Gen-z Drive Unexpected Surge In Bible Reading

New research from Barna Group reveals a dramatic rebound in Bible reading among Americans, with young adults leading the surge. Weekly Bible reading climbed to 42 percent in 2025, up 12 points from a record low of 30 percent in 2024. Among self identified Christians, the rate reached 50 percent, the highest level in over a decade.

Millennials have seen a 16 point rise since 2024, with 50 percent now reporting they read the Bible weekly. Gen Z mirrored this pattern, leaping from 30 to 49 percent within a single year.

By contrast, Boomers, who once held the highest levels of Bible reading, now report the lowest rates at 31 percent. Generation X remained largely unchanged with a modest rise to 41 percent.

"2025 is showing a major rebound of Bible reading, along with a surge in usage among younger generations," said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group. "This aligns with other signs of spiritual interest and reinforces the finding that Christian faith and practice are experiencing a reset moment."

The data reveals an unexpected twist: younger men are now outpacing women in Bible engagement. Weekly Bible reading rates are 54 percent for Gen Z men and 57 percent for Millennial men, compared to 46 percent for Gen Z women and 43 percent for Millennial women.

"Women generally have been more religiously active than men. But now, younger men emerge as the most frequent Bible readers," Kinnaman observed. "Also, there was a bigger post pandemic bounce in men's Bible reading than in women's usage."

However, while more Americans are reading the Bible, fewer hold strong beliefs about its accuracy. Only 36 percent of adults and 44 percent of Christians say they believe the Bible is completely accurate in its teachings, down from 43 percent in 2000.

"Engagement is outpacing conviction. People are opening the Bible more often, but they're still wrestling with what they believe about it," Kinnaman noted.

The research is based on 12,116 online interviews collected between January and October 2025.

THE CRUSADER'S OPINION

Gen Z is reading Scripture.

Young men leading the charge.

After decades of decline, Bible reading is surging among those the world wrote off as godless.

This is not random so far as I can see, it's a hunger for truth in a generation drowning in lies.

Young adults are discovering what older generations forgot. The Bible still speaks. The Word still transforms.

This is the quiet revival.

TAKE ACTION

Encourage young adults to continue reading Scripture and equip them to understand it:

1. Bible Study Tools and Apps
   YouVersion Bible App: https://www.bible.com
   ESV Bible App: https://www.esv.org/app
   Action: Download Bible apps and recommend them to young adults. YouVersion offers hundreds of reading plans specifically designed for Gen Z and Millennials. Share these resources with your church's youth group.
2. Ligonier Ministries
   Website: https://www.ligonier.org
   Action: Ligonier provides free Bible reading plans, teaching videos, and theological resources for young adults. Share their content on social media. Encourage young believers to subscribe to Tabletalk magazine for daily Bible study.
3. Bible Project
   Website: https://bibleproject.com
   Action: The Bible Project creates engaging videos explaining every book of the Bible. Perfect for visual learners and young adults. Share their content with Gen Z believers who are new to Scripture.
4. Start a Young Adult Bible Study
   Action: If you're a pastor or church leader, launch a Bible study specifically for Millennials and Gen Z. Make it engaging, authentic, and focused on Scripture. If you're a young adult, gather friends and start reading the Bible together weekly.
5. Give Bibles to Young Adults
   Action: Purchase study Bibles designed for young adults and give them as gifts. Consider ESV Student Study Bible or Life Application Study Bible. Include a note encouraging them to read daily.
6. Share This Good News
   Action: Post about the Barna study on social media. Celebrate that young adults are returning to Scripture. Challenge your friends to join a Bible reading plan. Use the momentum to invite others into God's Word.

Talking Points:

• "Gen Z and Millennials are reading the Bible more than any generation right now. This is revival"
• "Young men are leading the charge in Bible reading. God is moving in unexpected ways"
• "After decades of decline, Scripture is surging among young adults"
• "This generation is hungry for truth. The Bible still transforms lives"