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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: World War II: Battle of Tassafaronga; A smaller squadron of Imperial Japanese... (1942)

On November 30, 1942: World War II: Battle of Tassafaronga; A smaller squadron of Imperial Japanese Navy destroyers led by Raizō Tanaka defeats a U.S. Navy cruiser force under Carleton H. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon...

Universalhistory

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Historical

On This Day: Three civil rights workers, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner,... (1964)

On June 21, 1964: Three civil rights workers, Andrew Goodman, James Chaney and Michael Schwerner, are murdered in Neshoba County, Mississippi, United States, by members of the Ku Klux Klan. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration...

Universaljusticehuman-rights

Historical

On This Day: The capital of the crusader County of Edessa falls to Imad ad-Din Zengi, the... (1144)

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: Irish Confederate Wars: A Confederate Irish militia is routed in the Battle of... (1642)

On April 15, 1642: Irish Confederate Wars: A Confederate Irish militia is routed in the Battle of Kilrush when it attempts to halt the progress of a Royalist Army. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about...

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Second Nagorno-Karabakh War: An armistice agreement is signed by Armenia,... (2020)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the pursuit of peace in a broken world. Consider using it when preaching about peace.

Universalpeace

Historical

On This Day: The Warsaw Pact formally disbands. (1991)

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: Attack on Pearl Harbor: The Imperial Japanese Navy carries out a... (1941)

On December 7, 1941: World War II: Attack on Pearl Harbor: The Imperial Japanese Navy carries out a surprise attack on the United States Pacific Fleet and its defending Army and Marine air forces at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: The Act Against Slavery in Upper Canada bans the importation of slaves and will... (1793)

On July 9, 1793: The Act Against Slavery in Upper Canada bans the importation of slaves and will free those who are born into slavery after the passage of the Act at 25 years of age.

Universalfreedomhuman-rights

Historical

On This Day: The Kingdom of Iraq gains independence from the United Kingdom. (1932)

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

Universalfreedomleadership

Historical

On This Day: Theodoric, king of the Ostrogoths, defeats Odoacer at the Battle of Isonzo,... (489)

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: William Ewart Gladstone introduces the first Irish Home Rule Bill into the... (1886)

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: Ottoman-Venetian War (1499-1503): The Ottomans capture Methoni, Messenia. (1500)

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: During the French Revolution, the Committee of Public Safety becomes the... (1793)

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: Konstantinos Karamanlis signs the full treaty of the accession of Greece with... (1979)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the pursuit of peace in a broken world. Consider using it when preaching about peace.

Universalpeace

Historical

On This Day: In France, a law separating church and state is passed. (1905)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the enduring nature of faith through history. Consider using it when preaching about faith.

Universalfaith

Historical

On This Day: The Declaration of Conscience speech, by U.S. Senator from Maine, Margaret Chase... (1950)

On June 1, 1950: The Declaration of Conscience speech, by U.S. Senator from Maine, Margaret Chase Smith, is delivered in response to Joseph R. McCarthy's speech at Wheeling, West Virginia. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration...

Universaldiscovery

Historical

On This Day: Acteal massacre: Attendees at a prayer meeting of Roman Catholic activists for... (1997)

On December 22, 1997: Acteal massacre: Attendees at a prayer meeting of Roman Catholic activists for indigenous causes in the small village of Acteal in the Mexican state of Chiapas are massacred by paramilitary forces.

Universalfaith

Historical

On This Day: Pope Honorius I is posthumously excommunicated by the Sixth Ecumenical Council. (681)

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 First Slovak Republic becomes a signatory to the Tripartite... (1940)

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: World War II: The Greek army captures Kleisoura. (1941)

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: First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of... (1099)

On August 12, 1099: First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid forces led by Al-Afdal Shahanshah. This is considered the last engagement of the First Crusade.

Universalfaithdiscovery

Historical

On This Day: Warsaw falls without resistance to a small force under the command of Charles X... (1655)

On September 8, 1655: Warsaw falls without resistance to a small force under the command of Charles X Gustav of Sweden during The Deluge, making it the first time the city is captured by a foreign army.

Universalperseveranceleadership

Historical

On This Day: King Abdullah I of Jordan is assassinated by a Palestinian while attending... (1951)

On July 20, 1951: King Abdullah I of Jordan is assassinated by a Palestinian while attending Friday prayers in Jerusalem. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the enduring nature of faith through history. Consider using...

Universalfaithleadership

Historical

On This Day: Bussa, a slave in British-ruled Barbados, leads a slave rebellion, for which he... (1816)

On April 14, 1816: Bussa, a slave in British-ruled Barbados, leads a slave rebellion, for which he is remembered as the country's first national hero. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's call to courage in the face of adversity.

Universalcouragediscovery