Why Only 17% of Christians Are Engaged in Regular Bible Study — And How a Bible Study Group Can Change That

Every Christian should be significantly engaged in Bible study. The best way to do it is with others in a weekly Bible study group.

Here's a question worth sitting with: what percentage of American adults, beyond their normal pattern of church attendance, are significantly engaged in Bible study — whether in a Bible study group or on their own? You might reasonably ask what "significantly engaged" even means. The American Bible Society defines this person as someone who studies the Bible at least weekly, whose relationship with God and others is deeply shaped by that study, and for whom Scripture is central to daily decisions, words, and actions. The 2026 State of the Bible report from the American Bible Society puts that number at an all-time low: just 17% of adults age eighteen and over. Bible study groups established by LifeMark Ministries, or built around its resources, fall squarely into this significantly engaged category.

That figure creates a striking disconnect with other research. The most recent Pew Research Center survey found that 62% of adults identify as Christian, and the latest Gallup survey puts that number even higher, at 69%. So how do we reconcile a 17% engagement rate with a Christian population three to four times that size?

The American Bible Society offers a clue. If we include people who are genuinely curious about what the Bible says and explore a topic roughly once a month, but whose engagement still has limited impact on their relationship with God and others and isn't central to their daily decisions, we can add another 23% of the adult population. That brings the total to 40% of adults who are at least somewhat involved in Bible reading and study — whether through a Bible study group or independently — outside their usual church attendance. The American Bible Society calls this 23% the "Moveable Middle."

Is it possible that many of the 62–69% who identify as Christian have quietly concluded that studying God's Word isn't necessary for a relationship with God through Jesus Christ? Bible sales actually rose 36% in 2025, yet only 17% of Christians are engaged in regular Bible study. Perhaps the gap isn't a lack of curiosity or hunger for Scripture — perhaps people simply don't know how to take the next step.

That's where LifeMark Ministries comes in. Our mission is to help people learn God's Word so they can boldly live God's way. We can connect you with a Bible study group, help you start your own Bible study group, and provide the Christian Bible study curriculum and resources you need to move from the Moveable Middle into the Significantly Engaged category. This is what Melanie Crosby, one of our group participants has to say –

“I was never in a Bible study group before. I didn’t know how to study the Bible. I like the LifeMark Ministries way of reading the Bible then answering the question to learn and apply to life every day. When we get together, we can discuss the answers and the application. The group has become a sisterhood of my best friends.” 

Our experience and the research agree: small group Bible study is one of the most powerful tools for spiritual growth, personal transformation, and faith-based community. When people gather regularly around Scripture — whether in person or through an online Bible study group — isolation decreases, purpose increases, and hope takes root. The kind of Christian community that forms around God's Word carries people through life's hardest seasons.

At LifeMark Ministries, we believe every person deserves access to a Bible study group near them, and every participant and leader deserves quality Christian Bible study curriculum and practical tools to lead with confidence. That's why we develop Scripture-based small group resources for real people in real communities, making it easier than ever to start a Bible study group and help it grow. We're releasing a new study, currently titled The Word of the Lord Came: Major Prophecies of the Minor Prophets, complete with a study guide, video series, and podcast.

If you're ready to start a Bible study group, we can help. If you want to join a Bible study group, we can help. If you need Bible study resources or curriculum, we can help. Visit us at lifemarkministries.org/programs to get started today.

Take Me to Programs