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: Union of Brittany and France: The Duchy of Brittany is absorbed into the Kingdom... (1532)
On August 13, 1532: Union of Brittany and France: The Duchy of Brittany is absorbed into the Kingdom of France. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadershi...
On This Day: Arab-Byzantine wars: Antioch surrenders to the Rashidun Caliphate after the... (637)
On October 30, 637: Arab-Byzantine wars: Antioch surrenders to the Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of the Iron Bridge. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how ...
On This Day: Hungarian Revolution of 1956: A Revolutionary Headquarters is established in... (1956)
On October 31, 1956: Hungarian Revolution of 1956: A Revolutionary Headquarters is established in Hungary. Following Imre Nagy's announcement of October 30, banned non-Communist political parties are ...
On This Day: The All Saints' Flood devastates the Dutch coast. (1570)
On November 1, 1570: The All Saints' Flood devastates the Dutch coast. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consider us...
On This Day: Edmund Burke publishes Reflections on the Revolution in France, in which he... (1790)
On November 1, 1790: Edmund Burke publishes Reflections on the Revolution in France, in which he predicts that the French Revolution will end in a disaster. This historical event can serve as a power...
On This Day: Battle of Famars during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition. (1793)
On May 23, 1793: Battle of Famars during the Flanders Campaign of the War of the First Coalition. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's creation and human disc...
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 Battle of Bembezi took place and was the most decisive battle won by the... (1893)
On November 1, 1893: The Battle of Bembezi took place and was the most decisive battle won by the British in the First Matabele War of 1893. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illus...
On This Day: World War II: Paris is liberated by the Allies. (1944)
On August 25, 1944: World War II: Paris is liberated by the Allies. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the gift of freedom and liberation. Consider using it when ...
On This Day: Prelude to the 2008 financial crisis: Northern Rock bank experiences the first... (2007)
On September 14, 2007: Prelude to the 2008 financial crisis: Northern Rock bank experiences the first bank run in the United Kingdom in 150 years. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon...
On This Day: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill meet in Quebec as part of the... (1944)
On September 15, 1944: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill meet in Quebec as part of the Octagon Conference to discuss strategy. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustrat...
On This Day: World War I: Tanks are used for the first time in battle, at the Battle of the... (1916)
On September 15, 1916: World War I: Tanks are used for the first time in battle, at the Battle of the Somme. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's creation and...
On This Day: American Revolutionary War: The Franco-American Siege of Savannah begins. (1779)
On September 16, 1779: American Revolutionary War: The Franco-American Siege of Savannah begins. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the even...
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: Second Northern War: Battle of Warsaw begins. (1656)
On July 28, 1656: Second Northern War: Battle of Warsaw begins. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consider using it ...
On This Day: Peace between Sweden and Russia in the Finnish War; the territory that will... (1809)
On September 17, 1809: Peace between Sweden and Russia in the Finnish War; the territory that will become Finland is ceded to Russia by the Treaty of Fredrikshamn. This historical event can serve as ...
On This Day: Second Boer War: A Boer column defeats a British force at the Battle of Blood... (1901)
On September 17, 1901: Second Boer War: A Boer column defeats a British force at the Battle of Blood River Poort. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works...
On This Day: Second Boer War: Boers capture a squadron of the 17th Lancers at the Battle of... (1901)
On September 17, 1901: Second Boer War: Boers capture a squadron of the 17th Lancers at the Battle of Elands River. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God wor...
On This Day: Congress of Vienna opens to re-draw the European political map after the defeat... (1814)
On November 1, 1814: Congress of Vienna opens to re-draw the European political map after the defeat of France in the Napoleonic Wars. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustratio...
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: 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: 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 Balfour Declaration proclaims British support for the "establishment in... (1917)
On November 2, 1917: The Balfour Declaration proclaims British support for the "establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people" with the clear understanding "that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities"....
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...