1 Leaving Galilee
Matthew 13:53
2 Heading Home to Nazareth
Matthew 13:54-56
Romans 3:23-24
3 Taking Offense at Jesus
Matthew 13:57-58
Luke 4:16-30
1 God’s Identity
Exodus 3:13-15
Genesis 4:26
Genesis 14:22
God’s Name in Ancient Hebrew:
HE VAV HE YOD
YHWH (YHVH) = YAHWEH – JEHOVAH
2 The Meaning of His Name
Exodus 3:14
John 8:24
3 Specific Instructions to Moses
Exodus 3:16-22
1 Parable of the Hidden Treasure
Matthew 13:44
John 3:16
John 18:20
Exodus 19:5
2 Parable of the Costly Pearl
Matthew 13:45-46
Hebrews 12:2
3 Parable of the Dragnet
Matthew 13:47-50
1 God’ Awareness
Exodus 3:7-8
Hebrews 4:13
2 Corinthians 11:25-28
2 Instruction to Moses
Exodus 3:9-10
2 Chronicles 16:9
3 God Identifies Himself
Exodus 3:11-14
1 Parable of the Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31-32
Daniel 4:12
Ezekiel 17:23
2 Parable of the Leaven
Matthew 13:33
Exodus 12:15
3 Prophecy and the Parables
Matthew 13:34-35
Revelation 19:10
4 Explaining the Wheat and Tares
Matthew 13:36-43
1 Seasons of Moses’ Life
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Seasons of Moses’ Life:
Ages Overall Actions
1-40 Raised as Egyptian Royalty
41-80 Living in Exile in Midian
81-120 Used as God’s Instrument
2 The Burning Bush
Exodus 3:1-3
3 The Lord Calls Moses
Exodus 3:4-6
1 Peter 2:9-10
1 Timothy 4:1-2
1 Which Kingdom of Heaven?
Matthew 13:24-30
Revelation 20:10
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
2 The Enemy’s Sabotage
Galatians 1:6-9
3 Handling the Harvest
Matthew 13:27-30
1 John 2:2
“UNMUTED” Acts 4
preached Sunday 9/21/25 at AO
Scripture Focus (Acts 4:13-31) – “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. [14] But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, [16] saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. [17] But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” [18] So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. [19] But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, [20] for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” [21] And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. [22] For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old. [23] When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. [24] And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, [25] who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain [26] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’
– [27] for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed,
both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, [28] to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. [29] And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, [30] while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” [31] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
- Externally simple, internally transformed Christians (13)
“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus.”
Why were the opponents astonished? They recognized that unlettered, untrained men, ignorant of the methods and traditions of their prescribed ways of learning were:
- Possessing an anointing they did not hold (4:8)
- Releasing a power they did not have (4:9-10)
- Proclaiming a risen Savior whom they did not know (4:11-12)
- Operating in a boldness that they could not intimidate (4:13a)
- Powerfully anointed, impossible to ignore Christians (14-16)
“But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it…”
The unbelieving elites who hated Christ and His followers had to hold a meeting because they had no idea what to do with these simple Jesus-followers and their miracles
- Terribly inconvenient and spiritually dangerous Christians (17-18)
“But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.”
- Rightly defiant and boldly courageous Christians (19-22)
“But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” [21] And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. [22] For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.
- Beautifully contagious and entirely dependent Christians (23-28)
“When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. [24] And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, [25] who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain [26] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’ – [27] for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, [28] to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”
- Proactively zealous and freshly filled Christians (29-31)
“And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, [30] while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” [31] And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
Speech Patterns in Acts 4
4:1 – “they were speaking to the people”
4:2 – “they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” 4:4 – “many of those who had heard the word believed”
4:8 – “Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said”
4:13 – “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John”
4:17 – “let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.”
4:18 – “So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.” 4:20 – “for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
4:23 – “they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them.” 4:24 – “they lifted their voices together to God and said”
4:29 – “grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness”,
4:31 – “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.”
1 Identifying with Israel
Exodus 2:11-14
Galatian 3:28
2 Moses Flees from Pharaoh
Exodus 2:15-25
Zechariah 4:10
Build a Living Altar
Why We Need to Have a Living Altar
Genesis 22:1–9a NLT
Many Christians today want the promises of God without the altar of God. We want blessings without sacrifice, favor without fire, resurrection without crucifixion. But in Scripture, every man or woman who walked with God built an altar.
- The Living Altar Requires Surrender
2“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
3The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about.
- Abraham rose early, carried the wood, the knife, the fire.
- He was fully prepared.
- Surrender is not words—it is costly obedience.
- The Living Altar Tests Our Faith
1Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith.
- Abraham’s altar tested whether he loved the PROMISE more than the PROMISER.
- Every altar we build forces us to answer: “Do I trust God with my everything?”
- The Living Altar Produces Worship
5“Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”
- Worship is not just what you sing on Sunday; it’s what you surrender on Monday.
- The altar turns obedience into worship.
- The Living Altar Will Point to Christ
6So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together,
- Isaac carried the wood—Jesus carried the cross.
- Abraham was willing to give his son—God gave His only Son.
- The Living Altar Must Be Daily
- In the Old Testament, fire on the altar was never to go out (Leviticus 6:12–13).
- In the New Testament, Paul says, “I die daily” (1 Corinthians 15:31).
- Spiritual growth doesn’t come from occasional sacrifice but daily surrender.
- The Living Altar Reveals God’s Provision
8“God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.
9When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it.
- On Mount Moriah, Abraham discovered Jehovah Jireh—the Lord who provides.
- But notice: the provision was waiting on the mountain of surrender.
In the New Testament, Paul brings this picture to us personally: “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice…” (Romans 12:1). The altar is no longer just made of wood and stone—it is your daily life surrendered to God. Without a daily altar, we live shallow, distracted, powerless lives. With a daily altar, we live surrendered, transformed, Spirit-filled lives that shine for Christ.