The Heart of True Worship | Dr. Stephen Conley

Text: Genesis 4:1-26

The Righteous Attitude of Worshipping God (Genesis 4:1-4)

• God graciously provides Adam and Eve with two sons: Cain and Abel.
• Abel is portrayed as the one who brought an acceptable offering to the Lord with the right heart attitude.
• In the New Testament, Abel’s offering and his actions toward God are declared as righteous (Hebrews 11:4; 1 John 3:12b).

The Ruinous Outcome of Worshipping Self (Genesis 4:3, 5-24)

• Cain worshipped God on his terms with a selfish attitude of pride.
• Cain’s angry response to God’s correction and murder revealed his worship of self.
• God’s warning and condemnation was also mingled with grace.
• In the New Testament, “the way of Cain” is portrayed as a pursuit of personal gain marked by evil (Jude 11; 1 John 3:12a).

The Redemptive Plan of Our Sovereign God (Genesis 4:25-26)

• Even in the midst of murder and revenge, God’s plan to save His people cannot be thwarted.
• God appoints the line of Seth for the Messiah to come and call true worshippers to Himself.
• Consider Christ, “the mediator of the new covenant,” who atoned for our sin with His own blood (Hebrews 12:24).