The graph above visualizes the results from four separate years of that time series. The graph could easily be divided into those on the right side indicating infrequent Bible reading and those on the left side of continuum who read their Bible much more frequently. The share of Americans who read the Bible at least several times a week has not changed significantly since However, there is a more dramatic shift among those who have never read a Bible, jumping a full 10 percentage points in the last eight years.
When looking at the trend line among those who read their Bible weekly, the overall message is clear. Those committed to the spiritual practice of Bible reading have stayed just as committed , while those who never made this a consistent part of their lives are now more likely to never open a Bible.
A Majority of Americans Still Reports Praying Weekly Individuals are much more likely to say a prayer than they are to attend a church service—understandable, as this faith practice is far more accessible and may maintain appeal in a culture that remains open to spirituality even as religious affiliation and institutions have declined in favor. Large majorities of Americans still say that prayer is something that they do on a weekly basis.
From to , there was no statistical difference in the percentage of Americans who prayed, with the number hovering around 83 percent. Still, there are some bright spots, such as the fact that the share of Americans who make Bible reading a part of their weekly life is nearly the same today as it was in This is a key takeaway for faith leaders seeking to make sense of spiritual and cultural shifts in recent decades: Committed Christians are not the ones who are moving away from faith communities; instead, movement is occurring most among those who were only marginally attached to their faith to begin with.
These stunning changes raise questions and suggest urgent implications. Other research for example, this summary shows that the U. What redefines and what anchors the churchgoing, Bible reading and prayer of adults?
For example, generational change is certainly taking place, but older generations Boomers and Elders are drifting away from conventional church attendance at roughly the same pace as younger generations Gen X and Millennials.
Why is that? What can church leaders do to engage the one-quarter of Millennials who remain active in Christian practice? How can the Bible-loyal readers continue to form the bedrock of a resilient Church?
In what ways can prayer—the most universal of spiritual activities—be sparked to create spiritual renewal in this society? Comment on this research and follow our work: Twitter: davidkinnaman barnagroup Facebook: Barna Group. Data conducted prior to is based on 9, additional interviews with a random sample of U. Practicing Christians identify as Christian, agree strongly that faith is very important in their lives and have attended church within the past month. Non-practicing Christians are self-identified Christians who do not qualify as practicing.
Of all the volunteers in U. Get the Complete eBook! Want more insights? Get the full eBook and learn Download Our eBook! They experienced the gracious sacrifice of their Lord. So, when they gave, they gave not to control, not to boast, not to lord over. They did not give as patrons but as servants of God. They did not even give to Paul, ultimately speaking. They gave to God. It just so happened that Paul stood in the stream of their generous overflow.
We can make the case that one of the poorest churches in the New Testament did the most with its finances because it learned the value and power of partnerships Phil. The Philippians might not have given much, but God honored their giving and multiplied it over a hundredfold when they supported Paul.
Therefore, the Philippians impacted Asia Minor, Rome, and beyond. They changed the world more than any other church in the first century, perhaps more than any church in history. The Holy Spirit rebuked them and showed them their true spiritual state: They were naked, poor, and blind Rev.
The Philippians, on the other hand, learned the power of partnerships koinonia , from which we derive the word fellowship. They learned that even if they lacked resources and experience to make a global impact, they could change the world by laboring with others. By discernment and generosity, they supported Paul not only with finances but also with their own lives.
More than anything else, it was their love that encouraged Paul. Epaphroditus, a member of the church, nearly died trying to reach him while he was in prison. In our connected world, gospel partnerships should be the norm. Selfless partnerships born out of love and discernment without a spirit of control will always produce a harvest. Unfortunately, a spirit of envy and rivalry encroaches and wars against partnerships.
The opening chapter of Philippians shows this dirty underbelly of ministry. They were opportunist in the true sense of the word. At that point, partnerships are impossible, and what seems like progress is actually digging deeper into death, and the outcome is a diminished return. The spirit of the Philippians was just the opposite; they supported, loved, and worked with Paul. That partnership lasted and made a lasting difference.
Why do we give? If we give to control, then our generosity is vitiated. That is the spirit of the flesh, and it is as old as the serpent in the garden. A Latin sentence expresses this logic in three words: Do ut des I give so that you may give. It is the spirit of control, magic, and false religion. It is manipulation magnified. Sure, we give, but it is often to control, to boast, or to make strategic statements that are neither strategic nor worth making.
The main problem here is that when we take control, control is not given to the Holy Spirit. Our way may lead to temporary gains, a house, a church perhaps, but these houses fade Ps.
But when we keep in step with the Spirit of God, whatever he establishes lasts forever because it is not made with human hands. This means that human hands cannot destroy it.
After Sunday service, a young banker approached me and said he would like to give his savings toward the work of overseas missions. I said that we should talk first. Over frozen yogurt, we chatted, and I told this young man to take vacations days and go overseas to see the work he wanted to donate to, meet the people, and hear from God. I did not want any regrets. He agreed.
He went, saw, and gave. And as the years passed, he gave more. Since my meeting with this young man over ten years ago , I see the fruits—new ministries, small businesses, a school, and great encouragement to many missionaries. The most beautiful part is that the recipients have no idea that this man gave. My church made these donations anonymously.
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