YEA Lesson Library
Sin is Stalking
About This Lesson
This lesson uses the example of Cain murdering Abel to teach that an evil desire will lead to sin and death. The student learns to stop the progression of sin as early as possible.
Scriptures
Genesis 4:1-16
Proverbs 4:23
James 1:13-15
James 4:1-3
1 John 3:1-24
1 John 4:1-20
Words to Know
DESIRE - to long or hope for, to express a wish for
PROGRESSIVE - moving forward or onward; advancing, increasing in extent of severity
CONCEIVED - to form or develop in one’s mind, in this case
The Lesson
Sophie hated her little brother, Todd, because Mom seemed to favor him. Whatever Todd did, Mom was happy with him. But not so with Sophie. When Sophie was assigned household chores, she would get distracted with her favorite TV programs. After all, she needed to see what all of her other friends were watching. Mom had assigned Sophie the jobs of keeping her room tidy and cleaning the kitchen after meals. Sophie simply didn't have her heart in doing these things, so she did a really sloppy job.
Sophie blamed her mother by saying, "Mom is a perfectionist and hard to please." This wasn't the attitude that Sophie's mother wanted to see. Sophie lived in this home and was part of a team. Doing chores was Sophie's contribution to making the family comfortable, happy, and successful. Through doing these chores, Sophie would not only lighten the load for her working mom, she would learn many things she could use in the future about organizing, planning, and developing good household skills. So Mom took privileges from Sophie because of her bad attitude and for the poor job she was doing.
Mom restricted Sophie’s TV watching. Then Sophie became more resentful of Mom and Todd. She became self-absorbed in her own self-pity. She asked her friends, "What can I do to get even with Todd?" Devising a scheme to get at Sophie's little brother was a lot of fun for these girls. They put their heads together and came up with several ideas. Some were vetoed by Sophie because she knew she'd be in trouble with her dad. Then the thought occurred to Sophie that Todd was doing a big project for school. "How can I sabotage him?" she asked her friends. She had heard Todd say that he had to make a model and give a speech using a CD. Everyone agreed that she should steal his CD. The more she thought about it the better she liked it. She knew this was a great project that counted toward Todd's final grade. That night she snuck into his room and stole the CD out of his bag and hid it.
Todd had worked hard on this assignment and went to class feeling confident that he’d make an A. As he was called to do his presentation, he reached into his bag and the CD was nowhere to be found. He got a B rather than his usual A, and Sophie was delighted. What happened to the CD remained a family mystery. But Sophie knew very well where it was. We all know that this is certainly not the first time that siblings have deceived one another.
Cain was the very first human baby to be born - ever! He was Adam and Eve’s first son. Then his brother, Abel, was born. Abel grew up taking care of the flocks, and Cain was a farmer, working the soil. When God blesses us with increase, whether in money, animals, or produce, an offering to God should be made. “Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.
"Then the LORD said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door, it desires to have you, but you must master it" (Genesis 4:4- 7NIV). Now we see that sin is stalking Cain, but why? Let's read a little further.
"Now Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let's go out to the field.' And while they were in the field Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him” (Verse 8). Look what has happened. The very first person to ever be born commits the very first murder. You can be sure that this wasn't the first problem these siblings ever had.
James 1:13-15 tells us that there is a progression of things that takes place when you're tempted to sin and you don't squelch it immediately. "When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.' For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" (NIV).
Being tempted is not a sin. It's how you handle the temptation that's vitally important. There's a six-letter word in the verse above that needs to be remembered. It is "desire." We all long, hope, or wish for things. There are good desires and bad desires. Sophie didn't desire that Todd do the best possible job on his presentation. Cain didn’t wish Abel well. Their desires were evil. James is telling us that we must nip sin in the bud at the "desire" point. When a thought comes into our minds, we have a choice as to what we will do with it. Is it good, or is it bad? If it's a bad thought or desire, put it out of your mind. Don't allow it to come back, conceive, give birth to sin, become full-grown, and give birth to death. That's exactly what happened with Cain.
