5 Recommended Resources on Church History

We live in a world that tends to value novelty, as is plain from advertisements promoting a product that’s yet again “new and improved.” That which is “old” is considered inferior to that which is “modern.” Yet this attitude becomes dangerous when we devalue or ignore the rich tradition of church history that has led us where we are today. By becoming students of history, we can gain a better understanding of God’s providence through time, are warned of errors not to be repeated, and gain helpful insight from the people of God who have come before us. The following resources, curated by the Ligonier editorial team, can assist you toward that end.

A Survey of Church History by W. Robert Godfrey

In this extensive teaching series, Dr. Godfrey walks through major events and figures in the history of the church from AD 100 through the year 2000. This 73-message series can help believers better understand God’s steadfast faithfulness to His people as He fulfills His promise to build His church.

In the Year of Our Lord by Sinclair Ferguson

In this book, Dr. Ferguson takes readers on a tour of Christian history to give believers a sense of their place in God’s kingdom and to encourage them in their walk. Each chapter covers a different century in church history, from the first through the twentieth centuries, and concludes with a hymn representative of that era.

5 Minutes in Church History by Stephen Nichols

The history of the church is filled with stories of triumph, defeat, joy, and sorrow. In this book, Dr. Nichols provides snapshots of the church through the centuries, capturing both the richness of Christian history and God’s providence and faithfulness to His people. 5 Minutes in Church History is also a podcast by Dr. Nichols, featuring a wealth of episodes in a convenient format for listening.

2,000 Years of Christ’s Power by Nick Needham

This series provides an in-depth exploration of church history while also being accessible and engaging for readers. Volume 1 covers the early church fathers (first through sixth century), volume 2 examines the Middle Ages (seventh through fifteenth century), volume 3 looks at the Renaissance and Reformation (sixteenth century), volume 4 discusses the age of religious conflict (sixteenth through eighteenth century), and volume 5 explores the Enlightenment and Awakening (eighteenth century). Each chapter concludes with a selection of writings from figures in church history discussed in that chapter.

Church History 101 by Sinclair B. Ferguson, Joel R. Beeke, and Michael A.G. Haykin

This short book highlights church history’s most important events to provide an accessible yet rich overview. Each chapter covers a different century, spanning from the first century through the twentieth century, showing how God’s faithful dealings with His people in the Bible continue in the ongoing life and work of Christ in our world.

This article is part of the Recommended Resources collection.