Non-denominational Illustrations
Biblical simplicity, contemporary relevance, practical application.
Key question: “What is the plain meaning and practical application of this text?”
14828 illustrations found
On This Day: Howard Hughes sets a new air record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City... (1937)
On January 19, 1937: Howard Hughes sets a new air record by flying from Los Angeles to New York City in seven hours, 28 minutes, 25 seconds. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illus
On This Day: American Civil War: The Battle of Brandy Station in Virginia, the largest... (1863)
On June 9, 1863: American Civil War: The Battle of Brandy Station in Virginia, the largest cavalry battle on American soil, ends Confederate cavalry dominance in the eastern theater. This historical
On This Day: World War I: Brazil declares war on the Central Powers. (1917)
On October 26, 1917: World War I: Brazil declares war on the Central Powers. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consi
On This Day: Uttawar forced sterilisations: Mass vasectomy of nearly 800 men of Uttawar... (1976)
On November 6, 1976: Uttawar forced sterilisations: Mass vasectomy of nearly 800 men of Uttawar village, Palwal district, Haryana during India's Emergency imposed by Indira Gandhi. This historical e
On This Day: American Civil War: Stonewall Jackson concludes his successful Shenandoah Valley... (1862)
On June 9, 1862: American Civil War: Stonewall Jackson concludes his successful Shenandoah Valley Campaign with a victory in the Battle of Port Republic. This historical event can serve as a powerful
On This Day: Treaty of Tientsin is signed to end the Sino-French War, with China eventually... (1885)
On June 9, 1885: Treaty of Tientsin is signed to end the Sino-French War, with China eventually giving up Tonkin and Annam - most of present-day Vietnam - to France. This historical event can serve a
On This Day: Olympe de Gouges writes the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female... (1791)
On September 5, 1791: Olympe de Gouges writes the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about God's heart for
On This Day: Second Boer War: The Battle of Leliefontein takes place, during which the Royal... (1900)
On November 7, 1900: Second Boer War: The Battle of Leliefontein takes place, during which the Royal Canadian Dragoons win three Victoria Crosses. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon
On This Day: Charles Kingsford Smith completes the first trans-Pacific flight in a Fokker... (1928)
On June 9, 1928: Charles Kingsford Smith completes the first trans-Pacific flight in a Fokker Trimotor monoplane, the Southern Cross. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration
On This Day: Abbasid Revolution: Abu Muslim Khorasani begins an open revolt against Umayyad... (747)
On June 9, 747: Abbasid Revolution: Abu Muslim Khorasani begins an open revolt against Umayyad rule, which is carried out under the sign of the Black Standard. This historical event can serve as a po
On This Day: The Charter of the Forest is sealed at St Paul's Cathedral, London by King Henry... (1217)
On November 6, 1217: The Charter of the Forest is sealed at St Paul's Cathedral, London by King Henry III, acting under the regency of William Marshall, 1st Earl of Pembroke which re-establishes for f
On This Day: Irish Rebellion of 1798: Battles of Arklow and Saintfield. (1798)
On June 9, 1798: Irish Rebellion of 1798: Battles of Arklow and Saintfield. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God works through the events of history. Consid
On This Day: James Earl Ray, the man who assassinated Martin Luther King Jr. is arrested at... (1968)
On June 8, 1968: James Earl Ray, the man who assassinated Martin Luther King Jr. is arrested at London Heathrow Airport. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly
On This Day: Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launch an offensive to... (2016)
On November 6, 2016: Syrian civil war: The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) launch an offensive to capture the city of Raqqa from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). This historical event
On This Day: World War II: In the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands during the Guadalcanal... (1942)
On October 26, 1942: World War II: In the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands during the Guadalcanal Campaign, one U.S. aircraft carrier is sunk and another carrier is heavily damaged, while two Japanese
On This Day: Duccio's Maestà, a seminal artwork of the early Italian Renaissance, is unveiled... (1311)
On June 9, 1311: Duccio's Maestà, a seminal artwork of the early Italian Renaissance, is unveiled and installed in Siena Cathedral in Siena, Italy. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermo
On This Day: An F-104 Starfighter collides with XB-70 Valkyrie prototype no. 2, destroying... (1966)
On June 8, 1966: An F-104 Starfighter collides with XB-70 Valkyrie prototype no. 2, destroying both aircraft during a photo shoot near Edwards Air Force Base. Joseph A. Walker, a NASA test pilot, and
On This Day: Liberian President Edward James Roye is deposed in a coup d'état. (1871)
On October 26, 1871: Liberian President Edward James Roye is deposed in a coup d'état. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about godly leadership and its impact. Conside
On This Day: The Lao Issara took control of Laos' government and reaffirmed the country's... (1945)
On October 12, 1945: The Lao Issara took control of Laos' government and reaffirmed the country's independence. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about the gift of fre
On This Day: Colombian conflict, leftist guerrillas of the 19th of April Movement seize... (1985)
On November 6, 1985: Colombian conflict, leftist guerrillas of the 19th of April Movement seize control of the Palace of Justice in Bogotá. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illust
On This Day: Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire. This act became the catalyst for the... (2010)
On December 17, 2010: Mohamed Bouazizi sets himself on fire. This act became the catalyst for the Tunisian Revolution and the wider Arab Spring. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon i
On This Day: Premiere performance of The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in Saint... (1892)
On December 18, 1892: Premiere performance of The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in Saint Petersburg, Russia. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration about how God w
On This Day: At Carnuntum, Emperor emeritus Diocletian confers with Galerius, Augustus of the... (308)
On November 11, 308: At Carnuntum, Emperor emeritus Diocletian confers with Galerius, Augustus of the East, and Maximianus, the recently returned former Augustus of the West, in an attempt to end the
On This Day: World War II: The Allies commence the Syria-Lebanon Campaign against the... (1941)
On June 8, 1941: World War II: The Allies commence the Syria-Lebanon Campaign against the possessions of Vichy France in the Levant. This historical event can serve as a powerful sermon illustration