5 Minutes in Church History: An Introduction to the Stories of God's Faithfulness in the History of the Church

by Stephen J. Nichols

The history of the church is filled with stories. Stories of triumph, stories of defeat, stories of joy, and stories of sorrow. In this book, Dr. Stephen J. Nichols provides snapshots of the church through the centuries. You’ll meet fascinating saints, travel to curious places, examine precious artifacts, and watch as surprising turns of events unfold. This lively and informative journey not only captures the richness of Christian history, but also reveals a record of God’s providence and faithfulness to His people. It’s a story to encourage, challenge, and even entertain. This is our story—our family history.

Genres: History, Church History, Christian, Nonfiction, Christian Living, Historical, Christian Non Fiction

154 pages, Paperback

Published July 11, 2019

About the author

Stephen J. Nichols (PhD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is president of Reformation Bible College and chief academic officer of Ligonier Ministries. Previously, he served as research professor of Christianity and culture at Lancaster Bible College. He is an editor (with Justin Taylor) of the Theologians on the Christian Life series and is the author of several books, including The Reformation, For Us and for Our Salvation, The Church History ABCs, and Bonhoeffer on the Christian Life.

Reviews

[Jonathan Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I think the chapters were podcast episodes from the podcast of the same name. Added the book to my morning devotions and was blessed by them. Recommended

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple, engaging, and fun! A nice way to learn about some of the lesser known stories of church history, albeit briefly, and be encouraged by our predecessors in the faith.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 Minutes in Church History was a good book. I've listened to this author's podcast, 5 Minutes in Church History, and enjoy it...so I was looking forward to this read once I realized it was his book.

Some of the stories were fascinating and others heartbreaking. I loved learning more about Church history and can see myself rereading parts of this book in the future.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

[David Zimmerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a lifelong, avid reader of history, beginning with the “You were there at…” books in my preteens, I found little of interest, help, or inspiration in these snapshots of church related history. Many, in my opinion, did little, if anything, to demonstrate God’s faithfulness to His churches.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

I do not know much about church history. Since I am an avid podcast listener, I subscribed to the 5 Minutes in Church History Podcast by Steve Nichols and Ligonier Ministries. The episodes in the podcast have been turned into this book. I still remember some of the standout episodes, but I wanted to go deeper. When I saw this book was available to review, I knew I had to learn more.

5 Minutes

There are 40 quick chapters in this book. The chapters read like vignettes. They are short stories of intimate moments, fascinating facts, and points of interest. The chapters do not linger. Once you get the gist, Nichols immediately moves to the next. As a Sunday School teacher, I find the format to be incredibly valuable for illustrations. The topics are broad and each story grabs your attention.

Church History

The book is divided into four sections. The first section is dedicated to The Early Church, and Nichols looks at Ignatius, Polycarp, Lyon, and more. He moves on to the Middle Ages, discussing The $14 Million Dollar Book and The Five Ways of Thomas Aquinas. Next up is The Reformation, and he shares stories of Mrs. Luther, Hymns of the Reformation, and Shakespear’s Bible. Finally, he tackles The Modern Age, telling tales of Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield.

Stories of God’s Faithfulness

I was surprised at the end of the book to read the Epilogue: The Next Five Hundred Years: A Conversation with R.C. Sproul. Although Dr. Sproul has passed away, his legacy lives on. His interview is a fitting conclusion to a book about church history. And it is one that is still being written. Until Christ returns, the Church will persevere. And when he comes, we will have many more stories to share.

I was provided a complimentary copy of 5 Minutes in Church History: An Introduction to the Stories of God’s Faithfulness in the History of the Church in exchange for an honest review.

[Rainer Erani · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book based on my favorite podcast of the same name. It's full of quick stories that highlight how God has been working from the Early Church until now. This book does a great job of introducing the reader to important figures, dates, and events that have shaped our history in an informal and enjoyable style. Do yourself a favor and listen to the podcast and order this book.

[Andrew Schmidt · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

I appreciated the historical overview, and I think Nichols did a good job of hitting important points. That's tough when you only get one short chapter per century. The detractor for me was seemingly unfounded critiques of and commentary on Christianity today based on some idea that the past methods of doing things are inherently better. Generally I would agree with that sentiment (we should be learning more from the past), but something about the way he wrote it felt condescending. Being concise saved this book for me.

