Bible Study for November 29th, 2025

John Randall Dunn — (Massillon, Ohio,?–December 22, 1948, San Francisco, California). Was the son of James Randall Dunn, an official of the U.S. Immigration Service. His mother, Caroline, was an accomplished singer and pianist. Educated in Ohio and San Francisco, he served in the U.S. Chinese Bureau in San Francisco. He was a Christian Science practitioner, 1907-1948, and also served as a Christian Science teacher, lecturer, and as the editor of Christian Science periodicals.

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“Are you faithful? Do you love?” from the March 23, 1918 issue of the Christian Science Sentinel by John Randall Dunn

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The Effulgence Foundation

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Reading The Scientific Statement Of Being Our Leader’s Way

Extract from the Reminiscence of John Randall Dunn one of our Leader’s students, from the “Mary Baker Eddy Library. This is so important for us all to know and particularly helpful for First Readers. And remember our Leader made this statement the culmination of the whole service, during the reading of which the whole congregation stands. It is that important! Mr. Dunn wrote this:
“I called on Miss Clara Shannon in London, England, shortly before her going from our sight. She seemed very alert mentally and related the following incidents:

She said she was with our Leader one day at Pleasant View when a well-known Christian Scientist from the West was received by Mrs Eddy. In the course of their conversation, he told her that he had been elected First Reader of his church. Mrs. Eddy then gave him a copy of Science and Health and asked him to read the Scientific Statement of Being for her. Miss Shannon stated that to her sense of things the man read the Statement very well; but when he had finished Mrs. Eddy looked at him a little sternly and said “You haven’t the slightest idea as to how that should be read! Let me have the book.” He passed the Science and Health back to her and she proceeded to read it to him. Miss Shannon quickly opened her own textbook and underlined the words which Mrs. Eddy emphasized.

It appeared that her thought was to minimize the negative and to emphasize the affirmative statements in this paragraph. The first declaration was read very quietly and then in the second Mrs. Eddy emphasized the words “all”, “infinite Mind”, and the word “its”, as well as “infinite manifestation” and was careful to read “all-in-all” smoothly and not to hesitate after the first “all” or after the word “in”, which would indicate that God was IN His creation. She said the next statements were read as contrasts, – the declaration about Spirit being emphasized and matter minimized. May I say in passing that a Reader to whom I told this and who promptly tried to follow Mrs Eddy’s thought in the matter, was waited upon at the close of a service recently by someone who said that he had been hearing that Scientific Statement of Being read for a quarter of a century but that day was the first time he had found a Reader who made Mind all and matter naught.

This seemed to be a confirmation of the fact that Miss Shannon had caught our Leader’s intention as to how the Scientific Statement of Being should be read in our churches.” You might be interested to know that I knew the secretary of Clara Shannon’s Association in London well. He was a listed practitioner, and he shared with me a card showing exactly the way Clara Shannon taught her pupils how to read this statement, directly from hearing our Leader read it.

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“I agree with Rev. Dr. Talmage, that ‘there are wit, humor, and enduring vivacity among God’s people.'”

from Miscellaneous Writings, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 117

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A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller

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Angels. God’s thoughts passing to man; spiritual intuitions, pure and perfect; the inspiration of goodness, purity, and immortality, counteracting all evil, sensuality, and mortality.

from Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy, page 581

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John 1:5
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

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Angels by Martha Wilcox

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Hymn 9

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Mark 10:27
And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

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Hymn 222

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The wakeful shepherd beholds the first faint morning beams, ere cometh the full radiance of a risen day.

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

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Our Own Dear Shepherd by Charles H. Spurgeon from January 3, 1886

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Watchfulness by Annie M. Knott

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Mary, from Addresses by Martha Wilcox

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Topical Encyclopedia

The account of the shepherds visiting Jesus is a significant event in the nativity narrative, found in the Gospel of Luke. This event highlights the humble circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ and underscores the theme of God’s revelation to the lowly and humble.

Biblical Account

The account is recorded in Luke 2:8-20. According to the Berean Standard Bible , the narrative begins with shepherds who were “living out in the fields and keeping watch over their flocks by night” (Luke 2:8). These shepherds were likely tending to sheep intended for temple sacrifices, a task that required vigilance and dedication.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and “the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified” (Luke 2:9). The angel reassured them with the words, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). This announcement is significant as it identifies Jesus as the Savior and the long-awaited Messiah, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies.

