual truths in the Bible, and to broaden the horizon of thought. But such an outcome requires the all-embracing protection of prayer before, during, and after the talk is given. And truly successful lecture preparation involves a deeper study and awareness of the spiritual nature of community, communication, and communion.
Regardless of the benefits individual Christian Scientists may derive from listening to a Christian Science lecture, the lecture is not intended primarily for them. It is for their neighbors. Mrs. Eddy established this activity as a means of explaining the healing message of Christian Science to the general public. In The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, she underscored this community outreach when she wrote: "The Board of Lectureship is absolutely inclined to be, and is instructed to be, charitable towards all, and hating none. The purpose of its members is to subserve the interest of mankind, and to cement the bonds of Christian brotherhood, whose every link leads upward in the chain of being." Miscellany, pp. 338-339
