Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Jan. 28, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

GOD’S CARE PACKAGE

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Acts 1:1-8

Text: Acts 1:8

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Introduction: A CARE package usually refers to a gift of necessities that are sent to people overseas. Sometimes the term is used for gifts to underprivileged people in the United States.

A CARE package is called that because it is supposed to be paid for and sent out of love and concern.

GOD HAS A CARE PACKAGE.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

God is depending on us to tell the world about His care package of salvation through Jesus Christ. In our text for today’s message, we see four areas of witnessing, which I have designated this way to compose the word, CARE:

C – Community (Jerusalem)

A – Area (all Judaea)

R – Rejected (Samaria)

E – Ends of the Earth (the uttermost part of the earth)

Let’s consider the verse as I urge us all to get busy in carrying God’s CARE package to the world!

LET’S CARRY THE GOSPEL TO:

I. OUR COMMUNITY (JERUSALEM)

Our church is located in the city limits of Albany. I believe our “Jerusalem” is Albany, as well as Leesburg, which borders Albany.

There are two ways to reach “Our Jerusalem”:

Acts 20:20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,

A. Publicly

Malls
Parks
Big events
Church
Stores
Businesses
Restaurants
Flea markets – one of our soul-winners won a vendor to Christ yesterday
We may not be able to present as THOROUGH a witness in some places as we can in a home, due to laws or an employee’s obligation to his employer, but we can get in SOME witness.

B. Privately (House to House)

Door to door soul-winning
Calling on specific prospects – we had 3 people saved this way yesterday.
Telephone (two of our soul-winners got to present the gospel to telemarketers this week)
Email
Snail mail – letters and tracts
Newspaper tubes

II. OUR AREA (ALL JUDAEA)

A. Our city and nearby cities

Albany, Leesburg, Dawson, Sasser, Parrott, Putney, others

B. Our county and nearby counties

Dougherty, Lee, Terrell, Worth, Webster, Mitchell, others
Our area can be reached by our members and by our bus ministry.

III. OUR REJECTED (SAMARIA)

The Samaritans were half-breeds, and they were despised by the Jews.

Some people are not candidates for “uppity” churches due to:

A. Their sin

We believe that Christ died for EVERY sin and for EVERY sinner!
Ex-convicts
Divorced
Drunks

B. Their sense

Retarded
If they are mentally able to know they are sinners, then they need to be saved!

C. Their substance

Christ died for poor people, too!

D. Their skin

Red, and yellow, black and white, they are precious in his sight!

E. Their stock and lineage

Vietnamese
Cubans
Hispanics

F. Their sight, speech, and hearing

Sightless
Deaf
Speechless

G. Their shape and health

Handicapped

F. Their size

Jesus loves children!

IV. OUR ENDS OF THE EARTH
(THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH)

We’re talking now about “foreign missions.”

We can be a part in foreign missions:

A. In person

Don’t go unless God TELLS you to go.
Go WHEN He tells you.
Go WHERE He tells you.

B. In prayer

We can pray for those who are called to go to a foreign field.

C. In proxy

Financial support
Faith Promise missions giving

Do you care?
(Unveil package)
God’s CARE package is the GOSPEL!