Understanding why people connect with the Bible can help us foster deeper engagement with God’s Word. Research provides the following insights:
Why people connect with the Bible.
Research indicates that the primary factors helping people connect with the Scriptures are:
- being a committed Christian
- accessibility and availability of a Bible
- attending church
- reading books that aid Bible reading
Simply stated, people are more likely to engage the Scriptures when they are committed to Christ, linked up with other people (go to church, attend a Bible study or youth group, speak to friends and family about what they read in the Bible) and use easy to read or contemporary versions of the Bible together with devotional books, reading guides, or commentaries.
Why people don’t connect with the Bible.
Conversely, the main reasons why people don’t connect with the Scriptures are:
- they are not relationally connected to the Christian community
- they do not read books or don’t own a Bible
- they say they are too busy or have other priorities
Building connections.
Slick advertising campaigns or just handing a stranger a Bible are unlikely to succeed in helping connect people with God’s Word. Relationships are crucial. We must facilitate and nurture vertical (with God) and horizontal (with God’s people) relationships. For this to happen, we must share the good news (evangelize), teach people how to live for Christ (make disciples), and foster authentic Christ-centred faith communities.
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Summary
People are more likely to connect with the Bible when they are committed to Christ, actively involved in a Christian community, and use accessible Bible versions and helpful resources like devotionals and reading guides. The presence of strong relationships with both God and other believers plays a key role in Bible engagement. On the other hand, people may struggle to connect with the Bible if they lack community connections, don’t own a Bible, or feel too busy with other priorities. Effective Bible engagement requires not just handing out Bibles, but building relationships and fostering environments where faith is lived and shared.
© Scripture Union Canada
