LentYear A

Annunciation of the Lord

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

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First Reading

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

66 illustrations

Isaiah 7:10-16 — Baptist (classic)

Isaiah 7:10-16 119:97-104 calls for personal faith—repent, believe, and follow Jesus with a clear conscience—today, not someday.

Isaiah 7:10-16BaptistImmanuel ProphecyDivine Assurance

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Isaiah 7:10-16 — Arminian/Wesleyan (edgy)

Isaiah 7:10-16 2:6-15 challenges spiritual passivity—grace is not an excuse to stay unchanged—today, not someday.

Isaiah 7:10-16Arminian/WesleyanImmanuel ProphecyDivine Assurance

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Isaiah 7:10-16 — Roman Catholic (classic)

Isaiah 7:10-16 Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15, salvation is a journey: justified by grace and formed through faithful practice.

Isaiah 7:10-16Roman CatholicImmanuel ProphecyDivine Assurance

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Isaiah 7:10-16 — Universal (pastoral)

Isaiah 7:10-16 107:1-9, 43 is a steady hand on the shoulder: God is near, and you are not alone in obedience.

Isaiah 7:10-16UniversalImmanuel ProphecyDivine Assurance

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Isaiah 7:10-16 — Arminian/Wesleyan (classic)

Isaiah 7:10-16 Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28, salvation is not mere pardon; it is holiness, perfected in love.

Isaiah 7:10-16Arminian/WesleyanImmanuel ProphecyDivine Assurance

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Isaiah 7:10-16 — Anabaptist (classic)

Isaiah 7:10-16 17:5-10 calls the community to visible discipleship—Jesus’ way embodied, not merely admired—today, not someday.

Isaiah 7:10-16AnabaptistImmanuel ProphecyDivine Assurance

View all 66 illustrations for Isaiah 7:10-14→

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Psalm

Psalm 40:7-11

74 illustrations

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Psalm 40:1-11 — Baptist (edgy)

Psalm 40:1-11 119:137-144 exposes cheap belief—saving faith produces obedience—today, not someday.

Psalm 40:1-11BaptistWaiting On God

✉️

Second Reading

In Remember the Titans, Coach Boone forces his racially divided football team to room together, eat together, learn each other's stories. Gary and Julius—white captain and Black leader—start as enemies and become brothers.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

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Gospel

Luke 1:26-38

1411 illustrations

Movie Analogy

Spotlight: Loosing the Bonds of Wickedness (Isaiah 58:6-7)

In Spotlight, Boston Globe journalists uncover the Catholic Church's systematic cover-up of child abuse. They share their roof with survivors, listen to painful stories, bring hidden wickedness into light.

Isaiah 58:6-7Universal

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Deliverance

LensLines™

Psalm 40:1-11 — Baptist (pastoral)

Psalm 40:1-11 Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18, grace isn’t abstract—it’s God drawing you to trust Him today—today, not someday.

Psalm 40:1-11BaptistWaiting On GodDeliverance

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Psalm 40:1-11 — Anabaptist (pastoral)

Psalm 40:1-11 14 encourages small-faithfulness: the peaceable way is quiet, steady, and strong—today, not someday.

Psalm 40:1-11AnabaptistWaiting On GodDeliverance

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Psalm 40:1-11 — Lutheran (edgy)

Psalm 40:1-11 Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 annoys your ego, it’s because the gospel won’t let you be your own savior.

Psalm 40:1-11LutheranWaiting On GodDeliverance

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Psalm 40:1-11 — Arminian/Wesleyan (classic)

Psalm 40:1-11 14:1, 7-14 calls for a real response—grace invites, but love must be chosen—today, not someday.

Psalm 40:1-11Arminian/WesleyanWaiting On GodDeliverance

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Psalm 40:1-11 — Liberation Theology (classic)

Psalm 40:1-11 Psalm 14, grace is not abstract; it breaks chains and confronts unjust power—today, not someday.

Psalm 40:1-11Liberation TheologyWaiting On GodDeliverance

View all 74 illustrations for Psalm 40:7-11→

Universal

encouragement

unity

Movie Analogy

Rush: Iron Sharpens Iron (Proverbs 27:17)

In Rush, James Hunt and Niki Lauda are rivals who despise each other—and make each other better. Hunt's recklessness pushes Lauda's precision; Lauda's discipline challenges Hunt's chaos. Neither would be champion without the other. As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

Proverbs 27:17Universalrivalrysharpening

Movie Analogy

127 Hours: Pity Anyone Who Falls Alone (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

In 127 Hours, Aron Ralston is trapped alone in a canyon, arm pinned by a boulder. For five days he faces death in isolation. The film flashes to memories of community he took for granted—family, friends, a woman he loved carelessly.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10Universalisolationcommunity

Movie Analogy

The Passion of the Christ: Christ Who Was Knit Together - Christocentric (Psalm 139:13-16)

Imagine a quiet evening in a modest home on the outskirts of Nazareth, where the air is thick with the sweet aroma of baked bread and the soft glow of oil lamps flickers gently on the walls. In one of...

