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 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. 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? 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,
PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS Time Line: Week Four, Time Line Events: Week Four (Pack Items 3, 4) 1. Draw preteens attention to the time line, and share that preteens will complete the time line today. 2. Place supplies on the table. Encourage preteens to work together to complete the time line by gluing the remaining events in place. 3. Attach the completed section to the focal wall. Compliment preteens on their work. 4. Review the previous weeks time lines. Comment that God had a plan from the beginning, like adding another portion of the time line to the previous ones, God is still completing the plan He began with creation. 5. Encourage preteens to choose an event on the time line they would like to learn more about. Give each one a sticky note, and direct her to write down the passage she chose. Encourage preteens to read the information from the passages written on their sticky notes during the coming week. INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY Foil Creations, Your Amazing World (CD, track 1) 1. Distribute supplies to preteens. Using the foil, direct each preteen to sculpt something he loves. 2. Play Your Amazing World while preteens work. 3. When the song is finished, invite preteens to display their sculptures. Encourage them to state what they have created and why it is important to them. 4. Point out sculptures, if any, kids created of people they love. 5. Explain to preteens that God created them and loves them very much! Remind kids that God wants them to love others the way Jesus loves them. State that today s Bible story will teach them about a person who loved himself more than he loved others. 6. Show the Cain and Abel: Introduction video for the session. Pack Items 3, 4 glue dots, tape, sticky notes DVD CD roll ruler of aluminum foil Provide 1 12-inch length for each preteen. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE PRETEENS 27
STUDY THE BIBLE GETTING TO THE POINT God s Amazing World Title Banner (Pack Item 1) Direct preteens attention to the title banner. Briefly review what they have learned about God s creation of the world and His plan for people. Share that today s Bible story is about choosing to do right and loving others. Pack Items 1, 2 Teaching Picture 4 Activity Pages DVD Click on the mission tab on the DVD menu to find the video Learning the Stories. CD index cards Write the following Scripture references on separate cards: 4:1-2; 4:3-5; 4:6-7; 4:8-12; 4:13-14. Option: Scripture Cards (CD) Missions Story: West Africa (CD) Missions: Everyday Phrases Provide 1 copy for each preteen. (CD) small bag, 6 slips of paper Write the following directions on the slips of paper and place in the bag: stand on one foot; hop in place; sing in a low voice; speak like a preacher; turn in a circle; smile at a friend. Speech Instructions (CD) 9 chairs Create a human 28 Unit 1, LOOK IN THE BOOK Teaching Picture 4 Guide preteens to sit in a circle on the floor. Pass the Teaching Picture around the circle, guiding each preteen to mention one thing she notices about the picture. Ask: What emotions are being portrayed in this picture? Distribute the prepared Scripture Cards to volunteers. Encourage preteens to listen quietly and follow along in their Bibles as the volunteers read the verses. Digging Deeper: Cain (Activity Page) Form three groups. Direct preteens attention to Digging Deeper: Cain on the Activity Page. Lead preteens to complete the activity within their groups. Once groups have finished, gather preteens and review what they discovered. Emphasize that we do not know why God did not accept Cain s offering we do know, however, that God is both fair and just. We also know that God told Cain if he would do right, he would be accepted. Ask: --How does God want us to treat others? (love them as we love ourselves) --Did Cain have a right to be angry with Abel? (no) --Have you ever been angry without a good reason? If so, briefly explain the situation. Help preteens realize that becoming angry is not necessarily a sin, but the way they respond when they are angry can be. Point out that preteens have choices in the ways they react. If they choose to control their anger and to love others, then their reactions will please God. REVIEW CHALLENGE Form two teams. Draw attention to the tic-tac-toe chairs. Explain that teams will take turns answering questions. If they answer correctly, a person from that team may sit in a chair. If the team misses a question, their turn
LIFE POINT People should love others as they love themselves. is over and the other team will have a chance to answer that question. Use the review questions (page 90) as you begin the game. Continue by asking one of the following questions: --What is one way you can show love to someone this week? --What is your favorite thing about God s creation? --What is something you could say to God to praise Him for His creation? Play until each preteen has had a chance to answer a question. Congratulate the winning team. If no one wins, congratulate both teams for their correct answers. tic-tac-toe board by placing 9 chairs in 3 rows of 3. Option: If you have a small room, create a tic-tac-toe board on the floor with tape. UNIT VERSE CHALLENGE 1:1 Unit Verse (Pack Item 2) Direct preteens attention to the Unit Verse poster. Set the prepared bag in the center of the room. Invite a volunteer to select a slip of paper from the bag. Encourage her to say the verse while following the directions on the slip. Tell her to return the slip to the bag. After all preteens have had a turn, select a final slip of paper. Lead all preteens to repeat the verse together following the instructions on the slip. Option: Memorize the Weekly Bible Verse: Romans 12:10a. MISSIONS 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 a different language. Ask: Why is it important for missionaries to learn a new language quickly and correctly? Distribute copies of Everyday Phrases. Invite preteens 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. APPLY THE BIBLE AND PRAY Show the Cain and Abel: Life Action video. Challenge preteens to commit to showing love to someone they know this week. Pray, asking God to help preteens love others as much or more than they love themselves. Describe the Live It Out Activities, and guide preteens to join a leader. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE PRETEENS 29