The angel provided a sign to the shepherds: “You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). Suddenly, a multitude of the heavenly host appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests!” (Luke 2:14).

Response of the Shepherds

The shepherds responded with urgency and faith. They said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us” (Luke 2:15). Their immediate decision to go to Bethlehem demonstrates their eagerness to witness the fulfillment of the angelic message.

Upon arriving in Bethlehem, they found Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus lying in the manger, just as the angel had described. The shepherds shared the message they had received about the child, and “all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them” (Luke 2:18). This indicates that the shepherds became the first evangelists, spreading the good news of Jesus’ birth.

Significance and Symbolism

The visit of the shepherds is rich in symbolism and theological significance. Shepherds, often regarded as lowly and unimportant in society, were chosen by God to be the first witnesses of the Messiah’s birth. This choice reflects God’s preference for the humble and the meek, as seen throughout Scripture.

The shepherds’ experience also emphasizes the theme of divine revelation. God chose to reveal the birth of His Son not to the powerful or the elite, but to ordinary shepherds, highlighting the accessibility of the Gospel message to all people, regardless of status.

Furthermore, the shepherds’ role as caretakers of sacrificial lambs foreshadows Jesus’ future role as the Lamb of God, who would take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Their presence at the nativity scene serves as a reminder of Jesus’ mission and the sacrificial nature of His life and ministry.

Mary’s Reflection

Mary’s response to the shepherds’ visit is also noteworthy. Luke 2:19 states, “But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” This indicates her deep contemplation and understanding of the events surrounding her son’s birth, as well as her role in God’s redemptive plan.

Conclusion

The shepherds’ visit to Jesus is a profound moment in the nativity account, illustrating themes of humility, divine revelation, and the universal nature of the Gospel. Through this event, the shepherds become heralds of the good news, and their encounter with the Christ child marks the beginning of the proclamation of salvation to all people.

The Shepherds Visit Jesus from Bible Hub

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The Seasons – The Shepherds

In Palestine the seasons are divided into summer and winter, or dry and wet seasons. By reference to our “Climate table,” it will be found as true, that the wet season sets in as early as the first of November, and continues into March. In fact, during five months there is almost incessant rains.But as mid-summer has its respite, so does mid-winter, and there is usually a cessation of severe rains during the last of December and first of January.—(Descriptive Palestine, S.)

In summer season the sheep are pastured in forests-or wildernesses-far from home.

We find a plain illustration of this in the story of David and Nabal. The sheep were in the wilderness and mountains until shearing time, in November, after which they were pastured near home, usually in “fields,” and housed at night, in a ” sheep-fold.” —John 10: 1.

This is a walled enclosure. While it kept the sheep from wandering away at night, it did not entirely protect them from prowling dogs or wolves that might scale the walls; hence there were “night-watchers,” as these of St. Luke’s narrative were, and of which it is a correct translation.

The Talmud says that the flocks were taken to the forests, or pastures, in March, and brought home in November.

“The spring coming on, they drove their beasts into the wildernesses, or champing-grounds, where they fed the whole summer. The winter coming on the.y (the shepherds) betook themselves home again with their flocks and herds.” — Light-foot, Rev. Joseph “The Life of Christ” Cambridge, England

From the fact of the sheep being kept near Bethlehem we may, therefore, infer that it was during winter that Jesus was born. At any other season they would be absent. At this season of the year, from abundance of rain, and the average temperature for the months of December and January being 54° and 50°, grass would be abundant in all the “fields” and valleys of lower Palestine. Warm rains are not prejudicial to sheep.

These facts respecting climate have been gathered from those who have resided in Palestine and the vicinity of Jerusalem and Bethlehem during many years.* That the same condition existed in the days of Christ there is also good authority. … Arago, Dom, the French Astronomer, informs us that, during three thousand years, there was no material change in climate.

* Descrip. Geog. of Palestine, Schwartz, Barclay, Thomson. See aleo Climat table.

The Journeys of Jesus: A Chronological, Geographical and Topographical History of the Journeys of Jesus and the Twelve Disciples in Palestine by Addison Darre Crabtre

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Luke 2
1 And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
2 (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
3 And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem;
(because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
15 And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
17 And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.
18 And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.
20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.