This is the second sermon in the "Fatihbook" series focusing on the Faith of Abel who offered a righteous sacrifice. This sermon addresses the question of what made Abel's sacrifice superior to Cain's. Was it the sacrifice or something about the sacrificer?
(Genesis 37:1-50:26) A Common Predetermination / A Common Rejection / A Common Humiliation / A Common Injustice / A Common Exaltation / A Common Grace / Mercy / A Common Purpose / -- AUDIO / PPT / KEYNOTE / PDF - 1/22/2017
http://w65stchurchofchrist.org/coc/sermons/2017-sermons.html
John 3:1-5. A New Life In Christ. In the new life we have been born again. In the new life we are a new creation. In the new life we crucify the flesh with its passions and desires. In the new life we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. In the new life we are renewed by the Holy Spirit. In the new life we are dead to sin but alive to God. In the new life we are washed from our sins. in the new life we put to death the old man and put on the new man. In the new life we died and our life is hidden with Christ in God. In the new life we were brought back from death in sin.
(Genesis 37:1-50:26) A Common Predetermination / A Common Rejection / A Common Humiliation / A Common Injustice / A Common Exaltation / A Common Grace / Mercy / A Common Purpose / -- AUDIO / PPT / KEYNOTE / PDF - 1/22/2017
http://w65stchurchofchrist.org/coc/sermons/2017-sermons.html
John 3:1-5. A New Life In Christ. In the new life we have been born again. In the new life we are a new creation. In the new life we crucify the flesh with its passions and desires. In the new life we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. In the new life we are renewed by the Holy Spirit. In the new life we are dead to sin but alive to God. In the new life we are washed from our sins. in the new life we put to death the old man and put on the new man. In the new life we died and our life is hidden with Christ in God. In the new life we were brought back from death in sin.
This is a collection of my Sunday preaching sermon, you may open and see this Power point presentation by clicking the above title. Our Labor in the Lord is not In Vain. God bless — at Panabo City Ibcp Gredu.
Genuine Christian Faith, is to believe in everything God has said and done in His written Word: the Bible. It is to believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary to save whomever would like to be saved. It is to trust in God all the time. It is to live according to what the Bible says: “The just shall live by faith” Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 10:38.
“Being used by God
is not confined to pastors, preachers or teachers. Anybody can be an instrument
in God's hands.”
God can use anybody, believer or nonbeliever.
Many of us have an endless list of questions when it comes to Bible prophecy. It is quite possible that the more we study, the more confusing it all becomes. Taken from Dr. Jeremiah's "Answers to the Unsolved Mysteries of Prophecy" booklet, these charts will help you navigate through end-times prophecy and will answer your questions about the final days of this world.
Tomorrow we are starting a new series of study:
“The New Man” is a seminar that will focus on the spirit of man, its soul and its body.
We will learn the properties of each one of these three parts of man.
Our spirit is called to be the ruling part of us, actually, our spirit is the main part of our being, and is the place where the spirit of God dwells in.
We meet in Room #3 at CTF Toronto Wednesdays from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. I invite you to come and participate with us in this discovery of how to let our spirit become the ruler of our life.
Mt 13:15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'
This is a collection of my Sunday preaching sermon, you may open and see this Power point presentation by clicking the above title. Our Labor in the Lord is not In Vain. God bless — at Panabo City Ibcp Gredu.
Genuine Christian Faith, is to believe in everything God has said and done in His written Word: the Bible. It is to believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross of Calvary to save whomever would like to be saved. It is to trust in God all the time. It is to live according to what the Bible says: “The just shall live by faith” Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 10:38.
“Being used by God
is not confined to pastors, preachers or teachers. Anybody can be an instrument
in God's hands.”
God can use anybody, believer or nonbeliever.
Many of us have an endless list of questions when it comes to Bible prophecy. It is quite possible that the more we study, the more confusing it all becomes. Taken from Dr. Jeremiah's "Answers to the Unsolved Mysteries of Prophecy" booklet, these charts will help you navigate through end-times prophecy and will answer your questions about the final days of this world.
Tomorrow we are starting a new series of study:
“The New Man” is a seminar that will focus on the spirit of man, its soul and its body.
We will learn the properties of each one of these three parts of man.
