Browse Sermon Illustrations
7,893 illustrations available
On This Day: First Crusade: The first Siege of Antioch ends as Crusader forces take the city;... (1098)
On June 2, 1098: First Crusade: The first Siege of Antioch ends as Crusader forces take the city; the second siege began five days later. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustra...
On This Day: Pope Alexander VII appoints François de Laval vicar apostolic in New France. (1658)
On June 3, 1658: Pope Alexander VII appoints François de Laval vicar apostolic in New France. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events ...
On This Day: King Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia abdicates his throne in favor of his... (1802)
On June 4, 1802: King Charles Emmanuel IV of Sardinia abdicates his throne in favor of his brother, Victor Emmanuel. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly lead...
On This Day: Cyprus Convention: The Ottoman Empire cedes Cyprus to the United Kingdom but... (1878)
On June 4, 1878: Cyprus Convention: The Ottoman Empire cedes Cyprus to the United Kingdom but retains nominal title. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly lead...
On This Day: American Civil War: The Second Battle of Petersburg begins. (1864)
On June 15, 1864: American Civil War: The Second Battle of Petersburg begins. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Cons...
On This Day: Pope Leo X threatens to excommunicate Martin Luther in Exsurge Domine. (1520)
On June 15, 1520: Pope Leo X threatens to excommunicate Martin Luther in Exsurge Domine. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about renewal and reformation in the life of...
On This Day: Six days after a referendum, King Christian X of Denmark annuls the declaration... (1946)
On September 20, 1946: Six days after a referendum, King Christian X of Denmark annuls the declaration of independence of the Faroe Islands. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illus...
On This Day: Bishop John Coleridge Patteson, first bishop of Melanesia, is martyred on... (1871)
On September 20, 1871: Bishop John Coleridge Patteson, first bishop of Melanesia, is martyred on Nukapu, now in the Solomon Islands. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration ...
On This Day: Armenia gains independence from the Soviet Union. (1991)
On September 21, 1991: Armenia gains independence from the Soviet Union. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the gift of freedom and liberation. Consider using it ...
On This Day: A treaty annexing the Republic of Hawaii to the United States is signed; the... (1897)
On June 16, 1897: A treaty annexing the Republic of Hawaii to the United States is signed; the Republic would not be dissolved until a year later. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon...
On This Day: LGBT rights activist Zak Kostopoulos is beaten to death on a busy street in... (2018)
On September 21, 2018: LGBT rights activist Zak Kostopoulos is beaten to death on a busy street in Athens This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's heart for justice and righteousness....
On This Day: Eighty Years' War: A Spanish force led by the Marquis del Vasto successfully... (1586)
On September 22, 1586: Eighty Years' War: A Spanish force led by the Marquis del Vasto successfully fights its way past a joint English/Dutch ambush in the Battle of Zutphen. This historical event ca...
On This Day: The Samogitians defeat the Livonian Brothers of the Sword in the Battle of... (1236)
On September 22, 1236: The Samogitians defeat the Livonian Brothers of the Sword in the Battle of Saule. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through ...
On This Day: Sixteen Kingdoms: Sima Yao, age 10, succeeds his father Emperor Jianwen as... (372)
On September 12, 372: Sixteen Kingdoms: Sima Yao, age 10, succeeds his father Emperor Jianwen as Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin dynasty. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illust...
On This Day: Austro-Ottoman War: Battle of Vienna: Several European armies join forces to... (1683)
On September 12, 1683: Austro-Ottoman War: Battle of Vienna: Several European armies join forces to defeat the Ottoman Empire. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about ...
On This Day: At least 75 people are killed in a suicide bombing at a Christian church in... (2013)
On September 22, 2013: At least 75 people are killed in a suicide bombing at a Christian church in Peshawar, Pakistan. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the endu...
On This Day: Iraq invades Iran, sparking the nearly eight year Iran-Iraq War. (1980)
On September 22, 1980: Iraq invades Iran, sparking the nearly eight year Iran-Iraq War. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact. Consid...
On This Day: World War II: Benito Mussolini is rescued from house arrest by German commando... (1943)
On September 12, 1943: World War II: Benito Mussolini is rescued from house arrest by German commando forces led by Otto Skorzeny. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration ab...
On This Day: IBM announces that effective January 1970 it will price its software and... (1969)
On June 23, 1969: IBM announces that effective January 1970 it will price its software and services separately from hardware thus creating the modern software industry. This historical event can serv...
On This Day: Mursili II launches a campaign against the Kingdom of Azzi-Hayasa. (1312 BC)
On June 24, 1312 BC: Mursili II launches a campaign against the Kingdom of Azzi-Hayasa. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact. Consid...
On This Day: Karol Wojtyła (later John Paul II) is made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI. (1967)
On June 26, 1967: Karol Wojtyła (later John Paul II) is made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of hi...
On This Day: Battle of Arbedo between the duke of Milan and the Swiss cantons. (1422)
On June 30, 1422: Battle of Arbedo between the duke of Milan and the Swiss cantons. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history...
On This Day: NASA launches Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-48 to deploy the Upper Atmosphere... (1991)
On September 12, 1991: NASA launches Space Shuttle Discovery on STS-48 to deploy the Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's...
On This Day: Approximately 7,100 brewery workers in Milwaukee perform a walkout, marking the... (1953)
On May 14, 1953: Approximately 7,100 brewery workers in Milwaukee perform a walkout, marking the start of the 1953 Milwaukee brewery strike. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illus...