

5 Minutes in Church History with Stephen Nichols
Ligonier Ministries
This weekly podcast provides an informal and informative look at church history. Join us each week as we take a brief break from the present to go exploring the past. Travel back in time as we look at the people, events, and even the places that have shaped the story of Christianity. Each episode offers an easily digestible glimpse of how the eternal, unchangeable God has worked in the church over prior generations and how this can encourage us today. This is our story—our family history.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 21, 2022 • 5min
332. J.C. Ryle
Sometimes God can use a single verse from His Word to draw us to Himself. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols looks at a verse that transformed the life of the English bishop J.C. Ryle: Ephesians 2:8. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/332-jc-ryle/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Sep 14, 2022 • 5min
400. What Governs History?
Many ancient Greeks and Romans believed that history is subject to the arbitrary governance of fate. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols considers how one scholar from old Princeton responded to this idea. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/400-what-governs-history/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Sep 7, 2022 • 5min
30. Monica: A Mother's Prayer
Monica desired only one thing before she left this world: to see her son become a Christian. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols introduces us to the mother of Augustine--a woman faithful in prayer. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/30-monica-a-mothers-prayer/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Aug 31, 2022 • 5min
384. C.S. Lewis Essayist
While Europe was embroiled in World War II, brilliant essays flowed from the pen of C.S. Lewis. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols examines some of the other writings that came from the author of The Chronicles of Narnia. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/384-cs-lewis-essayist/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Aug 24, 2022 • 5min
102. Peter Martyr Vermigli
How did a devout monk become a Protestant on the run from the authorities because of his faith? Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols introduces us to the life and work of Peter Martyr Vermigli, a daring Reformer. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/102-peter-martyr-vermigli/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

4 snips
Aug 17, 2022 • 5min
404. History of Atheism
We are witnessing a rise of professing atheists and practical atheism in the 21st century. Where did all this unbelief come from? Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols traces the development of atheism in the modern world. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/404-history-of-atheism/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Aug 10, 2022 • 5min
259. Johann Sebastian Bach: JJ
The Lutheran composer Johann Sebastian Bach often signed his compositions with the initials "JJ" and "SDG." Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols explains the significance of these letters. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/259-johann-sebastian-bach-jj/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Aug 3, 2022 • 6min
349. The King James Bible
Each translation of the Bible has a unique history of its own. Today on our journey back through the archives, Dr. Stephen Nichols visits the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, to take a look at the history of the English Bible. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/349-the-king-james-bible/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Jul 27, 2022 • 5min
501. The First Episode
In this podcast, we've observed the history of God's faithfulness to His people over twenty centuries. Today, we begin a journey back through the archives as Dr. Stephen Nichols revisits our very first episode on Augustine's Confessions. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/the-first-episode/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Jul 20, 2022 • 5min
The 500th Episode with Chris Larson
The history of the Christian faith is a story for all generations. On this special 500th episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols is joined by Ligonier President Chris Larson to discuss the beginnings of this podcast and the importance of knowing our family history as Christians. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/the-500th-episode-with-chris-larson/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/