LIVE IT OUT CHOICE 1 Pack Item 9 Activity Pages CHOICE 2 Activity Pages play dough, funnel, markers balloons 1 for each boy. CHOICE 1 (GIRLS) Act Like This Cards (Pack Item 9), Think Before You React (Activity Page) 1. Form four groups. Give each group an Act Like This Card. Guide groups to read the situations on their cards and discuss a right and wrong way to handle anger in each situation. 2. Give groups time to work, and then invite groups to read aloud the situations on their cards and share their responses. Discuss additional options for positive reactions to each situation. 3. Lead girls to share situations when they are easily annoyed or become angry with others. Help them see that even when people do not act right, God expects them to respond in love to those around them. 4. Encourage girls by letting them know you are confident they are able to make the right choices when they are tempted to become angry. 5. Guide girls to complete Think Before You React on the Activity Page. CHOICE 2 (BOYS) Squeeze a Pet Peeve Stress Ball, Think Before You React (Activity Page) 1. Explain to boys that a pet peeve is a term some people use to describe things that annoy them such as listening to someone smack their gum or being passed up while waiting in line. Invite boys to share things they think could be someone s pet peeve. 2. Guide boys to work together to complete Think Before You React on the Activity Page. Discuss actions boys can carry out before they react in anger. (Examples: count to 10, play a sport, listen to music, play with a pet, talk to a friend, pray, read the Bible) 3. Distribute supplies. Provide boys with the following instructions on how to make a stress ball: --Roll a section of the play dough into a long strip. --Attach the funnel to the top of the balloon. --Feed the strip of play dough through the funnel until the balloon is at least half full. Tie the balloon end to keep the play dough inside. --Draw a face onto the balloon and write the reference James 1:19-20 on it. 4. Challenge boys to react in love rather than anger when they are annoyed, hurt, or jealous. Encourage them to use their stress balls as reminders to react in ways that will produce a positive consequence rather than a negative one. 30 Unit 1,
LIFE POINT People should love others as they love themselves. CHOICE 3 (BOYS AND GIRLS) Love My Puppy Game, Think Before You React (Activity Page) 1. Invite preteens to form a circle. Call for volunteers to be the puppy and the keeper. Tell preteens they will play a game. 2. Give the following instructions: --The puppy s keeper will choose a preteen to visit his puppy. --The keeper will begin the game by asking, Do you love to see my puppy? The keeper will fill in the blank of that sentence with an action such as: snore, howl, smile, dance, or roll over. --The player may answer yes or no, but she may not smile when she does so. --If the other player answers, Yes, I would love to see your puppy, the puppy will do the action requested. If the answer is No, I would not love to see your puppy, the puppy may remain still. --The catch is that the player may not smile! If she does smile, she becomes the puppy, the puppy becomes the new keeper, and the keeper joins the rest of the group. --The keeper will have three chances to make someone smile. If no one smiles, the keeper and the puppy will switch roles. 3. Play until each preteen has had a chance to answer the keeper s question. 4. Acknowledge to preteens that sometimes people can act silly and annoying, but remind them that God wants them to love others at all times. Point out that some people are difficult to love, but God wants us to show love even when it is difficult. Challenge preteens to respond with love to those around them. 5. Guide preteens to work together to complete Think Before You React on the Activity Page. WRAP UP Call groups back together, and play the Cain and Abel: Wrap Up video for the session. Dismiss with prayer. Pray that preteens would praise God for His creation daily and ask God to help them make right choices in how they treat those around them. Remind preteens to give their One Conversation pages to their parents. CHOICE 3 Activity Pages WRAP UP DVD BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE PRETEENS 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 Cain and Abel UNIT VERSE DIGGING CAIN DEEPER: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. GENESIS 1:1 THINK BEFORE YOU REACT How do you handle conflict and disappointment? Do you react without thinking? Or do you remember God s love for you and stay focused on Him? Read the verses below about the wrong ways to handle anger. Do you ever react in one of these ways? Look up and read the following verses. Write what you learn about Cain in the space provided. Cain s Attitude 4:5 Colossians 3:8 James 4:1-2 Cain s Action 4:8 Cain s Excuse 4:9 Cain s Discipline 4:10-12 Sometimes I react in. Read the following verses that tell how God wants you to react when you are tempted to sin in anger. Proverbs 19:11 James 1:19-20 IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM Cain s Complaint 4:13 How did God show mercy to Cain? 4:15 Have a plan in place. Decide what you will do the next time you are angry. You could draw a picture, play an instrument, clean your room, read your Bible, or do something nice for a friend. What is your plan? Write it below. BIBLE STUDIES FOR LIFE PRETEENS 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 preteen learn to respond in a way that is pleasing to God? PRETEENS 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 preteen 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: 4:2 Monday: 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 Preteens Leader Pack, Fall 2016 Instructions: Use 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 Preteens Leader Pack, Fall 2016 Instructions: Use as needed 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)
IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSROCK.COM 3 GENESIS TIME LINE Preteens Leader Pack, Fall 2016 Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Instructions: Use as directed during Practice Bible Skills, Unit 1, Sessions 1 4.
