We Have Unprecedented Bible Access but Rarely Read It: Does It Matter?

Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the book widens and deepens with our years.
—Charles Spurgeon

The Bible is the book of my life. It’s the book I live with,
the book I live by, the book I want to die by.
—N. T. Wright

As Christians, the Bible is the most sacred book we have. However, one of the biggest issues today’s churches face is biblical illiteracy. 

Although many people in the United States have access to the Bible, few actually read it on a daily basis. In fact, one study shows that nearly 90% of households in the United States own a Bible,¹ according to research from the Barna Group in partnership with the Assemblies of God.

We all know that owning a Bible and reading a Bible isn’t the same thing. But it can be easy to forget how neglecting God’s Word actually impacts us. 

The lack of biblical literacy affects more than spiritual growth—and the Assemblies of God partnered with the Barna Group to quantify how regular Bible engagement makes a difference in every part of our lives. 

The study, released last year, contains some startling findings, including a strong relationship between high Bible engagement and satisfaction in life. 

Another staggering statistic reveals only 7% of people with low Bible engagement incorporate worship in their everyday life. Not only do those with high Bible engagement worship all week long, but they also have more fellowship with the Holy Spirit and a clearer understanding of the gifts and talents God has given them. 

One of the least surprising findings covers evangelism. Nearly 80% of those with high Bible engagement feel comfortable sharing their faith with a stranger or close friend, compared to less than 20% with low Bible engagement. 

While the study was sponsored by the Assemblies of God, the Barna Group found no major differences between the Assemblies of God members compared to other churchgoers. 

Research like this can be disheartening, but it can also clarify our mission as Christians. 

For the Assemblies of God, that means confronting the biblical illiteracy problem head-on—and that’s where Faithlife comes in. 

With the new Bible Engagement Project, the Assemblies of God and Faithlife are collaborating to offer digital resources for studying the Bible, leading small groups, and strengthening families in one subscription.

Built for churches of any size, the Bible Engagement Project includes:

• Brand-new Listen Bible Study curriculum with age-aligned lessons for
  • Adults (ideal for small groups or personal study)
  • Youth
  • Elementary
  • Preschool
• An Assemblies of God-curated Logos Library for pastors

All of the content is delivered exclusively through the Bible Engagement Project app. 

Learn more about the Bible Engagement Project and how your church can use it to boost biblical literacy.

Related article

Biblical Literacy: What It Is and How to Reverse the Decline

1. https://www.barna.com/research/state-bible-2017-top-findings/