Cain and Abel: Trading Sibling Rivalry for Brotherly Affection

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Cain and Abel: Trading Sibling Rivalry for Brotherly Affection

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March 17, 2024 • David Schrock • Genesis 4:1–7

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Dear OBC Family,

For the last six months we have spent our time learning about God’s creation and covenant in Genesis 1–3. This Sunday, we enter a new sermon series on God's salvation and judgment which is seen in the earliest generations of humanity.

From Genesis 4–11, we find that that the mercy and justice of God, first seen in Genesis 3:14–19, is going to continue as it responds to Abel and Cain, Noah and the Nephilim, and Shem and the citizens of Shinar. To begin in Genesis 4:1–7, we will look at the contrasting sacrifices offered by Adam’s first two sons. In one son, faith led to an acceptable sacrifice, while in the other self-reliance invited God’s judgment. From this, we will learn much about God’s grace, God’s law, and God’s gospel.

To prepare for Sunday, therefore, read Genesis 4, Hebrews 11:1-6, and Hebrews 12:18-29. Both passages in the New Testament give us important truths about Cain and Abel, and make connections on how this story from long ago has ongoing relevance for us today.

Let’s pray that as we gather on Sunday, God will give us ears to hear his voice and turn from self-reliance to a faith that receives his salvation. As the Lord allows, I will look forward to seeing you Sunday.

For His Glory and your joy in Jesus,

Pastor David

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Discussion & Response Questions (Genesis 4:1 – 7)

What does Genesis 4 reveal to us about Adam? Eve? Cain and Abel? God?

What do we learn about humanity? What is the division?

What are the signs of difference between Cain and Abel? What does this have to do with their sacrifice?

What are the details of the sacrifice? Where was it offered? When? Why? How would they know what to do?

How do the specific details of the sacrificial system (see Leviticus) inform the way we think about Genesis 4?

Where do we see the grace of God? The law of God? The gospel of God?

Why is it best to see Genesis 4:7 as an invitation and provision of a sin offering?

What does this passage teach us about worshiping God? And living in fellowship with others?

More from Genesis 4-11: Salvation & Judgment

The Baptism of Noah: What the Waters of Judgement Have to Do with the Waters of Baptism

May 19, 2024 • David Schrock • Genesis 7

Dear OBC Family, What does baptism have to do with the flood? Or to reverse it, what does the flood have to do with baptism? This Sunday, we will discover that baptism is not simply an ordinance that divides churches—do we baptize infants, or only believers? (The answer is believers 😀). In answer to the question, baptism is actually the way God has decided to destroy sin and bring new life. Baptism is something that every generation of God’s people have experienced. Baptism is also something that Christ himself does today, as he gives the waters of life from heaven when he ‘baptizes’ someone with the Holy Spirit. Churches follow suit with water baptism as they baptize on earth those who have been baptized from heaven. Indeed, baptism is a major theme that runs through the whole Bible. And on Sunday, we will see how the waters of judgment in Genesis 7 serve as the headwaters for baptism in the Bible and even today. To prepare for Sunday, take time to read Genesis 7-8, as well as 1 Peter 3. Notice how Peter looks to Noah to explain salvation with the baptism of Noah’s ark. And pray for God to pour out on us his living water. As the Lord allows, I look forward to seeing you Sunday and worshiping the One who sits above the floods! For His Glory and your joy in Christ, Pastor David ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions (Genesis 7:1–24) What stands out to you after reading this text and listening to Sunday’s sermon? What questions do you have? As you read this text, remember that God is the primary actor here. What is God doing? Consider the use of “God” (Elohim) and “LORD” (YHWH) in this passage. What do you notice? What repetition do you notice? What does this repetition highlight and emphasize in this history of the Flood? What is the significance of the LORD shutting them into the ark? Read 1 Peter 3:18–22. Consider the relationship between baptism and the Flood. What is Peter teaching? Read 2 Peter 3:1–7. What are implications of the Flood for us today? How ought we to respond to this text?

