The Story Begins: The Spread of Sin

The Story Begins: The Spread of Sin  

Genesis 4:1-16, 25-26

First birth

First family/siblings

First shepherd/farmer

First murder

First human lie

First worship service & offering

First human question

1.  Sin begins with evil desires.     4:1-7

Hebrews 11:4 - “By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain…and obtained the testimony that he was righteous.”

1 John 3:12 - “Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother's actions were righteous.” 

2. Sin results in ungodly actions against others.   4:8-12

3. Sin is overcome by God’s mercy and promise.   4:13-16, 25-26

Application:

i. Sins of the heart are inflamed by associations, situations, and lacerations.

Luke 6:45 - “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart…”

1 Corinthians 15:33 - “Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character."

2 Samuel 11:2-4 - “As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath.  He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, ‘She is Bathsheba… the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’ …David sent for her; and …he slept with her.”

Psalm 73:2-3, 5, 13-14 - “But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling, My steps had almost slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked…They are not in trouble as other men… in vain I have kept my heart pure…All day long I have been afflicted, and every morning brings new punishments.”

 ii. Spirit led running, amputating, and fighting are needed daily in conquering sin. Galatians 5:16 - “...walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful flesh.”2 Timothy 2:22 - “…Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness…along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” 

Matthew 5:29 - “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.”

James 4:7 - “Submit yourselves to God and resist the devil…he will flee from you.”

Hebrews 12:24 - “…and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.”

Faith Sheet

Series Memory Verse - Genesis 1:26-27   Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.      

Reviewing This Past Sunday

The Story Begins: The Spread of Sin

Genesis 4:1-16, 25-26

1. What words would you use to describe sin?  

2. How does our culture view a God of justice who judges all people at the end of their life?

3. Why is it important that God be seen rightly as a God of both love and justice?

4. What might be some “incomplete remedies” the world recommends for dealing with sins like anger, lust, or lying? What makes these remedies incomplete?

5. We see Cain crying and expressing sorrow. How are tears of regret different than tears of repentance? What are the signs in Cain’s speech that his tears came from regret rather than repentance (transformation toward God)?

6. What is the significance of Cain’s question about his brother Abel’s welfare?

7. In what ways does sin keep us from fulfilling our calling and responsibilities to those around us?

8. Why does God take so seriously how we treat other people?

9. What are the situations or circumstances in which you know you will be tempted? What have you learned about avoiding those situations?

10. Who are the friends that assist you in your walk with Christ and who can strengthen you in any struggle with temptation? Why is it important to receive this kind of encouragement and call on them as needed?

11. How is our mission as God’s people affected when we fail to grasp the reality of God’s gracious and forgiving heart toward us?

Preparing for Next Sunday

The Story Begins: Human Rebellion

Genesis 6:5-22, 9:1-11

1. Read the passage and ask the Lord to reveal Himself and His truth. (Genesis 6:5-22, 9:1-11)

2. HIGHLIGHT a verse or truth that stands out to you and write it out.

3. EXPLAIN the text in your own words to make sure you see the big picture of God’s Story. (Who wrote it & why was it written? To whom it was written? What is the context? How does the text point to the Father, Son or Spirit? What is the text telling us about our new identity as believers in Christ or what we are to be doing?)

4. APPLY a truth from the text to your own life. (Focus on what God is saying to you and what is your act of obedience, confession, praise, going forward, giving thanks, etc.)

5. RESPOND in prayer and go apply what God reveals to you from the Scriptures.

“Always be killing sin or it will be killing you.” -John Owen (1616-1683)

“If [Genesis] 3 represents the fall of humankind, [Genesis] 4 represents the fall of the family.”                        -John H. Walton