The largest free collection of sermon illustrations, organized by topic, scripture, and theological tradition.

Stay updated

New illustrations, features & occasional discounts

Browse

By Topic
By Scripture
By Tradition
By Emotion
By Source Type
Sermon Slides

Resources

Sample Illustrations
About
Premium
Contact Us
PewSearch
ChurchWiseAI

Support

Contact Us
+1 (888) 603-0316
support@churchwiseai.com
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service
Refund Policy

Home›Browse by Type›Historical Examples

🏛️

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: Mengistu Haile Mariam, president of the People's Democratic Republic of... (1991)

On May 21, 1991: Mengistu Haile Mariam, president of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, flees Ethiopia, effectively bringing the Ethiopian Civil War to an end. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact.

Universalleadership

PreviousPage 2 of 384Next

📝

Need a full sermon?

SermonWise.ai generates complete sermon outlines for any passage across 17 theological traditions.

Generate a sermon →

Historical

On This Day: The steeple of St Paul's, the medieval cathedral of London, is destroyed in a... (1561)

On June 4, 1561: The steeple of St Paul's, the medieval cathedral of London, is destroyed in a fire caused by lightning, and is never rebuilt. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: International Women's Day protests in Petrograd mark the beginning of the... (1917)

On March 8, 1917: International Women's Day protests in Petrograd mark the beginning of the February Revolution (February 23 in the Julian calendar). This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: World War II: The Battle of Rabaul commences Japan's invasion of Australia's... (1942)

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: Qantas, Australia's national airline, is founded as Queensland and Northern... (1920)

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: The War of Jenkins' Ear begins with the first attack on La Guaira. (1739)

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: American Civil War: In the Battle of Marks' Mills, a force of 8,000 Confederate... (1864)

On April 25, 1864: American Civil War: In the Battle of Marks' Mills, a force of 8,000 Confederate soldiers attacks 1,800 Union soldiers and a large number of wagon teamsters, killing or wounding 1,500 Union combatants.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: The Ukrainian People's Republic declares independence from Soviet Russia. (1918)

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: A Seljuk Turkish army successfully fights off the People's Crusade at the Battle... (1096)

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 Kingdom's membership within the European Union ceases in accordance... (2020)

On January 31, 2020: The United Kingdom's membership within the European Union ceases in accordance with Article 50, after 47 years of being a member state. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact.

Universalleadershippeace

Historical

On This Day: Prince Rainier III of Monaco revises the principality's constitution, devolving... (1962)

On December 7, 1962: Prince Rainier III of Monaco revises the principality's constitution, devolving some of his power to advisory and legislative councils. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: NASA's Discovery Program begins as the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft lifts off on... (1996)

On February 17, 1996: NASA's Discovery Program begins as the NEAR Shoemaker spacecraft lifts off on the first mission ever to orbit and land on an asteroid, 433 Eros. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's creation and human discovery.

Universaldiscovery

Historical

On This Day: Tombs containing bamboo slips, among them Sun Tzu's Art of War and Sun Bin's... (1972)

On April 10, 1972: Tombs containing bamboo slips, among them Sun Tzu's Art of War and Sun Bin's lost military treatise, are discovered by construction workers in Shandong. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's creation and human discovery.

Universaldiscovery

Historical

On This Day: Pope John IV is elected, several months after his predecessor's death. (640)

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: French campaign in Egypt and Syria: Napoleon's forces defeat an Ottoman-Mamluk... (1798)

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: Sojourner Truth delivers her famous Ain't I a Woman? speech at the Woman's... (1851)

On May 29, 1851: Sojourner Truth delivers her famous Ain't I a Woman? speech at the Woman's Rights Convention in Akron, Ohio. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's heart for justice and righteousness. Consider...

Universaljusticehuman-rights

Historical

On This Day: Hundred Years' War: Battle of Cravant: A Franco-Scottish army is defeated by the... (1423)

On July 31, 1423: Hundred Years' War: Battle of Cravant: A Franco-Scottish army is defeated by the Anglo-Burgundians at Cravant on the banks of the river Yonne. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God...

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Pope Pius IV is elected, four months after his predecessor's death. (1559)

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 Treaty of Ripon is signed, ending the hostilities of the Second Bishops'... (1640)

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: Wolfe Tone's United Irish and French forces clash with the British Army in the... (1798)

On August 27, 1798: Wolfe Tone's United Irish and French forces clash with the British Army in the Battle of Castlebar, part of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, resulting in the creation of the French puppet Republic of Connacht.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: A new constitution is signed by Iraq's Governing Council. (2004)

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: The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's probe landed on the moon, making Japan... (2024)

On January 19, 2024: The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's probe landed on the moon, making Japan the 5th country to land a spacecraft on the moon. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact.

Universalleadershipdiscovery

Historical

On This Day: World War I: Ottoman sultan Mehmed VI's representatives sign the Treaty of... (1920)

On August 10, 1920: World War I: Ottoman sultan Mehmed VI's representatives sign the Treaty of Sèvres that divides up the Ottoman Empire between the Allies. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the pursuit of peace in a broken world.

Universalpeace

Historical

On This Day: The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approves Sandra Day O'Connor to... (1981)

On September 15, 1981: The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approves Sandra Day O'Connor to become the first female justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's heart for justice and righteousness.

Universaljusticediscovery