King's Chaos, 4 October 2026
04 10 26 Filed in: Sermons | Ideal Family
King’s Chaos
Series: Ideal Family
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
October 4, 2026
Psalm 3
Series Big Idea: All families are messed up, including biblical families.
Big Idea: The “man after God’s own heart” led a broken family in need of God’s grace.
Scripture: Psalm 3
Parenting is the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life. It might be the most rewarding thing, but it is not easy. I wish the first video described my three kids when they were teenagers. The second video is close to what I did once when my then-teenager wouldn’t wake up. I resorted to using water, though not a bucket-full!
There are few relationships more significant than those between a parent and child. History is filled with the good, the bad, and the ugly of parenthood. Today, as we continue our series Ideal Family, we’re going to look at the most popular figure in the Old Testament—the Jewish Bible—and his chaotic family. It’s filled with sin, scandal, and drama. The lead character was an adulterer, murderer, and alleged rapist, yet it’s ultimately a story of God’s amazing grace.
The big idea of this sermon series is all families are messed up, including biblical families. Our subject today is King David, a great warrior, king, musician, and poet.
As a boy, he killed a lion and a bear…and then Goliath the giant (1 Samuel 17). His music was so powerful, it would bring relief to the tormented king, even causing an evil spirit to flee (1 Samuel 16:23). Young David was so popular, the crowds would celebrate him over and above King Saul, the man whose throne he would later possess (1 Samuel 18:7; 21:11; 29:5).
Yet aside from his victory over Goliath, he may be best known for his encounter with a woman named Bathsheba in 2 Samuel chapter 11. We don’t have time to read it today, but David had a fling with a woman he saw bathing from the roof of his palace when he should have been off to war. It’s unlikely it was consensual, meaning rape was involved. He got her pregnant and had her husband killed to cover it up. The baby died. But the consequences didn’t end there.
He had a son named Solomon who built the Temple and was blessed with wisdom, wealth, and women. Near the end of his life, King David assembled all the officials of Israel and said,
Of all my sons—and the LORD has given me many—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. (1 Chronicles 28:5)
So David blesses Solomon, he becomes king, and everyone lives happily ever after. Right? Hardly.
David had many sons…from multiple wives. Remember Cain and Abel, sibling rivalry? Imagine many sons… with different mothers! What could go wrong?
Last week we noted how sins can be passed from one generation to the next. Blessings work that way. Curses work that way, too. We often become like our parents, and our children follow our example. Jacob was deceitful like his father Isaac, who was deceitful like his father Abram.
David’s sexual sin with Bathsheba may have some connection to a horrific event that would occur among his children. David’s firstborn son, Amnon, fell in love with his half-sister, Tamar (2 Samuel 13:4), and raped her (2 Samuel 13:14), causing chaos in David’s family.
When King David heard all this, he was furious. And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar. (2 Samuel 13:21-22)
Understandable, right?
Absalom ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.” So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled. (2 Samuel 13:28-29)
Do you see why I entitled this message, “King’s Chaos?”
We simply don’t have time to cover all the stories of David and his family, but if you turn to 2 Samuel chapter 15, we see Absalom wreaking more havoc on his family. David’s son, Absalom, tries to seize control.
A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!” (2 Samuel 15:13, NLT)
King David flees his son, Absalom, which is where our scripture reading from Psalm 3 originates. Remember, the context is King David fleeing his son!
LORD, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me! (Psalm 3:1)
Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.” (Psalm 3:2)
But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high. (Psalm 3:3)
I call out to the LORD,
and he answers me from his holy mountain. (Psalm 3:4)
David flees his son, and in 2 Samuel chapter 18, we read
During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air. One of David’s men saw what had happened and told Joab, “I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree.” (2 Samuel 18:9-10, NLT)
“What?” Joab demanded. “You saw him there and didn’t kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero’s belt!” (2 Samuel 18:11, NLT)
“I would not kill the king’s son for even a thousand pieces of silver,” the man replied to Joab. “We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, please spare young Absalom.’ And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son—and the king would certainly find out who did it—you yourself would be the first to abandon me.” (2 Samuel 18:12-13, NLT)
“Enough of this nonsense,” Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree. Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him. (2 Samuel 18:14-15, NLT)
This is great news, right? Not to David. Skipping ahead…
Then the man from Ethiopia arrived and said, “I have good news for my lord the king. Today the LORD has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you.” (2 Samuel 18:31, NLT)
“What about young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?”
And the Ethiopian replied, “May all of your enemies, my lord the king, both now and in the future, share the fate of that young man!” (2 Samuel 18:32, NLT)
The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.” (2 Samuel 18:33, NLT)
So What?
I’ve heard stories of some dysfunctional families, but David’s is one of the most bizarre. Incest, rape, murder, adultery…yet the patriarch, David, is called a man after God’s own heart.
After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ (Acts 13:22)
But what does this have to do with us thousands of years later?
1. Parenting is hard. Every mom and dad said, “Amen!” Parents love their kids through thick and thin (even teenagers!!!). It’s a special bond. They say love is blind, and while that usually refers to romance, it can sometimes apply to parenting. David loved his kids…even his son who was trying to kill him.
2. One spouse is enough! I don’t want to make light of this, but so much of David’s chaos came from multiple wives bearing multiple children and a family tree that looked more like spaghetti than an oak. One man marrying one woman and creating children mirrors the Trinity of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all One, doing life together, each serving a unique, complementary function.
3. Sin always has consequences, now or later. We can only imagine David’s legacy had he (and Solomon) avoided sexual sins (there’s so much we don’t have time to cover here).
4. God’s grace is sufficient. Despite his flaws, God used David…and his family, both then and thousands of years later.
Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. (2 Timothy 2:8)
No matter your family of origin, no matter your own personal sins and failures, God loves you. He wants the best for you. He sent Jesus to die for you. You can’t earn his mercy and forgiveness, but you can repent, turn, and say “yes” to him today. Surrender your life and experience the peace, freedom, love, hope, and joy King David and millions since have experienced.
God’s amazing grace is good news, indeed.
But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high. (Psalm 3:3)
I call out to the LORD,
and he answers me from his holy mountain. (Psalm 3:4)
Hallelujah!
Series: Ideal Family
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
October 4, 2026
Psalm 3
Series Big Idea: All families are messed up, including biblical families.
Big Idea: The “man after God’s own heart” led a broken family in need of God’s grace.
Scripture: Psalm 3
Parenting is the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in my life. It might be the most rewarding thing, but it is not easy. I wish the first video described my three kids when they were teenagers. The second video is close to what I did once when my then-teenager wouldn’t wake up. I resorted to using water, though not a bucket-full!
There are few relationships more significant than those between a parent and child. History is filled with the good, the bad, and the ugly of parenthood. Today, as we continue our series Ideal Family, we’re going to look at the most popular figure in the Old Testament—the Jewish Bible—and his chaotic family. It’s filled with sin, scandal, and drama. The lead character was an adulterer, murderer, and alleged rapist, yet it’s ultimately a story of God’s amazing grace.
The big idea of this sermon series is all families are messed up, including biblical families. Our subject today is King David, a great warrior, king, musician, and poet.
