A FAITH THAT EN-ABELS (1 OF 5)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-4
This content is part of a series.
A Faith That En-Abels (1 of 5)
Series: Children's Stories (Part 1)
Jeff Strite
Hebrews 11:1-4
OPEN: I read from a Children's book the story of Cain and Abel.
SERMON: You know, it's odd - we ALL seem to know the story about Cain and Abel, but Cain gets more ''PRESS'' from Scripture than Abel does. Cain is mentioned in 18 verses, but Abel ONLY gets 11 verses (about 1/3 less attention). However, the PRESS that Cain gets is all BAD press - He's a bad man; He's an angry man; He's a murderer. God tells us in I John 3:12 ''Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.''
Cain's actions were ''EVIL?'' Here in I John we're told Cain's evil actions LED HIM to murder his brother. In other words, Cain's evil actions didn't start with murdering his brother. His evil actions came even before the murder of Abel.
Now, some people believe that Cain KNEW he had to offer an animal sacrifice and - because Cain refused to obey God in giving an animal sacrifice - that's what made his actions evil. The only problem is... that's NOT what the story says:
Genesis 4:2-5 tells us: ''Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground (he raised crops). In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.''
Do you read anything in there about God ASKING for an animal sacrifice? (NO) In fact - Abel is a keeper of sheep... so he brings a sheep. Cain is a worker of the ground... so he brings crops. Each of them brings what they've raised to give to God. So, if each of them brought what they'd raised as a sacrifice, why would God accept Abel's gift and reject Cain's?
I don't know, but if ...
Series: Children's Stories (Part 1)
Jeff Strite
Hebrews 11:1-4
OPEN: I read from a Children's book the story of Cain and Abel.
SERMON: You know, it's odd - we ALL seem to know the story about Cain and Abel, but Cain gets more ''PRESS'' from Scripture than Abel does. Cain is mentioned in 18 verses, but Abel ONLY gets 11 verses (about 1/3 less attention). However, the PRESS that Cain gets is all BAD press - He's a bad man; He's an angry man; He's a murderer. God tells us in I John 3:12 ''Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's were righteous.''
Cain's actions were ''EVIL?'' Here in I John we're told Cain's evil actions LED HIM to murder his brother. In other words, Cain's evil actions didn't start with murdering his brother. His evil actions came even before the murder of Abel.
Now, some people believe that Cain KNEW he had to offer an animal sacrifice and - because Cain refused to obey God in giving an animal sacrifice - that's what made his actions evil. The only problem is... that's NOT what the story says:
Genesis 4:2-5 tells us: ''Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground (he raised crops). In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell.''
Do you read anything in there about God ASKING for an animal sacrifice? (NO) In fact - Abel is a keeper of sheep... so he brings a sheep. Cain is a worker of the ground... so he brings crops. Each of them brings what they've raised to give to God. So, if each of them brought what they'd raised as a sacrifice, why would God accept Abel's gift and reject Cain's?
I don't know, but if ...
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