Forest Hill PCA Devotionals

Finding Comfort in the Cross | Heidelberg Catechism #44 Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel as we explore Question 44 of the Heidelberg Catechism: Why is there added, "he descended into hell"? In this devotional, we unpack this controversial line from the Apostles' Creed to understand how Christ's unspeakable anguish on the cross fully satisfied God's wrath, forever delivering belie...

Title: Christ's Death Benefits Us Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Heidelberg Catechism Devos Date: April 16, 2026 What benefits do believers receive from Christ's death in this life? Heidelberg Catechism Question #43

Who is truly justified before God? In Romans 2, the Apostle Paul issues a challenging reality check to the self-righteous and religious. While it’s easy to stand on the sidelines and point out the obvious sins of the world, Paul reminds us that passing judgment on others while secretly practicing the same things leaves us utterly without excuse.

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for a devotional on Heidelberg Catechism Question 42. Discover why, although Christ died for our sins, believers still experience physical death—not as a punishment, but as an entrance into eternal life. This session includes scriptural reflections from John, Philippians, and 1 Thessalonians, followed by a musical performance of &quot...

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church in this deep dive into Romans Chapter 1. In this episode of the Exploring Romans series, we examine Paul’s majestic introduction to the Gospel—the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Pastor Jason provides a chapter-by-chapter exposition, walking through: The Identity of Jesus: Fully man and fully God. The Obedience o...

In this 15th week of the Heidelberg Catechism devotionals, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church explores Question 41: "Why was he buried?" Through an examination of Luke 23, 1 Corinthians 15, Isaiah 53, and Acts 13, Pastor Van Bemmel explains how Jesus' burial in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea fulfilled Old Testament prophecy and served as definitive proof of H...

Why was Christ’s death the only way to satisfy divine justice? Pastor Jason Van Bemmel explores Question 40 of the Heidelberg Catechism, reflecting on the necessity of Jesus’ sacrifice and his agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

This devotional, led by Pastor Jason Van Bemmel, concludes the book of Acts. It follows Paul from the miracle-filled island of Malta to his final destination in Rome, where he spends two years under house arrest boldly proclaiming the Gospel.

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel as he explores Question 39 of the Heidelberg Catechism, reflecting on the profound meaning of Christ's crucifixion and the curse he bore for our salvation.

Michael Talerico, former pastoral intern at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, leads a devotional on Acts 27, emphasizing the importance of trusting God’s sovereignty even in the midst of life's "chaos" and harrowing trials.

In this devotional, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel explores Heidelberg Catechism Question 38, discussing why Jesus suffered under the earthly judge Pontius Pilate. He explains the concept of penal substitutionary atonement using passages from Luke, 2 Corinthians, and Galatians, showing how Christ was condemned in our place to free us from God's severe judgment.

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for a special Good Friday (2026) devotional on Question 37 of the Heidelberg Catechism. In this episode, we deeply meditate on the suffering of Jesus Christ. Through an exploration of the Apostles' Creed, Isaiah 53, and Hebrews 5, we look at how Christ willingly bore the wrath of God to redeem humanity, granting us grace, righteou...

Paul stands before Herod Agrippa, giving us a Master Class in Gospel witness and apologetics.

Pastor Jason Van Bemmel explores Question 36 of the Heidelberg Catechism, focusing on the profound benefits of Christ's holy conception and birth. He explains how Jesus, as both fully God and fully man, uniquely qualifies as our mediator to bridge the gap created by sin. Through exploring rich scriptures like 1 Timothy 2:5, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 8, Hebrews 9, and 1 Peter 1, this teaching...

Join Pastor Intern Michael Taliercio for a devotional study of Acts 25. Explore how God’s sovereignty and wisdom protect Paul through the legal systems of the time, ensuring the Gospel continues its journey toward Rome.

Context: The devotional focuses on Question 35 of the Heidelberg Catechism, exploring the Apostles' Creed article that states Jesus was "conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary." The Incarnation: The core teaching emphasizes that Jesus is the eternal Son of God who maintained His divine nature while taking on a true human nature, including flesh and blood, from the Virg...

Heidelberg Catechism Devotional #34: Why We Call Jesus "Our Lord"In this devotional, Pastor Jason van Bemmel explores Question 34 of the Heidelberg Catechism, explaining the profound significance of calling Jesus Christ "our Lord." Discover how Christ ransomed us from sin and the power of the devil—not with silver or gold, but with His own precious blood—to make us His own poss...

Pastor Jason van Bemmel explores Paul's trial before Governor Felix in Acts 24. Learn from Paul's example of a dignified defense, his refusal to return slander with slander, and his unwavering commitment to preaching righteousness, self-control, and judgment even to a corrupt authority.

WalkDevo #525 | Acts 24: Paul Before Felix & The Heart of the Gospel Join Pastoral Intern Michael Tillerseo for day 525 of our daily walk through the Bible as we explore Acts 24. In this devotional, we examine Paul’s faithful defense before Governor Felix against the false accusations brought by the Sanhedrin. Despite imprisonment and opposition, Paul boldly keeps the resurrection of Jesus Chr...

Heidelberg Catechism Devotional #33: The Son of God Join Pastor Jason van Bemmel as he explores Question 33 of the Heidelberg Catechism: Why is Jesus called God's "only begotten Son" when we are also called His children? This devotional delves into the eternal sonship of Christ and the beautiful reality of our adoption through grace. Key Scripture: John 1:1-18, 1 John 4:9, Romans 8:1...

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel for Day 522 of "Walking with Jesus through the Word" as we dig into Acts 23. In this daily devotional, we explore Paul's chaotic trial before the Sanhedrin, a deadly conspiracy by forty men to end his life, and his dramatic nighttime Roman escort to Governor Felix in Caesarea—marking the beginning of his long imprisonment. Originally recorded as part of F...

Heidelberg Catechism #32: Your Identity in Christ What does it actually mean to carry the name "Christian"? In this devotional, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel dives into Question 32 of the Heidelberg Catechism to explore the profound identity and calling of every believer. Key Takeaways: United by Faith: Being a Christian means you are a member of Christ by faith and a partaker of His Holy Spir...

Pastor Jason Van Bemmel explores Heidelberg Catechism Question 31, explaining the title "Christ" and its meaning as "Anointed". This devotion details Jesus’ three essential roles as our Prophet, Priest, and King, demonstrating how He is our all-sufficient Savior.

This 17-minute devotional, led by Pastoral Intern Michael Taliercio of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, explores Acts chapter 22. The episode covers Paul’s defense before a hostile Jerusalem crowd, his conversion testimony, and a reflection on God’s grace and sovereignty in using even our backgrounds for His purposes.

In this 11th week of devotions, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel discusses Question 30 of the Heidelberg Catechism. He explores why salvation cannot be found in anyone or anything other than Jesus Christ, drawing on scriptures from 1 Corinthians, Galatians, Colossians, and Romans to demonstrate that Jesus is our complete righteousness. The devotion concludes with a musical performance of "Nothing but...