As a boy, he killed a lion and a bear…and then Goliath the giant (1 Samuel 17). His music was so powerful, it would bring relief to the tormented king, even causing an evil spirit to flee (1 Samuel 16:23). Young David was so popular, the crowds would celebrate him over and above King Saul, the man whose throne he would later possess (1 Samuel 18:7; 21:11; 29:5).
Yet aside from his victory over Goliath, he may be best known for his encounter with a woman named Bathsheba in 2 Samuel chapter 11. We don’t have time to read it today, but David had a fling with a woman he saw bathing from the roof of his palace when he should have been off to war. It’s unlikely it was consensual, meaning rape was involved. He got her pregnant and had her husband killed to cover it up. The baby died. But the consequences didn’t end there.
He had a son named Solomon who built the Temple and was blessed with wisdom, wealth, and women. Near the end of his life, King David assembled all the officials of Israel and said,
Of all my sons—and the LORD has given me many—he has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel. (1 Chronicles 28:5)
So David blesses Solomon, he becomes king, and everyone lives happily ever after. Right? Hardly.
David had many sons…from multiple wives. Remember Cain and Abel, sibling rivalry? Imagine many sons… with different mothers! What could go wrong?
Last week we noted how sins can be passed from one generation to the next. Blessings work that way. Curses work that way, too. We often become like our parents, and our children follow our example. Jacob was deceitful like his father Isaac, who was deceitful like his father Abram.
David’s sexual sin with Bathsheba may have some connection to a horrific event that would occur among his children. David’s firstborn son, Amnon, fell in love with his half-sister, Tamar (2 Samuel 13:4), and raped her (2 Samuel 13:14), causing chaos in David’s family.
When King David heard all this, he was furious. And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad; he hated Amnon because he had disgraced his sister Tamar. (2 Samuel 13:21-22)
Understandable, right?
Absalom ordered his men, “Listen! When Amnon is in high spirits from drinking wine and I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon down,’ then kill him. Don’t be afraid. Haven’t I given you this order? Be strong and brave.” So Absalom’s men did to Amnon what Absalom had ordered. Then all the king’s sons got up, mounted their mules and fled. (2 Samuel 13:28-29)
Do you see why I entitled this message, “King’s Chaos?”
We simply don’t have time to cover all the stories of David and his family, but if you turn to 2 Samuel chapter 15, we see Absalom wreaking more havoc on his family. David’s son, Absalom, tries to seize control.
A messenger soon arrived in Jerusalem to tell David, “All Israel has joined Absalom in a conspiracy against you!” (2 Samuel 15:13, NLT)
King David flees his son, Absalom, which is where our scripture reading from Psalm 3 originates. Remember, the context is King David fleeing his son!
LORD, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me! (Psalm 3:1)
Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.” (Psalm 3:2)
But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high. (Psalm 3:3)
I call out to the LORD,
and he answers me from his holy mountain. (Psalm 3:4)
David flees his son, and in 2 Samuel chapter 18, we read
During the battle, Absalom happened to come upon some of David’s men. He tried to escape on his mule, but as he rode beneath the thick branches of a great tree, his hair got caught in the tree. His mule kept going and left him dangling in the air. One of David’s men saw what had happened and told Joab, “I saw Absalom dangling from a great tree.” (2 Samuel 18:9-10, NLT)
“What?” Joab demanded. “You saw him there and didn’t kill him? I would have rewarded you with ten pieces of silver and a hero’s belt!” (2 Samuel 18:11, NLT)
“I would not kill the king’s son for even a thousand pieces of silver,” the man replied to Joab. “We all heard the king say to you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘For my sake, please spare young Absalom.’ And if I had betrayed the king by killing his son—and the king would certainly find out who did it—you yourself would be the first to abandon me.” (2 Samuel 18:12-13, NLT)
“Enough of this nonsense,” Joab said. Then he took three daggers and plunged them into Absalom’s heart as he dangled, still alive, in the great tree. Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him. (2 Samuel 18:14-15, NLT)
This is great news, right? Not to David. Skipping ahead…
Then the man from Ethiopia arrived and said, “I have good news for my lord the king. Today the LORD has rescued you from all those who rebelled against you.” (2 Samuel 18:31, NLT)
“What about young Absalom?” the king demanded. “Is he all right?”
And the Ethiopian replied, “May all of your enemies, my lord the king, both now and in the future, share the fate of that young man!” (2 Samuel 18:32, NLT)
The king was overcome with emotion. He went up to the room over the gateway and burst into tears. And as he went, he cried, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you! O Absalom, my son, my son.” (2 Samuel 18:33, NLT)
So What?
I’ve heard stories of some dysfunctional families, but David’s is one of the most bizarre. Incest, rape, murder, adultery…yet the patriarch, David, is called a man after God’s own heart.
After removing Saul, he made David their king. God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ (Acts 13:22)
But what does this have to do with us thousands of years later?
1. Parenting is hard. Every mom and dad said, “Amen!” Parents love their kids through thick and thin (even teenagers!!!). It’s a special bond. They say love is blind, and while that usually refers to romance, it can sometimes apply to parenting. David loved his kids…even his son who was trying to kill him.
2. One spouse is enough! I don’t want to make light of this, but so much of David’s chaos came from multiple wives bearing multiple children and a family tree that looked more like spaghetti than an oak. One man marrying one woman and creating children mirrors the Trinity of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all One, doing life together, each serving a unique, complementary function.
3. Sin always has consequences, now or later. We can only imagine David’s legacy had he (and Solomon) avoided sexual sins (there’s so much we don’t have time to cover here).
4. God’s grace is sufficient. Despite his flaws, God used David…and his family, both then and thousands of years later.
Always remember that Jesus Christ, a descendant of King David, was raised from the dead. This is the Good News I preach. (2 Timothy 2:8)
No matter your family of origin, no matter your own personal sins and failures, God loves you. He wants the best for you. He sent Jesus to die for you. You can’t earn his mercy and forgiveness, but you can repent, turn, and say “yes” to him today. Surrender your life and experience the peace, freedom, love, hope, and joy King David and millions since have experienced.
God’s amazing grace is good news, indeed.
But you, LORD, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high. (Psalm 3:3)
I call out to the LORD,
and he answers me from his holy mountain. (Psalm 3:4)
Hallelujah!
Atrocious Abe, 27 September 2026
28 09 26 Filed in: Sermons | Ideal Family
Atrocious Abe
Series: Ideal Family
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 27, 2026
Genesis 12:10-13
Series Big Idea: All families are messed up, including biblical families.
Big Idea: Father Abraham was not always faithful, but our Father God never fails.
Who’s your favorite character in the Bible…other than Jesus! The most mentioned name is David. After Jesus and David, Moses is next, and then today’s subject, Abraham, previously known as Abram. Although he was one of the most faith-filled people in the scriptures, you’ll soon see why I called this sermon “Atrocious Abe.”
Good morning! My name is Kirk and today we’re continuing our series entitled, “Ideal Family.” Whether you like it or not, you’re part of a family; at least one. Ever since God said it was not good for man to be alone, humans have lived with others…for better or worse. I have yet to meet someone who didn’t have a biological father and a biological mother. Most people have siblings. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents are a vital part of life for many of us. Family is God’s design. It was His idea.
