Contemplative/Mystical Illustrations
Union with God, contemplative prayer, apophatic theology.
Key question: “How does this text invite us into deeper union with God?”
10346 illustrations found
On This Day: World War II: The Battle of Hürtgen Forest begins. It will become the... (1944)
On September 19, 1944: World War II: The Battle of Hürtgen Forest begins. It will become the second-longest individual battle that the U.S. Army has ever fought. This historical event can serve as a ...
On This Day: The American Association for the Advancement of Science is created. (1848)
On September 20, 1848: The American Association for the Advancement of Science is created. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's creation and human discovery. ...
On This Day: American Civil War: The Allegheny Arsenal explosion in Lawrenceville,... (1862)
On September 17, 1862: American Civil War: The Allegheny Arsenal explosion in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania results in the single largest civilian disaster during the war. This historical event can ser...
On This Day: World War II: The Battle of Crete ends as Crete capitulates to Germany. (1941)
On June 1, 1941: World War II: The Battle of Crete ends as Crete capitulates to Germany. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of hi...
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: Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette become King and Queen of France. (1774)
On May 10, 1774: Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette become King and Queen of France. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact. Consider usin...
On This Day: The Battle of Chawinda is fought between Pakistan and India. (1965)
On September 17, 1965: The Battle of Chawinda is fought between Pakistan and India. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history...
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: World War II: Due to setbacks in the Battle of Britain and approaching autumn... (1940)
On September 17, 1940: World War II: Due to setbacks in the Battle of Britain and approaching autumn weather, Hitler postpones Operation Sea Lion. 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: 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: The Front de Libération Nationale fires the first shots of the Algerian War of... (1954)
On November 1, 1954: The Front de Libération Nationale fires the first shots of the Algerian War of Independence. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the gift of f...
On This Day: The French Directory, a five-man revolutionary government, is created. (1795)
On November 2, 1795: The French Directory, a five-man revolutionary government, is created. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact. Co...
On This Day: Seabiscuit defeats War Admiral in an upset victory during a match race deemed... (1938)
On November 1, 1938: Seabiscuit defeats War Admiral in an upset victory during a match race deemed "the match of the century" in horse racing. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon ill...
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: 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: 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: Second War of Schleswig: The Treaty of Vienna is signed, by which Denmark... (1864)
On October 30, 1864: Second War of Schleswig: The Treaty of Vienna is signed, by which Denmark relinquishes one province each to Prussia and Austria. This historical event can serve as a powerful ser...
On This Day: The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is adopted by the United... (2007)
On September 13, 2007: The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is adopted by the United Nations General Assembly. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about G...
On This Day: War in Afghanistan: Afghan Northern Alliance fighters take over the capital... (2001)
On November 14, 2001: War in Afghanistan: Afghan Northern Alliance fighters take over the capital Kabul. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through ...
On This Day: Zaian War: Berber tribesmen inflict the heaviest defeat of French forces in... (1914)
On November 13, 1914: Zaian War: Berber tribesmen inflict the heaviest defeat of French forces in Morocco at the Battle of El Herri. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration ...