People Notice: Acts 4:13-21

May 30, 2026
optimizing

What do people notice about your life? In this message, Adam Woods walks through Acts 4:13-21 and shows how Peter and John stood out, not because they were impressive on paper, but because they had clearly been with Jesus. Their courage, their words, and their refusal to stay silent made one thing obvious: Jesus had changed them.

In this message, Adam explains that the real problem is not simply a lack of Bible knowledge or better behavior. The deeper issue is that many people know about Jesus without actually being with Jesus. That is why this sermon speaks to real life so clearly. It helps the person who feels nervous about standing for what is right, the student who wants to live differently at school, the parent trying to lead their family with faith, and the spiritually curious person asking what genuine life change actually looks like. It also answers questions people really ask, like “how do I live boldly for Jesus,” “why does faith change the way a person talks,” and “what does the Bible say about courage and witness.”

In Acts 4:13, the religious leaders “were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus” (NIV). Adam shows that people who are with Jesus act differently and speak differently. Courage grows. Words change. A life filled with Jesus starts to overflow in everyday conversations, choices, and relationships. The biblical answer this message offers is simple and practical: if you want a changed life, start by being with Jesus through prayer, Scripture, obedience, worship, and life with His people.

In this message from The Crossing in Milton, DE, Adam Woods invites not-yet-believers to explore Jesus seriously and take a real next step toward repentance and baptism into Christ. He also challenges believers to spend intentional time with Jesus this week and let that relationship shape how they act, speak, and love others in public and private.

In “People Notice,” Adam Woods teaches at The Crossing in Milton, DE that Acts 4:13-21 shows how ordinary people become noticeably different when they have been with Jesus. Peter and John were unschooled, ordinary men, yet their courage before the religious leaders made it clear that Jesus had changed them. The sermon argues that true discipleship is more than knowing facts about Jesus; it is living in close relationship with Him so that your actions, words, and witness reflect His presence.

In this sermon, Adam Woods explains that Acts 4:13 shows how ordinary men looked different because Jesus had changed them. Their courage and clarity made it obvious they had been with Him, which is the main point The Crossing highlights from this passage.

Adam Woods uses Acts 4:13-21 to show that courage, kindness, truth-telling, and natural conversations about Jesus flow out of a heart filled with Him. When you spend time with Jesus, people notice in two big ways: how you act and how you speak. 

In this message, Adam Woods points out that Peter used to be afraid and even denied Jesus, but after the resurrection and the Holy Spirit, he became bold. The Crossing shows that their refusal to stop talking about Jesus, even when ordered to be silent, is an example of doing the right thing no matter what.

The sermon uses a sponge illustration to show that whatever fills you comes out of you. Adam Woods explains that when Jesus fills your life, your words become more loving, honest, encouraging, and you naturally talk about what He has done, just like Peter and John in Acts 4:19-20.

God does not just want people to know facts about Jesus. Adam teaches that Peter and John were noticed because they had been with Jesus through relationship, prayer, obedience, and communion with Him, and that is what leads to real life change.

Good morning everybody!

CAN I HAVE ALL THE KIDS COME DOWN FRONT AND SIT ON FLOOR WITH ME?

Okay—I need your help today.

What kind of person would wear this?

[Hold up football jersey]

“Football player!”

Exactly.

[Hold up chef hat/apron]

What about this?

“Chef!” “Baker!”

Yep.

Sometimes you can tell what someone has been around.

If someone smells like fish all day—they’ve probably been…fishing.

If someone has paint all over their clothes—they’ve probably been—painting.

Well, in our Bible story today, people looked at Peter and John and thought: “Those guys have been with Jesus.”

We’ve been reading through the Bible book of Acts and today is a special day—it’s Family Fusion— we’re all in here together to learn.

And here’s what we’re going to learn today: WHEN YOU’VE BEEN WITH JESUS, PEOPLE NOTICE.

Let’s practice this: WHEN YOU’VE BEEN WITH JESUS…PEOPLE NOTICE. One more time: WHEN YOU’VE BEEN WITH JESUS…PEOPLE NOTICE.

Ok—awesome. Here’s the story.

Peter and John were on their way to the temple when they saw a man who couldn’t walk. And in the name of Jesus, he was healed—got right up and started walking and jumping around!

Well, that caused quite a stir and people came to find out what was going on. When they did, Peter began to preach about Jesus—it was faith in the name of Jesus that this guy was healed. It’s Jesus! Salvation is only found in Jesus!

