CAIN AND ABEL LIFE POINT: People should love others as they love themselves. LEADER BIBLE STUDY CREATION LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING God wants me to praise Him for His creation. BIBLE PASSAGE Genesis 4:1-16 WEEKLY BIBLE VERSE Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Romans 12:10 UNIT VERSE In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 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 murder. Hitchcock s quip aside, murder is no laughing matter. Thousands of Americans are killed at the hands of other people each year. Homicide is regarded as 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 shepherd and Cain a farmer. At some point in time Cain made an offering of some of his crops to God. Abel also made an offering of some of the firstborn of his sheep. For some reason that is not explained, God accepted Abel s offering but rejected Cain s. Possibly the reason Cain s offering was unacceptable was that it was not the best of 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. Cain ignored God s counsel and lured his brother out to a field where he killed him. Immediately the Lord quizzed Cain as to what happened to his brother. Cain 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: week of September 25 Additional training for Bible Studies for Life: Kids available at ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife. 26 Unit 1, Session 4
PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Bible Book Ball, Bible Book Cards (Pack Item 7), Your Amazing World, Instrumental (CD, track 2) 1. Invite kids to stand at the end of the table opposite the cups. Kids will select a card, determine whether that book is Old or New Testament and try to bounce the ball into the correct cup. 2. If a kid cannot bounce the ball into the correct cup in three tries, play moves to the next kid. 3. Once a kid passes the ball to the next player, she will take her card and tape it to the focal wall near the appropriate heading Old Testament or New Testament. 4. Encourage kids to arrange the book names in the correct order. Provide a Bible for kids who need help. 5. Play Your Amazing World, Instrumental while kids play. 6. Continue play as time allows. Option: Cain and Abel Coloring Page (CD). INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY Show Me Respect (Pack Item 8) 1. Give each kid several sticky notes. Guide them to look at each Show Me 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. Pack Item 7 Separate the cards. CD Bible, table tennis ball, 2 plastic cups, tape Place the plastic cups at the end of a rectangular table. Place the Bible Book Cards and table tennis ball at the other end. sheet of paper Cut the paper in half and write Old Testament on one half and New Testament on the other. Place the headings on the wall, over the cups. Pack Item 8 Separate the pictures. DVD sticky notes BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 3 r d & 4t h GRADE 27
STUDY THE BIBLE Pack Items 1, 2 Teaching Picture 4 CD DVD beanbags, clean wastebasket International Missions: West Africa Print out a copy of the International Missions: Everyday Phrases (CD). 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. Tell the Bible Story: Cain and Abel Adam and Eve had two sons. They were named Cain and Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd and Cain became a farmer. In time, Cain and Abel both presented offerings to the Lord. God was pleased with Abel s offering. God was not pleased with Cain s offering. This made Cain very angry. God said to Cain, Why are you angry? If you do what is right then I will accept your offering. Sin is crouching at your door and you must rule over it. 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 r d & 4t h GRADE 29
LIVE IT OUT CHOICE 1 Kids Activity Pages notebook paper, pencils CHOICE 2 Kids Activity Pages Bibles; clean, empty metal cans (1 per kid); paper; scissors; glue; tape; large rubber bands; ribbon; markers; various decorative craft supplies; plastic forks, spoons, and knives Cover the edges of the cans to prevent cut fingers. CHOICE 1 Loving Situations (Kids Activity Page), Letters to God 1. Encourage kids to complete Loving Situations on the Kids Activity Page. 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. 4. Allow volunteers to read their praise letters to the group if they are comfortable doing so. 5. Remind kids to find reasons to praise God every day. CHOICE 2 Before You Blow (Kids Activity Page), Silverware Caddy 1. Encourage kids to complete Before You Blow on the Kids Activity Page. 2. Talk about how Cain failed to control his anger and did not treat his brother with love. Help kids understand that they should love others as they love themselves. 3. Guide kids to look up and read Romans 12:10a in their Bibles. Invite kids to list ways families can show affection and care for each other. Allow kids to share times families might have conflict with each other and fail to be kind. 4. Explain that kids will make a silverware caddy to help their families remember to show love to each other. 5. Give each kid a can to cover with paper. Instruct kids to write Romans 12:10a on the cans and decorate as desired. 6. Guide kids to place some forks, spoons, and knives in the can. Be sure they get at least one place setting for each family member. 7. Mention that kids can use their silverware caddies to encourage their families to show love. 8. Emphasize that God wants us to show love to others. 30 Unit 1, Session 4
LIFE POINT People should love others as they love themselves. CHOICE 3 Loving Situations (Kids Activity Page), Review Game 1. Encourage kids to complete Loving Situations on the Kids Activity Page. 2. Talk about how Cain failed to control his anger and did not treat his brother with love. Inquire what kids think would have changed if Cain had responded differently to God s correction. 3. Remind kids that every choice has consequences, both good and bad. Cain was punished by God because of the angry choice he made. Things would have been different for Cain if he had made a better choice. 4. Explain that kids will play a block stacking game to check their knowledge of what they ve learned during this unit. 5. Place the stacked blocks on the table. Kids who answer a Review Question correctly will earn a turn to remove a block from the tower and place it on the top. 6. At the end of the game, discuss the consequences of right and wrong choices during the game (right choices the tower gets taller, wrong choice and the tower falls). 7. Remind kids that God can help them make right choices in the ways they treat others. Emphasize that God wants people to love others as they love themselves. WRAP UP Gather kids and watch Cain and Abel: Wrap Up video. Remind kids that choices have consequences and God wants people to choose to show love to others. Pray, asking God to help kids show love to God and others. Remind kids to give their One Conversation pages to their parents. CHOICE 3 Kids Activity Pages Review Questions (page 94) block stacking game WRAP UP DVD BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 3 r d & 4t h GRADE 31
