More or Less? Surprising Truths About Bible Engagement & Your Ministry’s Future

Episode Overview:

This episode dives deep into the latest research from the American Bible Society’s “State of the Bible” report. John Plake shares surprising statistics about Bible engagement across different generations and demographics in America, discussing trends like “religious churn,” the plateauing of the “nones,” and how churches can effectively connect the gospel with today’s culture. The conversation offers practical insights and challenges church leaders to innovate based on current data.

Key Insights & Discussion Points:

  1. American Bible Society (ABS) & State of the Bible:
    • ABS is one of America’s oldest nonprofits (208 years old) focused on Bible access, engagement, and advocacy.  
    • Their goal is to help people encounter God through scripture by overcoming barriers.  
    • The “State of the Bible” is an annual research project (now in its 15th year) providing data on how Americans relate to the Bible. The full 2024 report and the first chapter of 2025 are available.  
  2. Using Research in Ministry:
    • Data helps church leaders move beyond anecdotal feedback (which can be unreliable) to understand their congregation and community more objectively. John notes, “…the things people tell you after you speak on a Sunday morning, those are mostly not true”.  
    • Research serves as a “gut check” for pastors to assess ministry effectiveness and identify opportunities.  
    • It helps answer the leadership question: “Am I okay with who we’re reaching… or do I want to minister to the community?”.  
    • The goal isn’t to minister based on data, but to remain informed by it.  
  3. Trends in Religious Affiliation & “Nones”:
    • Research (like Pew’s) suggests the decline in Christian identification might be stabilizing.  
    • The rise of the “nones” (those with no religious affiliation) seems to have plateaued.  
    • Dr. Ryan Burge likens being a “none” to a “train station” – a temporary place, not a final destination. People are in transit (“religious churn”).  
    • Key Takeaway: The “nones” are not a closed-off group; they are often open to hearing how the Bible has influenced real people. This presents a ministry opportunity.  
  4. Surprising Bible Engagement Statistics:
    • Overall Growth: There are 10 million more Bible users in America this year compared to last year.  
    • Men & Millennials Driving Growth: Contrary to historical trends where women were the stalwarts, this growth came significantly from men (19% increase nationally) and Millennials (30% increase in Bible use).  
    • Gen Z Engagement: While Gen Z overall is less likely to be Bible-engaged than older generations, their interaction with scripture is markedly increasing.  
    • Regional Surprise (San Francisco Bay Area): Younger generations (Gen X, Millennials, Gen Z) in the SF Bay Area are more likely to be Bible users than their counterparts in the rest of America.  
  5. How Different Generations Access Scripture:
    • Print Still Strong (for some): Movable middle Gen X (60%) and Millennials (70%) prefer print/text.  
    • Gen Z Prefers Video/Audio: 59% of movable middle Gen Z prefer video. They lead in consuming Bible content via podcasts/webcasts (33%) and TikTok (24%).  
    • Apps: Bible apps are the primary digital access method overall (62%), led by Millennials (67%). Gen Z uses apps too (59%), but comparatively less than Millennials.  
    • Relational Media: Gen Z leans into media (podcasts, YouTube, TikTok) where they can connect with a person/voice, building a relationship. Radio was described as “one-on-one” media – just a voice and a listener building a relationship.  
  6. Addressing Hostility & Baggage:
    • The percentage of Americans hostile to the Bible (believing it’s manipulative) has grown from ~10% to 18% over 5-6 years.  
    • Words like “evangelism” or “evangelical” can carry negative connotations or political baggage.  
    • Key Insight: People aren’t won over by losing an argument (classical apologetics) but by being invited on a journey.  

Actionable Steps & Tips for Churches:

  • Know Your Community: Don’t just rely on who walks in the door. Use available data (like State of the Bible, census data, community demographics) to understand who lives in your area and who you might be missing. Ask the leadership question: Are we okay with who we are (and aren’t) reaching?.  
  • Reframe the Invitation: Focus on inviting people to follow Jesus with you, rather than inviting them to join a denomination, accept propositional truths, or adopt a label (like “evangelical”). John Plake: “We’re inviting them to follow Jesus with us… Come with me on a journey. I haven’t figured out everything about it. And you haven’t either. But let’s look at Jesus”.  
  • Embrace Shared Brokenness: Frame the gospel message authentically. It’s not about watering down truth, but about acknowledging shared human brokenness and pointing everyone towards Christ for hope and healing.  
  • Meet People Where They Are (Media): Recognize that different generations engage with scripture differently. Especially for reaching Gen Z, consider utilizing platforms like podcasts, YouTube, and even TikTok to share Bible content relationally. If you’re concerned about the content on these platforms, join them and share truth.  
  • Leverage Relational Ministry: Gen Z connects with people. Encourage pastors and leaders within your church to create content (videos, podcasts) where their voice and face are known. Young people in your church want to hear from leaders they know.  
  • Pay Attention & Join God’s Work: Notice where God might be moving (e.g., increased engagement among Millennials and men, surprising openness in unexpected places). Your job as leaders is to “pay attention and notice” and “join with Him”.  
  • Innovate: Don’t just let the data wash over you. Use it as a mirror. Ask, “Lord, what is it that you want me to do about that?”. Be open to creative, innovative ways to invite people to follow Jesus. (Check out the short “State of the Bible Insight” videos ABS is releasing ).  

Memorable Quotes:

  • John Plake: “We’re not inviting people to be evangelicals or catholics or whatever… We’re inviting them to follow Jesus with us.”  
  • John Plake: “Nobody becomes a Christian because they lose the argument. It’s because they’re invited on the journey.”  
  • John Plake: (On generational media preference) Radio is “not mass media… it’s one-on-one because it’s just your voice and the person who’s listening to you.”  

Resources Mentioned:

  • State of the Bible Research: stateofthebible.org (Find reports, ebooks, podcasts, videos)  
  • American Bible Society: bibles.com  
  • Pew Research Center (Religious Landscape Study)  
  • Dr. Ryan Burge (Expert on “nones”)  
  • Justin Brierley (UK Podcaster on belief)  
  • Fuller Youth Institute (Sticky Faith)  
  • Bible Recap  
  • The Bible Project