There are two unfortunate things I’ve discovered about families. First, they are all messed up! That’s ultimately the result of sin, our disobedience toward God. Ever since Adam and Eve ate of the fruit in the Garden of Eden, we have struggled to get along. Pride divides. Greed corrupts. Selfishness hoards. Anger disturbs. Hatred destroys. Misunderstanding confuses.
The second unfortunate thing about families is the mistaken belief that everyone else’s family is okay. Listen to me carefully…all families are messed up! This includes biblical families.
Abe’s story ends well.
Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. (Genesis 25:7-8)
Abe’s story started well, too.
The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)
Imagine God says, “Go to the airport, board this airplane, and begin a new life wherever the plane lands.” Would you do it? Would you go? Would you leave your home, friends, family, and even your country to follow the LORD?
For centuries, people have been doing this very thing. I have friends who have been led by God overseas. They’ve sacrificed, studied new languages, and said goodbye to everything they’ve known in this life to obey God.
About a hundred years ago, “one-way” missionaries were sent to foreign lands, packing their possessions in coffins, buying one-way tickets with the expectation they would never return home. That’s faith! Abe had plenty of it. Then again, God made promises to him.
“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3)
Would you go to Michigan if He promised that to you? What about Canada? Mexico? Africa?
So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. (Genesis 12:4-5)
Obviously, he didn’t board a plane. This was a land journey of about 400 miles…without motorized transportation…with his family…
Have you ever traveled 400 miles with your family…WITH motorized transportation?! That’s about from here to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. (Genesis 12:6-7)
That’s a special moment! Look at this land, Abe. It’s not yours, but your offspring will get it someday. But don’t stop now! We’re not there yet!
From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. (Genesis 12:8)
Abram is obviously devoted to God. He’s quite the altar builder!
Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. (Genesis 12:9)
So far, so good. Then we get to this unusual story.
Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. (Genesis 12:10)
Remember, God promised to make Abram into a great nation. That means he will become a dad…eventually. God always keeps His promises. Always.
As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” (Genesis 12:11-13)
What?! He wants his wife lie…to spare his own life! Abram is only worried about himself.
When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. (Genesis 12:14-16)
Let’s give credit to Abram. He was right. The Egyptians found his sister—err—wife to be beautiful. She was taken into Pharaoh’s palace. What would Pharaoh possibly want with a beautiful woman in his palace?!
But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. (Genesis 12:17-20)
Abe’s plan worked…sorta. His life was spared. But what an ordeal. Can you imagine how Sarai must’ve felt during this whole experience? Abram receives grace—unmerited favor—despite his selfish, deceitful behavior. He became a biblical hero and the father of many nations, but this episode did not cause him to win Husband of the Year!
So What?
Husbands: don’t give your wife to another man, no matter who it is!
Also, don’t tell lies! It’s in God’s top ten. Technically, Sarai was Abe’s half-sister, but Abram was deceptive.
The motivation for it was fear. Admittedly, he was afraid for his life, but God had made great promises to Abram, yet he tried to control the situation and the consequences could’ve been catastrophic. Have you ever taken matters into your own hands instead of trusting God? I’m guilty!
And another thing—this is going to sound so basic—but learn from your mistakes.
Abraham lied about his wife being his sister. Twice! It happened again in Genesis chapter 20. Look it up!
Parents—and grandparents—it’s important to remember the next generation(s) is watching you. Whether it’s interpersonal conflicts or habitual sins like dishonesty, children often become like their parents.
Abraham’s son, Isaac, lied about his wife being his sister! It’s in Genesis chapter 26. You can’t make this stuff up! I know the Bible’s true, if only because nobody would fabricate these embarrassing stories and call them sacred scripture!
One thing we continue to see in this series is the imperfections of the heroes of the Bible. I find this encouraging, knowing I’m not alone in my weak faith, selfishness, pride, and sinfulness. Abe was atrocious in this scene, yet God used him to become a great nation. He always uses imperfect people to do great things, which gives us all hope.
Father Abraham was not lways faithful, but our Father God never fails. Hallelujah!
Series: Ideal Family
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 27, 2026
Genesis 12:10-13
Series Big Idea: All families are messed up, including biblical families.
Big Idea: Father Abraham was not always faithful, but our Father God never fails.
Who’s your favorite character in the Bible…other than Jesus! The most mentioned name is David. After Jesus and David, Moses is next, and then today’s subject, Abraham, previously known as Abram. Although he was one of the most faith-filled people in the scriptures, you’ll soon see why I called this sermon “Atrocious Abe.”
Good morning! My name is Kirk and today we’re continuing our series entitled, “Ideal Family.” Whether you like it or not, you’re part of a family; at least one. Ever since God said it was not good for man to be alone, humans have lived with others…for better or worse. I have yet to meet someone who didn’t have a biological father and a biological mother. Most people have siblings. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents are a vital part of life for many of us. Family is God’s design. It was His idea.
There are two unfortunate things I’ve discovered about families. First, they are all messed up! That’s ultimately the result of sin, our disobedience toward God. Ever since Adam and Eve ate of the fruit in the Garden of Eden, we have struggled to get along. Pride divides. Greed corrupts. Selfishness hoards. Anger disturbs. Hatred destroys. Misunderstanding confuses.
The second unfortunate thing about families is the mistaken belief that everyone else’s family is okay. Listen to me carefully…all families are messed up! This includes biblical families.
Abe’s story ends well.
Abraham lived a hundred and seventy-five years. Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people. (Genesis 25:7-8)
Abe’s story started well, too.
The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. (Genesis 12:1)
Imagine God says, “Go to the airport, board this airplane, and begin a new life wherever the plane lands.” Would you do it? Would you go? Would you leave your home, friends, family, and even your country to follow the LORD?
For centuries, people have been doing this very thing. I have friends who have been led by God overseas. They’ve sacrificed, studied new languages, and said goodbye to everything they’ve known in this life to obey God.
About a hundred years ago, “one-way” missionaries were sent to foreign lands, packing their possessions in coffins, buying one-way tickets with the expectation they would never return home. That’s faith! Abe had plenty of it. Then again, God made promises to him.
“I will make you into a great nation,
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:2-3)
Would you go to Michigan if He promised that to you? What about Canada? Mexico? Africa?
So Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. (Genesis 12:4-5)
Obviously, he didn’t board a plane. This was a land journey of about 400 miles…without motorized transportation…with his family…
Have you ever traveled 400 miles with your family…WITH motorized transportation?! That’s about from here to Knoxville, Tennessee.
Abram traveled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. The LORD appeared to Abram and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the LORD, who had appeared to him. (Genesis 12:6-7)
That’s a special moment! Look at this land, Abe. It’s not yours, but your offspring will get it someday. But don’t stop now! We’re not there yet!
From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. (Genesis 12:8)
Abram is obviously devoted to God. He’s quite the altar builder!
Then Abram set out and continued toward the Negev. (Genesis 12:9)
So far, so good. Then we get to this unusual story.
Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to live there for a while because the famine was severe. (Genesis 12:10)
Remember, God promised to make Abram into a great nation. That means he will become a dad…eventually. God always keeps His promises. Always.
As he was about to enter Egypt, he said to his wife Sarai, “I know what a beautiful woman you are. When the Egyptians see you, they will say, ‘This is his wife.’ Then they will kill me but will let you live. Say you are my sister, so that I will be treated well for your sake and my life will be spared because of you.” (Genesis 12:11-13)
What?! He wants his wife lie…to spare his own life! Abram is only worried about himself.
