Family Life Pastor
October 2018
"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 things that I have commanded you." (Matthew 28:19-20)
A better translation of the Greek word "ethnos," meaning nations, is our contemporary term "ethnic groups," or "people of every kind." This commandment – to make followers of Jesus Christ – applies to where we are. Think of the different ethnic groups living in Silicon Valley. They can be your neighbor or your co-worker. The entire world is right here in Silicon Valley.
A few months ago, three Indian men came by the church one Sunday morning wanting to know more about God and to study His word. They wanted to understand what Christianity is about. They met with the pastor and then studied the Bible with him a few times before they decided to be baptized. Now, they meet regularly on Sunday mornings to study the Hindi translation of the Bible with Viney Khokhar, who speaks fluent Hindi and helps them understand God's Word.
Christ is relevant for the people of all nations and all cultures. We now have two language groups here at SCFBC: Hindi Bible Study and the UnCuerpo Spanish Group. Both groups meet on Sunday mornings at 9:30 and 9:15, respectively. These two groups, like the rest of our Life Groups, are learning to grow together just as Christ's disciples did. Discipleship and spiritual formation are ongoing, active journeys. Both are lifelong processes as we grow more fully in Christ. There is always room for improvement! We are commanded to work out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12). We must remember we can make others better disciples when we are practicing disciples ourselves.