Family Blueprint Week #5

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(Burnt cookies or measly scoops of ice cream teach us along with Cain and Abel not to give God our leftovers.)  

The Lord gave us the blueprint of His Word to architect our family on Jesus Christ.  

Going through the Bible with your family…  

Weekly Scripture:
Genesis 4  

Story:
“Cain and Abel”  

Application:
Give God your best, not your leftovers.  

Summary: 
Adam and Eve had two sons named Cain and Abel. Cain grew up to be a farmer and Abel was a keeper of sheep. In time both men brought an offering to the Lord. God accepted Abel’s offering, but not Cain’s. Cain became very angry and God warned him that he needed to change. Cain did not heed God’s command and allowed his anger to turn into hate until he killed his brother. God punished Cain by sending him away from His presence. Later on Adam and Eve had another son named Seth.  

Focus: 
God wants the first and best of our time and talents. We rob God of what is rightfully His when we give Him anything less.  

Finding Christ:
We see that Cain slays Abel out of jealousy, as did the Jews envy Christ and crucify Him. We see God saying, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground?” We hear Jesus on the cross as His blood is being poured out onto the ground give the answer, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do!”  

Live the Lesson: 
You have a lot of options of which “food” item you will use for this week’s object lesson. Here are a couple of examples: (1) Dish up some ice cream in bowls. In two of the bowls put generous amounts with a lot of favorite toppings such as sprinkles, etc. In the other bowls put very small amounts with literally two sprinkles on the measly scoop. (2) Bake up some cookies and purposely burn some. Put out only two of the really nice cookies amidst the burnt cookies.  

Now set out this dessert. Dad and Mom reach in and grab the best first and leave the measly ice cream or the burnt cookies for the kids. Eat away (you know you have more in the freezer or cookie jar hidden away). Watch the kids react to getting the leftovers. Not getting the best. Not getting equal amounts, etc. Play it up unless they are truly getting too upset and aren’t old enough to comprehend you are teaching a lesson. Soon as you feel the point has been made, explain to the children that God truly deserves our best and we should never spend the best of our time and talents on ourselves and serve Him with our leftovers.  Now pull out some of those pretty cookies or more ice cream and sprinkles!  

Memory Verse: 
"You shall bring the choice first fruits of your soil into the house of the LORD your God." Exodus 23:19  

Prayer: 
Dear Lord, please help me to give You the best of my time and talents, both of which are gifts from You.  

Living the Life: 
This week remind your children to give their first of each day and the best of their service to the Lord. Be their example.

By Julianne Bell
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