When Abram came to Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was a very beautiful woman. And when Pharaoh’s officials saw her, they praised her to Pharaoh, and she was taken into his palace. He treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram acquired sheep and cattle, male and female donkeys, male and female servants, and camels. (Genesis 12:14-16)
Let’s give credit to Abram. He was right. The Egyptians found his sister—err—wife to be beautiful. She was taken into Pharaoh’s palace. What would Pharaoh possibly want with a beautiful woman in his palace?!
But the LORD inflicted serious diseases on Pharaoh and his household because of Abram’s wife Sarai. So Pharaoh summoned Abram. “What have you done to me?” he said. “Why didn’t you tell me she was your wife? Why did you say, ‘She is my sister,’ so that I took her to be my wife? Now then, here is your wife. Take her and go!” Then Pharaoh gave orders about Abram to his men, and they sent him on his way, with his wife and everything he had. (Genesis 12:17-20)
Abe’s plan worked…sorta. His life was spared. But what an ordeal. Can you imagine how Sarai must’ve felt during this whole experience? Abram receives grace—unmerited favor—despite his selfish, deceitful behavior. He became a biblical hero and the father of many nations, but this episode did not cause him to win Husband of the Year!
So What?
Husbands: don’t give your wife to another man, no matter who it is!
Also, don’t tell lies! It’s in God’s top ten. Technically, Sarai was Abe’s half-sister, but Abram was deceptive.
The motivation for it was fear. Admittedly, he was afraid for his life, but God had made great promises to Abram, yet he tried to control the situation and the consequences could’ve been catastrophic. Have you ever taken matters into your own hands instead of trusting God? I’m guilty!
And another thing—this is going to sound so basic—but learn from your mistakes.
Abraham lied about his wife being his sister. Twice! It happened again in Genesis chapter 20. Look it up!
Parents—and grandparents—it’s important to remember the next generation(s) is watching you. Whether it’s interpersonal conflicts or habitual sins like dishonesty, children often become like their parents.
Abraham’s son, Isaac, lied about his wife being his sister! It’s in Genesis chapter 26. You can’t make this stuff up! I know the Bible’s true, if only because nobody would fabricate these embarrassing stories and call them sacred scripture!
One thing we continue to see in this series is the imperfections of the heroes of the Bible. I find this encouraging, knowing I’m not alone in my weak faith, selfishness, pride, and sinfulness. Abe was atrocious in this scene, yet God used him to become a great nation. He always uses imperfect people to do great things, which gives us all hope.
Father Abraham was not lways faithful, but our Father God never fails. Hallelujah!
Naked Noah, 20 September 2026
13 09 26 Filed in: Sermons | Ideal Family
Naked Noah
Series: Ideal Family
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 20, 2026
Genesis 9:20-25
Series Big Idea: All families are messed up, including biblical families.
Big Idea: Even the best parents—and children—are human and make mistakes.
Scripture: Genesis 9:20-25
Who is your hero? It’s been said, “Never meet your heroes.” It’s tempting to put heroes on a pedestal, and it can be disappointing to encounter their weaknesses and imperfections. Today, we’re going to look at one of the Bible’s most famous characters and uncover a story from his life that often gets overshadowed by the construction project that made him famous.
Good morning! My name is Kirk and today we’re continuing our new series entitled, “Ideal Family.” Last week we said all families are messed up. Yours, mine, and the perfect-looking one sitting on the other side of the room!
We began our series with a look at the First Family, Adam and Eve and their sons Cain and Abel. Today we’re looking at one of the greatest heroes of the Bible, Noah. If you turn to Genesis chapter 6 we’re told…
The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the LORD said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:6-7)
Let that sink in for a minute. God regretted making humans. No wonder He sent a flood.
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8)
The sentiment is repeated in the next verse…
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. (Genesis 6:9b)
So God tells Noah to build an ark (6:14) because, as He said
I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. (Genesis 6:17)
Of course, God had Noah and his family enter the ark along with pairs of animals, and…
Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22)
God gave Noah further instructions…
And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him. (Genesis 7:5)
Then we have the great flood.
The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days. (Genesis 7:24)
But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. (Genesis 8:1)
Later…
Then God said to Noah, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. (Genesis 8:15-16)
God loved Noah and his family. He was a righteous man. He obeyed God. His obedience essentially saved living creatures from extinction.
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” (Genesis 9:12-16)
So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (Genesis 9:17)
The writer of Genesis mentions Noah’s three sons again and then tells us
Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. (Genesis 9:20)
Great. Who doesn’t love grapes? Grape juice. Raisins! Noah’s dad was a farmer, so planting made complete sense. But…
When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. (Genesis 9:21)
Wait a minute! What is happening? Noah is drunk and naked?! The two often go together, by the way! The Japanese have a proverb which says: “First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, and then the drink takes the man.” Fortunately, he’s inside his tent where nobody can see him. But this is Noah! Righteous Noah! Naked Noah!
Did we need to include this in the Bible? Can’t we just call Noah a superhero and stop after the rainbow? Actually, no! First, we are all descendants of Noah and his sons. We wouldn’t be here without them.
Second, we get to see how even the most righteous people in the Bible were not perfect. We all sin and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). We’ll see this throughout this series.
We also see how sin affects others…families.
Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. (Genesis 9:22)
Seeing your dad naked is…well, it’s never good! He could’ve covered his dad and left quietly, but he told his brothers. He dishonored his father, leaving Shem and Japheth to intervene.
But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. (Genesis 9:23)
Love is looking out for the best interest of another person. It doesn’t condone sin. It doesn’t cleanse sin (only Jesus’ blood can do that). But love does cover sin (1 Peter 4:8). Did you see what I did there?!
The relationship between a father and son is special. The video earlier showed an “ideal” relationship and then a real one. That’s not to say we should be flippant about things such as borrowing/loaning money from relatives, but relationships can be complicated. Nevertheless, we are to honor our parents. This is one of God’s Top Ten (Exodus 20:12). Honor your father and your mother. Shem and Japheth honored their dad. Ham did not.
So Noah gets drunk and naked, his youngest son, Ham, saw him naked, his brothers covered him, and…
When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said,
“Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.” (Genesis 9:24-25)
Ham sinned. His son, Canaan, is cursed. It’s not clear why. There are several theories, but we’re not sure. We do know sin has consequences…and can impact others, too.
He also said,
“Praise be to the LORD, the God of Shem!
May Canaan be the slave of Shem.
May God extend Japheth’s territory;
may Japheth live in the tents of Shem,
and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth.” (Genesis 9:26-27)
The chapter ends by telling us
After the flood Noah lived 350 years. Noah lived a total of 950 years, and then he died. (Genesis 9:28-29)
What a life! What an ending!
So What?
I realize this is an odd passage. The point is…don’t plant a vineyard! Actually, that’s not the point, though alcohol can lead to a host of problems.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18)
Genesis 19 tells an even more bizarre story where two girls got their dad drunk and slept with him in hopes of getting pregnant! Ewww!
I think one takeaway from today’s text is that even the best parents—and children— are human and make mistakes. After all, Noah made the faith hall of fame.
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
Noah was a righteous man, but his story didn’t exactly end on a high note.
