Devotional Overview: Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel from Forest Hill Presbyterian Church for Day 451 of a three-year journey through the Bible. In this session, we explore Acts chapter 6, which marks a pivotal moment in the early church: the establishment of the office of deacon and the powerful ministry of Stephen. Key Highlights: The First Church Division: Discover how the early church addressed its first internal conflict—an ethnic and linguistic dispute between Hebrew-speaking Jews and Greek-speaking "Hellenists" regarding the care of widows. Elders vs. Deacons: Learn about the biblical distinction between spiritual leadership (prayer and the ministry of the Word) and the vital role of deacons in meeting the practical needs of the congregation. Sensitivity in Leadership: Pastor Jason highlights how the Apostles chose seven men with Greek names to ensure the Greek-speaking widows felt heard and cared for. The Ministry of Stephen: Though appointed to serve tables, Stephen was a man "full of faith and of the Holy Spirit" who served as a powerful evangelist and apologist for the Gospel. Standing for Truth: See how Stephen responded to false accusations and opposition with wisdom and grace, reflecting the face of an angel even under intense pressure. Reflection Quote "The world can't stand up really against the truth of God... if God's people hold firm to the truth of God and hold out what the truth is, and they do so in love and with wisdom, the world can't answer that." #BibleStudy #Acts6 #Deacons #ChurchLeadership #DailyDevotional #WalkingWithJesus #StephenTheMartyr #ChristianFaith

Episode Summary: In this installment of the 2026 Heidelberg Catechism series, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel explores Question #6: "Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?". While previous lessons focused on human guilt, this devotional clarifies that our brokenness was not God's original design. Pastor Van Bemmel breaks down the "Image of God," explaining that humanity was created "very good" and endowed with four specific gifts: 1. True Righteousness: Having the upright character of God. 2. True Holiness: Being uniquely set apart for fellowship with the Creator. 3. Right Knowledge: The capacity to truly know God and His creation. 4. Dominion: The authority to rule over the earth as God's representatives. Drawing from Genesis 1, Psalm 8, and Ecclesiastes 7:29, the lesson highlights how humanity fell from this state by seeking out "many schemes". The devotional concludes with the hope of the Gospel: Jesus Christ, the "Second Adam," has come to restore the perverted image of God within us and return us to our original purpose—to know, love, and glorify God forever. Key Scripture References Genesis 1:26-31: The creation of humanity in God's image. Psalm 8:4-6: The glory and honor bestowed upon mankind. Ecclesiastes 7:29: God made man upright, but man sought out many schemes. #HeidelbergCatechism #BibleStudy #ChristianDevotional #ImagoDei #Genesis1 #GospelHope #ForestHillPresbyterian #JasonVanBemmel

Sermon Summary: Dead to Sin, Alive to God Does the abundance of God's grace give us an excuse to keep sinning?. In this powerful study of Romans 6:1–11, we explore the Apostle Paul's emphatic answer: "By no means!". The sermon breaks down the fundamental shift in a believer's identity, moving from being "dead to God and living in sin" to being "dead to the mastery of sin and alive to God". Using the vivid analogy of being rescued from a pit of snakes and scorpions, the speaker illustrates that grace is not a license to return to the pit, but the power to live outside of it. Key Takeaways: Union with Christ: Through Spirit baptism, believers are "grown together" with Jesus, sharing in His death and His resurrection life. Done vs. Do: For the first five and a half chapters of Romans, Paul focuses entirely on what God has done for us through justification. Only after establishing this foundation does he move into what we must do in sanctification. The Accounting of Faith: Romans 6:11 provides the first command in the book: "Consider yourselves dead to sin". This isn't wishful thinking; it is an "accounting term" where we record what is actually true in our spiritual ledger because of Jesus. Real Power, Not Monopoly Money: Many Christians live as if grace is "Monopoly money"—something with no real-world value. However, Christ's righteousness is a real deposit in our spiritual account that empowers us to live free from sin's mastery. If you have been struggling with the "mastery of sin," this sermon serves as a reminder that if Jesus is your Master, then sin no longer is. #Romans6 #BibleStudy #Gospel #Grace #Sanctification #ChristianLiving #Theology #DeadToSin #AliveIn

The Unstoppable Gospel | Acts 5 In this study of Acts 5, we explore the sobering account of Ananias and Sapphira, the power of the early church's witness, and the miraculous release of the apostles from prison. In this episode, we discuss: The Importance of Holiness: Understanding the sin of Ananias and Sapphira and why God calls His people to sincerity and truth. Stewardship vs. Communism: A look at how the early church shared their resources and what it means to be a faithful steward of God's gifts. Boldness Under Pressure: How the apostles stood before the Sanhedrin, declaring, "We must obey God rather than men". Gamaliel's Advice: A historical perspective on why the movement of the Gospel cannot be stopped if it is of God. Be encouraged by the courage of the early church and their unwavering commitment to preaching that Jesus is the Christ, even in the face of suffering. #BibleStudy #Acts5 #WalkingWithJesus #ChristianDevotional #BookOfActs #Faith #GospelBoldness #Stewardship

In this seventh installment of the Heidelberg Catechism Devotional series, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel explores the sobering reality of human nature as presented in Question 5. While the law of God calls us to a perfect "Law of Love," the Catechism and Scripture reveal a natural inclination toward rebellion. Through an examination of Genesis and the book of Romans, Pastor Jason discusses why the solution to our "guilt" cannot be found within ourselves. The session concludes with a prayer for mercy and a musical performance of the classic hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," highlighting our desperate need for a Savior. Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction and Opening Prayer 1:12 – Review: Question 4 and the Law of Love 1:49 – Question 5: Can you keep God's law perfectly? 2:25 – The Reality of "Haters by Nature" 3:03 – Scripture Study: Human Nature Before and After the Flood 4:31 – Romans 1 & 3: Paul's Assessment of Human Guilt 6:40 – Concluding Reflection: Why We Need an Outside Savior 7:41 – Closing Prayer for Mercy and Grace 8:30 – Hymn: "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" Hashtags #HeidelbergCatechism #ReformedTheology #BibleStudy #TotalDepravity #GospelComfort #ChristianDevotional #Hymns #JasonVanBemmel

The Law of Love: Understanding God's Requirements In this morning devotional, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel of Forest Hill Presbyterian Church explores Question 4 of the Heidelberg Catechism: "What does the law of God require of us?" This lesson marks a pivotal step in our journey from guilt to gratitude, using the law of God as a mirror to understand our own sin and misery. Key Highlights: The Greatest Commandment: Drawing from Jesus' summary in Matthew 22, the devotional emphasizes that the law is summarized by two commands: to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. The Ten Commandments Re-examined: Pastor Jason breaks down the Ten Commandments into two "tables," showing how the first five focus on our devotion to God and the final six focus on our duty to others. Transitional Commands: Discover how the 4th (Sabbath) and 5th (Honor your parents) commandments act as bridges, requiring us to honor God's time and authority while simultaneously showing love and providing rest for our neighbors. The Mirror of Guilt: By examining these laws on a deep spiritual level—including often-overlooked areas like gossip, slandering public figures, and "stealing time" from employers—we are forced to confront our own inability to keep the law perfectly. A Call for Mercy: The devotional concludes by reflecting on our need to sit with our guilt and cry out for God's mercy, setting the stage for the grace that follows in the Gospel. "On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Video Timestamps 0:00 – Introduction and Opening Prayer 0:54 – Question 4: What Does the Law Require? 1:10 – The Three Things Necessary for

Michael Taliercio, pastoral intern at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church, guides us through Acts chapter 4. Following the miraculous healing of a lame man, Peter and John find themselves arrested and confronted by the very rulers who crucified Jesus. Key Highlights: The Power of the Name: Peter boldly declares that salvation is found in no one else but Jesus Christ, the cornerstone rejected by the builders. Astonishing Boldness: The religious council is stunned by the courage of Peter and John, recognizing them as "uneducated, common men" who had clearly "been with Jesus". A Growing Church: Despite persecution and threats, the word of God spreads, and the number of believers grows to approximately 5,000. Our Identity as Heralds: Taliercio defines a Christian as a "herald"—an official messenger tasked with bringing the good news of Jesus to a world in need. Prayer for Strength: Instead of praying for safety, the early believers prayed for the Holy Spirit to grant them even greater boldness to speak God's word. Reflection: What does it look like to be a herald today? It means looking others in the eye and declaring, unapologetically and in love, that Jesus is our only hope for salvation. We are called to be a people who are refreshed by the gospel and empowered by the Spirit to stand firm in our faith. #Acts4 #BibleStudy #ChristianBoldness #GospelHerald #WalkingWithJesus #ForestHillChurch #NewTestament #DailyDevotional

