Sermon for November 11th, 2012

Genesis 4:1-7

Now the man knew his wife Eve, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, ‘I have produced a man with the help of the Lord.’ 2Next she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a tiller of the ground. 3In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4and Abel for his part brought of the firstlings of his flock, their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6The Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? 7If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.’

Abel's Sacrifice: Putting First Things First

Sacrifice is a concept quite familiar to all those who have served in the military, and who we celebrate today on Veteran's day. Soldiers who have served in the armed forces make all kinds of sacrifices, large and small: In basic training they sacrifice their individuality; in deployment overseas they sacrifice time spent with family; in combat situations they sacrifice comfort, safety, and sometimes even their lives, so that others may live and enjoy comfort and safety. We give them our thanks and gratitude, all year round, but especially today.

This language of sacrifice should also sound familiar to us as Christians--our faith is centered on Jesus Christ, who made the greatest sacrifice we know, willingly giving up his perfect, innocent life in exchange for our broken and flawed ones, so that we might have not just safety and freedom, but eternal life in God's Kingdom.

• Sacrifice
  • concept familiar to those who have served in the military, and who we celebrate today on veterans day...
  • concept familiar (historically) to Christians...martyrs, persecuted, Jesus, Old Testament
  • First sacrifice: Abel (both his offering to God and his life)
  • Would like to tell Abel's story...or rather let him tell his story...

• Abel's story