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Home›Browse by Type›Historical Examples

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Historical Examples

9,198 illustrations — Lessons from history, biography, and world events

Browse Historical Examples by Book

Proverbs (258)Isaiah (233)Matthew (160)Psalms (104)Mark (76)1 Corinthians (63)Galatians (56)Romans (50)Acts (42)2 Corinthians (39)John (36)Revelation (35)Hebrews (25)

Historical

On This Day: The second session of the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of... (1943)

On November 29, 1943: The second session of the Anti-Fascist Council for the National Liberation of Yugoslavia (AVNOJ), held to determine the post-war ordering of the country, concludes in Jajce (present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina).

Universalfreedomhope

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Historical

On This Day: Napoleonic Wars: A Franco-Spanish fleet recaptures from the British the island... (1805)

On June 2, 1805: Napoleonic Wars: A Franco-Spanish fleet recaptures from the British the island of Diamond Rock, which guards the entrance to the bay leading to Fort-de-France, Martinique. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about...

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Battle of Grenada: The French defeat British naval forces in the Caribbean... (1779)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consider using it when preaching about history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: American Civil Rights Movement: In Montgomery, Alabama, seamstress Rosa Parks... (1955)

On December 1, 1955: American Civil Rights Movement: In Montgomery, Alabama, seamstress Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat to a white man and is arrested for violating the city's racial segregation laws, an incident which leads to that city's bus boycott.

Universaljusticehuman-rights

Historical

On This Day: Battle of Rovine: The Wallachians defeat an invading Ottoman army. (1395)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consider using it when preaching about history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: World War II: The Soviet Red Army recaptures Krivoi Rog. (1944)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consider using it when preaching about history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: The Triple Alliance between the German Empire, Austria-Hungary and the Kingdom... (1882)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact. Consider using it when preaching about leadership.

Universalleadership

Historical

On This Day: Marking the first great wave of Muslim conquests and the rapid advance of Islam... (636)

On August 20, 636: Marking the first great wave of Muslim conquests and the rapid advance of Islam outside Arabia, Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid defeat the Byzantine Empire and take control of the Levant.

Universalleadershipdiscovery

Historical

On This Day: World War II: The last German formations withdraw from Finland to Norway. The... (1945)

The Lapland War and thus, World War II in Finland, comes to an end and the Raising the Flag on the Three-Country Cairn photograph is taken. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Physicist Augustin Fresnel reads a memoir on optical rotation to the French... (1818)

On March 30, 1818: Physicist Augustin Fresnel reads a memoir on optical rotation to the French Academy of Sciences, reporting that when polarized light is "depolarized" by a Fresnel rhomb, its properties are preserved in any subsequent passage through an optically-rotating crystal or liquid.

Universaldiscovery

Historical

On This Day: The Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire is publicly proclaimed. (1821)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the gift of freedom and liberation. Consider using it when preaching about freedom.

Universalfreedom

Historical

On This Day: The Battle of Raft Swamp marks the last battle fought in North Carolina during... (1781)

On October 15, 1781: The Battle of Raft Swamp marks the last battle fought in North Carolina during the American Revolutionary War with a Patriot victory. It occurred four days before the British surrender at Yorktown.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Western Schism: The Roman Catholic Church is led into a double schism as Petros... (1409)

On June 26, 1409: Western Schism: The Roman Catholic Church is led into a double schism as Petros Philargos is crowned Pope Alexander V after the Council of Pisa, joining Pope Gregory XII in Rome and Pope Benedict XIII in Avignon.

Universalfaith

Historical

On This Day: Operation Auca: Five U.S. missionaries are killed by the Waorani of Ecuador... (1956)

On January 8, 1956: Operation Auca: Five U.S. missionaries are killed by the Waorani of Ecuador shortly after making first contact. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact. Consider using it when preaching about leadership, discovery.

Universalleadershipdiscovery

Historical

On This Day: John II of Castile defeats the Infantes of Aragon at the First Battle of Olmedo. (1445)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's creation and human discovery. Consider using it when preaching about discovery.

Universaldiscovery

Historical

On This Day: The Battle of Pelekanon is the last attempt of the Byzantine Empire to retain... (1329)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consider using it when preaching about history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Third Mithridatic War: The military of the Roman Republic subdues Armenia. (69 BC)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consider using it when preaching about history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: American Revolutionary War: A small Colonial militia led by Ethan Allen and... (1775)

On May 10, 1775: American Revolutionary War: A small Colonial militia led by Ethan Allen and Colonel Benedict Arnold captures Fort Ticonderoga. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Emperor Haile Selassie returns to Addis Ababa; the country commemorates the date... (1941)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the gift of freedom and liberation. Consider using it when preaching about freedom, hope.

Universalfreedomhope

Historical

On This Day: The Fifth Crusade leaves Acre for Egypt. (1218)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consider using it when preaching about history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: The United States Senate votes to cut off funding for the bombing of Khmer Rouge... (1973)

On May 31, 1973: The United States Senate votes to cut off funding for the bombing of Khmer Rouge targets within Cambodia, hastening the end of the Cambodian Civil War. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration...

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: American Civil War: The Army of Northern Virginia crosses the Potomac River at... (1862)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consider using it when preaching about history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Bangladesh Liberation War: The Pakistan Army massacre more than a thousand... (1971)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the gift of freedom and liberation. Consider using it when preaching about freedom, hope.

Universalfreedomhope

Historical

On This Day: In Romania, the ruling Iron Guard fascist party assassinates over 60 of arrested... (1940)

On November 27, 1940: In Romania, the ruling Iron Guard fascist party assassinates over 60 of arrested King Carol II of Romania's aides and other political dissidents. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about showing Christ-like compassion to others.

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