How will your story end? Your past righteousness is valuable, but today is the first day of the rest of your life. How will you live it?
I pray you will honor your parents and/or be honored by your children.
If you drink, I hope you are of age and do so responsibly. Consuming alcohol is not forbidden in the Bible, but drunkenness is clearly a sin…and can lead to other sins.
At the end of the day, all our heroes will disappoint us because they are all imperfect…except Jesus. He is my Hero. He died to offer forgiveness for all of my sins…and yours, too, if you surrender to him. He’s the one I am seeking to know and follow. He will never fail us. Hallelujah!
Series: Ideal Family
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 20, 2026
Genesis 9:20-25
Series Big Idea: All families are messed up, including biblical families.
Big Idea: Even the best parents—and children—are human and make mistakes.
Scripture: Genesis 9:20-25
Who is your hero? It’s been said, “Never meet your heroes.” It’s tempting to put heroes on a pedestal, and it can be disappointing to encounter their weaknesses and imperfections. Today, we’re going to look at one of the Bible’s most famous characters and uncover a story from his life that often gets overshadowed by the construction project that made him famous.
Good morning! My name is Kirk and today we’re continuing our new series entitled, “Ideal Family.” Last week we said all families are messed up. Yours, mine, and the perfect-looking one sitting on the other side of the room!
We began our series with a look at the First Family, Adam and Eve and their sons Cain and Abel. Today we’re looking at one of the greatest heroes of the Bible, Noah. If you turn to Genesis chapter 6 we’re told…
The LORD regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the LORD said, “I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.” (Genesis 6:6-7)
Let that sink in for a minute. God regretted making humans. No wonder He sent a flood.
But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. (Genesis 6:8)
The sentiment is repeated in the next verse…
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. (Genesis 6:9b)
So God tells Noah to build an ark (6:14) because, as He said
I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. (Genesis 6:17)
Of course, God had Noah and his family enter the ark along with pairs of animals, and…
Noah did everything just as God commanded him. (Genesis 6:22)
God gave Noah further instructions…
And Noah did all that the LORD commanded him. (Genesis 7:5)
Then we have the great flood.
The waters flooded the earth for a hundred and fifty days. (Genesis 7:24)
But God remembered Noah and all the wild animals and the livestock that were with him in the ark, and he sent a wind over the earth, and the waters receded. (Genesis 8:1)
Later…
Then God said to Noah, “Come out of the ark, you and your wife and your sons and their wives. (Genesis 8:15-16)
God loved Noah and his family. He was a righteous man. He obeyed God. His obedience essentially saved living creatures from extinction.
And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” (Genesis 9:12-16)
So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.” (Genesis 9:17)
The writer of Genesis mentions Noah’s three sons again and then tells us
Noah, a man of the soil, proceeded to plant a vineyard. (Genesis 9:20)
Great. Who doesn’t love grapes? Grape juice. Raisins! Noah’s dad was a farmer, so planting made complete sense. But…
When he drank some of its wine, he became drunk and lay uncovered inside his tent. (Genesis 9:21)
Wait a minute! What is happening? Noah is drunk and naked?! The two often go together, by the way! The Japanese have a proverb which says: “First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, and then the drink takes the man.” Fortunately, he’s inside his tent where nobody can see him. But this is Noah! Righteous Noah! Naked Noah!
Did we need to include this in the Bible? Can’t we just call Noah a superhero and stop after the rainbow? Actually, no! First, we are all descendants of Noah and his sons. We wouldn’t be here without them.
Second, we get to see how even the most righteous people in the Bible were not perfect. We all sin and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). We’ll see this throughout this series.
We also see how sin affects others…families.
Ham, the father of Canaan, saw his father naked and told his two brothers outside. (Genesis 9:22)
Seeing your dad naked is…well, it’s never good! He could’ve covered his dad and left quietly, but he told his brothers. He dishonored his father, leaving Shem and Japheth to intervene.
But Shem and Japheth took a garment and laid it across their shoulders; then they walked in backward and covered their father’s naked body. Their faces were turned the other way so that they would not see their father naked. (Genesis 9:23)
Love is looking out for the best interest of another person. It doesn’t condone sin. It doesn’t cleanse sin (only Jesus’ blood can do that). But love does cover sin (1 Peter 4:8). Did you see what I did there?!
The relationship between a father and son is special. The video earlier showed an “ideal” relationship and then a real one. That’s not to say we should be flippant about things such as borrowing/loaning money from relatives, but relationships can be complicated. Nevertheless, we are to honor our parents. This is one of God’s Top Ten (Exodus 20:12). Honor your father and your mother. Shem and Japheth honored their dad. Ham did not.
So Noah gets drunk and naked, his youngest son, Ham, saw him naked, his brothers covered him, and…
When Noah awoke from his wine and found out what his youngest son had done to him, he said,
“Cursed be Canaan! The lowest of slaves will he be to his brothers.” (Genesis 9:24-25)
Ham sinned. His son, Canaan, is cursed. It’s not clear why. There are several theories, but we’re not sure. We do know sin has consequences…and can impact others, too.
He also said,
“Praise be to the LORD, the God of Shem!
May Canaan be the slave of Shem.
May God extend Japheth’s territory;
may Japheth live in the tents of Shem,
and may Canaan be the slave of Japheth.” (Genesis 9:26-27)
The chapter ends by telling us
After the flood Noah lived 350 years. Noah lived a total of 950 years, and then he died. (Genesis 9:28-29)
What a life! What an ending!
So What?
I realize this is an odd passage. The point is…don’t plant a vineyard! Actually, that’s not the point, though alcohol can lead to a host of problems.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, (Ephesians 5:18)
Genesis 19 tells an even more bizarre story where two girls got their dad drunk and slept with him in hopes of getting pregnant! Ewww!
I think one takeaway from today’s text is that even the best parents—and children— are human and make mistakes. After all, Noah made the faith hall of fame.
By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. (Hebrews 11:7)
Noah was a righteous man, but his story didn’t exactly end on a high note.
How will your story end? Your past righteousness is valuable, but today is the first day of the rest of your life. How will you live it?
I pray you will honor your parents and/or be honored by your children.
If you drink, I hope you are of age and do so responsibly. Consuming alcohol is not forbidden in the Bible, but drunkenness is clearly a sin…and can lead to other sins.
At the end of the day, all our heroes will disappoint us because they are all imperfect…except Jesus. He is my Hero. He died to offer forgiveness for all of my sins…and yours, too, if you surrender to him. He’s the one I am seeking to know and follow. He will never fail us. Hallelujah!
First Family: Cain, 13 September 2026
13 09 26 Filed in: Sermons | Ideal Family
First Family
Series: Ideal Family
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 13, 2026
Genesis 4:2-8
Series Big Idea: All families are messed up, including biblical families.
Big Idea: Sibling rivalry is nothing new…and can be fatal!
My name is Kirk and today we’re beginning a new series entitled, “Ideal Family.” Whether you like it or not, you’re part of a family; at least one. Ever since God said it was not good for man to be alone, humans have lived with others…for better or worse. Family is God’s design. It was His idea.
But here’s the inconvenient truth: all families are messed up! Mine. Yours. That family with the perfect hair, clothes, kids, and car! As we’ll see through this series, biblical families are messed up…including Jesus’ family!
