State of the Bible Podcast
State of the Bible Podcast
Podcast Description
How are Americans engaging with the Bible in 2025? For 15 years, American Bible Society's State of the Bible report has explored this vital question. Join us each month as we unpack the latest data on Bible use, Scripture engagement, and its impact on faith, trust, church engagement, and well-being. Plus, hear from thought leaders who provide deeper insights beyond the numbers. Subscribe to the State of the Bible podcast for the latest data.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Focuses on Bible engagement trends, faith-related skepticism, and the impact of Scripture on modern life, with episodes examining topics like the decline of New Atheism, Millennial and Gen X interaction with the Bible, and the increasing engagement among men in religious texts.
How are Americans engaging with the Bible in 2025? For 15 years, American Bible Society’s State of the Bible report has explored this vital question. Join us each month as we unpack the latest data on Bible use, Scripture engagement, and its impact on faith, trust, church engagement, and well-being. Plus, hear from thought leaders who provide deeper insights beyond the numbers. Subscribe to the State of the Bible podcast for the latest data.
After a brief spike in 2025, Bible engagement has dropped back down to 2024 levels. What happened? We explore the growing Movable Middle, Gen Z’s surprising reading habits, and the paradox of rising church attendance alongside falling Scripture use to help you close the discipleship gap.
Join host Dr. John Plake, American Bible Society CEO Dr. Jennifer Holleran, and the State of the Bible research team—Dr. Jeff Fulks and Sandra Siggins—as they unpack the 2026 report.
Chapters:
00:00 – The Discipleship Gap in America
01:06 – 2026 Returns to 2024 Levels
04:48 – The Growth of the “Movable Middle”
06:06 – Active vs. Occasional Bible Users
07:54 – Gen Z vs. Millennials
12:15 – Reaching Emerging Adults (Ages 18-35)
15:37 – Regional Shifts
20:00 – The Surprising Rise of Bible Neutrals
26:42 – How Much of the Bible Have Americans Actually Read?
29:28 – Why Print is Still King for Bible Reading
34:02 – Church Attendance Up, Bible Use Down
40:15 – Upcoming State of the Bible Topics
Understand America’s relationship with Scripture.
Get your free copy of the data here: https://stateofthebible.org/
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Sign up for a free church assessment here: https://church.nextstep.bible/
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