1 3 4 6-9 Session 1 Session 1 Session 1 Session 1 9 : 12-17 Session 1 11 12 15 Session 1 Session 1 Session 1 18-19 Session 1 21 : 1-6 Session 2 22 : 1-19 Session 2 24 Session 2 25 : 19-24 Session 2 25 : 27-33 Session 2 26 27 Session 2 Session 2 28 : 10-18 29 : 1-12 Session 2 Session 3 29 : 13-28 Session 3 30 : 1-22 Session 3 31 32-33 32 : 24-30 37 : 1-11 Session 3 Session 3 Session 3 Session 3 IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM 37 : 12-36 Session 3 39 40 Session 3 Session 3 41 : 1-36 41 : 37-57 42-43 44 45 46 : 8-27 46 : 28-47 : 12 48-49 50 : 1-19 50 : 22-26 4 TIME LINE EVENTS Preteens Leader Pack, Fall 2016 Instructions: Use as directed during Practice Bible Skills, Unit 1, Sessions 1 4.
When you get home from school, you walk into your room and plastic pieces are everywhere. Your dog runs to you, and you notice black specs in his teeth. You realize your dog has found and destroyed your game controller. Toby broke Mom s favorite vase. Glass is everywhere. He said that it s your fault. IMAGE CREDIT: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM It s your week to take the trash to the curb. You took care of that last week for your brother, but his team is in a tournament. It will be late when he gets home, but that s not your problem. Practice ran long and you re getting home late. Your favorite show is on and the finals will be announced tonight. You have a huge assignment due tomorrow that isn t half completed. Mom says you have to finish your assignment before you can watch anything on TV. You can record it, but you know your closest friends will be talking about this tomorrow. ACT LIKE THIS 9 Preteens Leader Pack, Fall 2016 Instructions: Use as directed during Live It Out, Choice 1 (for girls), Unit 1,.
2:4-7 2:8-9 2:10-14 GENESIS REFERENCE CARDS Bible Studies For Life Preteens, Fall 2016 2016 LifeWay. Published in the United States of America. Instructions: Print and use during Study the Bible, Unit 1, Session 2. This item may be reproduced for church use only.
Learning the Stories INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS Children all over the world are important to Jesus. He loves them and wants them to learn about Him when they are very young. Christian workers, like Kimberly Cain in West Africa, love the children like Jesus does. Sometimes Kimberly teaches kids as they sit on mats on the dusty ground. Sometimes she teaches kids at a local church where the roof is made of woven grass. That church building might not look KIMBERLY CAIN like yours, but the children in West Africa are learning the same stories from the Bible that you are! Kimberly uses a storying cloth to tell stories from the Bible. Each picture on the cloth tells a story. Kimberly tells children the story of creation and continues with stories about Jesus so children can grow up knowing Him and telling others about Him. Ways to pray for the people and missionaries in West Africa: k Pray that missionaries will be willing and able to learn the language spoken by the people so they can tell the people about Jesus. k Pray for missionaries as they adjust to a different culture in a part of the world where the temperature stays very hot all year. k Pray that the children of West Africa will learn to follow Jesus at a young age. MISSIONS STORY: WEST AFRICA Bible Studies for Life Preteens, Fall 2016 2016 LifeWay. Published in the United States of America. Instructions: Print and use during Study the Bible, Unit 1, Session 2. This item may be reproduced for church use only.
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) MISSIONS: EVERYDAY PHRASES Bible Studies For Life Preteens, Fall 2016 2016 LifeWay. Published in the United States of America. Instructions: Print and use during Study the Bible, Unit 1,. This item may be reproduced for church use only.
stand on one foot hop in place sing in a low voice speak like a preacher turn in a circle smile at a friend SPEECH INSTRUCTIONS Bible Studies For Life Preteens, Fall 2016 2016 LifeWay. Published in the United States of America. Instructions: Print and use during Study the Bible, Unit 1,. This item may be reproduced for church use only.