We begin our series with a look at the First Family, Adam and Eve. The story of creation in Genesis is well known, as is the disobedient eating of the one tree in the Garden that was forbidden. Everything changed at that moment. Adam and Eve’s relationship changed. Their relationship with God changed. Thousands of years later we still bear the consequences of their sin.
Cain & Abel
Parenting brings its own share of joy…and heartache. Rarely do siblings rush to serve their parents together as we saw in the “ideal” video! Parenting one child is a tremendous challenge. A second child introduces an entirely new dynamic: sibling rivalry.
How many of you have a sibling? How many parents have more than one child?
Sibling rivalry dates back to…the very first siblings. The first kids joined in on the conflict and dysfunction started by Adam and Eve. Genesis chapter four begins
Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. (Genesis 4:1)
Cain is the leading character in this story. He’s mentioned sixteen times. He’s the older brother. His birth is celebrated by his mom.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. (Genesis 4:2-5)
On its own, this passage isn’t clear. Is God a carnivore? Is He allergic to fruit? Hardly! The simple answer is we don’t know. Some have suggested the necessity of a blood sacrifice, but the text doesn’t say, nor do we know Abel’s sacrifice contained blood. Abel brought the firstborn of his flock—his very best—but we don’t know if Cain brought his best or not. We just know Cain was very angry because his brother’s offering was acceptable and his was rejected.
Warren Wiersbe writes, “Cain wasn’t rejected because of his offering, but his offering was rejected because of Cain: His heart wasn’t right with God.” Thousands of years later, we’re told…
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. (Hebrews 11:4)
I wish this was the end of sibling rivalry, but it’s not. Ishmael persecuted Isaac. Jacob fled his brother Esau, fearing his life. Joseph’s brothers nearly killed him, instead opting to sell him as a slave. The very person/persons we are closest to often cause the greatest hostility. If anyone should have your back, it should be your brother or sister.
Let me add this is true spiritually, too. Often our greatest critics are not distant strangers, but rather the people who sit beside us on Sunday mornings or those in our small group. May it never be! We are called to love and serve one another. Back to our story…
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7)
Cain obviously disobeyed God. God encourages Cain to do what is right. He is warned that sin is near, personified as a crouching demon waiting to strike. We talked about this last week. Spiritual warfare is real. We must put on the armor. We must be on guard.
Unfortunately Cain opened the door. He succumbed to temptation. What sin is lurking at your door? Do you carry grudges? Are you bitter? What about lust? Gossip? Worry? Gluttony? Paul instructs
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
If only Cain had been so wise. His sacrifice was rejected, but the story gets worse. Much worse.
Have you ever been jealous of a sister or brother? Maybe they got straight A’s while you struggled to pass the class. Perhaps they were Olympic-bound while you were the last one to cross the finish line on Field Day. Envy is ugly. Sibling rivalry is real. Comparing ourselves to others is dangerous…even deadly!
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. (Genesis 4:8)
This may have been the first human death. Here’s the summary:
- Abel obeys God
- Cain disobeys God
- Cain is envious and adds to his disobedience and sins by killing his brother
Our relationship with God and our relationship with our brothers and sisters cannot be separated. We love God by loving our neighbor, and we love our neighbor by loving God.
Most of us will not be murdered by a sibling! At least I hope not! Yet many are emotionally destroyed by the actions of a jealous sibling.
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)
God does everything He can to prompt repentance. He’s always seeking to save the lost, the broken, the criminal, the sinner.
Martin Luther’s definition of sin was “man curved in upon himself.” Sin is always focusing on yourself, always choosing yourself over God or others, placing yourself at the center. Sin means even when we do good things (help the poor, attend church gatherings, etc.), it’s always about us, about furthering our agenda, about giving us the self-image we want to have, about engaging so long as it makes us feel good. Sin is so insidious that when we look like we’re serving others, we’re really serving ourselves. We need to repent.
Repentance means to turn. That was God’s desire for Cain and us. Turn away from sin and run toward God and godliness.
The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” (Genesis 4:10-12)
A passage that began with a blessing ends with a curse.
Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” (Genesis 4:13-14)
But the LORD said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the LORD’S presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (Genesis 4:15-16)
Cain’s not sorry for his sin, but only for his punishment. Like so many sins, one led to another and then another. Perhaps the most tragic statement of all is that “Cain went out from the LORD’s presence.” I never want to be there. And it began with jealousy and sibling rivalry.
So What?
There are two types of people in this world: those who honor God and those who dishonor God. We don’t know the details, but the contrast between Cain and Abel is obvious.
There are so many applications to this passage.
- Obey God
- Love your siblings—biological and spiritual
- If you’re jealous, let it go. Give it up. Life’s too short.
- Know your weaknesses and areas of vulnerability to temptation
- Repent when you sin. Don’t cover it up. God knows. He sees it all.
If you are in the midst of a broken relationship of any kind, seek reconciliation.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)
If it’s not possible, stay on your knees. Cry out to God. Your story’s not over yet. Change is possible. God is faithful.
All families are messed up. Sibling rivalry is nothing new…and can be fatal! But followers of Christ have a big half-brother, Jesus. He’s the perfect example of what it means to be human. He showed us how to love…even our enemies. We need him in order to love our brother and sister…for his glory.
Credits: Some ideas from Be Basic by Warren Wiersbe.
Series: Ideal Family
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 13, 2026
Genesis 4:2-8
Series Big Idea: All families are messed up, including biblical families.
Big Idea: Sibling rivalry is nothing new…and can be fatal!
My name is Kirk and today we’re beginning a new series entitled, “Ideal Family.” Whether you like it or not, you’re part of a family; at least one. Ever since God said it was not good for man to be alone, humans have lived with others…for better or worse. Family is God’s design. It was His idea.
But here’s the inconvenient truth: all families are messed up! Mine. Yours. That family with the perfect hair, clothes, kids, and car! As we’ll see through this series, biblical families are messed up…including Jesus’ family!
We begin our series with a look at the First Family, Adam and Eve. The story of creation in Genesis is well known, as is the disobedient eating of the one tree in the Garden that was forbidden. Everything changed at that moment. Adam and Eve’s relationship changed. Their relationship with God changed. Thousands of years later we still bear the consequences of their sin.
Cain & Abel
Parenting brings its own share of joy…and heartache. Rarely do siblings rush to serve their parents together as we saw in the “ideal” video! Parenting one child is a tremendous challenge. A second child introduces an entirely new dynamic: sibling rivalry.
How many of you have a sibling? How many parents have more than one child?
Sibling rivalry dates back to…the very first siblings. The first kids joined in on the conflict and dysfunction started by Adam and Eve. Genesis chapter four begins
Adam made love to his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, “With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man.” Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. (Genesis 4:1)
Cain is the leading character in this story. He’s mentioned sixteen times. He’s the older brother. His birth is celebrated by his mom.
Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. And Abel also brought an offering—fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. (Genesis 4:2-5)
On its own, this passage isn’t clear. Is God a carnivore? Is He allergic to fruit? Hardly! The simple answer is we don’t know. Some have suggested the necessity of a blood sacrifice, but the text doesn’t say, nor do we know Abel’s sacrifice contained blood. Abel brought the firstborn of his flock—his very best—but we don’t know if Cain brought his best or not. We just know Cain was very angry because his brother’s offering was acceptable and his was rejected.
