Building Relationships That Last: Keeping Up With Your Brothers

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THAT LAST: KEEPING UP WITH YOUR BROTHERS

GENESIS 4: 1-16

JANUARY 16, 2005

INTRODUCTION: Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville Lyrics

Nibblin’ on sponge cake Watchin’ the sun bake All of those tourists covered with oil

Strummin’ my six-string On my front porch swing Smell those shrimp they’re beginnin’ to boil

Chorus: Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville Searching for my lost shaker of salt

Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame But I know it’s nobody’s fault

I don’t know the reason I stayed here all season Nothin’ to show but this brand new tattoo But it’s a real beauty A Mexican cutie How it got here I haven’t a clue

Chorus: Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville Searchin’ for my lost shaker of salt

Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame Now I think “well”, it could be my fault

I blew out my flip-flop Stepped on a pop-top Cut my heel had to cruise on back home But there’s booze in the blender And soon it will render That frozen concoction that helps me hang on

Wastin’ away again in Margaritaville Searching for my lost shaker of salt Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame But I know it’s my own damn fault

Yes and some people claim that there’s a woman to blame And I know it’s my own “darn” fault

TRANSTION THOUGHT: Building Relationships that last really does matter to OUR LORD. Last week we discovered that relationships can determine our place in eternity. This week Jimmy Buffet teaches us an interesting fact about relationships: IT COULD BE OUR FAULT! I know it is dangerous to quote Jimmy Buffet at church, but I heard him sing this song this week on T.V. as he traveled around promoting a book he has written?? I knew the song! Do you? Margaritaville propelled Mr. Buffet into stardom. BUT, did you ever realize his most famous song is about a relationship that didn’t last? Did you ever notice the progression of “NO ONE’S TO BLAME” TO “IT COULD BE MY FAULT” AND CONCLUDING WITH “I KNOW IT IS MY OWN FAULT”?

Our text for today takes us on the exact same journey. Cain and Abel is a story as old as, well, Cain and Abel. We all remember the story, but what was it supposed to teach us: Don’t Kill Your Brother? I believe that is a good answer and I have shared it with my brother several times. BUT, I also believe the Key question of the text is: “AM I MY BROTHERS KEEPER?” And if this is true, what is the writer of Genesis teaching us about Keeping up with our brothers? DOES IT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE JONES?

THESIS SENTENCE: KEEPING UP WITH OUR BROTHERS IS HOW WE WANT OTHERS TO DEAL WITH US! DO UNTO OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM DO UNTO YOU!

I. KEEPING UP IS GIVING AWAY VV. 1-5

A. GIVING AWAY IS THE FRUITS OF THE SOIL

B. GIVING AWAY IS THE FIRST BORN FAT

1. FIRST NOT SECOND

2. FAT NOT SKINNY

C. GIVING AWAY IS FAVORABLE

D. GIVING AWAY IS WITHOUT FAVORABLE

ILLUSTRATION: Tim Gibson writes, “In the Congo, poor people who have nothing to give when the Church offering is taken will dip their hand in the offering plate to symbolize the giving of themselves. There’s also a story of a little crippled girl with a crutch who came to church and saw everyone place their offerings in the offering bag. She had no money on her but wanted to give to God so much, that she gave the usher her crutch!” Contributed by: Tim Gibson

TRUTH: KEEPING UP ISN’T DEPENDANT ON WHAT OTHERS DO!

PRINCIPLE: WHAT WE GIVE TO THE LORD MATTERS!

QUESTIONS: WHAT ARE WE GIVING TO THE LORD? ARE WE LOOKING AT OURSELVES OR OTHERS?

II. KEEPING UP IS ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY VV. 6-8

A. OPPORTUNITY IS AN INITIATING GOD

B. OPPORTUNITY IS AN OFFER WITH CLARITY

C. OPPORTUNITY IS A CHOICE

ILLUSTRATION: SIEZING OPPORTUNITY

Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” Contributed by: Richard Tow

TRUTH: KEEPING UP IS A CHOICE OF MASTERS!

PRINCIPLE: ALL OF LIFE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE!

QUESTION: WHAT MASTERS YOU, THE RIGHT OR SIN?

III. KEEPING UP IS ACCOUNTABILTY VV. 9-16

A. ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE RIGHT QUESTION: “WHERE IS YOUR BROTHER?”

B. ACCOUNTABILITY IS THE WRONG ANSWER: “AM I MY BROTHERS KEEPER?”

C. ACCONTABILITY IS CONSEQUENCES VV. 10-12

D. ACCOUNTABILTY IS UNIVERSAL VV. 13-16

1. UNIVERSAL IS CAIN’S DELIMA

2. UNIVERSAL IS NOW OUR REALITY: HOW WE TREAT OTHERS MATTERS TO THE LORD!

ILLUSTRATION: Listen to this news clipping. “Gambling, robbery, sexual immorality, and violence is prevalent. Half of all children are born out of wedlock; purity and fidelity to the marriage vow are sneered out of fashion. Corruption in politics is rampant. The world is broken.” This clipping is from 1694.