Oct. 11, 2026

Can you do the right thing and still have a terrible heart?  That is, "right action without a right heart does not equal righteousness."

Pastor Dave says that is exactly the question the story of Cain and Abel asks each of us. He began by announcing that two baptisms were planned for the next service, and by sharing the simple Gospel. Then he opened Genesis 4 and the story of Cain and Abel. The heartbeat of the message: God is after our hearts, and these two brothers show us two very different ways to respond to Him. 

The Way of Cain - Cain brought “some of the fruit of the ground,” but Pastor Dave noticed that Scripture never says it was the best. He saw a half-hearted offering that cost Cain nothing. An offering, he said, is an expression of gratitude to God and submission to Him. When God asked, “Why are you so angry?” it was not because He needed information. God wanted Cain to locate his own heart, and then came this warning:

“If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door, and its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” [Genesis 4:7, NKJV]

Pastor Dave called the way of Cain a way of pride and self-reliance, marked by religion instead of faith, a refusal of God’s correction, and hatred toward someone else’s righteousness (Jude 11; 1 John 3:12). He offered four reminders. First, our heart attitude matters. As he put it, “Right action without a right heart does not equal righteousness. You can do the right thing and have a terrible heart.” Second, keep a right relationship with God through faith in Christ, repentance, and worship. With a grin he added, “If you’re arguing with God about something in your life, you’re wrong.” Third, pursue peace with others. Fourth, love others and seek their good. In his words, “If there’s anyone that you don’t want to see in heaven, you have a heart problem.”

The Way of Abel - Abel brought the firstborn of his flock and their fat, meaning the choice, best portions. Pastor Dave got a smile out of us by noting we still love the fat: “And bacon, oh, hallelujah.” Hebrews 11:4 tells us why God accepted Abel’s offering. He gave it in faith. Abel is recorded among the heroes of the faith, while Cain is recorded as the first murderer.

Another Son - After all that heartbreak, Seth is born, and Eve says God has appointed “another seed” (Genesis 4:25). Pastor Dave reminded us that Jesus descends from Seth. Cain’s line ends with Lamech after seven generations, while Seth’s line includes Enoch, who walked with God. As he put it, “No matter how much mankind tries to mess it up, no matter how much sin happens, nothing causes God’s plan to not come to its completeness.”

Pastor Dave closed by inviting us to stand and speaking a blessing over us from Hebrews 13:20–21, that the God of peace would equip us to do His will, working in us what is pleasing in His sight. He also reminded us that when Seth’s son was born, men began to call on the name of the Lord and to seek after God.