Our spirit is called to be the ruling part of us, actually, our spirit is the main part of our being, and is the place where the spirit of God dwells in.
We meet in Room #3 at CTF Toronto Wednesdays from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. I invite you to come and participate with us in this discovery of how to let our spirit become the ruler of our life.
Mt 13:15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.'
Faith - PowerPoint for Wednesday night - December 3M. Monte Tatom
This is the PowerPoint that I used for the Wednesday Night Auditorium class at the Henderson church of Christ last evening, 12/3/2014. The lesson is from Dr. Jack Lewis book - "Basic Beliefs".
Introduction to Divine Principle and historical concept of Cain Abel.
Summary: The one who is more public-minded is Abel.
Abel begins with thinking not about himself, but about God.
Never Command Cain!
Love him/her!
This PowerPoint is a great summary of the story of Cain & Abel. It shows with multiple Bible passages why God acted the way he did, and what kind of sacrifice He is looking for from us as well.
Why did God accept Abel’s offering, but reject Cain’s offering? What kind of tithes and offerings are unacceptable to God (cp. Mal. 1:6-10; Matt. 5:24; 6:1-4)? Why did Cain feel wronged and upset by God’s not accepting his offering? How could his being the first born give Cain a feeling of entitlement and possibly caused such angry responses? What is the significance in the account that God speaks to Cain & not Abel? What is the meaning of the phrase God speaks to Cain "Sin lies (or is lurking) at the door sin. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it”? How can you apply this to your own life?
The Bible says that even though Abel was dead he continued to speak. George Eliot wrote a poem entitled "The Invisible Choir" where she talks about those that have died that still surround us through their influence. How can we become "an invisible choir" for those who come after us? What about us will live on after we have passed from this life?
Introduction To Tithing - Dr. David A. Croteautithingstudy
What is tithing? New Testament Scholar Dr. David A. Croteau , after spending countless hours in researching about tithing presents - Introduction to tithing.
Dr. Croteau did dissertation in tithing!
Book of Genesis - The Story of Two Brothers [Cain & Abel] Bibilium
The "Story of Two Brothers" is an account of the first death that took place on Planet Earth due to the jealousy of the elder brother, Cain, a farmer, over his younger brother, Abel, a shepherd. The first two sons of Adam and Eve offered sacrifices to God; however, God favored Abel's sacrifice and not Cain's. Knowing that Cain was seething in anger, God warned about sin consuming him. Cain chose to ignore God's warning and murdered his younger brother.
Know how God always admonishes and warns us of the impending danger. Only if we would listen to Him, we would stay away from sin.
In Jude 17-23 Jude shifts from piling up examples of false teachers from the Old Testament to a series of practical exhortations that flow from apostolic instruction. He preserves for us what may well have been part of the apostolic catechism for the first generation of Christ-followers. In these instructions Jude exhorts the believer to deal with 3 different groups of people: scoffers who are "devoid of the Spirit", believers who have come under the influence of scoffers and believers who are so entrenched in false teaching that they need rescue and pose some real spiritual risk for the rescuer. In all of this Jude emphasizes Jesus' call to rescue straying sheep, leaving the 99 safely behind and pursuing the 1.
The Prophecy of Enoch in Jude 14-16_.pptxStephen Palm
In Jude 14-16 Jude cites one of the most cryptic characters in the Book of Genesis, Enoch, the man who never died! Jude quotes Enoch, but the words are not found in Genesis nor anywhere else in the Bible. Jude is actually quoting from a pseudepigraphical book named 1 Enoch. In this sermon we will take a close look at Enoch, consider the way that biblical authors at times cited non-biblical books as illustrations and how Jude applied these words to the false teachers of our day.
Jude: The Acts of the Apostates: Waterless Clouds (vv.8-13).pptxStephen Palm
Jude continues to paint a portrait of false teachers by piling up Old Testament examples of rebels who rejected God-given authority. This week we will consider the bad example of Satan and three men he worked through: Cain, Balaam and Korah. These examples continue to help us identify what false teachers are like and how to quickly identify them.
Jude: The Acts of the Apostate: High Handed Sins (vv.5-7).pptxStephen Palm
One of the key characteristics of Jude as an author is that he frequently alludes to or directly quotes Old Testament texts. He assumes knowledge of these great stories of the Hebrew Scriptures and without some solid understanding of the Books of Moses, in particular, Jude is almost indecipherable.
