Analyzing Bible Reading Habits and the Importance of Personal Study
Looking at the statistics, it is quite sobering. In a survey from 2017, Lifeway Research found that 20% of Americans had read the Bible at least once. However, it was encouraging that 49% of evangelicals reported that they “read a little bit each day.”
| Group | Reading Frequency / Statistic |
|---|---|
| Americans | 20% have read the Bible at least once |
| Evangelicals | 49% read a little bit each day |
The Gap in Biblical Literacy
Still, there’s a big gap in terms of how well we know the Bible — and even more importantly, how much it has shaped our lives. I’m guessing that quite a lot of Christians rely in the preacher to interpret the bible for them as to personally understanding it for themselves. (I actually relate to them and am admittingly guilty of this myself).
Strategies for Sustainable Reading
Reading a bit if the bible and slowly progressing over time is definitely the way to go. For me, the #1 secret is to have and follow a plan. People have different habits and reading speeds, therefore I think it is important to create a reading plan that is sustainable to one’s habits.
- Too much and it would be overwhelming, too little and it wouldn’t be enough.
- What if you signed up for a plan that had you read just one chapter a day?
- You’d finish the Bible in three years — and have time to reflect on what you’re reading.
- Plus, if you fall behind for a few days, it isn’t too hard to catch back up on the weekend or another convenient time.
Tools and Community Support
Personally I’ve been using the app ‘Read Scripture’ as a guide to my bible reading plan. It contains videos by the bible project which gives insight into understanding different areas of scripture better. If anyone would like to start a Bible reading plan in the UP Community, I think it would be exciting to cheer each other on and share what God is teaching us through his word.