Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning, Jan. 28, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.  For more outlines, including a zipped file of all of my 1999 and 2000 sermon outlines, click on the link at
the bottom of this note, and go to our website:

 

 

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)

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.

 

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)

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.

 

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)

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.

 

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)

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.

 

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!