The Potter's House Podcast

Episode: Make a Move | Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts

Date: September 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this powerful message, Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts explores the call to “make a move” in faith, drawing from the biblical journey of Abraham (Abram) and the story of a father desperate for a miracle in Mark 9. She challenges listeners to see faith not as a static concept but as an active, moving force. The sermon is both a call to bold belief and a compassionate recognition of our doubts and obstacles, centering on the necessity of faith in action to realize God’s promises. With warmth, candor, and passionate delivery, Pastor Sarah emphasizes that it's not about perfection—it's about movement, surrender, and the willingness to trust in what God can do, even (and especially) when we cannot see the outcome.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Imperfect Journey of Faith

Text Focus: Genesis 12 (Abraham’s Call and Response)

• Pastor Sarah recounts Abram’s call in Genesis 12, highlighting that God’s invitation required a move into the unknown, away from all that was familiar (03:05).
• She notes Abraham’s imperfections—his lie to Pharaoh and self-doubt—but emphasizes that God’s promise remained.

  “How is this the man that God would allow us to call the Father of Faith?” (05:43)

• “Abram starts moving, and when he starts moving, he brings others with him. Because when you make a move, it's not just for you. There are some people who will only move when you move.” (38:57)

Insight: Faith is not about getting everything right; it's about being willing to move, risk, learn, and let God shape you along the journey.

2. The Power to Believe

Text Focus: Mark 9:21-24 (“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief”)

• Pastor Sarah discusses the father whose son was tormented, who brought his need to Jesus after others had failed. She draws parallels to our own wavering faith and past disappointments.

  “It's not that I don't have faith. I have some. But mixed in with my faith is some unbelief.” (12:01)

• She explains that believing isn’t easy—in fact, it takes power, referencing the Greek word “dunamis” (power).

  “This text suggests to us that it takes power to believe. ... It is not just something we possess, that it requires power.” (18:20)

• Faith must often be received as a gift from God, especially when human strength fails.

  “What you cannot believe in your own strength... Lord, I believe; help my unbelief—those areas where you have unbelief, my Bible is telling me that the Spirit can have a manifestation that gives you faith.” (32:45)

3. Faith as Action

• Faith is more than a thought or feeling—it's an act that requires movement.

  "Too often we have reduced faith to just what we believe. Instead of faith being a verb, faith should have action connected to it." (37:38)

• Sarah urges listeners to step out before seeing the whole picture, as Abraham did—to move even when the outcome isn't clear.

  "God says, I'll multiply your faith when you multiply your steps. If you would take the first step of faith, I'll show you the next step of faith. But you haven't moved because you don't know the full plan. Which means you don't have enough faith for who I am." (38:01)

4. God’s Spirit Empowers Every Move

• She teaches that the Holy Spirit gives believers what they need for each unique circumstance—wisdom, knowledge, faith, counsel, and strength.

  “The Holy Spirit can manifest in whatever I need for any given moment. That's why I need the Holy Spirit. I need the Holy Spirit beyond Sunday. I need the Holy Spirit every single day.” (29:21)

• Everyone receives different spiritual gifts depending on the need, and even faith itself is a gift that can be imparted.

5. The Blessing of Abraham Is By Faith—Not Perfection or Birthright

Text Focus: Galatians 3

• Every believer can step into the promises given to Abraham—not by bloodline, but by faith.

  “To be a descendant of Abram is by faith... And if you have faith like Abraham's faith, all of those things that I said about Abram can apply to your life too.” (55:07)

• The sermon emphasizes generational impact—how our obedient steps of faith can open breakthrough for families and communities.

6. Dealing with Doubt, Shame, and Fear of Mistakes

• Making a move often means risking imperfection, but the covenant with God is based on faith, not flawless execution.

  “If you make only the right moves, when you arrive to the destination, you will say that it was your work that got you there. But the covenant is not about work. The covenant is about faith.” (52:27)

• God redeems both our successes and failures, making our lives a testimony to His grace, not our performance.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On God’s Surprising Ability (14:39):

  “There are some things I only know now that Jesus can do, because I was first in a moment where I didn’t know he could do that.”

• The Power Required to Believe (18:27):

  “It takes power to believe, that faith is not just a consciousness. It is not just something we possess, that it requires power.”

• On Activation (37:38):

  “Too often we have reduced faith to just what we believe. Instead of faith being a verb, faith should have action connected to it.”

• On Movement Inspiring Others (38:57):

  “Abram starts moving, and when he starts moving, he brings others with him. Because when you make a move, it's not just for you. There are some people who will only move when you move.”

• On God’s Promise After Mistakes (56:39):

  “His imperfections did not change God’s promise. And when he messed up, he learned and he tried again. And God created a nation out of Abram.”

• On Generational Legacy (58:22):

  “I want my name to be great so that when my great-great-great-grandchildren hear about Sam, that they hear about a woman of God and a woman who had faith… If I do this right, my name will have honor and integrity.”

• On Stepping Out Even in Uncertainty (60:12):

  “What does it look like for you in this season of your life to have faith that allows you to make some moves that get you out of your comfort zone?”

• Final Challenge (63:30):

  “Faith is an action word. So your assignment this week is: how can I put my faith in action?”

Key Timestamps

• [03:05] – Introduction to Abram’s story; the call to leave his country
• [12:01] – Mark 9: The father's blend of faith and unbelief
• [18:20] – Explaining why belief requires “power”—dunamis—beyond simple conviction
• [25:30] – The Holy Spirit’s role in empowering us with different manifestations, including faith itself
• [37:38] – Faith as an action; believers challenged to move even when the full plan isn’t visible
• [38:57] – “When you make a move, it's not just for you…”—on the collective impact of our faith steps
• [52:27] – On moving despite imperfection; faith over works
• [55:07] – Galatians: Blessing of Abraham by faith, not just biology
• [58:22] – Legacy, honor, integrity, and generational impact
• [63:30] – Practical challenge: making faith an action this week

Conclusion & Takeaways

Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts calls all listeners to "make a move"—to refuse to let fear, disappointment, or a desire for perfection paralyze their obedience to God. God’s promises are accessed by faith, and faith is demonstrated through action. Every faith step, big or small, unleashes blessings not only for ourselves but for those around us and future generations. The Holy Spirit stands ready to empower, guide, and infuse us with the faith we lack. The episode closes with a pastoral prayer and invitation to receive Jesus—the boldest and most transformative move anyone can ever make.

For your week ahead:

• Ask, "Where does my faith need to make a move?"
• Don’t wait for the plan to be perfect—step out, knowing God meets you on the move.
• Let faith not just be what you believe, but what you do.

“God says, if you want me to make you, you got to do something that moves in the direction of what I told you.”
— Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts, 39:11

End of Summary.