Forest Hill PCA Devotionals

Welcome to our Heidelberg Catechism devotionals! In this episode, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church wraps up Week 22 by exploring Question #65. If we are made right before God by faith alone, where does that saving faith actually come from? Pastor Jason unpacks how God doesn't just demand faith, but actively provides it. In this episode, we cover: The Source of Faith:...

Welcome to the final episode of Exploring Romans! In this concluding devotional (Day 177), Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church walks us through Romans Chapter 16.In this episode, we cover:The Saints of Rome: Paul's extensive greetings highlight the many dedicated individuals who worked hard to support his ministry. This demonstrates that the vital work of the church reli...

In this Heidelberg Catechism Devotional, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church explores Question #64. If salvation is completely by grace, doesn't that make people careless and wicked? Pastor Jason answers this age-old question by delving into the nature of true, living faith. He unpacks why true faith cannot be dead and must produce the fruit of thankfulness, and why it i...

Welcome to Exploring Romans! In this episode, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church walks us through the powerful message of Romans Chapter 15. In this study, we cover: Supporting the Weak: The biblical mandate for "strong" believers to bear with the weak, contrasting modern culture's heavy focus on "self-care" with the Christian call to selflessly buil...

Grace to Gratitude: Why Our Good Works Aren't Enough | Heidelberg Catechism Week 22, Day 1, Questions 62-63 Welcome to Week 22 of the Heidelberg Catechism Devotionals with Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church. This week, we pivot from the topic of God's grace to our response of gratitude, specifically exploring Questions 62 and 63. Join us as we explore why our good...

Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church leads a study on Question 61 of the Heidelberg Catechism. He explores the theological concept of imputed righteousness, explaining that believers are justified before God not because their faith itself has intrinsic saving merit, but because faith is the instrument used to lay hold of Jesus Christ's perfect satisfaction, righteousness,...

Exploring Romans: Day 171 – Christian Liberty and Matters of Conscience (Romans 14) Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for a morning devotional set against the beautiful backdrop of Lake Blue Ridge, Georgia. In this episode of Exploring Romans, we read and study Romans 14, where the Apostle Paul addresses the early church's struggles with "adiaphora"—ma...

How can you be righteous before God? Heidelberg Catechism Question #60 answers this vital question. Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel as we explore what the Bible says about our justification by faith before God.

Exploring Romans: Day 168 – Submission, Love, and Living in the Light (Romans 13) Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from the beautiful North Georgia mountains for Day 168 of our Exploring Romans journey. In this daily devotional, we dive into Romans chapter 13 to uncover the practical applications of offering our bodies as "living sacrifices" in a fallen world. Pastor Jason breaks down three...

In this devotional, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel explores Heidelberg Catechism Question 59, which focuses on the benefits of believing the Apostle's Creed. He emphasizes two primary benefits: we are made righteous before God and we become heirs to eternal life. He highlights that this righteousness is not earned by our own works, but is instead a manifestation of God's grace through faith in Je...

Heidelberg Catechism Question #58 - The Life Everlasting What comfort do you receive from the article about "the life everlasting"? In this devotional, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church concludes the Apostles' Creed series by exploring Heidelberg Catechism Question 58. Discover the beautiful two-part promise of eternal life: the beginning of eternal joy we ex...

Exploring Romans: Chapter 12 - Living the Gospel After eleven chapters of profound theology, Paul shifts to the practical: how do we live out the Gospel? In this episode of Exploring Romans, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church walks through Romans 12 to explore the great pivot of the Christian life. Discover what it means to be a "living sacrifice," how to humbly u...

Heidelberg Catechism Question #57 - The Resurrection of the Body What comfort does the resurrection of the body offer believers? In this devotional, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church explores Heidelberg Catechism Question 57, looking at the glorious future promised to every child of God. Discover the two-fold hope of the Christian faith: the immediate, conscious joy of the...

Exploring Romans: Chapter 11 - The Gospel and the Jews Has God rejected His people, Israel? By no means! In this episode of Exploring Romans , Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church dives into Romans Chapter 11 to explore the mystery of God's sovereign grace. Discover the profound analogy of the grafted olive tree and learn how the partial hardening of Israel ultimately ope...

The Forgiveness of Sins | Heidelberg Catechism Q. 56 | Week 20 Welcome to Week 20 of our Heidelberg Catechism devotionals! Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church as we continue unpacking the Apostles' Creed. Today, we focus on Question 56: What do you believe concerning the forgiveness of sins? This devotional explores the incredible promise that our sins and sinful...

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for a daily devotional on Question 55 of the Heidelberg Catechism. This study explores the "communion of saints," highlighting how believers share in Christ's spiritual riches and are called to cheerfully use their gifts to serve one another. The devotional concludes with the classic hymn, "I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord....

In this episode, Pastor Jason Van Bemel explores Romans 10, contrasting the pursuit of righteousness through the Law versus righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. He emphasizes that while the Jewish people were zealous for God, they missed the "goal" of the Law—Christ—by trying to establish their own merit. The message underscores the simplicity of the Gospel: that everyone who con...

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for a devotional on Heidelberg Catechism Question 54. In this session, we explore the Apostles' Creed and what it means to believe in the "Holy Catholic Christian Church," looking at its universal scope, unity in true faith, and our eternal security as living members. The devotional concludes with a beautiful rendition o...

Exploring Romans 9 | God's Sovereignty in Salvation | Day 149 Description: Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for Day 149 of the "Exploring Romans" series as we dive deep into Romans Chapter 9. This devotional reading and exposition challenges human pride by exploring the profound themes of God's sovereignty, mercy, and grace in salvation. If you have...

Week 19: Heidelberg Catechism Question 53 - The Holy Spirit Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel as we continue our devotional journey through the Apostles' Creed portion of the Heidelberg Catechism. This week, we dive into Question 53 to explore what we believe concerning the Holy Spirit. Discover the profound comfort in knowing that the Holy Spirit is the true, eternal God—co-equal with the Father a...

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church as we wrap up Week 18 of our Heidelberg Catechism devotionals. In this episode, we focus on Question 52 and Article 7 of the Apostles’ Creed: Christ's return to judge the living and the dead. Discover the deep gospel comfort believers find amidst sorrow, persecution, and loss, knowing our Savior will return to vanquish all enemi...

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for this episode of Exploring Romans, as we dive into Romans chapter 8. Discover why this beloved passage is considered the heart of Paul's magnum opus, guiding believers from the promise of "no condemnation" to the ultimate assurance of "no separation". Learn how the Trinity works powerfully for our salvatio...

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for Week 18 of the Heidelberg Catechism devotionals. In this episode, we explore Question 51, discussing Christ's ascension and His session at the right hand of God the Father. Discover how the glory of Christ our head benefits believers through the pouring out of the Holy Spirit's gifts and His power to defend and preserve...

Romans 7: The Believer’s Struggle and the Law's Purpose Pastor Jason Van Bemmel explores the complex relationship between the Christian and the Mosaic law. Discover why the "holy and righteous" law cannot save us from our sinful nature and how Jesus Christ provides the only way to serve in the "new way of the Spirit." • Understand the transition from the written code to lif...

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel for Week 18 of our devotional series. Today, we answer Question 50: Why does the Apostles' Creed state that Jesus "sits at the right hand of God"? Discover the power of Christ's current rule by exploring: The transition from His Ascension to His Session. His supreme headship over the Church (Ephesians 1 & Colossians 1). His eternal authority over...