Ascending the Hill of the Lord: Three Lessons from Cain's Sin & Christ's Sacrifice (Gen. 4:8-16)

Sermon Series

March 24, 2024 • David Schrock • Genesis 4:8–16

Dear OBC Family,

Last Sunday we saw in Genesis 4:1-7 how God offered grace to Cain when his sacrifice was not accepted. In that sermon, we learned a great deal about the way God expects us to worship him.

This Sunday, we pick up in Genesis 4:8-16 where we will see how Cain’s refusal to worship God in truth and to receive his offer of grace results in a deadly to decision to sacrifice his brother in place of God’s provision of a sin offering.

Again, this passage written down long ago has much to teach us today. We are still a people who worship and what we worship will determine how we live. If we worship God rightly, it leads to living honorably before him, but when we live dishonorably it is because there is something amiss with our worship of God.

On Sunday, we will explore the connection between right worship and right living. And to prepare, let me encourage you to read again Genesis 4. But also take time to look at Psalm 115 and 1 John 3-4. These will help you to see some of the connections between Genesis 4 and ourselves today.

As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you on Sunday. Let us continue to pray that God would lift our eyes to him, so that we would walk in truth and love, not lies and hate.

For His Glory and your joy in Jesus,

Pastor David

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Discussion & Response Questions (Genesis 4:8 – 16)

Contrast how Cain responds to God’s questions versus how his parents responded to God’s questions in Genesis 3. What differences do you notice?

Notice how Abel’s blood cries out from the ground. Why is the connection of bloodshed and the land significant?

How does Cain’s curse (4:11-12) build upon the curse of Genesis 3?

Consider the justice and mercy of God in Genesis 4.

How does the New Testament speak about Cain? (Heb 11:4; 1 John 3:11-15; Jude 11)

What is the purpose of the mark of Cain? Is it a curse? A mercy? Historically, how has this idea been abused?

As we consider the unbearable nature of sin and its consequences, what does this teach us?

Abel was a righteous shepherd who was slain for his obedience to God. How does this connect to Zechariah and lead us to Christ? (Matt 23:35, Heb 11:4, 12:24)?

Do you see yourself as your brother’s keeper? Why or why not? What should brotherly love look like?

How ought we to respond to this text?

More from Genesis 4-11: Salvation & Judgment

Finding a Faithful Older Brother: What Shem, Ham, and Japheth Reveal about Christ and the Cosmos (Ge

June 30, 2024 • David Schrock • Genesis 9:18–29

Remembering the Rainbow: 6 Parts of God's Covenant with Noah... And Us

June 9, 2024 • David Schrock • Genesis 9:8–17

Dear OBC Family, When was the last time you saw a rainbow? And what did you think when you saw it? What did you remember? On Sunday, we will see what God has to say about rainbows and what the meaning of the rainbow is. Indeed, the rainbow is a sign of God’s grace and we should remember the covenant with Noah that is still in effect today. To prepare for Sunday, read Genesis 9, as well as Isaiah 54. We will be reminded of God’s promise of grace this Sunday and how that promise encourages us to continue to walk confidently with God. As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we worship God together. For His Glory and your joy, Pastor David -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions (Genesis 9:8 – 17) Consider the text for this week. What stands out to you? How do you think about the flood? The world that came after it? Is Genesis 1–11 more like a galaxy far, far away? Or does it influence how you think about the world? How does the rest of the Bible pick up and apply this new beginning? What are the parts of the world that Genesis 8:20–9:7 describe? What is the pattern of “world building” that is found here? How does that support your views of the world? How does that invite change? How is this new beginning after the Flood distinct from the first beginning in Genesis 1-2? What change did the exaltation of Christ bring to the world? And does that mean for us? How ought we to respond to this text?

In the Beginning... Again: 5 Puzzles to Put the World Back Together (Gen. 8:20-9:7)

June 2, 2024 • David Schrock • Genesis 8:20—9:7

Dear OBC Family, What is the world like? Is it like the beginning? Or is it completely different after the flood? And what does it matter? While we are often tempted to simply think about what comes next in our own lives, families, careers, or ministries, we need to slow down and consider the stage on which we live, move, and have our being. We are creatures made in the image of God, and that means we need to know who God is and what he has made. And also, that means we need to know what he has remade after the flood. This Sunday we will continue to look at Noah. Only now we move from his ark to his altar. And from his salvation to the creation of a new society. In Genesis 8:20–9:7 we will see at least five building blocks to civilization and also a particular order to arrange them. To prepare, take time to read Genesis 9. Pray that God would give us insight and interest into the world he has made, so that we might see where we fit in his creation and how his salvation in Christ is the only way to see the world put to rights. As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you Sunday. And this week, I am especially thankful for many of the graces God has given to our church. I wrote them down in a blogpost and I would encourage you to read them—https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3a%2f%2fobc.us14.list-manage.com%2ftrack%2fclick%3fu%3ddd23918991ea6f542a8065bed%26id%3d56e9a176ad%26e%3df5b57025e0&data=05%7c02%7c%7c8a61cdea383047090d9b08dc81b49df9%7c84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7c1%7c0%7c638527859953431581%7cunknown%7ctwfpbgzsb3d8eyjwijoimc4wljawmdailcjqijoiv2lumziilcjbtii6ik1hawwilcjxvci6mn0%3d%7c0%7c%7c%7c&sdata=ytlqc6brvt0gakoljgx1yp6blogmf0qgta5tgx2s8h8%3d&reserved=0 I bless God for the work of grace he has done at our church and I look forward to singing his praises with you, his saints, on Sunday. For His Glory and your joy, Pastor David ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions (Genesis 8:20-9:7) Consider the text for this week. What stands out to you? How do you think about the flood? The world that came after it? Is Genesis 1–11 more like a galaxy far, far away? Or does it influence how you think about the world? How does the rest of the Bible pick up and apply this new beginning? What are the parts of the world that Genesis 8:20–9:7 describe? What is the pattern of “world building” that is found here? How does that support your views of the world? How does that invite change? How is this new beginning after the Flood distinct from the first beginning in Genesis 1-2? What change did the exaltation of Christ bring to the world? And does that mean for us? How ought we to respond to this text?