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: The Battle of Coulmiers ends in a Pyrrhic victory for the French army during the... (1870)
On November 9, 1870: The Battle of Coulmiers ends in a Pyrrhic victory for the French army during the Franco-German War of 1870. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration abou...
On This Day: Second Boer War: The Treaty of Vereeniging ends the war and ensures British... (1902)
On May 31, 1902: Second Boer War: The Treaty of Vereeniging ends the war and ensures British control of South Africa. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the pursu...
On This Day: Ottoman-Timurid Wars: Battle of Ankara: Timur, ruler of Timurid Empire, defeats... (1402)
On July 28, 1402: Ottoman-Timurid Wars: Battle of Ankara: Timur, ruler of Timurid Empire, defeats forces of the Ottoman Empire sultan Bayezid I. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon i...
On This Day: Edward I of England returns from the Ninth Crusade and is crowned King seventeen... (1274)
On August 2, 1274: Edward I of England returns from the Ninth Crusade and is crowned King seventeen days later. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadershi...
On This Day: Frank Eugene Corder fatally crashes a single-engine Cessna 150 into the White... (1994)
On September 12, 1994: Frank Eugene Corder fatally crashes a single-engine Cessna 150 into the White House's south lawn, striking the West wing. There were no other casualties. This historical event ...
On This Day: Ladejarl-Fairhair succession wars: Battle of Stiklestad: King Olaf II fights and... (1030)
On July 29, 1030: Ladejarl-Fairhair succession wars: Battle of Stiklestad: King Olaf II fights and dies trying to regain his Norwegian throne from the Danes. This historical event can serve as a powe...
On This Day: Raniero is elected as Pope Paschal II, who would become deeply entangled in the... (1099)
On August 13, 1099: Raniero is elected as Pope Paschal II, who would become deeply entangled in the Investiture Controversy. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about ho...
On This Day: The Nigerian Eastern Region declares independence as the Republic of Biafra,... (1967)
On May 30, 1967: The Nigerian Eastern Region declares independence as the Republic of Biafra, sparking a civil war. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the gift of...
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: Finnish War: Russians defeat the Swedes at the Battle of Oravais. (1808)
On September 14, 1808: Finnish War: Russians defeat the Swedes at the Battle of Oravais. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of hi...
On This Day: World War I: The Siege of Przemyśl (present-day Poland) begins. (1914)
On September 16, 1914: World War I: The Siege of Przemyśl (present-day Poland) begins. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of hist...
On This Day: World War II: One thousand British bombers launch a 90-minute attack on Cologne,... (1942)
On May 30, 1942: World War II: One thousand British bombers launch a 90-minute attack on Cologne, Germany. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works throug...
On This Day: Cold War: Spain joins NATO. (1982)
On May 30, 1982: Cold War: Spain joins NATO. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consider using it when preaching abou...
On This Day: World War I: The Third Battle of Gaza ends, with British forces capturing Gaza... (1917)
On November 7, 1917: World War I: The Third Battle of Gaza ends, with British forces capturing Gaza from the Ottoman Empire. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about ho...
On This Day: World War II: Germany's Flensburg Government under Karl Dönitz is dissolved when... (1945)
On May 23, 1945: World War II: Germany's Flensburg Government under Karl Dönitz is dissolved when its members are arrested by British forces. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illu...
On This Day: World War I: France and the British Empire declare war on the Ottoman Empire. (1914)
On November 5, 1914: World War I: France and the British Empire declare war on the Ottoman Empire. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the ev...
On This Day: Battle of Grenada: The French defeat British naval forces in the Caribbean... (1779)
On July 6, 1779: Battle of Grenada: The French defeat British naval forces in the Caribbean during the American Revolutionary War. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration ab...
On This Day: World War II: The German army occupies Hungary. (1944)
On March 19, 1944: World War II: The German army occupies Hungary. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consider using ...
On This Day: World War II: The German Tenth Army reports that it can no longer contain the... (1943)
On September 16, 1943: World War II: The German Tenth Army reports that it can no longer contain the Allied bridgehead around Salerno. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustratio...
On This Day: World War II: Disobeying a direct order by Adolf Hitler, General Field Marshal... (1942)
On November 4, 1942: World War II: Disobeying a direct order by Adolf Hitler, General Field Marshal Erwin Rommel begins a retreat of his forces after a costly defeat during the Second Battle of El Alamein....
On This Day: The Compact of Free Association becomes law, granting the Federated States of... (1986)
On November 3, 1986: The Compact of Free Association becomes law, granting the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands independence from the United States. This historical event can s...
On This Day: Battle of Poitiers: An English army under the command of Edward the Black Prince... (1356)
On September 19, 1356: Battle of Poitiers: An English army under the command of Edward the Black Prince defeats a French army and captures King John II. This historical event can serve as a powerful ...
On This Day: The arrival at Plymouth of Tāwhiao, King of Maoris, to claim the protection of... (1884)
On May 31, 1884: The arrival at Plymouth of Tāwhiao, King of Maoris, to claim the protection of Queen Victoria. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadershi...
On This Day: Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, defeats Frederick I of Austria in the Battle of... (1322)
On September 28, 1322: Louis IV, Holy Roman Emperor, defeats Frederick I of Austria in the Battle of Mühldorf. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works th...