In this sermon, we will use a category of sin described in the Book of Numbers, the High-Handed Sin, as a way of organizing Jude 5-7. The High-Handed sin is the sin of the apostate, those who raise their fists against God. Jude, who loves triads, will share three "high-handed sins" committed by unruly mobs. Each of these OT stories are intended to demonstrate the true severity and danger posed by false teachers. In the process of considering these background texts to Jude's words we will grapple with some of the most confusing and even unnerving texts of scripture. Prepare for a wild ride!
Jude: The Acts of the Apostates (Jude vv.1-4).pptxStephen Palm
In this sermon Pastor Ryan Shannon introduces a new sermon series on the Book of Jude entitled, "The Acts of the Apostates". Apostates are the earliest "deconversion" stories of the New Testament. These are false teachers who rejected a truth that they once felt some affinity towards. They preached another gospel and posed a great danger to the early church. Like the first century, the 21st century church faces this same real risk. False teachers are often attractive, charismatic and incredibly positive in their message. But they reject the hard teachings of Jesus and offer a message that offers affirmation without correction. There is nothing sadder than someone who believes a lie and stakes their eternal destiny on that lie that our sin is something God winks at. In this series we will learn the importance of discernment coupled with a bold commitment to stand up, stand out and stand firm for the gospel.
This sermon will explore the broad topic of bioethics from a Christian perspective. The sermon is organized around three points borrowed from bioethicist Dr. Nigel Cameron and Charles Colson: Taking Life, Making Life and Faking Life. We will observe how current innovations offer great hope for healing major diseases but also pose the risk of creating dystopic nightmare scenarios. We will see what God's Word has to say on these relevant topics.
This is the concluding message in the series Trivial Pursuits and the fifth message of "Meaningful Pursuits." This message considers the pursuit of obedience. Shockingly, the words "obey" and "obedience" are not found in all of Ecclesiastes. However, the concept appears in a variety of expressions such as Pleasing God, Doing good, Walking in the "Sight of the Eyes" and Keeping the Commandments. We will explore each of these key phrases and the texts in which they appear, and we will explore what "keeping the commandments" means for the New Covenant believer. We will also explore the "God-rail" of judgment and what the believer in Jesus can expect on the "Day of Judgment."
Meaningful Pursuits_The Fear of God.pptxStephen Palm
In Proverbs Solomon says that "The Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." The idea of fearing God is peppered throughout Ecclesiastes. It is found in some texts that we have explored in this series and some that we have not. In this message we will bring five key texts concerning the Fear of God that identify five key reasons why we are wise to Fear Him. We will also investigate the Hebrew word that lies behind this concept of fear in order to gain a more accurate view of this important biblical concept.
This sermon is part of the Easter Apocalypse series in which we are looking forward to the Book of Revelations for a sense of the sequel to the Easter story, Jesus in Heaven and King of kings and Lord of lords. In this message we will contrast Jesus' "veiled glory" during His earthly ministry including his post-resurrection appearances and Jesus' full display of his glory in John's vision in Revelation chapter 1.
Today we launch our Easter series entitled "Easter Apocalypse". This Palm Sunday we are going to study a moment from the Book of Revelation where a great multitude, much larger than the crowd in Jerusalem, will worship Jesus, waving palm branches. This amazing moment is found in the seventh chapter of the Book of Revelation. We will look at the entire chapter with a special focus on the middle of the chapter where this scene plays out in heaven.
Ecclesiastes 4: The Pursuit of Companionship.pptxStephen Palm
In Ecclesiastes 4 we find another meaningful pursuit sandwiched between two meaningless pursuits, as is Solomon's style. The Meaningful Pursuit is the pursuit of companionship. This passage contains the great statement that a cord of three strands is not easily torn apart. We will explore the primary meaning in context and then explore an additional meaning that the n+1 formula in this text suggests, that the plus one is also a reference to God. He is the one who truly provides enduring strength to our human relationships, whether we are looking at a marriage or a friendship. Excluding God leaves us "under the sun" and fending for ourselves.
The Pursuit of God's Timetable_Ecclesiastes 3.pptxStephen Palm
This week marks the shift from Trivial Pursuits to Meaningful Pursuits. This week we will look at Pursuing God's Timetable, embracing God's understanding of time and eternity. However, we will see that the jaded side of Solomon continues to intersperse rain clouds of doubt and cynicism. He bears the spiritual and emotional scars of a man who spent too much time in Trivial and sinful pursuits.
Culture Clash_Reasserting the Gospel to a culture that wants to reshape its m...Stephen Palm
This sermon is entitled Reasserting the Gospel to a culture that wants to reshape its message. In this sermon we will look at some key aspects of the gospel which clash with our culture, 5 common distortions of the gospel and finally 3 biblical examples of how to contextualize the gospel without compromising or confusing its message.
The Pursuit of Self Sufficiency_Ecclesiastes 9:11-12.pptxStephen Palm
In Ecclesiastes 9:11-12 Solomon bemoans how random chance falls upon mankind. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race. The smartest person doesn't always get the scholarship; life doesn't operate purely on the basis of fairness. The "under the sun" solution is self-reliance. In this sermon Mike Bealer demonstrates that the mathematics hard-baked into the universe suggest that God does not operate randomly. He creates a purposeful universe and one of His purposes is that we will rely upon Him rather than rely upon ourselves and our meager understanding of God's purpose and plan.
In this service, we will celebrate a child dedication. Then we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together, and finally believers baptism by immersion. Each section will include a brief devotional focusing on the scriptures that inform and inspire these practices of the Christian faith.
Trivial Pursuits - The Pursuit of Riches_Contentment.pptxStephen Palm
This sermon is a tag team preaching. Pastor Steve Palm will begin with the bad news concerning the "Trivial Pursuit of Riches" in Ecclesiastes 5:8-17. We will look at several active "taxes" that siphon wealth: the Corruption Tax, the Consumption Tax and the Calamity Tax. Those who love money struggle to have enough. Cole will preach on the flip side of the coin in Ecclesiastes 5:18-20. The answer to the love of money is not more money and things. The true answer is contentment.
The Pursuit of Worldly Pleasure_Ecclesiastes 2.pptxStephen Palm
In Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 Solomon is convinced that he can run a dangerous experiment, safe-guarded by his great wisdom. The experiment is to explore every conceivable pleasure taken to inconceivable extremes and yet be unscathed. However, the experiment goes badly and leaves him jaded and empty. In the last three verses he finally allows a little of God's light to shine through. In this sermon we will contrast Solomon's life of empty pursuits with Jesus' balance life. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of life and set us an example of how to live beyond the "daily grind."
The Pursuit of Worldly Wisdom_Ecclesiastes 1:1-18.pptxStephen Palm
The book of Ecclesiastes is one of the least taught least preached and least read books in the Bible. However, it has one of the most relevant messages for our day. It is a rich tapestry of opposing threads, horizontal threads of an "under the sun" perspective that is worldly-wise and vertical threads of an "under God's Heaven" perspective that reflects the wisdom of God. Which perspective you embrace will determine whether life is a chore or a blessing. Man's wisdom leads to meaninglessness. God's wisdom leads to significance and true joy.
Culture Clash_Antisemitism and the Abrahamic Covenant.pptxStephen Palm
Antisemitism has spiked by 400% in the United States since the beginning of the Hamas/Israel War. However, antisemitism, the hatred and persecution of Jews, has been spiking since 2017. Antisemitism has been described as a "light sleeper" that has awakened yet again. In this sermon, we will look at two definitions of antisemitism, explore the history of antisemitism including the history of Christian antisemitism and then explore what God has to say by examining the Abrahamic Covenant in Genesis 12, 15 and 17 and other prophetic texts. Pastor Steve will assert that the Abrahamic Covenant is an essential lens through which Bible-believers view history and current events. We will also learn what a "trope" is and then explore several insidious antisemitic tropes which are the fuel on the fire of antisemitism.