CAIN AND ABEL GENESIS 4:1-16 TEACHING PICTURE 4
CAIN AND ABEL Adam and Eve had two sons. They were named Cain and Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd and Cain became a farmer. In time, Cain and Abel both presented offerings to the Lord. God was pleased with Abel s offering. God was not pleased with Cain s offering. This made Cain very angry. God said to Cain, Why are you angry? If you do what is right then I will accept your offering. Sin is crouching at your door and you must rule over it. 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
UNIT 1. SESSION 4 Loving Situations Cain and Abel People should love others as they love themselves. Read Romans 12:10a. The Bible commands us to show affection and love to our family and friends. Read each situation and write a way to show love. UNIT VERSE In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. GENESIS 1:1 Your mom had to work late. She just got home and is trying to get dinner on the table quickly. Everyone is grumpy and hungry. How can you show love to your family? BEFORE YOU BLOW Handling angry feelings can be tough. Find the healthy ways to deal with anger. Circle the things you should do and cross out the things you shouldn t. Your friend had a doctor s appointment and wasn t in class for the math lesson. The homework was tough, but you figured it out. How can you show love to your friend? Kick a toy. Count to 10. The new family next door doesn t speak English very well. They have kids your age, but their clothes are really strange. How can you show love to your neighbors? Walk away. Yell bad words. IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Your little cousin is working hard to learn to tie her shoes. She really gets on your nerves. How can you show love to your cousin? Pray. Take a deep breath. Punch a wall. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE 3 r d & 4t h GRADE 9
TM THE BIBLE MEETS LIFE Parents, today s Bible study was about Cain and Abel. Cain had a choice not to sin but chose the wrong way. People always have a choice in how to react to disappointment. How can you help your child learn to respond in a way that is pleasing to God? KIDS LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNING God wants me to praise Him for His creation. CAIN AND ABEL GENESIS 4:1-16 BIBLE VERSE: Romans 12:10a LIFE POINT: People should love others as they love themselves. LIVE IT OUT Help your child write a list of ways she should treat people. Help her develop strategies for dealing with difficult people in order to show them the love of God. Encourage her to remember to love others as she loves herself. DAILY BIBLE READING Sunday: Genesis 4:2 Monday: Genesis 4:7 Tuesday: Job 13:23 Wednesday: Romans 6:23 Thursday: John 1:29 Friday: Romans 6:11 Saturday: Psalms 25:11 Adam and Eve had two sons named Cain and Abel. When they grew up, Abel became a shepherd and Cain became a farmer. In time, Cain and Abel both presented offerings to the Lord. God was pleased with Abel s offering but not with Cain s offering. This made Cain very angry. God said to Cain, Why are you angry? If you do what is right I will accept your offering. Sin is crouching at your door and you must rule over it. 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. 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. TAKE IT FURTHER Check out the Cain and Abel section of the Bible Studies For Life: Kids Family App. 10
IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM GOD S AMAZING WORLD TITLE BANNER 1 3rd & 4th Grade Leader Pack, Fall 2016 2016 LifeWay. Published in the United States of America. Instructions: Use this item as directed during Unit 1.
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (HCSB) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM (NKJV) 2 GENESIS 1:1 UNIT VERSE 3rd & 4th Grade Leader Pack, Fall 2016 2016 LifeWay. Published in the United States of America. Instructions: Use this item as directed during Unit 1.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (ESV) In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. (NIV)
Genesis Exodus Leviticus Numbers Deuteronomy Joshua Judges Ruth 1 Samuel 2 Samuel 1 Kings 2 Kings 1 Chronicles 2 Chronicles Ezra Nehemiah BIBLE BOOK CARDS 7 3rd & 4th Grade Leader Pack, Fall 2016 2016 LifeWay. Published in the United States of America. Esther Job Psalms Proverbs Ecclesiastes Song of Songs Isaiah Jeremiah Lamentations Ezekiel Daniel Hosea Joel Amos Obadiah Jonah Micah Nahum Habakkuk Zephaniah Haggai Zechariah Malachi Matthew Mark Luke John Acts Romans 1 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Galatians Instructions: Separate the cards and use during Practice Bible Skills, Unit 1, Session 4. IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Ephesians Philippians Colossians 1 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Titus Philemon Hebrews James 1 Peter 2 Peter 1 John 2 John 3 John Jude Revelation
IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM SHOW ME RESPECT 8 3rd & 4th Grade Leader Pack, Fall 2016 2016 LifeWay. Published in the United States of America. Instructions: Separate the cards and use during Introductory Activity, Unit 1, Session 4.
Songhai (SONG-high) Phrases Hello! Fofo! (FO-fo) How are you? Matu nu go? (MAH-too-NEW-go) Gerneral responses: Fine. Banni samey. (ban-sah-may) I thank God. Ey g Irkoy saabu. (aa-gil-kay-sah-boe) My name is... Ey ma... (AA-mah) What is your name? Matu nu maha? (MAH-tu-NEW-MAH-ha) Thank you. Fofo. (FO-fo) May God bless you. Irikey ma nu albarkendi. (EAR-kay-MAH-new-ALL-bar-CAN-dee) INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS: EVERYDAY PHRASES Bible Studies For Life Preteens, Fall 2016 2016 LifeWay. Published in the United States of America. Instructions: Print Use this item as directed during Study the Bible in Unit 1, Session 4.
Cain and Abel In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1 2016 LifeWay. Printed in the United States of America. This item may be reproduced.