The Rise and Fall of God’s Flood, Noah’s Ark, and Your Salvation through Judgement (Gen. 6:9-7:10)

May 12, 2024 • David Schrock • Genesis 6:9—7:10

Dear OBC Family, At the end of the nineteenth century, Abraham Kuyper, the Dutch polymath who was at various times a pastor, theologian, editor, educator, and Prime Minister of the Netherlands, wrote a volume addressing common grace. Common grace is the doctrine that says God shows varying degrees of kindness to all creation, not just those who trust in Christ. And importantly, Kuyper shows how common grace is related to Noah and the covenant that God makes with him and through him to all creation. Indeed, as we will see over the next few weeks, this a covenant that continues today, as the rainbow bears witness to God’s promise to never destroy the earth again with water. Yet, I wonder: when we see a rainbow do we remember Genesis 9 and the grace of God? Or do we think first and foremost about how the sun shown through a water droplet to create the array of colors? Or maybe we think of some legend related to leprechauns and gold? Whatever we think about, Kuyper is right to call our attention back to God and his Word. Many people, including pious children of God, behold and admire the rainbow without being aware of the underlying covenant that is so powerfully addressing them. For that reason, we must begin with placing the lofty significance of that Noahic covenant in more radiant light once again. It must come alive for us once again, address us once again, and become for us once again an essential component of the grace of God that sustains us. Indeed, we need to recover the rainbow, which today has undergone a transformation that this nineteenth century Christian could never have imagined. But more than restoring a proper understanding of the rainbow, we need know what the story of Noah tells us about God, his preservation of the world, and his plan of salvation. Beginning this Sunday, we will begin to see what the story of Noah is about and how the ark, the flood, the animals, and the rainbow, tell us something about salvation, baptism, creation, and covenant—to name only a few. Indeed, Genesis 1–11 gives us an inspired interpretation of the patterns that God used in the Bible and even today to bring his purposes to effect. And lest we misunderstand the Bible and our own time, we need to see carefully what Scripture says to us about Noah and his ark. To that end, I would encourage you to read Genesis 6–9 before Sunday and also to read a short article on https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3a%2f%2fobc.us14.list-manage.com%2ftrack%2fclick%3fu%3ddd23918991ea6f542a8065bed%26id%3d2c4acfb7e1%26e%3df5b57025e0&data=05%7c02%7c%7c4242ee08cfa142ec1a7808dc7131fb37%7c84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7c1%7c0%7c638509706706578368%7cunknown%7ctwfpbgzsb3d8eyjwijoimc4wljawmdailcjqijoiv2lumziilcjbtii6ik1hawwilcjxvci6mn0%3d%7c0%7c%7c%7c&sdata=4cjgari7cvzzecnr5ebvqk%2byh1w1bgi5vzzqfxkwwme%3d&reserved=0. Typology is something we discussed in Sunday School a few weeks ago and it something that will repeat in the rest of Genesis. By definition, biblical types are historical persons, events, or institutions that are assigned by God to foreshadow later and greater realities that relate to the person and work of Jesus Christ. For us, it is impossible to read about Noah without seeing him as a type of Christ. And so, rehearsing what a type is will be helpful for you as you prepare for Sunday. In all, pray for God to open our eyes to see his plans of grace in the historical events of Noah. On Sunday we will begin looking at Genesis 6–9. And we will continue to fix our gaze on Christ through him for the next few weeks. As the Lord allows, I look forward to sharing insights with you from Genesis 6–9. May the Lord be glorified by our time together! For His Glory and your joy in Christ, Pastor David ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Discussion & Response Questions (Genesis 6:9 – 7:10) Compare and contrast the description of Noah and the description of the earth (Gen 6:9-12, 2 Pet 2:5). What does it mean to walk with God? How does Scripture describe this? What does it look like for God’s people to walk with Him? Consider what this looked like (1) before the Flood, (2) in the nation of Israel before Christ, and (3) today. How does Jesus describe the days of Noah (Matt 24:36-44)? What should we learn from God pronouncing his judgment (6:13), and providing instructions for the ark (6:41-21)? What characterizes Noah’s obedience (6:22-7:5)? What is righteousness? How is Noah righteous? (See Gen 7:1; Heb 11:7). What does this narrative teach us about the justice and mercy of God? Do we live with a sense of the coming judgment of God? Why or why not? How should we respond to this text? As a reminder, if you’d like to know more about the biblical idea of giants, you can pick up a copy of https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3a%2f%2fobc.us14.list-manage.com%2ftrack%2fclick%3fu%3ddd23918991ea6f542a8065bed%26id%3d0665d02ce6%26e%3df5b57025e0&data=05%7c02%7c%7c4242ee08cfa142ec1a7808dc7131fb37%7c84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7c1%7c0%7c638509706706590492%7cunknown%7ctwfpbgzsb3d8eyjwijoimc4wljawmdailcjqijoiv2lumziilcjbtii6ik1hawwilcjxvci6mn0%3d%7c0%7c%7c%7c&sdata=corjqcymqqgdpwyceauynjhflvv%2flbarj1twa%2foz1em%3d&reserved=0 on the bookshelf.

