Prepared for Harvest (Acts Pt. 18)
Living as Disciples Who Make Disciples
As followers of Jesus, we are invited into a life of purpose that’s centered not just on personal faith but on participation in God's mission to reach the world. This isn't a calling for the few — it’s an invitation for every believer to live as a disciple and to make disciples. At Antioch Salt Lake, we believe this deeply, and we're aligning our hearts and our lives with what God is doing: preparing for harvest.
The Harvest is Ready — Are We?
Jesus’ words in John 4:35-36 (ESV) are clear and compelling:
“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.”
We are living in a time where the spiritual harvest is plentiful. The need isn’t in the lack of people who need Jesus—it’s in the lack of laborers willing to say yes. As Jesus says in Luke 10:2 (ESV):
“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.”
Being prepared for harvest means being ready to respond — in our neighborhoods, workplaces, campuses, and families.
What Does It Mean to Be “Prepared”?
Being prepared for harvest isn't just about better programs or bigger events. It’s about becoming the kind of people God can use — rooted in Jesus and ready to walk with others as they encounter Him. That preparation can look like:
Prayer: Asking God to move, to open doors, and to raise up laborers.
Reaching: Sharing the gospel, inviting others into conversation and community.
Welcoming: Creating space in our lives, homes, and church gatherings for others to belong.
Discipling: Helping people grow in their love and obedience to Jesus.
Multiplying: Freely giving away what we’ve received.
Love God. Obey His Word. Make Disciples.
Jesus made it simple when asked what matters most:
“‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Matthew 22:37-39, ESV)
And before returning to the Father, He left us with a clear mission:
“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.” (Matthew 28:19-20, ESV)
These two — the Great Commandment and the Great Commission — are at the core of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. They're not optional. They’re central to the Christian life.
Discipleship: Not Optional, And Essential
Discipleship isn't a side project or a level you graduate into once you’re “ready.” It’s normal Christianity. It’s how Jesus spent His ministry — investing in a few, teaching them to walk with God, and sending them out to do the same.
Discipleship isn’t about knowing everything or being perfect. It’s about helping someone else take their next step toward Jesus. It’s showing someone how to read the Bible, how to pray, how to hear God's voice, how to obey, and how to invite others into that same journey.
Paul put it this way in 2 Timothy 2:2 (ESV):
“...what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”
This is the multiplication vision of the kingdom — that every disciple becomes a disciple-maker.
Overcoming the Barriers
So what holds us back?
Insecurity: Thinking we aren’t mature enough or don’t know enough.
Overwhelm: Believing we need to disciple everyone or have all the answers.
Lack of clarity: Not knowing what to do or where to start.
Misaligned priorities: Filling our lives with many good things, but missing the main thing.
Let’s be honest — life can get crowded. But Jesus modeled a life that was focused on discipling others. If we want to be like Him, discipleship must become part of our mindset and our lifestyle.
What Does It Look Like?
Here’s a simple framework to help someone move forward in their walk with Jesus — the very framework we use as a church:
Love God
Show them how to read and discover truth in Scripture.
Model how to spend time with Jesus through worship, word, and prayer.
Help them learn to hear and discern God’s voice.
Obey His Word
Teach them to apply Scripture to their lives.
Help them identify and pursue freedom from sin and brokenness.
Offer encouragement and accountability in the journey.
Make Disciples
Encourage them to think about who they can love and invest in.
Challenge them to share the gospel and their story.
Invite them to bring others to read the Bible, come to Life Group, or attend church.
This isn’t just for pastors or leaders. It’s for every believer. No pressure, only partnership with Jesus.
Disciple-Making is God’s Plan A
The Great Commission wasn’t given to a few — it was given to all of us. It’s how the faith has reached us 2,000 years later, and it’s how it will continue to spread until every nation knows Jesus.
God’s strategy is simple: disciples who make disciples. It’s slower than the stadium strategy, but it’s more powerful, more sustainable, and more personal.
Let’s say yes — to loving God, obeying His word, and making disciples in Utah and beyond.
Reflection Questions
How is God inviting you to grow as a disciple of Jesus right now?
Who are one or two people He may be highlighting for you to invest in more intentionally?
What’s one step you can take this week to pursue discipleship or help someone else follow Jesus?