--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If any man should ask me what is the…" description: "\"If any man should ask me what is the first, second, and third part of being a Christian, I must answer 'Action!'\" — Thomas Brooks" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/thomas-brooks-2757_action_if-any-man-should-ask-me-what-is-the-fir_3021496.png" --- # If any man should ask me what is the first, second, and… ![“If any man should ask me what is the first, second, and third part of being a Christian, I must answer 'Action!'” quote by Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/thomas-brooks-2757_action_if-any-man-should-ask-me-what-is-the-fir_3021496.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/thomas-brooks-2757_action_if-any-man-should-ask-me-what-is-the-fir_3021496.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/thomas-brooks-2757_action_if-any-man-should-ask-me-what-is-the-fir_3021496.png) > “If any man should ask me what is the first, second, and third part of being a Christian, I must answer 'Action!'” [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The core of Christian life is active faith expressed through deeds. **In simple terms:** Action defines faith. Key Takeaway Live your beliefs through deeds. Themes faith action Christianity service Mood hopeful purposeful Type religious inspirational When to use this quote - volunteering - social justice - daily worship Key Concepts theology ethics Questions to Reflect On - What actions reflect your deepest convictions? - How does service shape your spiritual journey? A Different Perspective Faith without action can become empty ritual. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Action](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) ## Related quotes > [My second Christian name is John. Good solid bourgeois Christian name, like my first name, Peter, a rock. Minerals. Build on rock, rocks, uranium.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-greenaway/my-second-christian-name-is-john-good-solid-bourgeois-christian-name/) [Peter Greenaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-greenaway/) > [Power should answer by action, not by speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-o-malley/power-should-answer-by-action-not-by-speech/) [Austin O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-o-malley/) > [If we reject the Christian answer, we still have the problem. We're going to adopt some alternative, because the questions will not go away,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/if-we-reject-the-christian-answer-we-still-have-the-problem-we-re/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“I am not going to attempt a physical or medical analysis of death and its aftermath or a psychological or anthropological description of beliefs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-t-wright/i-am-not-going-to-attempt-a-physical-or-medical-analysis-of-death-and/) [N.T. Wright](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-t-wright/) > [“The question: What is a Christian? My answer: A Christian is someone who follows Jesus\* My former answer: A Christian is someone who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scot-mcknight/the-question-what-is-a-christian-my-answer-a-christian-is-someone-who/) [Scot McKnight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scot-mcknight/) > [People ask me all the time how I got hired onto the Office. Another common question is how do I manage to stay so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/people-ask-me-all-the-time-how-i-got-hired-onto-the-office-another/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [Space Jam is my favorite movie. Don't ask me why, it just is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/space-jam-is-my-favorite-movie-don-t-ask-me-why-it-just-is/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [I would do almost anything Tina Fey asks me to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-pelosi/i-would-do-almost-anything-tina-fey-asks-me-to-do/) [Nancy Pelosi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-pelosi/) > [I've never asked a girl out in my life, they have to ask me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-jackson/i-ve-never-asked-a-girl-out-in-my-life-they-have-to-ask-me/) [Michael Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-jackson/) > [When a young artist asks me a question, I want to do what I can to give them an answer if I have it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-tait/when-a-young-artist-asks-me-a-question-i-want-to-do-what-i-can-to/) [Michael Tait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-tait/) > [My identity shifted when I got into # recovery . That's who I am now, and it actually gives me greater pleasure to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-clapton/my-identity-shifted-when-i-got-into-recovery-that-s-who-i-am-now-and/) [Eric Clapton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-clapton/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) ## More by Thomas Brooks > [Our sins are debts that none can pay but Christ. It is not our tears, but His blood; it is not our sighs, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/our-sins-are-debts-that-none-can-pay-but-christ-it-is-not-our-tears/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [Remember this-all the sighing, mourning, sobbing, and complaining in the world, does not so undeniably evidence a man to be humble, as his overlooking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/remember-this-all-the-sighing-mourning-sobbing-and-complaining-in-the/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [It is not he who knows most, nor he who hears most, nor yet he who talks most, but he who exercises grace most,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/it-is-not-he-who-knows-most-nor-he-who-hears-most-nor-yet-he-who/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [If it is not strong upon your heart to practice what you read, to what end do you read? To increase your own condemnation?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/if-it-is-not-strong-upon-your-heart-to-practice-what-you-read-to-what/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [An idle life and a holy heart is a contradiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/an-idle-life-and-a-holy-heart-is-a-contradiction/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [The two poles could sooner meet, than the love of Christ and the love of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/the-two-poles-could-sooner-meet-than-the-love-of-christ-and-the-love/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [Grace and glory differ very little; the one is the seed, the other is the flower; grace is glory militant, glory is grace triumphant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/grace-and-glory-differ-very-little-the-one-is-the-seed-the-other-is/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [It is our wisest and our safest course to stand at the farthest distance from sin; not to go near the house of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/it-is-our-wisest-and-our-safest-course-to-stand-at-the-farthest/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [Saints spring and thrive most internally, when they are most externally afflicted. Afflictions are