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Elaine Acworth is a playwright and dramatist, this series of dramatic works is based on her personal journey of discovering and reconciling the image of Bill Acworth – her father, and soldier of the two world wars. My Father's Wars was funded by the Queensland Anzac Centenary Grants program. This podcast was launched as part of the Q ANZAC 100: Memories for a New Generation project.
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Pastor Derek Ray's sermon "The One Who Jesus Loves" delves into the theme of identity, highlighting the disciple John's confident proclamation as the beloved disciple of Jesus. By examining key moments like the Last Supper and Jesus's post-resurrection appearances, Pastor Derek underscores the importance of finding true identity in Christ for comfo…
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Zechariah 14 is one of the hardest chapters in the Bible to interpret. Every good student of Scripture knows that there is one true interpretation for every passage. Hundreds of applications could come from a text, but only one accurate interpretation. The problem with this chapter is at least seven known interpretations are being taught in Christi…
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During the Civil War, densely-packed battle lines made it likely that field generals might be killed in battle. During the Battle of Spotsylvania, Union General John Sedgwick stood away from the front and proudly proclaimed to his fellow officers “They couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance.” The next moment, he was shot and killed by a Confeder…
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In his sermon, Pastor Cody Harmon discusses the metaphor of new wine and old wineskins from Luke chapter 5. He emphasizes the need to let go of old ways of thinking and living in order to make space for God to work in our lives. Pastor Cody encourages listeners to seek guidance from Jesus and be open to new seasons with Him. Ultimately, he reassure…
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Chapter 12 marks the beginning of the final oracle in the book of Zechariah. This oracle will continue through the end of the book. As you read the remaining chapters of Zechariah, you can quickly glean the central themes from this last oracle. One of these themes is the great day of salvation that awaits God’s people. In chapters 12-14, the phrase…
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The sermon emphasizes the importance of having God as our standard and comparing ourselves to Jesus, not others. Through the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector, it highlights the significance of humility, confession of sins, and seeking God's mercy. The pastor stresses that true humility comes from recognizing our need for God and not fallin…
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The sermon highlights the significance of loving others and recognizing brokenness, using the parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate this point. The speaker draws parallels between the lawyer's questioning in the Bible and personal struggles faced in life. Jesus is portrayed as the ultimate Good Samaritan, demonstrating compassion and salvatio…
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When we read Scripture, we learn about real people who live in real historical times. We learn their names, get to know their families, and study their character traits and accomplishments —or lack thereof. It’s very easy for Christians to over-focus on the human elements in the Bible and completely miss the real power that is at work behind the sc…
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The people of Judah are easily discouraged and distracted as they try to restore their nation. At times they waywardly look away from the Lord for provision, direction, and strength and become like lost sheep. Thankfully, God has not left them alone. Zechariah is sent with a message of correction and encouragement. His message not only reminds God’…
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Zechariah 9 marks a major shift in the book. From here through the end of the book, the chapters contain prophetic oracles, and this chapter holds one of two major ones. Given the state of Judah as a remnant people under the power of a foreign nation, will God’s promises still stand? This question must be at the forefront of the minds of those who …
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Twice in our passage, God reminds the people of the destruction He brought on them because of their disobedience. In verse 10, God calls attention to the economic and social state of things under the curse. When a society is under a curse from Almighty God, it is not difficult to look around and see the effects of that curse. God used the Babylonia…
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Pastor Van sermon titled "Can We Trust the Bible?" addresses doubts about the Bible's reliability and emphasizes its significance in our lives. He discusses the history of the Bible's creation, the risks people took to share it, and references non-believers acknowledging its power. Pastor Van highlights the trustworthiness of the Bible through bibl…
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Chapter 7 begins almost two years after the last of the eight visions Zechariah received. Things have been going well in Jerusalem. The temple is being rebuilt and is just a few years at this point from being finished. Leadership is established through Zerubbabel, and the priesthood is active through Joshua. Word has reached all around the surround…
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Richard Hopkins delves into the question of whether Jesus is the sole path to heaven, emphasizing its significance and providing biblical backing. He addresses potential doubts and discomfort around this belief while stressing the importance of sharing and understanding it. The sermon highlights believers' responsibility in spreading the gospel and…
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In Zechariah 3, Zechariah’s visions introduced a character called “the Branch,” who will bring about restoration and new growth in God’s people. In Zechariah 6:9-15, the Branch is spoken of again, and we learn that the Branch is a priest who is crowned like a king. This brings hope and purpose to the exiles of Judah, who are charged with restoring …
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We’ve seen horses before in Zechariah (see Zechariah 1:7-17). In his eighth and final vision of the evening, Zechariah again sees horses. This time, the vision is not against the background of darkness, as it was in chapter 1. Rather, Zechariah’s eighth vision is set against the background of dawn. Hope is breaking through for God’s discouraged peo…
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As we begin chapter 5, we see the prophet Zechariah having two separate visions, the sixth and seventh that are recorded in this book: the Flying Scroll, and the Woman in a Basket. Though the two visions are different, they clearly go together to form one bigger message: that sin is revealed through the law, sin is judged, and then sin is removed.…
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In Zechariah’s fifth vision, he is shown a golden lampstand. The Hebrew word for this lamp is “menorah.” The fact this particular lamp is gold is symbolic of the lamps included in the temple furnishings: one in the tabernacle and later, ten in Solomon’s Temple (Exodus 25:31-40; 1 Kings 7:49). It was the job of the priests to ensure these lamps were…
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In Zechariah’s fifth vision, he is shown a golden lampstand. The Hebrew word for this lamp is “menorah.” The fact this particular lamp is gold is symbolic of the lamps included in the temple furnishings: one in the tabernacle and later, ten in Solomon’s Temple (Exodus 25:31-40; 1 Kings 7:49). It was the job of the priests to ensure these lamps were…
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Imagine that a dear friend you have not seen in years comes by as you are doing yard work. You’d love to throw your arms around your friend, but your clothes are caked in grime and muck and you smell like a barnyard. What you want at that moment is to stop time, go shower up and get a change of clothes! Here in Zechariah 3, God continues to restore…
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Pastor Van's sermon "Sinking Battleships" in "The Way of Wisdom" series stresses the importance of not relying on our own wisdom but trusting in God's guidance. He discusses the folly of being wise in our own eyes, using personal anecdotes and biblical references to illustrate the contrast between following God's ways and our own desires. Emphasizi…
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Same evening. Another vision. We have all seen the city limit signs on the side of the road as we drive down the highway. They indicate the boundaries of the city, telling us where the city begins and where it ends. These signs represent defined borders that distinguish a city from other areas around it. Imagine a city with no boundaries, no border…
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Pastor Richard Hopkins shares personal and biblical examples to emphasize the theme of trusting in the Lord, using Proverbs 3:5-6 as a key passage. He highlights the challenge of trusting in God over worldly desires and encourages a deeper understanding of God for complete trust. The sermon concludes with a call to action to identify obstacles hind…
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Three months after that first oracle of Zechariah’s ministry, recorded in Zechariah 1:1-6, he receives the first of eight visions that come to him in the night. Each of these visions follows a basic pattern: Zechariah sees something, asks the angel about it, and is told by the angel what it means. The general idea of this first vision is that God w…
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