[Richard Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great introduction to the last 2000 years of what God has been doing in his church.

[Mandy Keel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to go through in our morning family time as an extra little history lesson before we started official school for the day.

[Robert Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love biographies, especially short, to-the-point memoirs, then this is the book for you. Although I have never listened to his podcast, apparently this book is based on a popular broadcast by the author. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about some of our church founders, well-known and otherwise. Each of the 40 chapters feature a different snippet about the history of the church that the author refers to as "postcards" and each chapter can be read in about 5-minutes, as the title infers. The only thing that was off-putting about this book was the writing style, which was adapted from the spoken word of the radio broadcast. The author has an annoying habit of beginning some chapters with "This is the story of ______" and then ending the same chapter with "And that is the story of ______". The reader is smart enough to know that all of these are stories, and we know when the story begins and ends. It reminded me of high school, when you try to get 500 words into that book report and begin stating the obvious. Overall, that is a very minor detail and it would not keep me from recommending the book, which was excellent.

[Evan · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the category of “Finished just as the new year was starting so it looks impressive to have books already up on my 2025 challenge.” A collection of very brief, one or two page at most, bits on church history, with an emphasis on reformed and presbyterian history. There’s some well known stories here of course, but also some figures and moments that might be obscure for many. Making it interesting. I’m a fan if the podcast and was glad to find a quick, easy read that I enjoyed.

[Derek VanRoekel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a nice introduction into church history that provides a survey of AD 100 - now. It briefly covers some prominent figures, objects, and places and tells how they fit into church history. Overall, I liked it and it gave me some direction about which part of church history I’m interested to study more.

[Eric Keel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book to add to our family devotions in the morning. Literally 5 minutes a day and you get a great overview of important figures in church history.

[Errol Castens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tidbits of church history - some that every Christian ought to be familiar with, and some a little more obscure. All interesting and told in an engaging way.

[NinaB · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an advanced free copy of this book from #netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great compilation of biographies of heroes of the Christian faith, from ancient times to World War 2. It is based on the author’s podcast with the same name, which I listen to and highly recommend.

It is a good addition to your daily reading as an encouragement to how Christians in the past have counted the cost of following Christ, held fast on to Truth and ran the race of endurance for the sake of their God.

Each chapter takes no more than a few minutes to read, but it motivated me to do more research on these brothers and sisters in the Lord.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭ESV‬‬

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence of the preface: This book offers a series of postcards from church history. There are postcards of people, places, events, artifacts, dates, and ideas. I offer these postcards in the hopes that you will enjoy visiting the past--and that you will go back there often.

In 2013, 5 Minutes in Church History premiered as a podcast hosted by Stephen Nichols. The premise mission of both book and pocast is simple: to encourage believers to become more familiar--to "visit the past" often.

The first chapter (but not the first podcast) is titled "Is Spurgeon Right?" This chapter serves as a great WHY to the book. Why do believers need to be connected to the past? What benefits can believers hope to gain by exploring the past and becoming familiar with church history?

Nichols takes inspiration from Charles Spurgeon. Spurgeon wrote on why it was important for preachers to use commentaries instead of relying (or relying solely) on themselves and their interpretation of a text. Spurgeon wrote, "It seems odd, that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves, should think so little of what he has revealed to others." Nichols writes, "Spurgeon reminds us that the Holy Spirit is not an individual gift. The Holy Spirit is a corporate gift to the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit has taught others, and the Spirit uses others to teach us. Spurgeon's argument reaches the conclusion that preachers should use commentaries. Don't be arrogant, and don't think you have a corner on the market of the Holy Spirit, because you don't."
Nichols then supposes what would Spurgeon say to the modern church, "Here's my paraphrase of Spurgeon's argument: 'I find it odd that the church of the 21st century thinks so highly of what the Holy Spirit has taught it today that it thinks so little of what the Holy Spirit taught the church in the first century, the second, the third, the fourth, and son and and so on.' The Holy Spirit is not unique to our age. The Holy Spirit has been at work in the church for the past twenty centuries. We could put the matter this way--it is rather prideful to think that we have nothing to learn from the past...We need a little humility. Enough humility to say we may not have all the answers in the present. Enough humility to say we need the past, and enough humility to visit it from time to time."

