Contemplative/Mystical Illustrations
Union with God, contemplative prayer, apophatic theology.
Key question: “How does this text invite us into deeper union with God?”
14086 illustrations found
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: Iraq War: In Fallujah, U.S. forces mistakenly shoot and kill eight Iraqi police... (2003)
On September 12, 2003: Iraq War: In Fallujah, U.S. forces mistakenly shoot and kill eight Iraqi police officers. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works
On This Day: The Deluge: Khmelnytsky Uprising: The Battle of Berestechko ends with a Polish... (1651)
On June 30, 1651: The Deluge: Khmelnytsky Uprising: The Battle of Berestechko ends with a Polish victory. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through
On This Day: The German High Seas Fleet is incapacitated when sailors mutiny, an action which... (1918)
On October 29, 1918: The German High Seas Fleet is incapacitated when sailors mutiny, an action which would trigger the German Revolution of 1918-19. This historical event can serve as a powerful ser
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: Wars of the Three Kingdoms: Battle of Alford. (1645)
On July 2, 1645: Wars of the Three Kingdoms: Battle of Alford. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact. Consider using it when preachin
On This Day: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago sign the Treaty of... (1973)
On July 4, 1973: Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago sign the Treaty of Chaguaramas in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and Tobago establishing the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). It replaces the C
On This Day: American Revolution: The Continental Congress adopts the Lee Resolution severing... (1776)
On July 2, 1776: American Revolution: The Continental Congress adopts the Lee Resolution severing ties with the Kingdom of Great Britain, although the wording of the formal Declaration of Independence
On This Day: Anglo-Spanish War: Spanish forces fail to retake Jamaica at the Battle of Ocho... (1657)
On October 30, 1657: Anglo-Spanish War: Spanish forces fail to retake Jamaica at the Battle of Ocho Rios. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through
On This Day: Cold War: Radio Free Europe first broadcasts. (1950)
On July 4, 1950: Cold War: Radio Free Europe first broadcasts. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the gift of freedom and liberation. Consider using it when preac
On This Day: The cornerstone of the Freedom Tower is laid on the World Trade Center site in... (2004)
On July 4, 2004: The cornerstone of the Freedom Tower is laid on the World Trade Center site in New York City. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the gift of free
On This Day: Tecumseh's War: The Battle of Tippecanoe is fought near present-day Battle... (1811)
On November 7, 1811: Tecumseh's War: The Battle of Tippecanoe is fought near present-day Battle Ground, Indiana, United States. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about
On This Day: The Battle of Otterburn, a border skirmish between the Scottish and the English... (1388)
On August 5, 1388: The Battle of Otterburn, a border skirmish between the Scottish and the English in Northern England, is fought near Otterburn. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon