The Hall Of Fame Of Faith Hebrews 11:1-4 / Genesis 4:1-16

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Bartholomew Dickerson
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1 The Hall Of Fame Of Faith Hebrews 11:1-4 / Genesis 4:1-16 Message by Michael J. Barnard June 25, 2017 Teaching Aim: To explore the meaning of true biblical faith and see how this kind of faith applies to our lives today. To start examining the heroes of the faith as chronicled in Hebrews chapter 11. To find out why God respected Abel s offering and not Cain s. To examine our own lives to see if our worship comes from a pure heart or from some other motive? DIGGING DEEPER INTO GOD S WORD (BIBLE STUDY) Part I: Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1-4) 1. The writer of Hebrews encourages his readers to press on in the Christian faith and not drawback in Hebrews 10:36-39, to do this requires a genuine faith in God. How is faith described in verse 1? Everyone has some degree of faith, but how would you describe the kind of faith God is looking for? 2. If we want to examine role models of biblical faith, where is a good place to start (vs. 2)? Various Bible translations translate these individuals as the ancients, elders or men of old. Who are these role models and why is it important for us to study their lives? 3. Today we often hear people on radio and television describing religious people as people of faith. What can we learn about these individuals from this label? Why should this title trouble you? How do most people view the God of the Bible today? (See Rom. 8:6-9) 4. Why does it take genuine faith today to believe the Genesis account of creation (vs. 3)? What are students being taught in the colleges and universities? The universe could not possibly have been created by chance ; chance is nothing more than a mathematical possibility. Why do you as a Christian believe in intelligent design rather than evolution? What truths can we learn from the following verses: Gen. 1:1-3; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:15-17? 1

2 5. What can we learn about the sacrifices of Cain and Abel from verse 4? What truth can we learn about Abel as an individual from verse 4? What is the meaning of the word righteous? (See Dictionary) What makes us righteous today in God s eyes? (See 2 Cor. 5:21) In what way is Abel still speaking today, even though he has long been dead? Part II: The premeditated murder of a faithful worshiper by a jealous brother (Gen. 4:1-8) 1. What does the Bible mean when it says, Adam knew Eve his wife (vs. 1)? What did Adam and Eve name their firstborn son? What made this son s birth especially unique? 2. What did Adam and Eve name their second son (vs. 2)? What does this name mean and how did it reflect upon the life of this son? (See Commentaries) The two brothers had different roles, what were they (vs. 3)? Was either role more important than the other, why or why not? Were both professions needed? 3. Both brothers appear to be religious: Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD (vs. 3), what did Abel bring (vs. 4)? Verses 4 & 5 say that the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering, why? What can we learn about the two offerings from verses 3 & 4? What is the difference between Cain giving an offering of the fruit of the ground and Abel offering the firstborn of his flock and of their fat? 4. Do you offer God your very best when you come before Him in worship? What distractions keep you from worshiping God with a pure heart at church? How does sin negatively affect your worship of God throughout the week? 5. How did Cain respond to God s lack of respect for his offering (vs. 5)? Have you ever been angry with God? If so, why? What was the end result of your anger with God? Does unbridled anger glorify God or just injure our relationship with Him? 2

3 6. How did the LORD respond to Cain s anger at Him (vs. 6)? How do we see the grace and mercy of God in verses 6 & 7? What are some ways that God has been gracious to you? Have you ever taken God s grace and mercy for granted? Write a definition for both words. 7. What can we learn from the combination of verse 7 and 1 Pet. 5:8? Have you ever experienced this in your own life? What are some of the ways we can protect ourselves from the attacks of the enemy today? On a scale of 1-10, how are you doing spiritually? 8. What comment is found in verse 8 that indicates Cain was preparing to commit premeditated against his brother? Where did Cain bring Abel in order to kill him? Why? This was the first murder found in the Bible. According to Jesus, how dangerous is unbridled anger? (See Matt. 5:21-22) Part III: Murder, lying to God and the unexpected outcome (Gen. 4:9-16) 1. What question did the LORD ask Cain in verse 9? Was the LORD lacking this information? Why did He ask? (See 1 John 1:9) How did Cain respond to the LORD s questioning? How does Cain use a sarcastic play on words in verse 9? 2. How does the LORD feel about lying? (See Prov. 6:16-19; John 8:44) Immediately God confronted Cain on the death of his brother after He lied to Him? Abel had a special place in God s heart, what can we learn about him and the office he held from Luke 11:49-51? 3. What curse did God place on Cain in verse 11? Why would this be particularly devastating for Cain? Sin always brings consequences, how have you seen this truth played out in your own life? 3

4 4. As a farmer, the curse was particularly devastating for Cain, no matter how hard he worked, the ground would not yield a crop (vs. 12). What did this curse force Cain to do? What does it mean to be a vagabond? (See Dictionary) 5. Verse 12 indicates that Cain was also a fugitive. What is the meaning of the word fugitive? (See Dictionary) How would the curse change Cain s life forever? 6. How did Cain respond to God s declaration of this punishment (vv. 13 & 14)? Did Cain repent? Attrition is being sorry because you got caught and will have consequences to pay. Contrition is being broken because you have violated God and anyone else you sinned against. Did Cain repent of his sin or was he simply sorry for the consequences he would have to face? How did King David respond following the incident with Bathsheba? (See Psa. 51) Did David illustrate contrition or attrition? 7. In verse 14 Cain complained about three things: 1) He would be hidden from the face of God; 2) He would be a fugitive and a vagabond on the earth; and 3) Anyone who finds him would kill him. Up until the birth of Abel, the only people on the earth were Adam and Eve along with their two sons Cain and Abel. What other people are referred to in verse 14 and why was Cain afraid of them? (See Num. 35:19) 8. God could have easily brought Cain s life to a quick end because of this murder, but what surprising event takes place in verse 15? Mercy means, God not giving me the punishment I deserve. Grace means, God giving me a free gift I don t deserve. How do we see the grace and mercy of God at work in verse 15? 9. According to verse 16, what would happen because of Cain s sin? Is it still true today that sin drives us from the presence of God? How should we respond when we realize that we ve sinned? (See 1 John 1:9) 4

5 10. The real story of Gen. 4:1-16 is the faith of Abel. Abel did what was right in the eyes of God no matter what the cost, and it cost him his life! Why should the prophet Abel be an example to each of us today? 11. In what way was Abel a foreshadow of the Lord Jesus Christ? (See Heb. 12:22-24) MINER S CORNER ~ Manna to live by! If you want to learn about true faith, a good place to start is with the Old Testament saints! Hebrews 11 defines faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen! It takes faith to believe God created the heavens and the earth, no people were there! Abel offered the best he had in heartfelt worship; Cain offered ordinary fruit out of his field from obligation! God respected Abel s offering, He did not respect Cain s! Sometimes Christians go through the motions at church; our heart is not there to worship! God wants our all in worship, and He wants it from the heart! Only by grace through faith in Christ are we saved- the gate to heaven is narrow! 5

Theme: Cain s attitude to his brother (fellow human beings)

Unit 1, Lesson 3 AIM: To realize and understand the sovereignty of God, the attitude of Cain (human beings) to God and his brother Abel (other fellow beings). Theme: Cain s attitude to his brother (fellow