Four Questions
June 7, 2026
CENTRAL TEXT: Genesis 4:1-16
Gen. 4:1 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the LORD.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the LORD an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the LORD had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
Gen. 4:8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother’s keeper?” 10 And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the LORD said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the LORD put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him. 16 Then Cain went away from the presence of the LORD and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.
CALL TO WORSHIP: Psalm 96:1-4
LEADER: Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
ALL: Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
LEADER: Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
ALL: For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.
PRAYER/SCRIPTURE READING/CONFESSION OF FAITH: Matthew 5:21-24
LEADER: You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
The Word of the Lord
ALL: Thanks be to God!
BENEDICTION: 1 John 4:11-12
LEADER: Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
Related Scriptures:
Numbers 16:15; 1Samuel 26:19; Isaiah 1:13
Matthew 23:35
Romans 2:5-9
Hebrews 11:4
James 1:14,15
1 John 3:12
Jude 11
Illustrations:
Discussion Questions:
- In our text we find the Lord asking questions (as we heard Him do likewise with Adam and Eve last week. His questions are less to gain information than to draw out what’s within those He’s questioning. What’s the last time you asked the Lord a question in prayer–not a request so much as an inquiry or a lament? Would you be willing to share?
- Refresh your memory: what was the determining factor in God’s regard of Cain’s and Abel’s offering? What made the difference? What’s the implication in whatever we offer to God?
- What wisdom have you gained in your struggle against sin? Both before it has a chance to take hold, and after it might?
- How does current culture militate against our sense of responsibility to one another? Why might many agree with Cain that we are not in fact our brother’s keeper?
- The evidence is too scant to make a definitive determination, but discuss among yourselves the character of Cain’s lament after the curse is applied for his murder of his brother. Was he grieved by what he did or what came of it? How do you think of God’s response, depending on your view of Cain’s outcry?
QUOTES:
...this narrative concerns itself with the singular history of a chosen people, one not primarily meant to offer examples of virtue of heroism or to support generalizations about ethical conduct but meant instead to trace the workings of God's loyalty to humankind through disgrace and failure and even crime ... [Here is] preserved the world's best hope.
- Marilynne Robinson, Reading Genesis
The book of Genesis is framed by two stories of remarkable forgiveness, of Cain by the Lord, and of his ten brothers by Joseph.
- Marilynne Robinson
Books / Docs
“Evil is not the essential feature of reality,” an interview of Marilynne Robinson by Russell More