First Church of Christ, Scientist, La Cañada Flintridge, California

Wednesday Meeting Readings

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Jesus our ensample
Wednesday, July 27, 2022
The Bible
  1. Isa. 51:1 (to :), 7, 8, 16

    1Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord:

    7Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings.

    8For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation.

    16And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand, that I may plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and say unto Zion, Thou art my people.

  2. Matt. 13:1

    1The same day went Jesus out of the house, and sat by the sea side.

  3. Matt. 16:1-24

    1The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

    2He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

    3And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

    4A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

    5And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

    6Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

    7And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

    8Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

    9Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

    10Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

    11How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

    12Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

    13When Jesus came into the coasts of Cæsarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

    14And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

    15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

    16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

    17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar–jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

    18And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

    19And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

    20Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

    21From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

    22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

    23But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

    24Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  4. Matt. 19:16-29

    16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

    17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

    18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

    19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

    20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

    21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

    22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

    23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

    24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

    25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

    26But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

    27Then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?

    28And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, that ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

    29And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

  5. Phil. 3:1 (to 1st .), 8-14, 17, 20, 21

    1Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.

    ... 8Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

    9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

    10That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

    11If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

    12Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

    13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

    14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

    ... 17Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

    ... 20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

    21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

  6. Eph. 6:23, 24

    23Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    24Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.


Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures
by Mary Baker Eddy
  1. SH 42:1-3, 15-21

    42:1    Jesus’ life proved, divinely and scientifically, that God is Love, whereas priest and rabbi affirmed God to be a 3mighty potentate, who loves and hates.

    15    The resurrection of the great demonstrator of God’s power was the proof of his final triumph over body Death outdoneand matter, and gave full evidence of divine 18Science, — evidence so important to mortals. The belief that man has existence or mind separate from God is a dying error. This error Jesus met with divine 21Science and proved its nothingness.

  2. SH 52:19-21 (np)

        The “man of sorrows” best understood the nothing-ness of material life and intelligence and the mighty ac-21Saviour’s predictiontuality of all-inclusive God, good. These were the two cardinal points of Mind-healing, or Christian Science, which armed him with Love. The high-24est earthly representative of God, speaking of human ability to reflect divine power, prophetically said to his disciples, speaking not for their day only but for all time: 27“He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also;” and “These signs shall follow them that believe.”

        The accusations of the Pharisees were as self-contra-30Defamatory accusationsdictory as their religion. The bigot, the deb-auchee, the hypocrite, called Jesus a glutton and a wine-bibber. They said: “He casteth out devils 53 53:1through Beelzebub,” and is the “friend of publicans and sinners.” The latter accusation was true, but not in their 3meaning. Jesus was no ascetic. He did not fast as did the Baptist’s disciples; yet there never lived a man so far removed from appetites and passions as the Nazarene. 6 He rebuked sinners pointedly and unflinchingly, because he was their friend; hence the cup he drank.

        The reputation of Jesus was the very opposite of his 9character. Why? Because the divine Principle and Reputation and characterpractice of Jesus were misunderstood. He was at work in divine Science. His words 12and works were unknown to the world because above and contrary to the world’s religious sense. Mortals be-lieved in God as humanly mighty, rather than as divine, 15infinite Love.

        The world could not interpret aright the discomfort which Jesus inspired and the spiritual blessings which 18Inspiring discontentmight flow from such discomfort. Science shows the cause of the shock so often pro-duced by the truth, — namely, that this shock arises from 21the great distance between the individual and Truth.

  3. SH 54:1-20

    Through the magnitude of his human life, he demonstrated the divine 3Life. Out of the amplitude of his pure affection, he de-fined Love. With the affluence of Truth, he vanquished error. The world acknowledged not his righteousness, 6seeing it not; but earth received the harmony his glorified example introduced.

        Who is ready to follow his teaching and example? All 9must sooner or later plant themselves in Christ, the true Inspiration of sacrificeidea of God. That he might liberally pour his dear-bought treasures into empty or sin-12filled human storehouses, was the inspiration of Jesus’ intense human sacrifice. In witness of his divine com-mission, he presented the proof that Life, Truth, and 15Love heal the sick and the sinning, and triumph over death through Mind, not matter. This was the highest proof he could have offered of divine Love. His hearers 18understood neither his words nor his works. They would not accept his meek interpretation of life nor follow his example.

  4. SH 4:27-30

    27    Audible prayer can never do the works of spiritual understanding, which regenerates; but silent prayer, Veritable devotionwatchfulness, and devout obedience enable 30us to follow Jesus’ example.

  5. SH 266:24-25

    24    Mortals must follow Jesus’ sayings and his demonstra-tions, which dominate the flesh.

  6. SH 267:13

        Christian Scientists understand that, in a religious sense, they have the same authority for the appellative 15mother, as for that of brother and sister. Jesus said: “For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and 18mother.”

  7. SH 54:26-26 (np)

    He said that those who fol-27lowed him should drink of his cup, and history has con-firmed the prediction.

        If that Godlike and glorified man were physically on 30Injustice to the Saviourearth to-day, would not some, who now pro-fess to love him, reject him? Would they not deny him even the rights of humanity, if he enter-5555:1tained any other sense of being and religion than theirs? The advancing century, from a deadened sense of the 3invisible God, to-day subjects to unchristian comment and usage the idea of Christian healing enjoined by Jesus; but this does not affect the invincible facts.

    6    Perhaps the early Christian era did Jesus no more injustice than the later centuries have bestowed upon the healing Christ and spiritual idea of being. Now 9that the gospel of healing is again preached by the wayside, does not the pulpit sometimes scorn it? But that curative mission, which presents the Saviour in a 12clearer light than mere words can possibly do, cannot be left out of Christianity, although it is again ruled out of the synagogue.

    15    Truth’s immortal idea is sweeping down the centuries, gathering beneath its wings the sick and sinning. My weary hope tries to realize that happy day, when man shall 18recognize the Science of Christ and love his neighbor as himself, — when he shall realize God’s omnipotence and the healing power of the divine Love in what it has done 21and is doing for mankind. The promises will be ful-filled. The time for the reappearing of the divine healing is throughout all time; and whosoever layeth his earthly 24all on the altar of divine Science, drinketh of Christ’s cup now, and is endued with the spirit and power of Christian healing.


From the Christian Science Hymnal
Hymn 388: “When like a stranger on our sphere The lowly Jesus sojourned here”
Hymn 461: “...These tender words of Jesus Still come to hearts oppressed”
Hymn 504: “I want to know the truth that Jesus taught us”