

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

Jun 3, 2020 • 5min
Who Is Strong?
For 35 years, James Strong labored to catalog more than 14,000 Hebrew and Greek words into the exhaustive concordance that bears his name. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols examines Strong's influence on biblical studies and Bible translation. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/who-is-strong/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

May 27, 2020 • 5min
Paul's Religion
Is the Jesus of the Gospels different from the Christ taught by the Apostle Paul? On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols outlines the controversy that drove J. Gresham Machen to write his monumental book on the origin of Christianity. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/pauls-religion/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

May 20, 2020 • 5min
Isaac Newton
The more Isaac Newton studied God’s universe, the more he was led to worship the Creator. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols introduces us to the father of modern science. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/isaac-newton/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

May 13, 2020 • 5min
5 Cathedrals
The great cathedrals of Europe have witnessed centuries of church history, and each has stories of its own to tell. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols takes us on a journey to five of these iconic structures. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/5-cathedrals/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

May 6, 2020 • 5min
C.S. Lewis, Essayist
While Europe was embroiled in World War II, brilliant essays flowed from the pen of C.S. Lewis. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, 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/c-s-lewis-essayist/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Apr 29, 2020 • 5min
Dispensationalism
When we hear the word "dispensational," our thoughts might turn to discussions of prophecy and the rapture. But there's far more to this theological movement. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols defines four major features of dispensationalism. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/dispensationalism/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Apr 22, 2020 • 5min
Faith in Times of Plague - Grimké
When a health crisis ravages the land, God's people are presented with a unique opportunity to take inventory of their spiritual lives. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols observes how Francis Grimke guided his congregation through the Spanish flu of 1918. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/faith-in-times-of-plague-grimke/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Apr 15, 2020 • 5min
Faith in Times of Plague - Luther
Ours is not the first age in which Christians have faced the danger of viruses and infectious disease. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols assesses how Martin Luther advised his church to trust in God during a deadly outbreak of the bubonic plague. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/faith-in-times-of-plague-luther/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Apr 8, 2020 • 5min
The Church in Times of Crisis
In a time of crisis, will we give up all hope? Or will we trust that God is orchestrating all things to accomplish His good purposes in the world? On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols turns to Augustine of Hippo as an example of steadfast faith amid challenging circumstances. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/the-church-in-times-of-crisis/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Apr 1, 2020 • 5min
5 Latin Words
How good is your Latin? On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols defines five Latin terms that have been used by Christians through the ages to describe key theological truths. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/5-latin-words/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/