Christmas List - Jesus: Prioritizing Mission over Everything Else.pptxStephen Palm
4. Jesus: Prioritizing Mission over Everything Else. (Dec. 23 & 24) John 1:1-18
John’s gospel begins at an earlier point than the other gospels. Mark begins at Jesus’ baptism and adds nothing to the Christmas story. Matthew and Luke begin with the circumstances of Jesus’ humble birth. But John begins in Heaven with the story of the pre-incarnate Son of God. Heaven’s Prince was a partner with His Father in the work of Creation; “without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3). He was worshipped by angels and shared in the same divine essence possessed by the Father and the Holy Spirit. As the ancient creed says, “He was God of God, Light of light, true God of True God”. In order to accomplish His Father’s Redemptive Mission, to redeem mankind, he voluntarily chose to forego the heavenly privileges of his throne at His Father’s side, and came to earth, was confined to the womb of a young Jewish girl and then was born and placed in a feeding trough, likely in a cave used for birthing lambs. We know so little about Mary, Joseph and the Wise Men whom we have been studying. We are left with the challenge of piecing their lives together. But we have four gospels that describe the miraculous life of Jesus. We see through their four accounts a common picture of a man who consistently prioritized God’s Mission over everything else, culminating in His crucifixion and death. His was a hard life lived perfectly. The challenge before us is whether we will choose to accept His Great Co-Mission, to join Him in prioritizing serving God over security, reputation, comfort, and everything else this world esteems that God sees as less than?
Exploring the Mindfulness Understanding Its Benefits.pptxMartaLoveguard
Slide 1: Title: Exploring the Mindfulness: Understanding Its Benefits
Slide 2: Introduction to Mindfulness
Mindfulness, defined as the conscious, non-judgmental observation of the present moment, has deep roots in Buddhist meditation practice but has gained significant popularity in the Western world in recent years. In today's society, filled with distractions and constant stimuli, mindfulness offers a valuable tool for regaining inner peace and reconnecting with our true selves. By cultivating mindfulness, we can develop a heightened awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and surroundings, leading to a greater sense of clarity and presence in our daily lives.
Slide 3: Benefits of Mindfulness for Mental Well-being
Practicing mindfulness can help reduce stress and anxiety levels, improving overall quality of life.
Mindfulness increases awareness of our emotions and teaches us to manage them better, leading to improved mood.
Regular mindfulness practice can improve our ability to concentrate and focus our attention on the present moment.
Slide 4: Benefits of Mindfulness for Physical Health
Research has shown that practicing mindfulness can contribute to lowering blood pressure, which is beneficial for heart health.
Regular meditation and mindfulness practice can strengthen the immune system, aiding the body in fighting infections.
Mindfulness may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity by reducing stress and improving overall lifestyle habits.
Slide 5: Impact of Mindfulness on Relationships
Mindfulness can help us better understand others and improve communication, leading to healthier relationships.
By focusing on the present moment and being fully attentive, mindfulness helps build stronger and more authentic connections with others.
Mindfulness teaches us how to be present for others in difficult times, leading to increased compassion and understanding.
Slide 6: Mindfulness Techniques and Practices
Focusing on the breath and mindful breathing can be a simple way to enter a state of mindfulness.
Body scan meditation involves focusing on different parts of the body, paying attention to any sensations and feelings.
Practicing mindful walking and eating involves consciously focusing on each step or bite, with full attention to sensory experiences.
Slide 7: Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life
You can practice mindfulness in everyday activities such as washing dishes or taking a walk in the park.
Adding mindfulness practice to daily routines can help increase awareness and presence.
Mindfulness helps us become more aware of our needs and better manage our time, leading to balance and harmony in life.
Slide 8: Summary: Embracing Mindfulness for Full Living
Mindfulness can bring numerous benefits for physical and mental health.
Regular mindfulness practice can help achieve a fuller and more satisfying life.
Mindfulness has the power to change our perspective and way of perceiving the world, leading to deeper se
2 Peter 3: Because some scriptures are hard to understand and some will force them to say things God never intended, Peter warns us to take care.
https://youtu.be/nV4kGHFsEHw
Why is this So? ~ Do Seek to KNOW (English & Chinese).pptxOH TEIK BIN
A PowerPoint Presentation based on the Dhamma teaching of Kamma-Vipaka (Intentional Actions-Ripening Effects).
A Presentation for developing morality, concentration and wisdom and to spur us to practice the Dhamma diligently.
The texts are in English and Chinese.
The Hope of Salvation - Jude 1:24-25 - MessageCole Hartman
Jude gives us hope at the end of a dark letter. In a dark world like today, we need the light of Christ to shine brighter and brighter. Jude shows us where to fix our focus so we can be filled with God's goodness and glory. Join us to explore this incredible passage.