Satan is described in 1 Peter 5:8 as a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. He is always looking for a tiny chink in your armor. Once he gets a toehold in, he just keeps gradually working away until he has a foothold. He never gives up. But you have a choice each step of the way. It’s much better to guard the doors of your mind. If you have a wrong desire, throw it out. What will you do to be sure your heart and attitude are always right?
Student Prayer
Great Creator God,
Thank you for your creation! Thank you for the lesson we have just read. It has helped me to see the importance of choosing to
get rid of every evil desire. Sin is Stalking and it can lead to murder. Help me to nip every evil thought in the bud from the very beginning.
In Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday: Genesis 4:1-8
Monday: Genesis 4:9-16
Tuesday: James 1:13-15
Wednesday: Proverbs 4:23
Thursday: James 4:1-3
Friday: 1 John 3-4
Saturday: 1 John 3:10-17
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Tell the story of Cain killing Abel.
2. Explain the progression of sin from having the desire to committing murder.
3. Tell that they are far better off nipping any wrong desire in the bud before it begins to progress.
Topics & Themes
Cain/Abel
Murder
Sin
Temptation
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA students' and teacher's books, gavel, table, choir robe if available, songbook, CD or cassette tape of music, attendance and memory verse charts
How to Teach This Lesson
After opening with prayer, conducted this lesson as a court trial of witnesses bringing evidence of Cain's crime, rendering a verdict, and sentencing him. As students arrive let them draw a part. Have Cain sit next to the Defense Attorney. Ask the Prosecuting Attorney to sit on the front row with the witnesses during the court proceedings. Explain to them that they are to read their parts during the trial as they are called on. Take the "Bailiff" and the Jury with you and step outside the room. Put on your robe. Tell the Jury they are to come in and take their seats after you enter the courtroom. Tell the Bailiff to go back into the room, call the court to order, and ask everyone to rise. Enter the courtroom and stand behind the table until the jury comes in. Strike your gavel on the table and say: "The court will come to order. Everyone may be seated. I would like to call the Prosecuting Attorney for his evidence.
Judge: Mr. Prosecuting Attorney, call your first witness.
Prosecuting Attorney: Would Witness Number One come to the stand and give your evidence that Cain had evil desires.
Witness Number One: Cain became angry when God looked upon his brother, Abel's offering with favor, and not on Cain's. Frankly, Cain's attitude wasn't right. God knew that.
Prosecuting Attorney: Would Witness Number Two come to the stand and give your evidence.
Witness Number Two: Your honor, God told Cain that "sin was crouching at his door."
Prosecuting attorney: Would Witness Number Three come to the stand and give your evidence that Cain allowed his jealous attitude to lead him to kill Abel?
Witness Number Three: He enticed his brother to go out into the field where no one could see what he was doing and he attacked Abel and killed him. God made him angry when he didn't accept his offering. I think he blamed God. You know, we always want to blame someone.
Judge: James 1:13-15 tells us, "When tempted, no one should say, 'God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death." Now I would like to call the Defense Attorney to the stand to give your defense of Cain.
Defense Attorney: Your honor, I have no defense of this crime. Cain committed murder!
Judge: The court rests its case. This court is dismissed for the Jury to deliberate and arrive at a verdict. (Give the Jury a few minutes to deliberate and arrive at a verdict. Once they are called back into the “courtroom,” continue.) Has the Jury arrived at a verdict? (Once they deliver the verdict, the Judge delivers the sentence.)
Debrief
Ask: What is the Jury's verdict and sentence? How do you think your verdict and sentence agree with what God gave Cain? Did Cain have a choice? When should he have gotten his wrong desires or attitude under control? What could Cain have done to prevent the death of Abel?
