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Religion & Spirituality

5 Minutes in Church History with Stephen Nichols

by Ligonier Ministries
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Latest episodes

  • 5 Things Everyone Should Know About John Cotton: A Pastor's Heart

    March 11, 2026 · 5 min

    Who was John Cotton, and why was he such an influential Puritan pastor? Today, Stephen Nichols welcomes Stephen Yuille to discuss several key facts about Cotton's life, ministry, and legacy. Read the transcript: https://…

  • To Burma

    March 4, 2026 · 5 min

    Adoniram Judson lived by the conviction that missionary service required total dedication. Today, Stephen Nichols tells the story of how God sustained Judson through danger, imprisonment, and loss to bring the gospel to the people of…

  • The Haystack Prayer Meeting

    February 25, 2026 · 5 min

    How did a sudden storm and a simple prayer meeting spark a global missions movement? Today, Stephen Nichols tells the story of the Haystack Prayer Meeting and the five college students whose faith helped shape American foreign missions…

  • Noah Webster: More Words

    February 18, 2026 · 5 min

    What do definitions of words like "truth" and "theology" reveal about a person's beliefs? Today, Stephen Nichols revisits Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary and its deep Christian roots. Read the transcript: https://ligonier…

  • 401 Again

    February 11, 2026 · 5 min

    An encounter with Christ struck Paul blind. When he couldn't see anything else, Paul finally saw Jesus for who He really is. Today, Stephen Nichols revisits the year 401, when Augustine delivered a marvelous sermon on Paul's conversion…

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  • 401

    February 4, 2026 · 5 min

    Some years stand out in church history: 325, 1054, 1517. But the year 401 is more obscure. Today, Stephen Nichols takes us to a time when Augustine helped Christians in Carthage navigate conflict in the church and pressure from the world…

  • Noah Webster's Dictionary

    January 28, 2026 · 5 min

    Who was Noah Webster, beyond the dictionary that bears his name? Today, Stephen Nichols explores Webster's influence on American language and how his Christian convictions shaped both his life and his work. Read the transcript…

  • Early Methodism: Circuit Riders and Camp Meetings

    January 21, 2026 · 5 min

    How did Methodism spread across the American frontier? Today, Stephen Nichols looks at the lives of circuit riders who carried Methodism westward. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-hi…

  • Early Methodism: Beginnings and Revival

    January 14, 2026 · 5 min

    How did a small group of Oxford students shape a global movement? Today, Stephen Nichols traces the early roots of Methodism, from high moral standards and revival preaching to its growth in Great Britain and colonial America. Read the…

  • The Story of 5 Sermons

    January 7, 2026 · 5 min

    What prompted Jonathan Edwards to publish a collection of sermons during a period of spiritual decline? Today, Stephen Nichols looks at Edwards' Discourses on Various Important Subjects and the pastoral concerns that shaped this…

  • Church History Resolutions for the New Year

    December 31, 2025 · 5 min

    Looking for a meaningful way to start the new year? Today, Stephen Nichols offers five practical suggestions for diving deeper into church history in 2026. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in…

  • Christmas in New England

    December 24, 2025 · 5 min

    Why is the incarnation at the center of our hope as Christians? Today, Stephen Nichols looks to Jonathan Edwards' sermon on Revelation 5, reflecting on the humility and majesty of Jesus' birth. Read the transcript: https…

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About the show

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.