A Free eBook ~ Valuable LIFE Lessons to Learn ( 5 Sets of Presentations)...OH TEIK BIN
A free eBook comprising 5 sets of PowerPoint presentations of meaningful stories /Inspirational pieces that teach important Dhamma/Life lessons. For reflection and practice to develop the mind to grow in love, compassion and wisdom. The texts are in English and Chinese.
My other free eBooks can be obtained from the following Links:
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/presentations
https://www.slideshare.net/ohteikbin/documents
A375 Example Taste the taste of the Lord, the taste of the Lord The taste of...franktsao4
It seems that current missionary work requires spending a lot of money, preparing a lot of materials, and traveling to far away places, so that it feels like missionary work. But what was the result they brought back? It's just a lot of photos of activities, fun eating, drinking and some playing games. And then we have to do the same thing next year, never ending. The church once mentioned that a certain missionary would go to the field where she used to work before the end of his life. It seemed that if she had not gone, no one would be willing to go. The reason why these missionary work is so difficult is that no one obeys God’s words, and the Bible is not the main content during missionary work, because in the eyes of those who do not obey God’s words, the Bible is just words and cannot be connected with life, so Reading out God's words is boring because it doesn't have any life experience, so it cannot be connected with human life. I will give a few examples in the hope that this situation can be changed. A375
Discover various methods for clearing negative entities from your space and spirit, including energy clearing techniques, spiritual rituals, and professional assistance. Gain practical knowledge on how to implement these techniques to restore peace and harmony. For more information visit here: https://www.reikihealingdistance.com/negative-entity-removal/
2. Search Faithbook Home
Abel
Edit Profile
Concerned about my brother… big time!
Elohim
7 hrs
Loved your sacrifice Abel. Your
heart is right before me.
Cain
5 hrs
Nothing I do is good enough. I
hate you Abel.
Groups
First Family
4. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Hebrews 11:4
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more
acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through
which he was commended as righteous,
God commending him by accepting his
gifts. And through his faith, though he
died, he still speaks.
5. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Genesis 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.
6. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Genesis 4
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,
7. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Genesis 4
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?
8. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Genesis 4
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
for you, but you must rule over it.”
ֹּֽול־ב ָׁש ְמ ִּת /Timshal Bō
“You may master it”
9. Offering Your Best to God Abel
First Post
Faith is expressed through
offering God a better
sacrifice.
10. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Troubling Question
Was God the first to show
favoritism?
11. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Deuteronomy 10
17 For the LORD your God is God of gods
and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty,
and the awesome God, who is not
partial and takes no bribe.
12. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Why did God prefer Abel’s offering?
•It was living whereas Cain’s
offering was lifeless.
F.F. Bruce
13. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Why did God prefer Abel’s offering?
•It was stronger, Cain’s
weaker.
F.F. Bruce
14. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Why did God prefer Abel’s offering?
•It grew spontaneously,
Cain’s by human ingenuity.
F.F. Bruce
15. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Why did God prefer Abel’s offering?
•It involved blood, Cain’s did
not.
F.F. Bruce
16. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Second Post
Faith is rewarded in
receiving God’s
commendation.
17. Offering Your Best to God Abel
In what way was Abel’s sacrifice
superior?
•If Abel’s sacrifice was not inherently
superior, then the answer must lay not
in the sacrifice, but in the sacrificer.
18. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Matthew 23
34 Therefore I send you prophets and
wise men and scribes, some of whom
you will kill and crucify, and some you
will flog in your synagogues
and persecute from town to town,
19. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Matthew 23
35 so that on you may come all the
righteous blood shed on earth, from the
blood of righteous Abel to the blood
of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom
you murdered between the sanctuary
and the altar.
20. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Hebrews 11:4
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more
acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through
which he was commended as
righteous, God commending him by
accepting his gifts. And through his faith,
though he died, he still speaks.
21. Offering Your Best to God Abel
What are the essential ingredients
to an acceptable offering?
•Spiritual preparation
✍ Acknowledging God’s holiness.
✍ Confessing my sins.
✍ Receiving God’s forgiveness.
✍ Thankfulness to God.
22. Offering Your Best to God Abel
What are the essential ingredients
to an acceptable offering?
•A right attitude
✍Giving cheerfully.