Psalm 139:13-16ChristocentricincarnationChrist's humanity

adults

Movie Analogy

Eternal Sunshine: Would You Choose to Remember? (Isaiah 43:25)

In the film *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind*, we meet Joel and Clementine, two lovers who, driven by heartbreak, decide to undergo a radical procedure to erase memories of each other. Imagine for a moment, the sterile white walls...

Isaiah 43:25Universalmemoryforgiveness

Contemporary

The Road That Required Three Tries

On March 7, 1965, six hundred marchers set out from Brown Chapel AME Church in Selma, Alabama, demanding voting rights. They made it only to...

Hebrews 10:36Universalperseverancenonviolence

View all 23 illustrations for Hebrews 10:4-10→

justice

truth

Movie Analogy

Babettes Feast: The Angel in the Kitchen (Hebrews 13:2)

In Babette's Feast, two elderly Danish sisters take in Babette, a French refugee, as their cook. For fourteen years she serves them plain food. When she wins the lottery, she spends it all on one magnificent French feast for the...

Hebrews 13:2Universalhospitalityfeast

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Mary, Mother of Jesus

Mary, Mother of Jesus Mary, the wife of Joseph, was the virgin mother of Jesus. Luke tells us that as a young girl in Nazareth, Mary was betrothed to Joseph, a local carpenter.

Luke 1:26-1:56Universalbiblical_peoplefaith

Character Profile

Biblical Profile: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

Martha, Mary, and Lazarus The sisters Martha and Mary lived with their brother Lazarus in Bethany, near Jerusalem; Jesus loved and spent time with this family.

Luke 10:38-10:42Universalbiblical_peoplesin

Movie Analogy

Gran Torino: The Unexpected Neighbor (Luke 10:25-37)

In Gran Torino, Walt Kowalski is a racist Korean War veteran who despises his Hmong neighbors. When gang violence threatens the teenage boy next door, Walt—the last person who should help—becomes the unlikely savior. He gives his life protecting people he once hated.

Luke 10:25-37Universalneighborsacrifice

Historical

Silence Broken: Unbelief Silenced, Faith Unleashed

This is no mere coincidence of timing, but the visible sign of a profound spiritual principle: unbelief seals the mouth; faith unlocks it.

Luke 1:67-80Universalthe power of faith to transform silence into testimonyIsrael's long waiting fulfilled in the Messiah

View all 1411 illustrations for Luke 1:26-38→

Annunciation of the Lord

Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10

Isaiah 7:10-16 — Baptist (classic)

Isaiah 7:10-16 — Arminian/Wesleyan (edgy)

Isaiah 7:10-16 — Roman Catholic (classic)

Isaiah 7:10-16 — Universal (pastoral)

Isaiah 7:10-16 — Arminian/Wesleyan (classic)

Isaiah 7:10-16 — Anabaptist (classic)

Psalm 40:7-11

Psalm 40:1-11 — Baptist (edgy)

Hebrews 10:4-10

Remember the Titans: Building Each Other Up (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Luke 1:26-38

Spotlight: Loosing the Bonds of Wickedness (Isaiah 58:6-7)

Psalm 40:1-11 — Baptist (pastoral)

Psalm 40:1-11 — Anabaptist (pastoral)

Psalm 40:1-11 — Lutheran (edgy)

Psalm 40:1-11 — Arminian/Wesleyan (classic)

Psalm 40:1-11 — Liberation Theology (classic)

Rush: Iron Sharpens Iron (Proverbs 27:17)

127 Hours: Pity Anyone Who Falls Alone (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)

The Passion of the Christ: Christ Who Was Knit Together - Christocentric (Psalm 139:13-16)

Eternal Sunshine: Would You Choose to Remember? (Isaiah 43:25)

The Road That Required Three Tries

Babettes Feast: The Angel in the Kitchen (Hebrews 13:2)

Biblical Profile: Mary, Mother of Jesus

Biblical Profile: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus

Gran Torino: The Unexpected Neighbor (Luke 10:25-37)

Silence Broken: Unbelief Silenced, Faith Unleashed