Cain vs. Abel

Genesis 4:8
Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

The tragedy that took place in the very first family illustrates powerfully the awfulness of our sin. This story showed several things - including how important it is to come to God on His terms with a heart of faith in Him.

For extra insight into the Cain and Abel connection look at the verses below and write down their connection to our lesson in Genesis 4.

1. From Hebrews 11:4 "By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks."

How should we be like Abel if we are to be "acceptable" to God? (hint: look for a word that starts with an "f")


2. from I John 3 "For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. 12We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you. 14We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."

Part A Why does John talk about love and then bring up "Cain?"
Part B Is verse 15 really true? Are you aware of how God looks at "hate?"
Does this verse remind you of something Jesus said? (hint:Matt. 5:21)

3. Jude 10-11 "But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. 11Woe to them! For they walked in the way of Cain and abandoned themselves for the sake of gain to Balaam’s error and perished in Korah’s rebellion."

How is Cain like an "animal?"

4. What things can I do to please God from this weeks lesson? Make a list of
six things.....

Reminder: We need to have faith in God and be increasing in our faith and love of
God. How do you do that? The Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God! When we saturate ourselves in the Word of God by reading it, studying it, memorizing it, praying over it and listening to it being taught at church we will have our minds renewed (made new) by it and as it changes our heart we will become more like Jesus and act like and talk like Him! Now that sounds a whole lot better than taking the way of Cain - right?

God bless you and God's grace be poured out on you as you commit yourselves to obey His Word this week,

Mr. Page