Use this FREE Sunday school lesson based on Genesis 4:1-16 to teach preteens about Cain and Abel. It includes an activity, craft, and snack.

Prepare for the Preteen Lesson

You’ll Need:

• Part #1. Bible Activity: What God Wants
  • Bible (check out this preteen-friendly version!)
  • paper
  • markers
  • bed sheet or blanket
  • real or artificial fruits and vegetables
  • stuffed sheep or picture of sheep
  • candles
• Part #2. “Altar-ed” Craft
  • rock (1 per preteen)
  • square piece of cardboard (1 per preteen)
  • twigs
  • glue
• Part #3. Cain and Abel Snack
  • broken heart-shaped sugar cookies
  • frosting
  • blunt knives
  • wet wipes

Easy Prep:

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.

Sunday School Lesson on Cain and Abel

Part #1. Bible Activity: What God Wants

Have kids use paper and markers to draw 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 about giving be this week?

Part #2. “Altar-ed” Craft

Give each preteen a rock and a square piece of cardboard. Set out some 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.

Part #3. Cain and Abel Snack

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. Make sure wipes are nearby for preteens to clean messy hands.

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

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