Ask a student to read Genesis 4:9-16. How do you feel about Cain not being honest with God and not telling Him that he had killed his brother? How would you like to receive the sentence God gave Cain? Who were these people Cain was afraid would kill him? (They had to be his siblings.) How do you think your siblings would feel about you if you killed one of your brothers or sisters? What similarities do you see in Sophie's attitude and Cain's attitude? What did you learn from this lesson? How will it change what you do when you're tempted?
REACH Activity
Memory Verse Spotlight
Look up the word “guard” from Proverbs 4:23. You may need to look this verse up in another translation before you go to a Bible lexicon to find a definition. Write down the Hebrew word and its meaning. Then find three other Scriptures where this word is used.
How important is it to guard, or watch over, your heart? Why is it so important? Who wrote this admonition? Do you think he knew how important this is? Why or why not?
Where in the World? Cain’s Wife
Where in the world did Cain’s wife come from? When you read Genesis 4:16-17, it just mentions her. It doesn’t say where she came from. But Genesis 5:4 says that Adam and Eve had other sons and daughters. And Luke states in Acts 17:26 that we are all descended from Adam and Eve. So Cain had to have married his sister. O.K. So why would that have been okay to do at that time in history? Well, there was no other source of people. Secondly, the human race had been created perfectly. At that time, marrying your sister wouldn’t have created the birth defects that marrying a close relative will cause today.
So why are we even talking about this? You never know what someone will bring up to try to trip you up in your faith in God and the veracity of the scriptures. If you have thought about the details, you can be prepared with an answer.
They Did What Back Then? Murder
Brothers and sisters don’t always get along. Sometimes they fight. Sometimes they bicker. Have you ever been on a long trip in the car and heard your little sister whine, “Mom, he’s looking at me!” We get upset with each other when we’re tired and hungry and when we don’t get what we want. In the case of Cain and Abel, Cain was so upset at Abel because he didn’t get what he wanted that he murdered him! And this wouldn’t be the only time that someone hated another person so much that he wanted to take his life. We know that because otherwise it wouldn’t have had to be one of the Ten Commandments! But Jesus raised it to a higher level. In Matthew 5:22, Jesus says that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Why is that? Why would Jesus warn against even being angry toward your brother? Because it can quickly get out of hand! Like a tiny spark can create a huge forest fire in a matter of minutes, so can anger blaze up destructively.
Making It Mine: Dealing With Conflict
Do you ever think that your sibling is trying to purposely aggravate you? How can you deal with the conflict before it gets out of hand? How can you put out the spark of anger before it blazes into an inferno? How can you keep your emotions out of the conflict and just deal with the facts? It’s easy to escalate a conflict when your feelings are hurt. Find five verses which talk about dealing with anger. Write them down. Then go talk with your parents about how they deal with conflict constructively.
Worldview Collisions: Whose Standard?
A Biblical worldview says that God makes the rules and commandments we follow. He is the Creator and King of the Universe; it only makes sense that He would also give us the best way to function in this world. But a secular worldview says that there are no absolutes. That means that everyone gets to decide what is right and what is wrong for themselves. Do you see a problem with that? What if I think it’s okay to take your stuff? How would you feel about that? Maybe you think it’s okay to tell lies? How long will people trust someone who doesn’t think the truth is important? Can you think of other examples of how not following God’s commandments causes pain and chaos? Write about this topic in your Bible notebook.
Questions
As you’re working through the YEA lesson, Daily Devotionals, doing the activity, or reading the Bible, be sure to write down any questions you have. That way you’ll remember to ask someone. Also remember to share the really interesting things you’re learning with family and friends.
Song
"Change My Heart, Oh God" is on page 53 of The Group Songbook.
Closing Prayer
Ask the students to form a circle and join hands. Go around the circle and let the students give one of the progressive steps toward sin and murder. They are: evil desire, dragged away and enticed, your evil desire is conceived, it gives birth to sin, sin becomes full-grown, it gives birth to death. Ask for a volunteer to lead in prayer asking God to help them to nip temptation in the bud with the very first evil desire.
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