the mother of virtue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/saints-spring-and-thrive-most-internally-when-they-are-most/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [Grace is given to trade with; it is given to lay out, not lay up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/grace-is-given-to-trade-with-it-is-given-to-lay-out-not-lay-up/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [A preacher's life should be a commentary upon his doctrine... Heavenly doctrines should always be adorned with a heavenly life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/a-preacher-s-life-should-be-a-commentary-upon-his-doctrine-heavenly/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [It is not the bee's touching of the flower that gathers honey, but her abiding for a time upon the flower that draws out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/it-is-not-the-bee-s-touching-of-the-flower-that-gathers-honey-but-her/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [“Meditate on the unique relationship between Christians. Psalm 133:1 proclaims the goodness and pleasantness of dwelling together in unity; there are some things in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/meditate-on-the-unique-relationship-between-christians-psalm-133-1/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [God hears no more than the heart speaks; and if the heart be dumb, God will certainly be deaf.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/god-hears-no-more-than-the-heart-speaks-and-if-the-heart-be-dumb-god/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [Truth is mighty and will prevail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/truth-is-mighty-and-will-prevail/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) [Explore all 151 Thomas Brooks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) ## More Action quotes > [I always say there are two things to be successful. The first is decide exactly what you want - set your goals - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/i-always-say-there-are-two-things-to-be-successful-the-first-is/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [You'd be surprised how hard it can often be to translate an action into an idea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-kraus/you-d-be-surprised-how-hard-it-can-often-be-to-translate-an-action/) [Karl Kraus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-kraus/) > [Gratitude isn't just a feeling, it's an action. Expressing gratitude by writing in a journal, taking a photo, or shooting a video creates a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janice-kaplan/gratitude-isn-t-just-a-feeling-it-s-an-action-expressing-gratitude-by/) [Janice Kaplan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janice-kaplan/) > [Nothing is so powerful as an insight into human nature... what compulsions drive a man, what instincts dominate his action. If you know these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-bernbach/nothing-is-so-powerful-as-an-insight-into-human-nature-what/) [William Bernbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-bernbach/) > [Every thought I have imprisioned in expression I must free by my deeds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kahlil-gibran/every-thought-i-have-imprisioned-in-expression-i-must-free-by-my-deeds/) [Kahlil Gibran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kahlil-gibran/) > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Every action that helps us manifest our divine nature more and more is good; every action that retards it is evil.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/every-action-that-helps-us-manifest-our-divine-nature-more-and-more/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/as-you-begin-changing-your-thinking-start-immediately-to-change-your/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's easy to say, let's go in and get the bad guys. But you have a divided country of Sunnis and Shias. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tulsi-gabbard/it-s-easy-to-say-let-s-go-in-and-get-the-bad-guys-but-you-have-a/) [Tulsi Gabbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tulsi-gabbard/) > [For comedy action, I must know the language.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sammo-hung/for-comedy-action-i-must-know-the-language/) [Sammo Hung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sammo-hung/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [“Action is a powerful thing. When you smile through your sadness, it can completely change your outlook. Try it! Smile :) Now hold onto…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/action-is-a-powerful-thing-when-you-smile-through-your-sadness-it-can/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [I reject criticism because the last thing I wanted was to sit there and look at people talking. I think people are conditioned to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-tyrnauer/i-reject-criticism-because-the-last-thing-i-wanted-was-to-sit-there/) [Matt Tyrnauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-tyrnauer/) > [“I take my actions because of my passion not because of compulsion.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amit-kalantri/i-take-my-actions-because-of-my-passion-not-because-of-compulsion/) [Amit Kalantri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amit-kalantri/) > [When the first Superman movie came out I was frequently asked "What is a hero?" ...My answer was that a hero is someone who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-reeve/when-the-first-superman-movie-came-out-i-was-frequently-asked-what-is/) [Christopher Reeve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-reeve/) [Browse all 14,940 Action quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/action/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If any man should ask me what is the first, second, and third part of being a Christian, I must answer 'Action!'", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Thomas Brooks" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/if-any-man-should-ask-me-what-is-the-first-second-and-third-part-of/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Action" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/if-any-man-should-ask-me-what-is-the-first-second-and-third-part-of/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/thomas-brooks-2757_action_if-any-man-should-ask-me-what-is-the-fir_3021496.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/thomas-brooks-2757_action_if-any-man-should-ask-me-what-is-the-fir_3021496.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e05/thomas-brooks-2757_action_if-any-man-should-ask-me-what-is-the-fir_3021496.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If any man should ask me what is the first, second, and third part of being a Christian, I must answer…” — Thomas Brooks", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Thomas Brooks", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If any man should ask me...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/if-any-man-should-ask-me-what-is-the-first-second-and-third-part-of/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/if-any-man-should-ask-me-what-is-the-first-second-and-third-part-of/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```