The majority of Protestant pastors in the U.S. are now giving free Bibles to their congregants, aiming to foster more independent Bible reading. A thorough study conducted by Lifeway Research, titled "Pastors’ Views on Encouraging Bible Reading," surveyed 1,003 pastors from August 8 to September 3, 2024, to uncover these insights.

A recent survey shows a significant increase from 2016 in the number of Protestant pastors providing free Bibles to help congregants engage with Scripture, The Christian Post reported.

This rise in Bible distribution is seen as a response to a growing secular culture where fewer people may own Bibles.

Scott McConnell, CEO of Lifeway Research, noted, "In an increasingly secular culture, pastors are not assuming people have a Bible." The study aims to explore various methods pastors employ to encourage Bible reading outside of church services.

Comparative Analysis Highlights Growth in Engagement Practices

The 2024 data reveals an impressive increase in free Bible provisions with 93% of pastors now offering this resource, up from 86% in 2016.

This strategy has seen widespread adoption across different denominations. For instance, 99% of United Church of Christ pastors and 98% of both Pentecostal and non-denominational pastors provided free Bibles to their members in 2024.

Presbyterian and Methodist pastors were also largely involved, with 88% distributing Bibles. These statistics underscore a broad commitment to ensuring access to religious texts across various Protestant denominations.

Increased Emphasis on Sermons and Digital Tools

To complement the distribution of Bibles, pastors are employing multiple strategies to encourage congregants to engage with Scripture.

According to the survey, 92% of pastors actively use their sermons to remind churchgoers to read the Bible independently, which is an increase from 86% in 2016.

Moreover, the incorporation of Bible readings into worship services remains high, although there was a slight decrease from 76% in 2016 to 73% in 2024. This method continues to be a staple in fostering direct engagement with the text during communal worship.

Shifts in Media and Communication Strategies

The use of modern communication tools has also seen adjustments. While the provision of printed Bible reading plans declined slightly from 64% in 2016 to 59% in 2024, the use of social media to promote Bible reading increased to 56% from 52%.

Email reminders have seen a moderate rise as well, with 49% of pastors now using this method to encourage reading, up from 46%.

Interestingly, despite a digital age, fewer pastors provided digital or online Bible reading plans in 2024 (37%) compared to 2016 (40%). This suggests a nuanced approach to digital engagement, possibly reflecting congregational preferences or the effectiveness of different media.

Comprehensive Efforts to Foster Independent Bible Study

The Lifeway Research study ultimately indicates that more than 99% of pastors employ at least one method to promote independent Bible reading among congregants.

This is a marginal improvement from exactly 99% in 2016 and reflects a robust effort by church leaders to facilitate spiritual growth through Scripture engagement.

These findings not only highlight the adaptability of churches to changing cultural landscapes but also underscore the ongoing importance of the Bible in Protestant faith communities.

As pastors continue to innovate and adapt, how congregants engage with their faith are likely to evolve as well, ensuring that Scripture remains a central pillar of daily spiritual practice.