CAIN AND ABEL
From Cain and Abel, we learn that God wants us to be whole - hearted in both our worship and work
THE BIG IDEA
Colossians 3:23
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER
COURTESY AND KNOWLEDGE
EVER ONWARD
EXCELLENCE THROUGH EDUCATION
DO YOUR BEST
HONUOR ABOVE ALL
Put your Best
Foot Forward
We all need to put 110% Effort Into this Match
STOP BEING HALF HEARTED
THROW YOURSELF
INTO THIS
TASK
Whatever we are doing, adults around us want us to be sincere in our efforts. To be whole - hearted about what we do. To give of our best. So does God.
Thinking Post
Why do people want us to be wholehearted about what we do? To give of our best. So does God
One of the Bible characters in the lesson today was not wholehearted in his worship of God. The Consequences of his lack of sincerity led to the FIRST MURDER
Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Eden. They had to work hard to provide their own food and clothing. They had two sons, named Cain and Abel. The older son, Cain, grew things. The younger son, Abel, kept sheep.
These two sons brought offerings to God. Cain brought some produce he had grown. Abel brought fat (best) portions from some firstborn lambs of his flock.
We read that the Lord looked with favour on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering He did not look with favour. We aren't told why, but it seems something in Cain's worship was amiss. Some people believe that Cain's was a careless, thoughtless offering—perhaps he did not give the best of his crop to God. Abel's was a carefully chosen, generous offering of the best that he had.
Cain was very angry, and jealousy began to grow. God told him there was no need for anger or disappointment. He said,
"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?"
He told Cain to watch out—sin was crouching at the door wanting to have Cain, but he must master it.
Cain did not master the sin that was crouching at the door. Instead, he fed his jealousy until he hated Abel. He seized an opportunity while they were out in a field to attack and kill Abel. The first murder had been committed. God asked Cain about it, and Cain pretended to know nothing.
God punished Cain. No crops would grow for him ever again, and he was to wander around like a fugitive. Cain was afraid someone would find him and kill him because of the murder. So God had mercy and placed a special mark on Cain so he would not be killed.
Because Abel had been killed by Cain, and Cain was sent away from God, another son was needed to make God's promise of a Saviour descended from Eve come true.
Adam and Eve had another son, Seth.
We aren't told much about Seth, but we know he had children and we know how old he was when he died! Look up Genesis 5:8 to find out how long Seth lived: ______ years.
The "line of Cain" (Cain's descendants) often contained people who were proud and selfish.
The "line of Seth" often showed people who depended on God.
Jesus was introduced to the Jews by John the Baptist. John called Him the Lamb of God.
Abel brought a lamb to offer to God as an offering—the best lamb he could find. This lamb was a symbol of Jesus. It pointed to the time when Jesus would be offered in sacrifice for the world's sins.
Hebrews 11:4
By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.
Genesis 3:15
Like Adam and Eve, Cain made a bad choice and opened the door to sin.
Do you remember the very important promise of hope God made in Eden?
What do the symbols in this verse represent?
Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
he will crush your head,
and you will strike his heel.
Write down the four most important activities in your life.
Put them in order of importance.
Colossians 3:23
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."