Bible Study for Saturday, March 21st, 2026

Signs of the Times

from the July 31, 1926 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel, originally from the War Cry, Chicago, Illinois

“Backbiting” was one of the cardinal sins condemned by the early Methodists, according to a document recently made public in a sale at Southeby’s auction rooms in London. Dr. James R. Joy, editor of the Christian Advocate, New York, draws attention to the six points of brotherhood which he recently discovered had been written by John Wesley, founder of Methodism, and signed by John and Charles Wesley.

“It is agreed by us whose names are underwritten: “1. That we will not listen or willingly inquire after any ill concerning each other.

“2. That if we do hear any ill of each other we will not be forward to believe it.

“3. That as soon as possible we will communicate what we hear by speaking or writing to the person concerned.

“4. That till we have done this we will not write or speak a syllable of it to any other person whatsoever.

“5. That neither will we mention it after we have done this to any other person whatsoever.

“6. That we will not make any exception to any of these rules unless we think ourselves absolutely obliged in conscience so to do.

“Signed: John Wesley, Charles Wesley, John Lumbath, E. Perronetz, Jonathan Reeves, Joseph Connley, C. Perronet, Thomas Maxfield, I. Dorres, John Jones, John Nelson, William Shent, John Haime.”

A Follow-Up on the Methodist Episcopal Church Report, from Sermons and Articles by Doris White Evans

From The Methodist Pulpit Into Christian Science And How I Demonstrated The Abundance Of Substance And Supply by Reverend Severin E. Simonsen

Great Joy in the City by Charles Spurgeon

Did the salvation of the eunuch depend merely on his believing that Jesus Christ was the Son of God?

It did; but this believing was more than faith in the fact that Jesus was the Messiah. Here the verb believe took its original meaning, namely, to be firm, — yea, to understand those great truths asserted of the Messiah: it meant to discern and consent to that infinite demand made upon the eunuch in those few words of the apostle. Philip’s requirement was, that he should not only acknowledge the incarnation, — God made manifest through man, — but even the eternal unity of man and God, as the divine Principle and spiritual idea; which is the indissoluble bond of union, the power and presence, in divine Science, of Life, Truth, and Love, to support their ideal man. This is the Father’s great Love that He hath bestowed upon us, and it holds man in endless Life and one eternal round of harmonious being. It guides him by Truth that knows no error, and with supersensual, impartial, and unquenchable Love. To believe is to be firm. In adopting all this vast idea of Christ Jesus, the eunuch was to know in whom he believed. To believe thus was to enter the spiritual sanctuary of Truth, and there learn, in divine Science, somewhat of the All-Father-Mother God. It was to understand God and man: it was sternly to rebuke the mortal belief that man has fallen away from his first estate; that man, made in God’s own likeness, and reflecting Truth, could fall into mortal error; or, that man is the father of man. It was to enter unshod the Holy of Holies, where the miracle of grace appears, and where the miracles of Jesus had their birth, — healing the sick, casting out evils, and resurrecting the human sense to the belief that Life, God, is not buried in matter. This is the spiritual dawn of the Messiah, and the overture of the angels. This is when God is made manifest in the flesh, and thus it destroys all sense of sin, sickness, and death, — when the brightness of His glory encompasseth all being.

from Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy, pages 77 to 78

May 2018: Christian Science v. New Age

No human pen nor tongue taught me the Science contained in this book, Science and Health; and neither tongue nor pen can overthrow it.

from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 110

Just now, the darkest spot on the horizon of mortal mind that Christian Science can illumine is envy, and the strife for “who shall be greatest.” It pushes Christianity aside to elbow in a crowd of robbers, that enter not in by the door, Truth, but would climb up some other way. Obscure, unlettered, unprincipled people are filling the field as Mind-Healers, who are mind-killers, building their only superstructure on false foundations – the power of evil and substance of matter. They are working out, through mortal mind, the claim of total depravity, in all its forms of animal magnetism. They rise on the merits of the true healer, to fall at length from their own demerits. The above qualities, entering so largely into their work, engender the most difficult forms of disease.

Twenty years ago, when I first brought this subject to the consideration of the race, to be a Christian Science Mind-healer was no bid for respectability, popularity, wealth. It was a sharp appeal to conscience, spiritual growth, moral courage. The question then was, “Can you drink the cup?” On this basis there was no danger of injuring oneself or one’s neighbor. The pioneer work has been done faithfully. Now comes the inquiry, Shall this work be overthrown by charlatans of the baser sort? Naught but the unselfish purpose, the higher understanding of God and the love of man, are incentives to real Mind-healing. Once in this direction, and persecution, hardship, sacrifice, only “lead into green pastures, and beside the still waters.” …

I recommend that you quit other reading and confine yourself for the present to the perusal of the Scriptures, and my work, Science and Health. This book has a Key to the Scriptures that never picks the lock, but opens the Word only as it turns in the grooves of God. This course pursued, and you will gain consolation and light. Theosophy is not allied to Christian Science: it misleads the understanding, whereas Christian Science enlightens it.

Mary Baker Eddy, Six Days of Revelation, page 200

We are never in danger when we are in affliction — we only are in danger from prosperity.

Mary Baker Eddy, Six Days of Revelation, page 148

Christ Jesus the Ensample. SECT. 3.

He who dated the Christian era is the Ensample in Christian Science. Careless comparison or irreverent reference to Christ Jesus is abnormal in a Christian Scientist, and is prohibited. When it is necessary to show the great gulf between Christian Science and theosophy, hypnotism, or spiritualism, do it, but without hard words. The wise man saith, “A soft answer turneth away wrath.” However despitefully used and misrepresented by the churches or the press, in return employ no violent invective, and do good unto your enemies when the opportunity occurs.

Manual of The Mother Church, The First Church of Christ Scientist, in Boston, Massachusetts, by Mary Baker Eddy, 88th Edition

Animal magnetism, I acknowledge your claims, but I denounce your power.

from Divinity Course and General Collectanea, (the “Blue Book”), by Mary Baker Eddy, page 199

Deuteronomy 18:9-13
9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations.
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
13 Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

…impurity of heart is the cause of spiritual blindness

Charles Spurgeon

Hymn 298

Micah 6:8
8 He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Do you believe in change of heart?

We do believe, and understand — which is more — that there must be a change from human affections, desires, and aims, to the divine standard, “Be ye therefore perfect;” also, that there must be a change from the belief that the heart is matter and sustains life, to the understanding that God is our Life, that we exist in Mind, live thereby, and have being. This change of heart would deliver man from heart-disease, and advance Christianity a hundredfold. The human affections need to be changed from self to benevolence and love for God and man; changed to having but one God and loving Him supremely, and helping our brother man.

This change of heart is essential to Christianity, and will have its effect physically as well as spiritually, healing disease. Burnt offerings and drugs, God does not require.

from Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy, pages 50 to 51

Jesus The Game Changer