Simple Preteen Sunday School Lesson: Cain and Abel

Use this Sunday school lesson based on Genesis 4:1-16 to teach preteens about Cain and Abel.

Create an altar by draping a bed sheet or blanket over a table. Lay real or artificial fruits and vegetables on the altar. Also, lay a stuffed sheep or a picture of a sheep on the altar. Place a candle on each side of the altar. With the older kids, you may want to light the candles.

1. Bible Activity: What’s God Want?

From magazines, have children cut out pictures of things they value. Then have kids lay their pictures on the altar you made or a table.

Read aloud Genesis 4:1-16.

Ask:

• Why was Abel’s sacrifice better than Cain’s? Does God want our sacrifices? Why or why not?

Read aloud Hosea 6:6. Emphasize that Cain’s problem was not his sacrifice, but his attitude.

Ask:

• What can your attitude of giving be this week?

2. “Altared” Craft

Give children each a rock, a square piece of cardboard, twigs and glue. Have kids each create an altar by gluing the cardboard onto the rock and the twigs to the other side of the cardboard. When kids are finished, discuss ways they can give their best this week with the proper attitude.

3. Cain and Abel Snack

You’ll need:

• broken heart-shaped sugar cookies
• icing
• blunt knives

Say: Cain and Abel quarreled. When we quarrel with family members, it feels like our hearts are breaking. But we can mend broken hearts with the “icing” of love and kind words.

Have children mend their cookies with frosting and eat them.

Contributors: Patti Chromey, Kathy Downs, Nancy Dunn and Cindy Newell

Looking for more preteen ideas? Check out these posts!