✍ Giving your very best.
23. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Application
Our grandest sacrifices can be
spoiled by a bad attitude.
24. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Third Post
Faith enables us to make a
lasting contribution to the
Kingdom of God.
25. Offering Your Best to God Abel
Hebrews 11:4
4b ... And through his faith,
though he died, he still
speaks.
26. Offering Your Best to God Abel
What is it that still speaks to us?
•Abel’s sacrifice?
•Abel’s act of faith?
27. Offering Your Best to God Abel
God’s commendation of
Abel reminds us that God
rewards righteousness
with hope.
28. Offering Your Best to God Abel
James Louis Petigru’s Epitaph
UNAWED BY OPINION, UNSEDUCED BY
FLATTERY, UNDISMAYED BY DISASTER,
HE CONFRONTED LIFE WITH COURAGE,
AND DEATH WITH CHRISTIAN HOPE.
Our Daily Bread, May 29, 1995
Hebrews 11:4
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
Genesis 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 for you, but you must rule over it.”
First Point
Faith is expressed through offering God a better sacrifice.
Troubling Question
Was God the first to show favoritism?
There’s a wonderful story about a Chicago bank that once asked for a letter of recommendation on a young Bostonian being considered for employment. The Boston investment house could not say enough about the young man. His father, they wrote, was a Cabot; his mother was a Lowed. Further back was a happy blend of Saltonstalls, Peabodys, and other of Boston’s first families. His recommendation was given without hesitation. Several days later, the Chicago bank sent a note saying the information supplied was altogether inadequate. It read: “We are not contemplating using the young man for breeding purposes. Just for work.”
Why did God prefer Abel’s offering?
It was living whereas Cain’s offering was lifeless.
It was stronger, Cain’s weaker.
It grew spontaneously, Cain’s by human ingenuity.
It involved blood, Cain’s did not.
Problem with Bruce’s explanations:
The text tells us that Abel offered a better sacrifice, it does not, however state that it was inherently better.
Although there are foreshadowings of the sacrificial system in the blood shed to cover Adam and Eve’s nakedness, there is no explicit establishment of blood sacrifices at this point.
Each gave gifts in accordance with his occupation, one as a farmer and the other as a raiser of livestock.
Second Point
Faith is rewarded in receiving God’s commendation.
In what way was Abel’s sacrifice superior?
If Abel’s sacrifice was not inherently superior, then the answer must lay not in the sacrifice, but in the sacrifice.
The biblical text supports this. It does not commend Abel’s sacrifice, but rather Abel’s righteousness. (Mt. 23:35; Heb. 11:4)
Matthew 23
34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,
Hebrews 11:4
4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
What are the essential ingredients to an acceptable offering?
Spiritual preparation
✍ Acknowledging God’s holiness.
✍ Confessing my sins.
✍ Receiving God’s forgiveness.
A right attitude
✍ Giving cheerfully.
✍ Giving your very best.
Attitude is everything
A chaplain was speaking to a soldier on a cot in a hospital.
“You have lost an arm in the great cause,” he said.
“No,” said the soldier with a smile. “I didn’t lose it--I gave it.” Source unknown.
That soldier could have blamed God.
He chose to view his loss as a sacrifice.
Application
Our grandest sacrifices can be spoiled by a bad attitude.
Our biblical example is the Pharisees. They lived a lifestyle of self-denial, following a rigid code of 614 laws, many of which went beyond the demands of scripture.
Their prideful attitude ruined all their devotion.
The same thing can happen to us in our service to Christ.
Third Point
Faith enables us to make a lasting contribution to the Kingdom of God.
Hebrews 11:4
4b ... And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.
What is it that still speaks to us?
Abel’s sacrifice?
Abel’s act of faith?
Clearly, it is the act of faith wherin Abel received an eternal hope.
God’s commendation of Abel reminds us that God rewards righteousness with hope.
There was a man named James Louis Petigru. His life was so exemplary that after his death the community erected a tombstone inscribed with these words:
James Louis Petigru’s Epitaph
UNAWED BY OPINION, UNSEDUCED BY FLATTERY, UNDISMAYED BY DISASTER, HE CONFRONTED LIFE WITH COURAGE, AND DEATH WITH CHRISTIAN HOPE.
Our Daily Bread, May 29, 1995