The book is arranged chronologically and divided into sections: "The Early Church," "The Middle Ages," "The Reformation," and "The Modern Age." There are forty chapters in all.

I would definitely recommend this one. Dare I say I would even recommend it as a devotional?! I think it would make a great devotional for readers who don't want the typical short, fluffy, light, insubstantial, inspirational, sticky-sweet devotional typically marketed for Christians. It has substance. It is informational and insightful. I think it would even be great for family devotions. That being said, you don't have to approach it as a devotional.

I really enjoyed this one...and not just because it was short. I've always loved history. I haven't always loved church history. But I think that was in part because it can be presented in a way that is overwhelming and much too much. I like the balance between focusing on people, on ideas, on places, on events, on dates, etc.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of the podcast 5 Minutes in Church History with Stephen Nichols for a while. In 5 minute segments, Nichols informs his listeners of some topic or character from church history. This book of the same name is based on some of these podcast episodes and, true to its name, each chapter takes roughly 5 minutes to read.

Church history is a fascinating topic, 2000 years of God’s faithfulness, 2000 years of God working in and through the lives and hearts of his church. Sometimes it can seem sort of boring, not because the topic is boring but because sometimes it is presented in a very dry, boring fashion. This is not always a bad thing, but for the person who likes things, short, sweet, to-the-point, yet still informative and meaningful, I would recommend this 150 page introduction by Stephen Nichols. He keeps his readers attention by keeping the chapters short, but packs enough information into them that the reader walks away having learned something.

The book is split into four parts. Beginning with the early church, Nichols provides an overview of John’s disciples Ignatius and Polycarp, the catacombs, the council of Nicea in 325, and other topics. He moves onto the middle ages introducing us to topics like the five ways of Thomas Aquinas and the year 1516, providing an excellent segway to the next portion on the protestant reformation. Readers will likely be somewhat familiar with Luther and maybe his wife, but there were some very fascinating chapters in this, some of which I was unfamiliar. Most touching I think, was the bravery spoken of by the four men who wrote and signed the Guanabara Confession of Faith which was immediately followed by their martyrdom. Finally, Nichols brings us to the modern age with names like Jonathan Edwards, J. Gresham Machen, B. B. Warfield, Francis Grimke, and Eric Liddell.

“5 Minutes in Church History” is a solid book, great for the beginner or busy person to begin their study of church history.

[Faith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stephen J. Nichols is the host of the popular podcast of the same title. In this book we look at defining snapshots from church history, from early disciples to saints, architecture, kings, and moments in history. Easy to read, with each chapter written to take a mere 5 minutes to read, each concise chapter shows the event or person's modern day relevance.



This was an enjoyable read, an though many of the stories were familiar to me, I can't say that I thought much about the historic building and their relevance in church history before reading this book. It took me a while to read this book, only because I read about once chapter everyday. It was a very enjoyable read, and I really liked how it talks about guarding the "good deposit" by learning from our past.



The final chapter, which is an interview with R.C. Sproul is a great conclusion, and sums up the book well, in speaking on the importance of church history and the Gospel.



"in every generation, the gospel has to be understood anew; it has to be preached with vigor and urgency, because as quickly as we receive it and understand it, like the ancient Galatians, we are fast to move away from it and try to interject some additive that we give to secure our own justification. It is always faith plus something rather than faith alone."



Overall, a very good book that can be read in chapters at a time, or just in 5 minutes a day. I liked how it focuses on how God has preserved the Good News through many generations and empires, using unassuming people and places to show His divine plan for our salvation.





I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Ginger Hudock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen Nichols, the author of 5 Minutes in Church History, is an accomplished church historian. I had heard a number of his church history podcasts on Renewing Your Mind and was interested to read this book. Each chapter is short (1-2 pages) and discusses a =n interesting snippet of church history. Some of these are well known, such as a discussion of Thomas Aquinas' philosophies. Others were not as well known to me, such as the first Christian mosaic in England, a short biography of Lemuel Hayes, and a discussion of the many Biblical illusions in Shakespeare's works.
This would be an excellent book to read as a family with elementary or older children. Nichols' purpose in this book is best given by this quote, "That is why we study church history: to remind us of these men God raised up to guard the good deposit, and that's even the task in our own day."
I received a complementary copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps most people, turned off by the need to memorize dates, ignore history, thinking it to be suitable for those who like to memorize dates, but not much more. But history is stories: the stories of people; the stories of places; the stories of events. Nichols has gone through the twenty centuries of history since the New Testament and given us stories. These stories delight, but they also teach. The people and events he has chosen are not always the most important, of the ones with the most lasting significance (though the fact that people are still telling them centuries later should tell us something), but they all draw us in to the wonderful tapestry that is the story of the people of God. The chapters are excellent for daily devotional reading, but also excellent at drawing the reader in to the great story that is the working of God in the building of his kingdom. Highly recommended.

