Historical Examples

On This Day: In Martinique, Mount Pelée erupts, destroying the town of Saint-Pierre and... (1902)

Only a handful of residents survive the blast. 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.

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Historical

On This Day: Battle of Uclés: Almoravid troops under the command of Tamim ibn Yusuf defeat a... (1108)

On May 29, 1108: Battle of Uclés: Almoravid troops under the command of Tamim ibn Yusuf defeat a Castile and León alliance under the command of Prince Sancho Alfónsez. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about...

Universalhistory

Universalcompassionleadership

On This Day: The world's largest ocean liner, RMS Queen Mary 2, makes its maiden voyage. (2004)

This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about showing Christ-like compassion to others. Consider using it when preaching about compassion, leadership.

On This Day: Rout of an alliance of Christian troops from Navarre and Léon against the... (920)

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

Universalcompassionleadership

On This Day: Vietnam War: A coup d'état replaces Dương Văn Minh with General Nguyễn Khánh as... (1964)

A new constitution is established with aid from the U.S. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about showing Christ-like compassion to others. Consider using it when preaching about compassion, leadership.

On This Day: World War II: The German submarine U-47 sinks the British battleship HMS Royal... (1939)

On October 14, 1939: World War II: The German submarine U-47 sinks the British battleship HMS Royal Oak within her harbour at Scapa Flow, Scotland. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history.

On This Day: Sailors on board Brazil's warships including the Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and... (1910)

On November 21, 1910: Sailors on board Brazil's warships including the Minas Gerais, São Paulo, and Bahia, violently rebel in what is now known as the Revolta da Chibata (Revolt of the Lash).

On This Day: World War I: Battle of Étreux: A British rearguard action by the Royal Munster... (1914)

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.

On This Day: Daimyō (Lord) Shimazu Tadatsune of the Satsuma Domain in southern Kyūshū, Japan,... (1609)

On May 5, 1609: Daimyō (Lord) Shimazu Tadatsune of the Satsuma Domain in southern Kyūshū, Japan, completes his successful invasion of the Ryūkyū Kingdom in Okinawa. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact.

On This Day: The former viceroy Santiago de Liniers of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata... (1810)

On August 26, 1810: The former viceroy Santiago de Liniers of the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata is executed after the defeat of his counter-revolution. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God...

Universalperseverancefreedom

On This Day: World War II: Soviet forces liberate the Łódź Ghetto. Of more than 200,000... (1945)

On January 19, 1945: World War II: Soviet forces liberate the Łódź Ghetto. Of more than 200,000 inhabitants in 1940, fewer than 900 had survived the Nazi occupation. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about persevering through trials and tribulations.

On This Day: World War II: General Władysław Sikorski becomes prime minister of the Polish... (1939)

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

On This Day: World War II: HMS Rawalpindi is sunk by the German battleships Scharnhorst and... (1939)

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.

On This Day: In Florida, United States, Liberian freighter MV Summit Venture collides with... (1980)

On May 9, 1980: In Florida, United States, Liberian freighter MV Summit Venture collides with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge over Tampa Bay, making a 430-meter (1,400 ft) section of the southbound span collapse.

On This Day: Thirty Years' War: The Second Battle of Nördlingen sees French forces defeating... (1645)

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.

On This Day: In Humen, China, Lin Zexu destroys 1.2 million kilograms of opium confiscated... (1839)

On June 3, 1839: In Humen, China, Lin Zexu destroys 1.2 million kilograms of opium confiscated from British merchants, providing Britain with a casus belli to open hostilities, resulting in the First Opium War. This historical event can serve as...

Universaldiscovery

On This Day: Grigori Perelman is awarded the Fields Medal for his proof of the Poincaré... (2006)

On August 22, 2006: Grigori Perelman is awarded the Fields Medal for his proof of the Poincaré conjecture in mathematics but refuses to accept the medal. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history.

On This Day: In the Chesapeake-Leopard affair, the British warship HMS Leopard attacks and... (1807)

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.

On This Day: The Siege of Château Gaillard ends in a French victory over King John of... (1204)

On March 6, 1204: The Siege of Château Gaillard ends in a French victory over King John of England, who loses control of Normandy to King Philip II Augustus. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact.

On This Day: The Royal Navy battleship HMS Camperdown accidentally rams the British... (1893)

On June 22, 1893: The Royal Navy battleship HMS Camperdown accidentally rams the British Mediterranean Fleet flagship HMS Victoria which sinks taking 358 crew with her, including the fleet's commander, Vice-Admiral Sir George Tryon. This historical event can serve as...

On This Day: Åbo Bloodbath: Fourteen noblemen who opposed Duke Charles are decapitated in the... (1599)

On November 10, 1599: Åbo Bloodbath: Fourteen noblemen who opposed Duke Charles are decapitated in the Old Great Square of Turku (Swedish: Åbo) for their involvement in the War against Sigismund. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon...

On This Day: Battle of Kolín between Prussian forces under Frederick the Great and an... (1757)

On June 18, 1757: Battle of Kolín between Prussian forces under Frederick the Great and an Austrian army under the command of Field Marshal Count Leopold Joseph von Daun in the Seven Years' War.

On This Day: The Peace of Bicêtre suspends hostilities in the Armagnac-Burgundian Civil War. (1410)

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

On This Day: King Gyanendra of Nepal carries out a coup d'état to capture the democracy,... (2005)

On February 1, 2005: King Gyanendra of Nepal carries out a coup d'état to capture the democracy, becoming Chairman of the Councils of ministers. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact.