Responding to God's Call: Faith in Action

The book of James calls us not just to hear God’s word, but to do what it says. It’s easy to admire the sound of God’s call, to let it ring in the background of our lives, or to put it on silent, but the real question is: are we answering? God’s first call is always to be with Him before we do anything for Him. He loves us, calls us, and invites us into relationship—not performance. Yet, as we walk with Him, being with Jesus inevitably leads to becoming like Jesus, and that transformation leads to doing what Jesus did. Obedience is not about earning God’s favor, but about responding to the favor He’s already shown us.

James warns us that hearing without doing is self-deception. God’s word is like a mirror, showing us who we really are and what needs to change. But the mirror can’t do the work for us; we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit and act on what we see. Knowledge alone doesn’t equal maturity or transformation. Even the demons believe the right things, but it’s faith in action—trusting God enough to obey—that leads to growth. Delayed or disregarded obedience is still disobedience. When God calls, the time to respond is now, even if we don’t see the whole picture.

Scripture is full of stories that illustrate the power of a single step of obedience. Abraham didn’t understand God’s request, but he trusted and obeyed, and God provided. Ananias risked his safety to pray for Saul, and God used that moment to change the course of history. But not everyone says yes—some, like the rich young ruler or Felix, miss their moment by saying “later” or “no.” The difference isn’t in the God who calls, but in how we respond.

Wherever you find yourself—skeptical, new to faith, growing, maturing, or feeling stuck—God is still calling. There’s always a next step, whether it’s being open, building a foundation, serving, reconciling, pouring into others, or simply being honest about where you are. Momentum in faith doesn’t start with giant leaps, but with small, faithful steps. God hasn’t given up on you, and the blessing is found not in knowing, but in acting on what you believe. The only wrong move is to remain stuck. When God calls, don’t let “later” turn into “never.” Write down your next step, pray about it, and commit to act—because on the other side of your “yes” could be a story only God can write.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Obedience is a response to God’s favor, not a means to earn it. God’s love and acceptance come first, and our acts of obedience flow from a heart that has already been embraced by Him. True transformation begins with being with Jesus, which leads to becoming like Him, and ultimately to doing what He did. This progression is the natural outworking of a life rooted in grace, not performance. [07:58]
• 2. Knowledge without action is self-deception. James compares God’s word to a mirror: it reveals truth about ourselves, but unless we act on what we see, nothing changes. Spiritual maturity is not measured by how much we know, but by how much we trust God enough to obey Him, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. Faith grows when we apply what we know, not just when we accumulate information. [13:59]
• 3. Delayed obedience is disobedience. When God reveals a next step, waiting for a more convenient time is a subtle way of saying “no.” The stories of Abraham, Ananias, the rich young ruler, Jonah, and Felix show that the difference in their outcomes was not God’s faithfulness, but their willingness to respond. The most dangerous word in faith can be “later”—because “later” often becomes “never.” [18:21]
• 4. Your obedience can impact more than just your own story. Sometimes God wants to write someone else’s story through your faithfulness. Ananias’ willingness to pray for Saul led to the transformation of Paul, whose ministry shaped the early church and much of the New Testament. Our small steps of faith may be the key to someone else’s breakthrough, healing, or calling. [24:32]
• 5. There is always a next step, no matter where you are in your journey. Whether you’re skeptical, new, growing, maturing, or feeling stuck, God is still calling you forward. Sometimes the next step is bold action; other times, it’s simply being honest with God or being still in His presence. Momentum in faith is built through small, consistent steps—one “yes” at a time. [35:25]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [02:53] - The Call and Our Response
• [04:49] - God’s General and Specific Call
• [06:37] - Why Do We Get Stuck?
• [07:58] - Our Lives Impact Others
• [09:50] - Hearing vs. Doing
• [12:03] - God’s Word as a Mirror
• [13:59] - Transformation Through Obedience
• [15:31] - Knowledge vs. Maturity
• [16:16] - Faith in Action
• [17:27] - Accountability and Delayed Obedience
• [19:36] - Abraham’s Step of Faith
• [20:50] - Wrestling with God’s Call
• [23:04] - Ananias and the Power of Obedience
• [24:32] - Missed Moments: Saying No or Later
• [28:31] - Finding Your Next Step
• [29:05] - Steps for Skeptics and New Believers
• [30:29] - Community and Growth
• [32:58] - Stretching and Reconciling
• [34:20] - When You Feel Stuck
• [35:25] - Small Steps, Big Momentum
• [36:20] - Responding to God’s Call
• [37:15] - Remembering and Acting on Your Step
• [38:16] - The Grace of God’s Persistent Call
• [38:54] - Responding in Worship

Bible Reading

James 1:22-25 (ESV) — > But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

James 2:19 (ESV) — > You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Genesis 22:1-3 (ESV) — > After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

Observation Questions

1. According to James 1:22-25, what is the difference between someone who hears the word and someone who does the word? What illustration does James use to make his point?
2. In James 2:19, what does James say about belief without action? Who else “believes” but does not obey?
3. In Genesis 22:1-3, how does Abraham respond to God’s difficult command? What details show his attitude toward obedience?
4. The sermon compared God’s word to a mirror. What does this mean, and what are we supposed to do after looking in that “mirror”? [[12:03]]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does James warn that hearing the word without doing it is self-deception? What are some ways people might deceive themselves in their spiritual lives? [[09:50]]
2. The sermon said, “Obedience is not about earning God’s favor, but about responding to the favor He’s already shown us.” How does this change the way we think about following God’s commands? [[07:58]]
3. Why is delayed obedience considered disobedience, according to both James and the sermon? What are some reasons people might delay responding to God? [[18:21]]
4. The stories of Abraham, Ananias, the rich young ruler, Jonah, and Felix were shared. What do these stories teach us about the outcomes of saying “yes,” “no,” or “later” to God’s call? [[27:05]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon said that God’s first call is always to be with Him before doing for Him. In your current season of life, do you find it easier to “do for God” or to “be with God”? What would it look like to prioritize being with Him this week? [[07:58]]
2. Is there an area of your life where you know what God is asking you to do, but you haven’t acted on it yet? What’s holding you back—fear, uncertainty, busyness, or something else? [[18:21]]
3. The sermon mentioned that knowledge without action is self-deception. Can you think of a time when you knew the right thing to do but didn’t do it? What was the result? [[09:50]]
4. Abraham and Ananias both obeyed God even when it was risky or didn’t make sense. Is there a “next step” God is calling you to take that feels uncomfortable or unclear? What would it look like to trust Him with that step? [[19:36]]
5. The sermon said, “Your obedience can impact more than just your own story.” Who in your life might be affected if you take a step of faith or obedience? [[24:32]]
6. For those who feel stuck or numb in their faith, the sermon encouraged honesty with God and taking even a small step. If you feel stuck, what is one small, practical thing you could do this week to move forward? [[34:20]]
7. The message challenged us not to let “later” turn into “never.” What is one thing you can write down, pray about, and commit to act on this week? How can the group support you in this? [[36:20]]