Knowing Our Sin: Heidelberg Catechism Question #3 In this devotional, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel explores the first step of the Christian journey—moving from guilt to grace and finally to gratitude. This session focuses specifically on the source of our knowledge regarding our own sinfulness. Key Highlights: The Source of Knowledge: We gain an accurate and true understanding of our guilt specifically from the Law of God. The Law as a Mirror: Rather than being a means of salvation, the Law acts as a mirror that reveals our true character compared to God's holy standard. Internal vs. External Sin: Drawing from the Sermon on the Mount, Pastor Jason explains that the Law convicts us not just of external actions, but of the motives and desires of the heart. Condemnation to Christ: The Law is described as a pathway to condemnation that ultimately drives us to realize we cannot save ourselves and desperately need a Savior. Scripture Referenced: Romans 3:19–20: Knowledge of sin through the Law. Romans 5:20: The Law increasing the trespass so grace may abound. Galatians 2 & 3: The inability of the Law to justify and the necessity of faith. Featured Hymn: The episode concludes with the hymn "Not What My Hands Have Done," which reinforces the theme that no human effort, prayer, or "toiling flesh" can save a guilty soul—only the work of Christ. Hashtags: #HeidelbergCatechism #ReformedTheology #DailyDevotional #BibleStudy #LawAndGospel #ChristianFaith #JasonVanBemmel

Join Pastor Jason Van Bemmel on Day 439 of "Walking with Jesus Through the Word" for an in-depth look at Acts Chapter 3. In this session, we witness the powerful miracle at the temple's Beautiful Gate, where Peter and John encounter a man lame from birth. Rather than offering silver or gold, Peter commands him to rise and walk in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. The man's immediate healing—marked by walking, leaping, and praising God—captures the attention of the entire temple crowd. Pastor Jason explores Peter's second major sermon, highlighting how the apostles relentlessly deflected credit from themselves to point the "utterly astounded" crowd toward Jesus. This devotional reminds us that the Gospel is not a self-improvement program or a political theory; it is the unique, life-changing news of salvation and "times of refreshing" found only through repentance and faith in Christ. Key Highlights: The Miracle at the Gate: A man known by everyone for his lifelong disability is instantly healed. Christ-Centered Ministry: Why Peter and John refused to take credit for their "own power or piety". The Call to Repentance: Understanding the offer of having our sins "blotted out" through the Author of Life. The True Gospel: How the message of Jesus differs from the world's focus on self-righteousness and the "American Dream". #Acts3 #BibleStudy #DailyDevotional #Gospel #JesusSaves #WalkingWithJesus #ChristianFaith #BookOfActs

Three Things We Must Know: Finding Gospel Comfort In this devotional, Pastor Jason Van Bemmel explores Question #2 of the Heidelberg Catechism, which outlines the three essential things a believer must know to live and die in the joy of "gospel comfort". Using the framework of Guilt, Grace, and Gratitude, Pastor Jason explains how this 500-year-old document remains a timeless guide for the Christian life. The Three Pillars of Gospel Joy: According to the Catechism, to truly experience the joy of belonging to Christ, we must understand: Guilt: The depth of our own sin and misery. Grace: How we are delivered from that sin and misery through Jesus Christ. Gratitude: How we are called to live a life of thankfulness to God for such a great deliverance. Scriptural Foundation Pastor Jason highlights how this "Guilt-Grace-Gratitude" movement is the core pattern of the Gospel found throughout Scripture: The Book of Romans: Paul follows this exact progression, moving from the guilt of all humanity (Romans 1–3) to the free gift of justification by grace (Romans 3–11), and finally to the call for a life of grateful sacrifice (Romans 12–16). Ephesians 2:1–10: This passage vividly contrasts being "dead in trespasses" (Guilt) with being "made alive together with Christ" (Grace) so that we may walk in the "good works" God prepared for us (Gratitude). The devotional concludes with a reminder that we are not saved by our good works, but for good works, motivated by a heart of deep gratitude for God's mercy. #HeidelbergCatechism #GospelComfort #GuiltGraceGratitude #ChristianDevotional #BibleStudy #ReformedTheology #AmazingGrace #ForestHillPresbyterian