Warren Wiersbe writes, “Cain wasn’t rejected because of his offering, but his offering was rejected because of Cain: His heart wasn’t right with God.” Thousands of years later, we’re told…
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. (Hebrews 11:4)
I wish this was the end of sibling rivalry, but it’s not. Ishmael persecuted Isaac. Jacob fled his brother Esau, fearing his life. Joseph’s brothers nearly killed him, instead opting to sell him as a slave. The very person/persons we are closest to often cause the greatest hostility. If anyone should have your back, it should be your brother or sister.
Let me add this is true spiritually, too. Often our greatest critics are not distant strangers, but rather the people who sit beside us on Sunday mornings or those in our small group. May it never be! We are called to love and serve one another. Back to our story…
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.” (Genesis 4:6-7)
Cain obviously disobeyed God. God encourages Cain to do what is right. He is warned that sin is near, personified as a crouching demon waiting to strike. We talked about this last week. Spiritual warfare is real. We must put on the armor. We must be on guard.
Unfortunately Cain opened the door. He succumbed to temptation. What sin is lurking at your door? Do you carry grudges? Are you bitter? What about lust? Gossip? Worry? Gluttony? Paul instructs
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:26-27)
If only Cain had been so wise. His sacrifice was rejected, but the story gets worse. Much worse.
Have you ever been jealous of a sister or brother? Maybe they got straight A’s while you struggled to pass the class. Perhaps they were Olympic-bound while you were the last one to cross the finish line on Field Day. Envy is ugly. Sibling rivalry is real. Comparing ourselves to others is dangerous…even deadly!
Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.” While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. (Genesis 4:8)
This may have been the first human death. Here’s the summary:
- Abel obeys God
- Cain disobeys God
- Cain is envious and adds to his disobedience and sins by killing his brother
Our relationship with God and our relationship with our brothers and sisters cannot be separated. We love God by loving our neighbor, and we love our neighbor by loving God.
Most of us will not be murdered by a sibling! At least I hope not! Yet many are emotionally destroyed by the actions of a jealous sibling.
Then the LORD said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)
God does everything He can to prompt repentance. He’s always seeking to save the lost, the broken, the criminal, the sinner.
Martin Luther’s definition of sin was “man curved in upon himself.” Sin is always focusing on yourself, always choosing yourself over God or others, placing yourself at the center. Sin means even when we do good things (help the poor, attend church gatherings, etc.), it’s always about us, about furthering our agenda, about giving us the self-image we want to have, about engaging so long as it makes us feel good. Sin is so insidious that when we look like we’re serving others, we’re really serving ourselves. We need to repent.
Repentance means to turn. That was God’s desire for Cain and us. Turn away from sin and run toward God and godliness.
The LORD said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.” (Genesis 4:10-12)
A passage that began with a blessing ends with a curse.
Cain said to the LORD, “My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” (Genesis 4:13-14)
But the LORD said to him, “Not so; anyone who kills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.” Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So Cain went out from the LORD’S presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. (Genesis 4:15-16)
Cain’s not sorry for his sin, but only for his punishment. Like so many sins, one led to another and then another. Perhaps the most tragic statement of all is that “Cain went out from the LORD’s presence.” I never want to be there. And it began with jealousy and sibling rivalry.
So What?
There are two types of people in this world: those who honor God and those who dishonor God. We don’t know the details, but the contrast between Cain and Abel is obvious.
There are so many applications to this passage.
- Obey God
- Love your siblings—biological and spiritual
- If you’re jealous, let it go. Give it up. Life’s too short.
- Know your weaknesses and areas of vulnerability to temptation
- Repent when you sin. Don’t cover it up. God knows. He sees it all.
If you are in the midst of a broken relationship of any kind, seek reconciliation.
If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)
If it’s not possible, stay on your knees. Cry out to God. Your story’s not over yet. Change is possible. God is faithful.
All families are messed up. Sibling rivalry is nothing new…and can be fatal! But followers of Christ have a big half-brother, Jesus. He’s the perfect example of what it means to be human. He showed us how to love…even our enemies. We need him in order to love our brother and sister…for his glory.
Credits: Some ideas from Be Basic by Warren Wiersbe.
Armor, 6 September 2026
08 09 26 Filed in: Sermons | Ephesians: Our True Identity
Armor and Greetings
Ephesians: Finding Our True Identity
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 6, 2026
Ephesians 6:10-24
Series Big Idea: For followers of Jesus, we find our true identity in Christ.
Big Idea: Spiritual warfare is real…and we have the necessary armor to be victorious.
Today we finish our summer-long series on the book of Ephesians, a short letter written to early Christians about 2000 years ago. Our scripture reading is not the most riveting passage, the closing greetings of the letter.
Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. (Ephesians 6:21-22)
If nothing else, this lends itself to the authenticity of the writing. Paul is writing to real people about real people.
Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. (Ephesians 6:23-24)
He ends with a blessing of peace, faith, grace, and most of all love, the hallmark of every Christian, the beginning of our church’s mission (love, equip, send), and the greatest gift we could ever receive…or give.
Now that we’ve finished the book, I want to back up and look at last week’s scripture reading on the armor of God. Youth Sunday was great, but we didn’t have time to dig into those verses, so here we go…
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10)
It’s tempting to want power and strength. This might be especially true for men, though there are plenty of women working out at the gym, too. Even if fitness is not a priority, you probably like to be strong, right? How many of you want to be weak? Paul is not saying be strong in yourself, your intellect, your body, or even your character. He says be strong in the Lord…and in his mighty power. How do we do that?
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (Ephesians 6:11)
There is a real devil, diabolos in the original Greek. He is a liar, a thief, a destroyer, and an accuser. We see his work every day in the news. How else can you explain the rampant sin in our world? If you believe in angels, you must believe in demons. C.S. Lewis said,
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”
We don’t need to look for a demon in every Coke can, yet we can’t ignore the reality of spiritual warfare.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)
Spiritual warfare is raging all around us, whether we realize it or not. However,
People are not the enemy.
Our battle is not against flesh and blood. People can be used by the enemy, but they are not the enemy. Every human you meet is a masterpiece created in the image of God with dignity, value, and worth. We are all broken masterpieces in need of healing and restoration—some more than others—but masterpieces, nonetheless. This is one reason we are commanded to pray for our enemies. They need Jesus! Imagine how different “fill-in-the-blank” would be if they surrendered their life to Christ. That’s what happened to Saul in the New Testament, and it literally changed the world. His photo went from the post office wall to book covers everywhere across the Roman Empire (so to speak)!
When Paul talks about our struggle, it is a battle. It is a war, and war is not a hobby or part-time endeavor. It’s a lifestyle.
We must be ready at all times. We’re not spectators! Fortunately, we have been given weapons that we must use or risk becoming needless casualties of war.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
We have been given nothing for our back, so don’t even think of running away, turning back, or retreating. Stand your ground. How? He offers echoes of Isaiah chapter 59:
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:14-15)
Truth refers to the gospel, the good news, Jesus is Lord. We need to proclaim it in word and deed, waging war against the lies of our enemy, his primary tool.