When the religious leaders heard about all this, they questioned Peter and John. And can you guess what Peter and John said…again?? It’s Jesus!

The religious leaders were blown away by these two guys. They were only fishermen but boy could they preach!

It says in Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Remember our big idea? WHEN YOU’VE BEEN WITH JESUS…PEOPLE NOTICE. And they noticed—big time! These guys had been with Jesus!

But what did they notice? TWO THINGS.

#1—PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH JESUS ACT DIFFERENT

Peter and John were full of COURAGE.

Do you know what courage is? Courage doesn’t meant you’re never afraid—it means doing the right thing, no matter what.

Look at this—what’s this? [hold up flashlight]

Flashlight.

Right, and what’s it supposed to do?

Make light. Shine.

Exactly.

[Turn it OFF] Is it doing what it’s supposed to do now?

No!

[Turn it ON] What about now?

Yes!

What changed?

The light!

Exactly, and when Jesus changes your heart, your life starts to shine differently too.

This is what happened with Peter and John. Peter used to be afraid. Did you know that? He was once so afraid, he denied even knowing Jesus…THREE TIMES!

But after Jesus rose from the dead…

and after Peter spent time with Him…

and after the Holy Spirit filled him…Peter became bold. COURAGEOUS!

In our story today, the leaders told Peter and John to stop talking about Jesus. v18 says, …they called [Peter and John] in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

And Peter and John basically say, “NOPE!”

Were they being rude? No.

Were they being mean? No.

They were being COURAGEOUS.

Being courageous doesn’t mean being the loudest or the strongest, it means doing the right thing no matter what.

So what are some ways kids can be courageous for Jesus?

Standing up for someone.

Telling the truth.

Praying at lunch.

Inviting a friend to church.

Being kind when others are mean.

Yes! That’s courage! That’s light shining in the darkness!

Because WHEN YOU’VE BEEN WITH JESUS…PEOPLE NOTICE.

And what they notice first is that PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH JESUS ACT DIFFERENT.

They also notice:

#2—PEOPLE WHO ARE WITH JESUS SPEAK DIFFERENT

[Bring out the sponge and water]

Alright, what’s this? Sponge!

And what happens if I put the sponge in water?

[dip sponge]

It fills up, right?

And what happens when I squeeze it?

[squeeze sponge]

What comes out? Water!

Because whatever fills something…comes out of it.

If anger fills your heart…anger comes out.

If kindness fills your heart…kindness comes out.

If Jesus fills your heart…Jesus comes out.

And that’s exactly what happened with Peter and John.

The leaders told them: “Stop talking about Jesus!”

But listen to what Peter said in Acts 4:19-20: “Which is right in God’s eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”

In other words: We can’t stop talking about Jesus because Jesus changed our lives!

Quick question: What are things people talk about all the time because they love them? Sports, songs, fishing, YouTube videos, animals…

People talk about what fills their hearts. And when you spend time with Jesus, you start talking different too.

You words start to be loving and kind and encouraging.

You might say things like:

Jesus helped me when I was scared.

Can I pray for you?

I learned that in the Bible.

Wanna come to church with me?

You don’t have to stand on a stage and preach a sermon. You can simply let Jesus come out naturally.

Say it with me again: WHEN YOU’VE BEEN WITH JESUS…PEOPLE NOTICE. They notice the way you act different and the way you speak different.

Now—here’s the thing I want every one of us to learn today. Peter and John didn’t act and speak different because they knew ABOUT Jesus. People took notice because they had been WITH Jesus.

And that’s the important lesson for us: God doesn’t just want you to KNOW about Jesus. He wants you to BE WITH Jesus.

We spend time WITH JESUS when we:

Pray

Read the Bible

Sing songs to Him

Obey Him

And the more you are with Jesus…the more your life begins to change. You act different.You speak different.

And people notice.

COMMUNION

One other really special way we get to be WITH JESUS is when we take communion together. Communion is when we eat a little cracker and drink a little juice that reminds us of Jesus body and His blood.

But it’s not just a snack. It’s a little meal that we eat and drink together—as one big family—to remember how much Jesus loves us. We remember how He died on the cross for us so that we could know Him and follow Him and be WITH HIM FOREVER.

So I want you to go back to your families and we’re all going to take communion together ok?

“Sign Up to Serve Local” graphic featuring photos of people serving in the community, a QR code, and the date Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Serve Local Is Coming
Join us Saturday, October 3 at 9:00 AM as we go out and love our community through practical acts of service. Projects are available for different interests and skill levels, and everyone is welcome.

Find a Project