100 Bible Verses about Taking Action

James 2:14-17 ESV / 587 helpful votes

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

1 John 3:18 ESV / 483 helpful votes

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

James 1:23-25 ESV / 410 helpful votes

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.

Colossians 3:23-24 ESV / 389 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

James 2:18 ESV / 344 helpful votes

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

James 1:22 ESV / 319 helpful votes

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

James 4:17 ESV / 313 helpful votes

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

1 Peter 1:13 ESV / 296 helpful votes

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:5-8 ESV / 249 helpful votes

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 11:9 ESV / 224 helpful votes

And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

2 Timothy 1:7 ESV / 201 helpful votes

For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Ephesians 6:10-18 ESV / 173 helpful votes

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ...

James 2:26 ESV / 170 helpful votes

For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV / 165 helpful votes

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Matthew 7:24-27 ESV / 152 helpful votes

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

1 Timothy 6:18-19 ESV / 144 helpful votes

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Daniel 11:32 ESV / 135 helpful votes

He shall seduce with flattery those who violate the covenant, but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.

Colossians 3:2 ESV / 128 helpful votes

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.

Titus 1:16 ESV / 126 helpful votes

They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work.

James 1:5 ESV / 124 helpful votes

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV / 111 helpful votes

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.

Philippians 2:12-13 ESV / 109 helpful votes

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Matthew 5:16 ESV / 104 helpful votes

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 ESV / 96 helpful votes

For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

Matthew 7:21 ESV / 89 helpful votes

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

James 2:17 ESV / 85 helpful votes

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Philippians 4:13 ESV / 84 helpful votes

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Psalm 119:60 ESV / 83 helpful votes

I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.

2 Chronicles 31:21 ESV / 83 helpful votes

And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.

Colossians 3:23 ESV / 82 helpful votes

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,

John 3:16 ESV / 80 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Proverbs 3:27 ESV / 80 helpful votes

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.

Ezra 10:4 ESV / 80 helpful votes

Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it.”

Galatians 6:9 ESV / 77 helpful votes

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9-10 ESV / 76 helpful votes

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Luke 10:30-37 ESV / 76 helpful votes

Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. ...

Mark 9:23 ESV / 73 helpful votes

And Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.”

Proverbs 6:6-8 ESV / 72 helpful votes

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

Colossians 3:17 ESV / 71 helpful votes

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Romans 12:6-8 ESV / 70 helpful votes

Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Luke 10:33-37 ESV / 69 helpful votes

But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

John 13:17 ESV / 62 helpful votes

If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

1 Peter 5:8 ESV / 61 helpful votes

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

Matthew 18:15-17 ESV / 60 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Matthew 7:20 ESV / 60 helpful votes

Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

Matthew 6:31-33 ESV / 55 helpful votes

Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 5:23-24 ESV / 53 helpful votes

So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Proverbs 3:28 ESV / 53 helpful votes

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

Exodus 14:15 ESV / 52 helpful votes

The Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.

2 Kings 7:3-8 ESV / 51 helpful votes

Now there were four men who were lepers at the entrance to the gate. And they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, ‘Let us enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. So now come, let us go over to the camp of the Syrians. If they spare our lives we shall live, and if they kill us we shall but die.” So they arose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. But when they came to the edge of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no one there. For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians hear the sound of chariots and of horses, the sound of a great army, so that they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to come against us.” So they fled away in the twilight and abandoned their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, leaving the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. ...

Luke 6:45 ESV / 50 helpful votes

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Luke 6:37-38 ESV / 50 helpful votes

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Matthew 21:28-30 ESV / 50 helpful votes

“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.

Proverbs 27:23 ESV / 50 helpful votes

Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds,

Matthew 21:30 ESV / 49 helpful votes

And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go.

Proverbs 3:27-28 ESV / 48 helpful votes

Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.

Galatians 5:19-21 ESV / 47 helpful votes

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:33 ESV / 47 helpful votes

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Matthew 25:34 ESV / 46 helpful votes

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

Esther 4:13-14 ESV / 46 helpful votes

Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews. For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

James 2:14-26 ESV / 45 helpful votes

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ...

Hebrews 6:11-12 ESV / 45 helpful votes

And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Matthew 25:31-37 ESV / 45 helpful votes

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ...

Luke 10:37 ESV / 44 helpful votes

He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Matthew 15:8-9 ESV / 44 helpful votes

“‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

Matthew 7:24 ESV / 43 helpful votes

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Proverbs 28:13 ESV / 42 helpful votes

Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

Matthew 7:12 ESV / 41 helpful votes

“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Leviticus 25:35 ESV / 41 helpful votes

“If your brother becomes poor and cannot maintain himself with you, you shall support him as though he were a stranger and a sojourner, and he shall live with you.

John 3:17-19 ESV / 40 helpful votes

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Isaiah 3:10 ESV / 40 helpful votes

Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.

Proverbs 14:23 ESV / 40 helpful votes

In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty.

Galatians 6:1-2 ESV / 39 helpful votes

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

2 Peter 1:10 ESV / 38 helpful votes

Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Revelation 1:1 ESV / 37 helpful votes

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

1 Chronicles 16:11 ESV / 37 helpful votes

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

John 9:4 ESV / 36 helpful votes

We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

Ezekiel 18:20 ESV / 35 helpful votes

The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

1 Samuel 7:2-3 ESV / 35 helpful votes

From the day that the ark was lodged at Kiriath-jearim, a long time passed, some twenty years, and all the house of Israel lamented after the Lord. And Samuel said to all the house of Israel, “If you are returning to the Lord with all your heart, then put away the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your heart to the Lord and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.”

2 Peter 3:18 ESV / 34 helpful votes

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

James 1:19 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

2 Timothy 2:24-26 ESV / 34 helpful votes

And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

1 Timothy 1:20 ESV / 34 helpful votes

Among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Romans 1:20 ESV / 34 helpful votes

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

1 Timothy 6:12 ESV / 33 helpful votes

Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

1 Corinthians 5:4 ESV / 33 helpful votes

When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus,

Acts 26:22 ESV / 33 helpful votes

To this day I have had the help that comes from God, and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass:

Mark 1:15 ESV / 33 helpful votes

And saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV / 33 helpful votes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Matthew 18:18-19 ESV / 32 helpful votes

Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

Matthew 18:15 ESV / 32 helpful votes

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

2 Thessalonians 3:14-15 ESV / 31 helpful votes

If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

1 Corinthians 5:9-13 ESV / 31 helpful votes

I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

1 Corinthians 5:1-13 ESV / 31 helpful votes

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. ...

John 21:15 ESV / 31 helpful votes

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

Matthew 18:17 ESV / 31 helpful votes

If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

Psalm 23:1-6 ESV / 31 helpful votes

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. ...

Philippians 4:8 ESV / 30 helpful votes

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Matthew 28:19-20 ESV / 30 helpful votes

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

2 Thessalonians 3:6 ESV / 29 helpful votes

Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.

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