A new study is revealing some interesting insights in the Bible reading habits of US Protestant churchgoers. Lifeway Research released its State of Discipleship study, which surveyed 2,130 Protestant churchgoers who attend services at least once a month. It found that 61% were identified as regular Bible readers. On further breakdown, of those who identified as regular Bible readers, 31% stated they read the Bible every day, while 30% did so a few times a week. 14% read it one time a week and 11% read it a few times a month. Nine percent stated they rarely or never read the Bible.

The number of Bible readers hadn’t changed much since 2019 when Lifeway found that 59% of church goers read the Bible. However, the number of daily Bible readers has nearly doubled from 16% in 2007. Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research, framed the changes as leveling off since 2019. He also noted, however, that while fewer people are regular churchgoers, those who are churchgoers are more engaged. “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 said. “A lower percentage of Americans attend a Protestant church once a month today than when this series of studies began. 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.”

The study also looked into churchgoers’ attitudes towards the Bible and their Bible reading time. Sixty-two percent stated they desperately miss the time with God if they go several days without reading the Bible. Yet, for those who get less engaged, they begin to miss their time with God less, with 30% of those who weren’t engaged stating they missed their time in the Word. “Movement toward more Bible engagement requires intentionality, but movement away from this devotion can start out as a slow drift. However, a moment of reflection among those who have experienced the value of engaging the Bible reminds them of what they are missing,” noted McConnell.

Churchgoers’ attitudes towards the Bible were fairly strong, with 74% stating the Bible has authority over every area of their lives. Seventy-two percent found themselves thinking about biblical truths throughout the day. McConnell stressed that continued Bible reading is essential to keeping Christians engaged with Biblical thinking. “The Bible can’t have full authority in someone’s life if they don’t know what it says or aren’t considering what it says about the specific things they are facing in life,” he said. “The Bible makes the appeal, ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.’”