CAIN AND ABEL Unit 1, Session 4 LIFE POINT: PEOPLE SHOULD LOVE OTHERS AS THEY LOVE THEMSELVES. LEADER BIBLE STUDY ATIO RE N C Alfred Hitchcock once drolly said, “Man shall not live by murder alone.” He was, of course, referring to his long list of classic suspense movies, most of which involved LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING murder. Hitchcock’s quip aside, murder is no laughing matter. Thousands of God wants me to praise Him Americans are killed at the hands of other people each year. Homicide is regarded as for His creation. the worst crime one can commit. So how did the scourge of killing begin? Genesis 4 tells the tragic story. Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Abel. The younger, Abel, became a BIBLE PASSAGE shepherd and Cain a farmer. At some point in time Cain made an offering of some of Genesis 4:1-16 his crops to God. Abel also made an offering of some of the firstborn of his sheep. For WEEKLY BIBLE VERSE some reason that is not explained, God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain’s. Show family affection to one Possibly the reason Cain’s offering was unacceptable was that it was not the best of another with brotherly love. Romans 12:10 his crops, unlike Abel’s top of the line sheep. In any case, the rejection angered Cain. God Himself warned Cain not to let his emotions cause him to sin. UNIT VERSE In the beginning God created Cain ignored God’s counsel and lured his brother out to a field where he killed the heavens and the earth. him. Immediately the Lord quizzed Cain as to what happened to his brother. Cain Genesis 1:1 responded to God’s question with another question (Gen. 4:9). God, of course, knew what happened and punished Cain’s crime by placing a curse on his fields and banishing him to wander the earth. God also put a mark on Cain. Why do you think Cain took out his anger on his brother? (See Matt. 5: 21-22; 15:19.) ������������������������������������������������������������ Is murder an unforgivable sin? Why or why not? ������������������������� Was Cain’s mark part of his punishment? What then? ��������������������� NOTE: Downloadable versions of items identified as CD are available in the Music and Print Extras Bundle. Items identified as DVD are available in the Digital Video Bundle. SUGGESTED DATE: Additional training for Bible Studies for Life: Kids available at ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife. week of September 25 26 UNIT 1, SEssION 4 PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS ►Bible Book Ball, “Bible Book Cards” (Pack Item 7), “Your Amazing World, Instrumental” (CD, track 2) Pack Item 7—Separate the 1. Invite kids to stand at the end of the table opposite the cups. Kids will select a › cards. card, determine whether that book is Old or New Testament and try to bounce CD › the ball into the correct cup. Bible, table tennis ball, 2 › plastic cups, tape 2. If a kid cannot bounce the ball into the correct cup in three tries, play moves to Place the plastic cups at the next kid. › the end of a rectangular 3. Once a kid passes the ball to the next player, she will take her card and tape table. Place the “Bible Book it to the focal wall near the appropriate heading—Old Testament or New Cards” and table tennis ball at the other end. Testament. sheet of paper—Cut the 4. Encourage kids to arrange the book names in the correct order. Provide a Bible › paper in half and write for kids who need help. Old Testament on one half and New Testament on the 5. Play “Your Amazing World, Instrumental” while kids play. other. Place the headings 6. Continue play as time allows. on the wall, over the cups. Option: “Cain and Abel” Coloring Page (CD). INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY Pack Item 8—Separate the › pictures. ►“Show Me Respect” (Pack Item 8) › DVD 1. Give each kid several sticky notes. Guide them to look at each “Show Me ›sticky notes Respect Picture,” write down a way to show respect to that person, and stick their note on the edge of that picture. 2. Encourage kids to write an idea for each picture. If kids have extra time, encourage them to write a second idea. Continue as time allows. 3. Gather the pictures and discuss ways to show respect to different types of people. 4. Remind kids that showing respect for others is a way to show respect for God. Explain that today’s story tells about a man who didn’t respect God or his brother. 5. Explain to kids that God created them and loves them very much! Remind kids that God wants them to love others the way Jesus loves them. 6. Watch the “Cain and Abel: Introduction” video. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 3 RD & 4TH GRADE 27 STUDY THE BIBLE TELL THE BIBLE STORY ►“God’s Amazing World Title Banner” (Pack Item 1), Teaching Picture 4 • Point out the title banner and allow kids to share what they learned last week on how sin entered the world and to review the consequences of sin. • Show the Teaching Picture and explain that today’s story shows how people continued to sin. • Open your Bible to Genesis 4. Invite two kids to act out the parts of Cain and Abel as the story is told. • Tell the Bible story in your own words or use the summary below. Remember to direct your volunteer actors as needed. Pack Items 1, 2 › Tell the Bible Story: Cain and Abel Teaching Picture 4 ► › Adam and Eve had two sons. They were named Cain and Abel. When they grew up, CD › Abel became a shepherd and Cain became a farmer. ›DVD beanbags, clean In time, Cain and Abel both presented offerings to the Lord. God was pleased › wastebasket with Abel’s offering. God was not pleased with Cain’s offering. This made Cain very International Missions: angry. › West Africa God said to Cain, “Why are you angry? If you do what is right then I will accept Print out a copy of the your offering. Sin is crouching at your door and you must rule over it.” › International Missions: “Everyday Phrases” (CD). Cain said to Abel, “Let’s go into the field together.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked Abel and killed him. God asked Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?” “I don’t know,” replied Cain, “am I responsible for my brother?” God said, “I know you killed your brother. Now you will be punished. When you work the ground, nothing will grow and you will wander the earth for the rest of your life.” Cain answered saying, “My punishment is too great to bear! I’m afraid that whoever finds me will kill me.” So God placed a mark on Cain so that whoever found him would not kill him. Then Cain went out from the Lord’s presence. —BASED ON GENESIS 4:1-16 REVIEW ►Teaching Picture 4 • Show the Teaching Picture again. 28 UNIT 1, SEssION 4 LIFE POINT PEOPLE SHOULD LOVE OTHERS AS THEY LOVE THEMSELVES. • Allow volunteers to tell what happened in today’s Bible story. • Place the wastebasket and beanbag in the middle of the room. • Read a Review Question from page 94. Kids answering questions correctly will earn turns to toss the beanbag into the wastebasket. • Between questions, discuss Cain’s consequences for not respecting God or his brother. • Explain that people should love others as they love themselves. Talk about how Cain failed to show love to his brother. Invite kids to share specific ways they can show love to others. • Show the “Cain and Abel: Life Action” video. • Remind kids that choices have consequences, both good and bad. LEARN THE UNIT VERSE ►“Genesis 1:1 Unit Verse” (Pack Item 2) • Lead the group to say the Unit Verse from the poster. • Guide kids to form pairs or groups of three. • Give each group a beanbag. Direct them to recite the verse, tossing the beanbag gently as each word is recited. MISSIONS EMPHASIS • Review the missions story or show the video “Learning the Stories” (DVD). • Comment that mastering a new language is a huge task for any missionary working with people who speak another language. Ask: “Why is it important for missionaries to learn a new language quickly and correctly?” • Distribute copies of “Everyday Phrases.” • Invite kids to practice pronouncing the phrases. • Pray that God will help missionaries learn the language of the people who live in West Africa so they can tell them about Jesus. SING AND PRAY ►“Your Amazing World, Instrumental” (CD, track 2) • Play the instrumental versions of “Your Amazing World” and invite kids to sing along. • Remind kids that people should love others as they love themselves. • Pray, asking God to help us love others as we love ourselves. • Dismiss kids to their Live It Out groups. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 3 RD & 4TH GRADE 29 LIVE IT OUT CHOICE 1 CHOICE 1 ►“Loving Situations” (Kids Activity Page), Letters to God › Kids Activity Pages 1. Encourage kids to complete “Loving Situations” on the Kids Activity Page. ›notebook paper, pencils 2. Explain that God wants us to praise Him. We can praise Him for His creation of people and our amazing world. Praising God is telling God how amazing He is. People can praise God through song, through spoken words, or through written words. 3. Invite kids to write down words that describe God’s amazing creation then write a letter to God, praising Him for His creation.