Or Giants: Enlarging Our Vision of God's World, God's Son, and God's Salvation (Gen. 6:1-8)

May 5, 2024 • David Schrock • Genesis 6:1–8

Dear OBC Family, On Sunday, we take the first step toward understanding the history of the flood—its causes, its characters, and its covenant. In particular, we will spend time looking at the strange statements found in Genesis 6:1–4. Who were the sons of God? Who were the daughters of man? Who were the Nephilim? How do they relate to one another? And how do they relate to us today? Those questions require care and attention, and we should pray for wisdom as we come to worship on Sunday. Indeed, it is easy to gloss over these verses as strange relics of a by-gone era, but as we will see there are important aspects of this story that we need to know. To prepare for Sunday, take time to read Genesis 6. You may also find help reading 2 Peter 2 and Jude. These two books look back at Genesis 6 and help us better understand how to read the Old Testament. Additionally, if you are interested in thinking more about how the New Testament reads the Old and how we should engage with extra-biblical passages, you may find https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3a%2f%2fobc.us14.list-manage.com%2ftrack%2fclick%3fu%3ddd23918991ea6f542a8065bed%26id%3d481516a089%26e%3df5b57025e0&data=05%7c02%7c%7cf53fd654f6b44e3c9ecf08dc6bb1cd78%7c84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7c1%7c0%7c638503658617581291%7cunknown%7ctwfpbgzsb3d8eyjwijoimc4wljawmdailcjqijoiv2lumziilcjbtii6ik1hawwilcjxvci6mn0%3d%7c0%7c%7c%7c&sdata=t1eafbqslea%2bhokbnyjbcchqgucjgrar1pxeytuxtwy%3d&reserved=0. For all of us, let us pray that the Lord who rules over all creation will pour out his mercy upon us as we gather in his name on Sunday. I look forward to seeing you there, as the Lord allows. For His Glory and your joy in Christ, Pastor David -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Discussion & Response Questions (Genesis 6:1-8) What questions do you have after reading this text? The following questions are largely related to the “sons of God” and giants: What are the predominant views of the identity of the “sons of God”? How does the Old Testament use this phrase? (Consider who is in view in Deuteronomy 32:8; Job 1:6; Job 2:1; Job 38:7). As we look to Scripture to interpret Scripture, how does Jude 1:5-7 compare angels that sinned with Sodom and Gomorrah? What does Mark 12:25 teach us about angels and the saints in heaven? How does this apply (or nor apply) to Genesis 6? What giants do you see in Scripture? Consider the Nephilim (Genesis 6:4; Numbers 13:33) and the “sons of Anak” (Deuteronomy 1:28; 2:10; 9:2; Joshua 14:12-15; 15:13), and the Rephaim or Emim (Deuteronomy 3:11-13). Consider also Goliath (1 Samuel 17), his relatives, and their descendants (1 Chron 20:4-6; 2 Samuel 21:5-17). What repeated themes do you see? What do you find challenging about these texts, and why? As we read Genesis 6:1-8, what are the ways in which we observe God’s judgment? Looking at the text, what provokes these judgments? How do these judgements change humanity? What characterizes man’s heart, and why? What is the Bible’s consistent message when it comes to mankind’s condition? How should we understand the language of God seeing (Gen 6:5) and having regret (Gen 6:6)? How do we rightly interpret this text without denying the omniscience (Ps 139; Heb 4:12-13; 1 John 3:20) and immutability of God (Num 23:19; Mal 3:6; James 1:17)? How is Noah distinct from the rest of mankind? How can one find favor with God? Consider Noah (Heb 11:7; 2 Pet 2:5). What does this passage teach about God’s world? God’s son? Our salvation? What questions are left unresolved?