Righteousness—and justice—concern God’s perfect standard and our practices, behaving rightly. Author Michael F. Bird said last week, “America’s religious revival is belief without behavior.” Ouch!
The gospel of peace brings light into the darkness and defeats evil. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Let it begin with us. Let it begin in us!
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16)
This is about trust in God. I used to think of a shield as an individual weapon, but in ancient times they would be used as a group. We need one another in the battle.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)
Salvation is about the deliverance of all types of evil in our world, for ourselves, and liberating others. We need to protect our head, our mind. God’s Word is also vital in the battle. We need to know the scriptures. Our enemy does! The Greek word here rhema includes proclaiming the gospel. Warren Wiersbe notes,
A physical sword wounds to hurt and kill, while the sword of the Spirit wounds to heal and give life. But when we use the sword against Satan, we are out to deal him a blow that will cripple him and keep him from hindering God’s work.
There’s one more important tool.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)
We have the sword of the Spirit, and we are to pray in the Spirit. Always keep on praying…for us, for one another, for all the Lord’s people. We pray “our Father,” not “my Father.”
Jesus is the perfect example of all of these tools. When we put on the armor, we put on Christ!
Next, Paul gets personal.
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:19-20)
Remember, Paul is writing from prison or house arrest. He doesn’t ask to be released, though. He says, “Pray that I may declare the gospel well.” Amazing.
So What?
Paul has covered many things in this short book. If you missed any of the sermons, I encourage you to go to our website and watch them, not because of the messenger but the message! If you are a follower of Jesus, you are “in Christ” and that’s an incredible reality filled with both benefits and responsibilities.
Specifically to today’s text,
We need to fight the good fight of faith with armor…on our knees.
We don’t need to be afraid, but we must be aware of the battle.
When you feel afraid, get on your knees and do something about it!
At the end of the book of Matthew, Jesus said he has all authority…in heaven and on earth. We have weapons and must use them, not to fight people but to battle evil.
“In the midst of spiritual battles, find strength in the knowledge that God fights on your behalf.” – Beth Moore
We have been commissioned as soldiers to bring faith, hope, and love to our broken world.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
When we pray, we are
…strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10)
Amen!
Ephesians: Finding Our True Identity
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
September 6, 2026
Ephesians 6:10-24
Series Big Idea: For followers of Jesus, we find our true identity in Christ.
Big Idea: Spiritual warfare is real…and we have the necessary armor to be victorious.
Today we finish our summer-long series on the book of Ephesians, a short letter written to early Christians about 2000 years ago. Our scripture reading is not the most riveting passage, the closing greetings of the letter.
Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you. (Ephesians 6:21-22)
If nothing else, this lends itself to the authenticity of the writing. Paul is writing to real people about real people.
Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love. (Ephesians 6:23-24)
He ends with a blessing of peace, faith, grace, and most of all love, the hallmark of every Christian, the beginning of our church’s mission (love, equip, send), and the greatest gift we could ever receive…or give.
Now that we’ve finished the book, I want to back up and look at last week’s scripture reading on the armor of God. Youth Sunday was great, but we didn’t have time to dig into those verses, so here we go…
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10)
It’s tempting to want power and strength. This might be especially true for men, though there are plenty of women working out at the gym, too. Even if fitness is not a priority, you probably like to be strong, right? How many of you want to be weak? Paul is not saying be strong in yourself, your intellect, your body, or even your character. He says be strong in the Lord…and in his mighty power. How do we do that?
Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (Ephesians 6:11)
There is a real devil, diabolos in the original Greek. He is a liar, a thief, a destroyer, and an accuser. We see his work every day in the news. How else can you explain the rampant sin in our world? If you believe in angels, you must believe in demons. C.S. Lewis said,
“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them.”
We don’t need to look for a demon in every Coke can, yet we can’t ignore the reality of spiritual warfare.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12)
Spiritual warfare is raging all around us, whether we realize it or not. However,
People are not the enemy.
Our battle is not against flesh and blood. People can be used by the enemy, but they are not the enemy. Every human you meet is a masterpiece created in the image of God with dignity, value, and worth. We are all broken masterpieces in need of healing and restoration—some more than others—but masterpieces, nonetheless. This is one reason we are commanded to pray for our enemies. They need Jesus! Imagine how different “fill-in-the-blank” would be if they surrendered their life to Christ. That’s what happened to Saul in the New Testament, and it literally changed the world. His photo went from the post office wall to book covers everywhere across the Roman Empire (so to speak)!
When Paul talks about our struggle, it is a battle. It is a war, and war is not a hobby or part-time endeavor. It’s a lifestyle.
We must be ready at all times. We’re not spectators! Fortunately, we have been given weapons that we must use or risk becoming needless casualties of war.
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. (Ephesians 6:13)
We have been given nothing for our back, so don’t even think of running away, turning back, or retreating. Stand your ground. How? He offers echoes of Isaiah chapter 59:
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. (Ephesians 6:14-15)
Truth refers to the gospel, the good news, Jesus is Lord. We need to proclaim it in word and deed, waging war against the lies of our enemy, his primary tool.
Righteousness—and justice—concern God’s perfect standard and our practices, behaving rightly. Author Michael F. Bird said last week, “America’s religious revival is belief without behavior.” Ouch!
The gospel of peace brings light into the darkness and defeats evil. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me. Let it begin with us. Let it begin in us!
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. (Ephesians 6:16)
This is about trust in God. I used to think of a shield as an individual weapon, but in ancient times they would be used as a group. We need one another in the battle.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Ephesians 6:17)
Salvation is about the deliverance of all types of evil in our world, for ourselves, and liberating others. We need to protect our head, our mind. God’s Word is also vital in the battle. We need to know the scriptures. Our enemy does! The Greek word here rhema includes proclaiming the gospel. Warren Wiersbe notes,
A physical sword wounds to hurt and kill, while the sword of the Spirit wounds to heal and give life. But when we use the sword against Satan, we are out to deal him a blow that will cripple him and keep him from hindering God’s work.
There’s one more important tool.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. (Ephesians 6:18)
We have the sword of the Spirit, and we are to pray in the Spirit. Always keep on praying…for us, for one another, for all the Lord’s people. We pray “our Father,” not “my Father.”
Jesus is the perfect example of all of these tools. When we put on the armor, we put on Christ!
Next, Paul gets personal.
Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:19-20)
Remember, Paul is writing from prison or house arrest. He doesn’t ask to be released, though. He says, “Pray that I may declare the gospel well.” Amazing.
So What?
Paul has covered many things in this short book. If you missed any of the sermons, I encourage you to go to our website and watch them, not because of the messenger but the message! If you are a follower of Jesus, you are “in Christ” and that’s an incredible reality filled with both benefits and responsibilities.
Specifically to today’s text,
We need to fight the good fight of faith with armor…on our knees.
We don’t need to be afraid, but we must be aware of the battle.
When you feel afraid, get on your knees and do something about it!
At the end of the book of Matthew, Jesus said he has all authority…in heaven and on earth. We have weapons and must use them, not to fight people but to battle evil.
“In the midst of spiritual battles, find strength in the knowledge that God fights on your behalf.” – Beth Moore
We have been commissioned as soldiers to bring faith, hope, and love to our broken world.
You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
When we pray, we are
…strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. (Ephesians 6:10)
Amen!