CSEC Online Reference Library
Christian Science Bible Lessons
"Happy is the man that findeth wisdom."
This Week's Lesson
This week's subject
Substance
Study this week's Christian Science Bible Lesson, presented with selections from the Holy Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy. Use the lesson for prayerful study throughout the week and return as often as you wish.
Receive the Weekly Lesson
Receive the Christian Science Bible Lesson by email each week at no cost. Each message provides convenient access to the current lesson for personal study, reading, and prayer.
Featured Lesson
Featured Lesson
Substance
Explore the Christian Science Bible Lesson on Substance and consider the spiritual nature of being, provision, permanence, and reality.
Historic Lesson-Sermons
Explore a growing library of Christian Science Lesson-Sermons from the early years of the movement. These lessons preserve an important record of how the Bible and Mary Baker Eddy's writings were brought together for worship, teaching, and individual spiritual study.
How to Use the Archive
Select a year to view every available Lesson-Sermon in chronological order. Each listing shows the subject, the date, and the formats available. You can read a lesson online, print a clean reading copy, or download the original file.
The History and Development of the Christian Science Bible Lessons
From 1879 to 1889, Mary Baker Eddy served as pastor of the Church of Christ, Scientist. She delivered sermons during this period and was assisted by students who served as assistant pastors.
In July 1888, Frank E. Mason, C.S.B., then serving as an assistant pastor, began publishing Notes on the International Sunday-School Lessons in The Christian Science Journal. Written from the standpoint of Christian Science, these studies were identified as Bible Lessons. At first, two lessons were published each month.
The June 1889 issue of the Journal included International Bible Lessons with references to Science and Health. The material was divided into four subjects, providing one lesson for each Sunday of the following month.
Lessons for Christian Science Services
In July 1889, the Journal announced that the Christian Science Publishing Society was preparing a series of sermons on Christian Science topics for use in Sunday meetings. The sermons were to address the needs of both inquirers and those who had already gained some understanding of Christian Science. Together with the Christian Science Series and the Bible Lessons, they provided material for services where no preacher was present.
The demand for the lessons continued to grow. In August 1889, they resumed under the title Christian Science Bible Lessons, International Series, with F. E. Mason identified as the author. Each weekly lesson had its own title. The Journal described the lessons as Christian Science Bible Lessons pure and simple and recommended their regular study in Sunday services.
From Bible Lessons to the Christian Science Quarterly
The first Christian Science Bible Lessons printed separately from The Christian Science Journal appeared in December 1889. Publishing the lessons separately also created additional room in the Journal for articles. From that point forward, the lessons were no longer printed as part of the Journal.
In January 1890, preparation of the lessons became the work of a committee, and F. E. Mason's name no longer appeared on the publication. The lessons included extensive references to Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, chosen to illuminate the Scriptural texts under consideration.
The Cross and Crown emblem first appeared on the Bible Lesson leaflet in February 1890. The following month, the Journal announced that the lessons would be issued quarterly. The Christian Science Quarterly, Volume 1, Number 1, began with the April, May, June 1890 issue.
Reading the Bible Lessons during Sunday services became increasingly widespread. Records of the Christian Scientist Association meeting in October 1891 note how much the lessons had accomplished when used in place of sermons.
In December 1894, Mary Baker Eddy ordained the Bible and Science and Health as the Pastor of The Mother Church. In 1895, this dual and impersonal Pastor was established for all Churches of Christ, Scientist. The Lesson-Sermon continues to center worship on these two books. Separate afternoon or evening lessons based on the International Series were discontinued in 1899.
Chronology
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1872 | A permanent foundation is established for the Uniform Series of International Sunday-School Bible Lessons used by Protestant churches. |
| 1888 | The Christian Science Journal begins publishing Frank E. Mason's notes on the International Sunday-School Lessons from a Christian Science standpoint. |
| 1889 | Growing demand leads to regular publication of Christian Science Bible Lessons. Mary Baker Eddy appoints a committee of four to prepare them. |
| 1890 | The Christian Science Quarterly begins with the April to June issue. A Journal article reports the successful use of readings from the Bible and Science and Health in place of a sermon. |
| 1891 | Mrs. Eddy submits an Order of Exercise that includes readings from the Bible and Science and Health as well as a sermon. |
| 1894 | Mrs. Eddy ordains the Bible and Science and Health as Pastor of The Mother Church on December 14. |
| 1895 | The Bible and Science and Health are ordained as the dual Pastor for all Churches of Christ, Scientist. |
| 1897 | The first Explanatory Note appears in the January to March Quarterly. |
| 1898 | Mrs. Eddy's twenty-six Lesson-Sermon subjects are introduced in the July to September Quarterly. |
The Twenty-Six Bible Lesson Subjects
Mary Baker Eddy established twenty-six subjects for the Christian Science Bible Lessons. The subjects repeat twice each year, providing a continuing course of Bible study and spiritual development. A separate lesson is prepared for Thanksgiving.