
5 Minutes in Church History with Stephen Nichols
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.
Latest episodes

Apr 23, 2025 • 5min
Meet Dr. Paul Brand
Raised in India and trained in London, Dr. Paul Brand combined medical skill with gentle compassion. Today, Stephen Nichols explores how this missionary doctor’s care for leprosy patients reflected the heart of Christ. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/meet-dr-paul-brand/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Apr 16, 2025 • 5min
The Zwickau Prophets
In the early days of the Reformation, not all voices were united. Today, Stephen Nichols tells the story of the Zwickau Prophets, a group of radical preachers whose mystical and apocalyptic teachings clashed with Martin Luther’s commitment to Scripture alone. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/the-zwickau-prophets/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Apr 9, 2025 • 5min
The Flushing Remonstrance
On December 27, 1657, a group of Dutch colonists in New Netherland took a stand for religious liberty. Today, Stephen Nichols tells the story of the Flushing Remonstrance, one of the earliest American documents to defend religious freedom. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/the-flushing-remonstrance A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Apr 2, 2025 • 5min
Isaac Watts in 5 Sayings
Isaac Watts’ influence extends far beyond the hymns he penned. Today, Stephen Nichols reflects on five powerful sayings from Watts, revealing his deep theological insight and enduring impact on Christian worship. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/isaac-watts-in-5-sayings A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Mar 26, 2025 • 5min
The Weight of Glory
What does it mean to seek true glory? Today, Stephen Nichols explores C.S. Lewis’ The Weight of Glory, reflecting on our deepest longings, the promise of eternity, and how the gospel shapes our view of others. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/the-weight-of-glory A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Mar 19, 2025 • 5min
Rhodes in History
If you visit the Island of Rhodes, you’ll experience centuries of history. Today, Stephen Nichols explores this island’s rich past—from the towering Colossus of Rhodes to the influence of the Knights of St. John—and its connections to biblical and church history. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/rhodes-in-history/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Mar 12, 2025 • 5min
Charles Hodge: What Is Saving Faith?
What is saving faith? Today, Stephen Nichols looks to Charles Hodge’s teaching on Galatians 2:20, exploring how true faith rests in Christ alone, trusts in His love, and clings to His atoning work for our salvation. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/charles-hodge-what-is-saving-faith/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Mar 5, 2025 • 5min
Charles Hodge: What Is Systematic Theology?
What is systematic theology? Today, Stephen Nichols delves into Charles Hodge’s definition of theology as a science, reflecting on how Hodge arranged biblical truths in a harmonious system while emphasizing the necessity of the Holy Spirit. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/charles-hodge-what-is-systematic-theology/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Feb 26, 2025 • 5min
Athenagoras
In the second century, Athenagoras of Athens defended the Christian faith before Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Today, Stephen Nichols explains how his treatise, A Plea for the Christians, reflects the early church's responses to persecution. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/athenagoras/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Feb 19, 2025 • 5min
Athens in Church History
Athens stands as a cornerstone of Western civilization, philosophy, and church history. Today, Stephen Nichols takes us to this ancient city, exploring its legacy as the home of democracy, Socratic thought, and Paul’s famous sermon on Mars Hill. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/athens-in-church-history/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
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