Gen Z adults increasingly prioritize Scripture before scrolling, part of a broader resurgence that saw weekly Bible reading among this generation jump from 30% to 49% in just one year. Ministry leaders welcome the discipline yet caution that treating devotion as a productivity checklist risks reducing spiritual formation to personal achievement. The trend coincides with Gen Z averaging 6.5 hours daily on phones, prompting recommendations to place physical Bibles on nightstands rather than devices. The practice reflects shifting habits worth examining further.
A noticeable shift is underway in how young Americans engage with Scripture, and the numbers tell a story of unexpected growth. Weekly Bible reading among U.S. adults reached 42% in 2025, climbing 12 points from a low of 30% in 2024, according to research from the Barna Group and Gloo in their State of the Church report. The surge proves especially dramatic among younger generations, with Gen Z weekly reading jumping from 30% to 49% in just one year, while Millennials rose 16 points to reach 50%.
Young Americans are reading the Bible more than they have in over a decade, with Gen Z leading the resurgence.
The pattern marks a reversal in historical trends. Gen Z men now read Scripture weekly at 54%, outpacing Gen Z women at 46%. Millennial men hit 57% compared to 43% among Millennial women. Women traditionally engaged with the Bible more frequently, making this shift particularly remarkable. Among Christians overall, the weekly reading rate reached 50%, the highest level in over a decade.
Digital platforms drive much of this engagement. Gen Z shows the least interest in printed Bibles, preferring digital formats instead. Among digital users in this generation, 59% rely on Bible apps, while one-third use podcasts and 24% learn through TikTok. YouVersion, the most popular Bible app worldwide, reports nearing 1 billion downloads globally and recorded its highest engagement days in 2025. Nigeria alone saw a 35% expansion in daily app reading.
Yet experts suggest the medium matters. The average American now spends over five hours daily on their phone, a 14% increase since 2024, with Gen Z averaging 6.5 hours. Phones often become the first item reached for upon waking. Some ministry voices recommend placing a physical Bible on the nightstand instead, reading Scripture before touching the phone each morning, and avoiding the scroll reflex even for digital Bible verses.
Church attendance data adds context to the reading trend. Gen Z averages 1.9 visits per month, totaling 23 times annually, with Millennials close behind. Young adults lead the post-pandemic resurgence in attendance, though the figure still represents less than half of available Sundays.
Baptism remains a key practice connecting personal reading to communal faith, serving as a public sign of identification with Christ and entrance into the church covenant sign.
