Lection: Psalm 40

January 18, 2026

Psalm 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42

“Safe Forever”

In our Wednesday Bible study meeting this week, we read and discussed the Gospel text. We talked about the earliest disciples of Jesus and how they came to know him, to believe that he was the one sent by God to be their teacher, leader, and saviour.

We noticed the people who were involved in their becoming Jesus’ followers – John, who pointed to the Messiah and essentially said, “That’s him!” Andrew, who met the Christ and then went to find his brother and bring him along. Jesus, who invited them to “come and see” to stay with him and get to know him.

And I found our conversation to be a little nostalgic. I found myself thinking about my parents who brought me to church, friends who shared their faith with me and taught me how to pray, and the gift of the Gospel texts themselves through which I get to spend time with Jesus, getting to know him, and to love him, and to learn his ways.

We marvelled at the fact that when Simon showed up, Jesus looked at him and already knew how Simon (soon to be renamed Peter) would become a servant leader … Read more »

January 20, 2008

Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40:1-11
1 Corinthians 1:1-9
John 1:29-42

I’ve always tended to think of myself as a “middle of the road” Canadian Presbyterian. I’m pretty comfortable in a church that includes a variety of perspectives on social issues, biblical interpretation, and theology. We don’t need to agree on absolutely everything, but we can find unity in some core convictions and work together towards some common goals. And I’m pretty comfortable as a Presbyterian within the larger church community. I value our Reformed tradition with its distinctives and strengths, but I don’t need to convince Anglicans or Roman Catholics to become Presbyterians. I don’t think the Pentecostals would be better off if they joined our church, and I don’t go around saying the Presbyterians who went into Church Union 83 years ago would be much better off if they had stuck with us. In fact, when I’ve taken part in interfaith events, (like the prayers for peace that we shared a few weeks ago on New Year’s Eve down at St. Paul’s Cathedral), I’ve been aware of the fact that we have a great deal in common with other people of faith… whether they are Jewish, or Muslim, or Sikh, or Buddhist, or something … Read more »