Living the Sent Life

Jesus’ words in Matthew 9:37-38 are simple yet powerful: “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” This moment is more than an observation. It is an invitation.

Jesus had already modeled what genuine ministry looks like. He had shown us the inner compassion that moves Him, and now He extends an invitation. Come join Me at work.

There is no shortage of need. The harvest is abundant. There are people to reach, wounds to heal, and truth to proclaim. But notice what Jesus calls us to first. Not action. Not planning. Not even packing your bag.

The first step is prayer.

Prayer: The Starting Point of Kingdom Work
Jesus says, “Pray earnestly.” Before we do anything else, we pray. This is not a casual suggestion. It is the essential beginning of all Kingdom movement. In Acts 1:8, Jesus gives the disciples the Great Commission. And what’s their immediate response? A ten-day prayer meeting in the upper room.

Prayer aligns our hearts with God’s.

When we pray, we begin to see people the way He sees them. Our will begins to conform to His. The mission of God becomes so compelling, we find ourselves unable to resist joining Him.

Have you ever had someone approach you with a request and say, “I just want you to pray about it”? Let’s be honest, that’s Christian code for “You're already in.” You just got Volun-told. But it follows the pattern of Jesus. Prayer comes first because prayer prepares the heart for action.

The Power of “Just Pray About It”

Our own adoption story began the same way. My wife, long before I was ready, came to me and said, “Why don’t you just pray about it?” Eventually, that prayer led to the most beautiful outcome. A curly-haired, brown-eyed child who became part of our family.

That’s what happens when you start praying. God moves. Your heart shifts. And before you know it, you’re living in the middle of a story you never imagined.

So let me challenge you.
●Pray about going on a mission trip.
●Pray about teaching Sunday school.
●Pray about volunteering at Vacation Bible School.

And one very specific, very real need. Our Joy Ministry. Marsha leads this ministry for those with special needs, and she cannot do it alone. We need more people to serve the least of these. We need people to say, “I’ll give one Sunday a month.” Just one. Pray about that.

Jesus’s Commission: Moving from Disciple to Apostle
In Matthew 10:1, we see a turning point: “Then he called to him his twelve disciples... and he gave them authority.” By verse 2, they are no longer called disciples. Now they are apostles.

That shift is significant.
●A disciple is a follower, learner, and apprentice.
●An apostle is a delegate, leader, and ambassador.

Up to this moment, Jesus had carried out the mission virtually alone. But now, the passive observers are becoming active participants.

Some of us have spent our whole lives as disciples, learning, listening, growing. But the time has come to be sent. It is time to become apostles.

Jesus gave them authority.

The word here in Greek is exousia, meaning jurisdiction or delegated empowerment. It is the same authority Jesus referenced in Matthew 28, when He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples…”

Living the Sent Life
Let me put it like this. When I was in high school, I worked as a carpenter. For the first year, I followed my boss around, learning the trade. Eventually, he began sending me out on jobs alone. I had learned by watching. Then we worked together. Then he watched me. And finally, I was sent.

That is the journey from disciple to apostle.

And that is exactly what Jesus did. He sent them out in pairs. Ministry is not meant to be done alone, but in partnership and in community.

This week, two of our very own, Justin and Israel, were down in the Amazon, living the sent life. Ordinary guys from our church are doing extraordinary work because they said yes.

Will You Say Yes?
Are you ready to grab the backpack and go?

Jesus modeled what it looks like to follow God. He taught, preached, and healed. He was moved with compassion. He invited others to join Him in the fields, and then He commissioned them to go.

That same invitation stands before us today.

Pray. Align your heart with God’s. Say yes. And live the sent life.



This blog is based on the message shared by Campus Pastor Ben Hays at our CityRise West U Baptist campus on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Check out the full message below!