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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: First Chechen War: Russian President Boris Yeltsin meets with Chechen rebels for... (1996)

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

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Historical

On This Day: Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi and President of Sri Lanka J. R.... (1987)

Jayewardene sign the Indo-Sri Lanka Accord on ethnic issues. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact. Consider using it when preaching about leadership, peace.

Universalleadershippeace

Historical

On This Day: Klaus Barbie goes on trial in Lyon for war crimes committed during World War II. (1987)

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 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty comes into effect. (1988)

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: War of the Spanish Succession: A multinational army led by the Austrian... (1710)

On August 20, 1710: War of the Spanish Succession: A multinational army led by the Austrian commander Guido Starhemberg defeats the Spanish-Bourbon army commanded by Alexandre Maître, Marquis de Bay in the Battle of Saragossa.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Pope Benedict VIII crowns Henry of Bavaria, King of Germany and of Italy, as... (1014)

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: Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured and forced to sign the Mise of... (1264)

On May 14, 1264: Battle of Lewes: Henry III of England is captured and forced to sign the Mise of Lewes, making Simon de Montfort the effective ruler of England. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration...

Universalleadership

Historical

On This Day: Pop group Milli Vanilli are stripped of their Grammy Award because the duo did... (1990)

On November 16, 1990: Pop group Milli Vanilli are stripped of their Grammy Award because the duo did not sing at all on the Girl You Know It's True album. Session musicians had provided all the vocals.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Israel-Palestinian conflict: the 2010 Israeli-Palestinian peace talks are... (2010)

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: During the religious violence in Gujarat, 97 people are killed in the Naroda... (2002)

On February 28, 2002: During the religious violence in Gujarat, 97 people are killed in the Naroda Patiya massacre and 69 in the Gulbarg Society massacre. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the enduring nature of faith through history.

Universalfaith

Historical

On This Day: Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-39, the first unclassified shuttle... (1991)

On April 28, 1991: Space Shuttle Discovery launches on STS-39, the first unclassified shuttle mission for the United States Department of Defense. 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 Otlukbeli: Mehmed the Conqueror of the Ottoman Empire decisively... (1473)

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: Protestant Reformation: Martin Luther posts his 95 Theses on the door of the... (1517)

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, reformation.

Universalfaithreformation

Historical

On This Day: The United States Supreme Court overturns the conviction of Paul Cohen for... (1971)

On June 7, 1971: The United States Supreme Court overturns the conviction of Paul Cohen for disturbing the peace, setting the precedent that vulgar writing is protected under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Universalpeacediscovery

Historical

On This Day: World War II: The Battle of Guadalcanal ends in a decisive Allied victory. (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: Second Congo War: Loyalist troops backed by Angolan and Zimbabwean forces... (1998)

On August 28, 1998: Second Congo War: Loyalist troops backed by Angolan and Zimbabwean forces repulse the RCD and Rwandan offensive on Kinshasa. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Rev. Samuel Marsden holds the first Christian service on land in New Zealand at... (1814)

On December 25, 1814: Rev. Samuel Marsden holds the first Christian service on land in New Zealand at Rangihoua Bay. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the enduring nature of faith through history. Consider using...

Universalfaithdiscovery

Historical

On This Day: The first American saint, Elizabeth Ann Seton, is canonized by Pope Paul VI. (1975)

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: In the Battle of Yungay, Chile defeats an alliance between Peru and Bolivia. (1839)

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: Florence Nightingale and a staff of 38 nurses are sent to the Crimean War. (1854)

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 I: Siege of Tsingtao: A Japanese fleet commanded by Vice Admiral... (1914)

On August 27, 1914: World War I: Siege of Tsingtao: A Japanese fleet commanded by Vice Admiral Sadakichi Kato imposes a blockade along the whole coastline of German Tsingtao, initiating the Siege of Tsingtao.

Universalhistory

Historical

On This Day: Spanish Civil War: The National Defence Council seizes control of the republican... (1939)

On March 5, 1939: Spanish Civil War: The National Defence Council seizes control of the republican government in a coup d'etat, with the intention of negotiating an end to the war. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon...

Universalleadership

Historical

On This Day: Cold War: A court in Czechoslovakia sentences American journalist William N.... (1951)

Oatis to ten years in prison on charges of espionage. 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: Traditionally the date of publication of the Gutenberg Bible, the first Western... (1455)

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, discovery.

Universalfaithdiscovery