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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: Battle of Mohács: The Ottoman Turks led by Suleiman the Magnificent defeat and... (1526)

On August 29, 1526: Battle of Mohács: The Ottoman Turks led by Suleiman the Magnificent defeat and kill the last Jagiellonian king of Hungary and Bohemia. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact.

Universalleadership

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Historical

On This Day: Ecuadorian president Jaime Roldós Aguilera, his wife, and his presidential... (1981)

On May 24, 1981: Ecuadorian president Jaime Roldós Aguilera, his wife, and his presidential committee die in an aircraft accident while travelling from Quito to Zapotillo minutes after the president gave a famous speech regarding the 24 de mayo anniversary of the Battle of Pichincha.

Universalleadership

Historical

On This Day: Civil war breaks out in the Dominican Republic when Colonel Francisco Caamaño... (1965)

On April 24, 1965: Civil war breaks out in the Dominican Republic when Colonel Francisco Caamaño overthrows the triumvirate that had been in power since the coup d'état against Juan Bosch. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon...

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Joan of Arc lifts the Siege of Orléans, turning the tide of the Hundred Years'... (1429)

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 Indian Wars: Battle of the Big Hole: A small band of Nez Percé Indians... (1877)

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: Miguel Ángel Blanco, a member of Partido Popular (Spain), is kidnapped (and... (1997)

On July 10, 1997: Miguel Ángel Blanco, a member of Partido Popular (Spain), is kidnapped (and later murdered) in the Basque city of Ermua by ETA members, sparking widespread protests. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration...

Universalleadership

Historical

On This Day: The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of screw propeller, iron hull... (1860)

On December 29, 1860: The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of screw propeller, iron hull and iron armour, renders all previous warships obsolete. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Arauco War: The first Parliament of Quillín is celebrated, putting a temporary... (1641)

On January 6, 1641: Arauco War: The first Parliament of Quillín is celebrated, putting a temporary hold on hostilities between Mapuches and Spanish in Chile. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's creation and human discovery.

Universaldiscovery

Historical

On This Day: The U.S. vessel SS Savannah arrives at Liverpool, United Kingdom. It is the... (1819)

On June 20, 1819: The U.S. vessel SS Savannah arrives at Liverpool, United Kingdom. It is the first steam-propelled vessel to cross the Atlantic, although most of the journey is made under sail. This historical event can serve as a...

Universalleadershipdiscovery

Historical

On This Day: Manuel Belgrano defeats the royalist army of Pío de Tristán during the Battle of... (1813)

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: Kaiser Wilhelm II makes a speech comparing Germans to Huns; for years... (1900)

On July 27, 1900: Kaiser Wilhelm II makes a speech comparing Germans to Huns; for years afterwards, "Hun" would be a disparaging name for Germans. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Twenty sailors are killed when the British Type 42 destroyer HMS Sheffield is... (1982)

On May 4, 1982: Twenty sailors are killed when the British Type 42 destroyer HMS Sheffield is hit by an Argentinian Exocet missile during the Falklands War. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God...

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Insurgent peasants led by Anabaptist pastor Thomas Müntzer were defeated at the... (1525)

On May 15, 1525: Insurgent peasants led by Anabaptist pastor Thomas Müntzer were defeated at the Battle of Frankenhausen, ending the German Peasants' War in the Holy Roman Empire. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about...

Universalfaith

Historical

On This Day: The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden:... (1600)

On March 20, 1600: The Linköping Bloodbath takes place on Maundy Thursday in Linköping, Sweden: five Swedish noblemen are publicly beheaded in the aftermath of the War against Sigismund (1598-1599). This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration...

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Vietnam War: Off the coast of North Vietnam the USS Forrestal catches on fire in... (1967)

naval disaster since World War II, killing 134. 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 British armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay is sunk by the... (1940)

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: Alfonso VII of León and Castile is crowned in León Cathedral as Imperator totius... (1135)

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: Józef Piłsudski assumes supreme military power in Poland - symbolic first day of... (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, discovery.

Universalfreedomdiscovery

Historical

On This Day: World War II: Tunisia Campaign: General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim's Fifth Panzer... (1943)

On February 14, 1943: World War II: Tunisia Campaign: General Hans-Jürgen von Arnim's Fifth Panzer Army launches a counter-attack against Allied positions in Tunisia. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Mexican War of Independence: In the Battle of Calderón Bridge, a heavily... (1811)

On January 17, 1811: Mexican War of Independence: In the Battle of Calderón Bridge, a heavily outnumbered Spanish force of 6,000 troops defeats nearly 100,000 Mexican revolutionaries. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the gift of freedom and liberation.

Universalfreedom

Historical

On This Day: Aeroméxico Flight 498 collides with a Piper PA-28 Cherokee over Cerritos,... (1986)

On August 31, 1986: Aeroméxico Flight 498 collides with a Piper PA-28 Cherokee over Cerritos, California, killing 67 in the air and 15 on the ground. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's call to...

Universalcourage

Historical

On This Day: Karol Wojtyła (later John Paul II) is made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI. (1967)

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: King Wamba of the Visigoths puts down a revolt by Hilderic, governor of Nîmes... (673)

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: Mutinying Burkinabè soldiers led by Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba depose and detain... (2022)

On January 23, 2022: Mutinying Burkinabè soldiers led by Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba depose and detain President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré amid widespread anti-government protests. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the enduring nature of faith through history.

Universalfaithleadership