Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

...this is a significant passage of Scripture.

The central lesson deals with true and false worship, true and false approaches to God.

The lesson centers around the first two children born upon earth, Cain and Abel.

Note how Scripture just covers the overall scenes of their lives.

In one brief statement or description, whole periods of their lives are covered.

Our minds thirst and reach out for more information, but the Holy Spirit has given us only this brief record.

But note how much information is given when we closely observe each statement and description, and in some cases, the words.

Main Thought:

this is a significant passage of Scripture.

The central lesson deals with true and false worship, true and false approaches to God.

The lesson centers around the first two children born upon earth, Cain and Abel.

Note how Scripture just covers the overall scenes of their lives.

In one brief statement or description, whole periods of their lives are covered.

Our minds thirst and reach out for more information, but the Holy Spirit has given us only this brief record.

But note how much information is given when we closely observe each statement and description, and in some cases, the words.

Sub-intro:

[Leadership Ministries Worldwide, Genesis (Chapters 1–11), vol.

I, The Preacher’s Outline & Sermon Bible (Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1996), 197.]

Body:

I. Cain Murders Abel - The Strength of Sin ().

A. Adam's Family Grows & Works ().

1. Eve Bears Cain the Tiller ().

Eve may have believed that Cain was the promised seed of

Cain was a confirmation of hope

a. “Adam knew Eve his wife” - sharing information

There is far more to the sexual union than just a physical act

This union is such an intimate aspect of our lives that it must be protected with a tall, covenantal fence all the way around it.

God’s boundaries are for our good

d.

b.

Cain means “an acquisition” - Cain proved to be talented, prideful and rebellious

a

Eve said, I have gotten a man from the Lord—that is, “by the help of the Lord”—an expression of pious gratitude—and she called him Cain, that is, “a possession,” as if valued above everything else; while the arrival of another son reminding Eve of the misery she had entailed on her offspring, led to the name Abel, that is, either weakness, vanity (), or grief, lamentation.

Cain and Abel were probably twins; and it is thought that, at this early period, children were born in pairs () [Calvin].

[Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 1 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 20.]

Eve may have believed that Cain was the promised seed of

Cain was a confirmation of hope

2. Eve Bears Abel the Shepherd ().

Abel means “breath” or “vapor” - Abel proved faithful & obedient

Application:

a

Abel was a herdsman and Cain a farmer.

Note several facts.

First, their profession met the very basic needs of man: that of clothing and of food.

Their chosen professions were honorable and contributed to meeting the needs of the family and society.

Second, they had learned their profession from their father.

Remember, God Himself had shown Adam how to clothe his family with the skins of animals (), and God had instructed Adam to till the ground (, ).

As the father, he had apparently taught his sons to work diligently.

Thought 1. Two great lessons are seen in the profession and work of the two sons.

1) Our profession—in fact, all professions—should always be for the good and betterment of man, to meet the very basic needs of man’s life.

We should never be engaged in any profession that damages, destroys, tears down, or hurts man or society.

2) Parents should always teach their children to work and to work diligently.

And they should always teach their children to choose an honorable profession, never to work at anything that hurts or destroys life.

(See the industries involved in alcohol, drugs, immorality, and crime.)

Every child—every person—should always make whatever contribution he can to life and society.

Everyone of us owes life and society this, just for the privilege of living in such a beautiful and wonderful universe.

- [POSB, 199.]

• to the dishonorable and destructive professions that some of us have chosen

• to our allowing some legitimate industries to pollute and destroy our environment and the quality of our lives

• to our not working diligently enough to do all we can for life and society - [POSB, 199.]

[POSB, 199.]

B. Adam's Family Worships ().

The Religion of Cain & Abel

1.

The Day of Their Offerings ().

in process of time—Hebrew, “at the end of days,” probably on the Sabbath.

[JFB, 20.]

in process of time—Hebrew, “at the end of days,” probably on the Sabbath.

[JFB, 20.]

[JFB, 20.]

God had evidently instructed the way of offerings (implied)

Abel complied because he had faith

Cain refused because he had no faith

Cain was “of that wicked one”

a. Cain brought an offering from his crops

b.

Abel brought an offering from his flocks

a

But note this: it could also refer to the first time Cain and Abel worshipped on their own, apart from their parents.

It may refer to the day when the two sons cut the apron strings—so to speak—and became men on their own and began to approach and worship God on their own.

This may be the first time the two sons approached God independent of their parents.

⇒ The specific place is indicated by the fact that both Cain and Abel “brought” their offering to a particular place for worship.

Where was that place?

Again, Scripture does not say, and to guess is just that, a guess.

- [POSB, 199.]

[POSB, 199.]

Lesson - Genuine Faith will bring the prescribed works of God

2. The Response of Jehovah ().

a. Abel Respected ().

Note that both the PERSON & the OFFERING were either accepted or rejected

a

The words, “had respect to,” signify in Hebrew,—“to look at any thing with a keen earnest glance,” which has been translated, “kindle into a fire,” so that the divine approval of Abel’s offering was shown in its being consumed by fire (see ; ).

[JFB, 20.]

JFB, 20.]

b.

Cain Not Respected ().

Cain responds with anger

C. Jehovah Confronts Cain's Choleric Countenance ().

1. Cain responds with extreme anger ().

2. Why did God reject one and accept the other?