[Chelsea Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to read this church history book by Stephen Nichols because I enjoy the podcast by the same name. I was not disappointed!

This book is actually episodes of the podcast edited to fit into a book format. The chapters are short (take around five minutes or less to read like the title suggests), simple, and encouraging.

The only thing I would’ve liked to be different about the book is if there would’ve been more continuity between the chapters. There is no theme, so the chapters seem a little disjointed. The authors intention were for these to be “postcards,” but I would’ve liked a little more of a cohesive story.

I would recommend this book for anyone who enjoy church history and understands the value of studying Christianity. I would also recommend this if you do not have a large portion of time to devote to studying.

I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Understanding that this book is a collection of podcasts in book form helps to understand the random assortment of church history tidbits (I say that because you can't even call each chapter a story). But, the collection is so random, that there doesn't seem to be any reason for ordering the chapters other than the general time periods of Early Church, Middle Ages, Reformation, and Modern Age.
Also, some chapters don't even really apply to church history at all. For example, Shakespeare quoted the Bible in his plays...great. True enough. What does that have to do with the story arc of church history?
I'm sure the podcast is interesting and informative. A "transcript" as a book...? Not so much.

[Em (Makenna) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an arc of this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was very happy when I picked up this book! I've listened to the podcast, (5 minutes in church history) for quite a while now, and this book is basically the same concept, but in writing form. Chopped up into five minutes or less pieces, anyone can learn something new about the history of the church, with many topics covered such as martyrs in the roman age, Martin Luther, and more. Overall, if you are interested in church history, or you want to be but are daunted by the large long boring looking history books, you should read this.

[Candice Forte · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfect for someone with an interest in church history that doesn’t want to get overwhelmed! It provides bites of history from the early church to present and concludes with an interview with the late R.C. Sproul. I wouldn’t say it covers all of the typical church history characters and I learned a lot of new things from both the usual people mentioned in church history books and new people. I really appreciated the amount of information on each person. I have read some books on the subject in which I have gotten a little bogged down with information. I will re-read this for certain and maybe even use it when my children study church history for our homeschool.

[Joel Gass · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an awesome book. I love the podcast and highly encourage everyone that is a church history buff to listen. The book takes 40 chapters to cover 4 sections, The Early Church, THE Middle Ages, The reformation, and the Modern Age.Unlike the podcasts, the book is ordered chronologically. The book covers the entire span of church history. It is a great book to have in your library.Bibliography and subject index makes it great for quotes and light research. 141 pages of history. #5minutesInChurchHistory #NetGalley

[Gannon Miles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful book that is easy to read and includes interesting stories from history. Many of the stories included are the kind a reader hopes for - interesting but off the beaten path. From stories on Mrs. Luther, Mrs. Warfield, and Machen's love of mountains, to stories of Luther, Calvin, and other heroes of the faith, this book is an interesting read and worthwhile if you want to get into church history generally.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information in this book was somewhat interesting, but the selection of historical events seemed rather random. These essays were originally podcasts, and the material is rather thin and aimed at those wanting a "quick listen." This book might be good for middle or high school religious studies or for adults new to the faith.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen J. Nichols is the host of the popular podcast of the same title. In this book we look at defining snapshots from church history. Each chapter should take around 5 minutes to read and although short each chapter is packed with value. Nichols reminds the reader of the importance of Church history and our past. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about history.

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book focuses on 40 different persons, events and objects that have effected Christianity over the last 2000 years. As denoted by the title, each short chapter is meant to be read in about 5 minutes. This makes it useful for history buffs, and even for homeschoolers to get a quick church history lesson before going about the day. A worthwhile read!

[Caleb Comstock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book. I just wish it was longer, I didn’t want it to end. Not a must read, but everyone should read it. So many glimpses back into church history and are exciting to learn about. Great book.