Forest Hill PCA Devotionals

Title: Jesus Continues to Work Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Journey through Acts Date: January 1, 2026 Bible: Acts 1 In this devotional teaching on Acts 1, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel walks us through the closing moments of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the beginning of the Church’s mission. We explore the authority of the risen Christ, His ascension into heaven, and the promise of the Holy Sp...

Title: Our Only Eternal Comfort Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Heidelberg Catechism Devos Date: January 5, 2026 Bible: 1 Corinthians 6:19-20; Romans 14:7-9 Introduction to the Heidelberg Catechism and the opening of the First Question: Q: What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Savior Jesus...

Title: Joy to the World! Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 24, 2025 Bible: Psalm 98 Summary: Joy to the World (Advent Devo #18) In this final advent devotional for 2025, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church examines the "accidental Christmas classic," "Joy to the World". Taking its inspiration from Psalm 98, this...

Title: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing! Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 22, 2025 Bible: Colossians 1:15-20 Summary: Hark! The Herald Angels Sing (Advent Devo #17) In this penultimate advent devotional for 2025, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church explores the deep theological roots of the classic carol, "Hark! The Herald Angels...

Title: We Three Kings Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 22, 2025 Bible: Matthew 2:1-12 Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for Week 4, Day 1 of our Scripture and Carols Advent series. Today, we dive into the history and theology of the iconic American carol, "We Three Kings." Explore the journey of the wise men as...

Title: O Holy Night Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 19, 2025 Bible: Luke 4:18-19; Romans 8:20-21 Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for Week 3, Day 5 of our Scripture and Carols Advent series. In this final session of the week, we explore the deep theological themes and powerful history behind the beloved French carol, &q...

Title: Go, Tell It on The Mountain! Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 18, 2025 Bible: Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 28:18-20 Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for Week 3, Day 4 of our Scripture and Carols Advent series. In this session, we explore the powerful history and biblical roots of the traditional 19th-century African Ameri...

Title: The First Noel Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 17, 2025 Bible: Luke 2:8-12; Matthew 2:1-12 Advent Devo #13: The Scandalous Truth Behind "The First Noel" Why did pagan astrologers travel 1,000 miles to worship Jesus while the religious experts refused to walk five miles? In today’s Advent devotional, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel uncovers the...

Title: God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 16, 2025 Bible: Luke 2:8-20; Galatians 4:4-7 Advent Devo #12: The Hidden Meaning of "God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen" Have you been singing this Christmas carol wrong all these years? In today’s Advent devotional, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel dives into the rich history and theology...

Title: Angels We Have Heard on High Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 15, 2025 Bible: Luke 2:8-15 Welcome to Week 3 of our Advent Devotionals on Scripture and Carols! Today, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church shifts our focus to the joyful announcement of Jesus' birth with the classic carol, "Angels We Have Heard on Hig...

This devotional focuses on the 15th-century German carol, "Lo! How a Rose E'er Blooming," highlighting its roots in Old Testament messianic prophecy. Key Points of the Teaching: The Prophetic Core (Isaiah 11:1): The hymn is a poetic expression of Isaiah's prophecy that a "shoot from the stump of Jesse" would emerge. Jesse's "stump" symbolizes the royal lin...

Title: In the Bleak Midwinter Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 11, 2025 Bible: Matthew 2:11; Micah 6:8 The devotional analyzes "In the Bleak Midwinter" (1872 poem set to music in 1906) by Christina Rossetti, praising it as a profound expression of Christ's humility and the mystery of the Incarnation. The teaching focused on three main Scri...

Title: What Child is This? Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 10, 2025 Bible: Isaiah 9:6; Luke 2:11 Summary: What Child is This? Speaker: Pastor Jason Van Bemmel, Forest Hill Presbyterian Church Series: Advent Devotional – Scripture and Carols This devotional explores the theological depth and history behind the Christmas carol "What Child is This?&q...

Title: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 9, 2025 Bible: Habakkuk 2:20; Zechariah 2:13 Our 7th Advent devotional is focused on the call to reverent worship in "Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence." Summary In this devotional, Jason Van Bemmel explores the ancient hymn Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence, noting its...

Title: Of the Father's Love Begotten Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 5, 2025 Bible: John 1:1-14 Welcome to the second week of Advent devotionals for 2025! Today, we're looking at "Of the Father's Love Begotten," the oldest Christmas carol still sung by the church, dating back to around 410.

Title: I Heard the Bells Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 4, 2025 Bible: Psalm 29:10-11; John 14:27 In 1863, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote one of the most moving poems about faith in God persevering and triumphing over evil in the world. This is our 5th devotional in our Advent series on Scripture and Carols.

Title: O Little Town of Bethlehem Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 3, 2025 Bible: Micah 5:2-5 Pastor Jason presents our fourth Advent devotional, covering "O Little Town of Bethlehem." Advent is a season of yearning for Christ's second coming while simultaneously looking back at His first. Seven hundred years before Jesus was born, the pro...

Title: Come, Thou Long-Expected Speaker: Pastor Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: December 1, 2025 Bible: Malachi 3:1; Luke 2:22-32 Our second Advent devotional focuses on "Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus," written by Charles Wesley in 1744.

Title: O Come Emmanuel Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Advent Devotionals 2025 Date: November 28, 2025 Bible: Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 11:1 Day #1 of our Advent Devotionals for 2025 - "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."

Summary: Let the Redeemed Give Thanks (Psalm 107)Theme: Reflecting on God's Hesed (steadfast, redeeming love) through four pictures of salvation. The Thread of Hesed: The teaching identifies the Hebrew word Hesed (steadfast love) as the central theme, describing it as God's loyal, covenant love toward His people. Four Pictures of Redemption: The pastor breaks the Psalm down into four metap...

Title: Worship with Thanksgiving Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Psalms of Thanksgiving Date: November 26, 2025 Bible: Psalm 95 Summary: Worship with Thanksgiving (Psalm 95) Theme: The call to corporate worship and the danger of a hardened heart. A Call to "Joyful Noise": The teaching begins by encouraging believers to sing with exuberance, noting that even those not gifted in sin...

Title: ABCs of Thankful Praise Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Psalms of Thanksgiving Date: November 25, 2025 Bible: Psalm 111 This devotional focuses on Psalm 111 as a call to wholehearted praise and thanksgiving to God. The teaching highlights two primary reasons for this praise: God's Works and Character: God is praised for the greatness of His creation and history (His splendor and...

Title: Flourishing in Thanksgiving Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Psalms of Thanksgiving Date: November 21, 2025 Bible: Psalm 92 Psalm 92 is a joyful psalm of praise meant for Sabbath worship. It opens with the declaration that “it is good to give thanks to the Lord,” reminding God’s people that gathered worship helps reset their hearts, lift their eyes from discouragement, and renew their...

Title: Thanksgiving for Judgment Day? Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Psalms of Thanksgiving Date: November 20, 2025 Bible: Psalm 9 Psalm 9 teaches an unexpected kind of thanksgiving—giving thanks not only for what God has done, but also for His future justice. David resolves to praise God because the Lord is the righteous Judge who defends the oppressed, defeats their enemies, and never fo...

Title: Unexpected Thanksgiving Under Persecution Speaker: Rev. Jason Van Bemmel Series: Psalms of Thanksgiving Date: November 19, 2025 Bible: Psalm 7 Psalm 7 teaches “unexpected thanksgiving” in the midst of injustice. David is falsely accused but turns to God as the righteous Judge rather than defending himself. Though the world is full of wickedness, God’s perfect justice will prevail, and this...