Faith
Few Churchgoers Read Bible Daily, Study Finds
Faith Facts
- Only 31% of Protestant churchgoers read the Bible every day.
- 74% agree the Bible has authority over every area of life.
- Bible reading rates have improved since 2007.
A recent Lifeway Research report reveals that fewer than one in three Protestants who regularly attend church read Scripture daily. This highlights the ongoing challenge of deepening biblical engagement among believers.
While 31% read their Bibles every day, 30% do so several times a week, and others read less frequently or rarely. Encouragingly, Bible reading habits have risen compared to previous years, showing gradual improvement among those walking in faith.
Scott McConnell observed, “The portion of churchgoers reading the Bible a few times a week or more on their own has leveled off recently after rising dramatically since 2007, but the churchgoer population was also changing during this period.”
He continued, “Clearly, the remnant of Americans attending church each month are more willing to regularly read the Bible on their own than when churches were more populated.”
Three out of four churchgoers affirm the Bible’s authority in every area of their lives, reflecting a strong commitment to biblical truths. Over seventy percent report thinking about biblical teachings throughout their day, showing the ongoing influence of Scripture in their walk.
Dirk Smith has noted the impact of cultural distractions, stating, “We take the Bible for granted and allow ourselves to ‘unwind’ by doom scrolling — only to increase anxiety and depression levels.”
He emphasized, “The growing churches in America right now aren’t the ones with the flashiest worship teams or trendiest branding. They’re the ones that open the Bible and teach it line by line, verse by verse, book by book.”
Let us recommit to grounding ourselves in God’s Word daily, so that our faith, families, and nation stand strong, guided by the wisdom of Scripture.