The Rise of Bible Engagement and Faith in 2025

As a generational researcher, I have often felt discouraged studying the faith trends with Millennials and Gen Z over the past couple of decades. In fact, it was these very trends that initially propelled me into understanding why the next generation was struggling to engage with the Bible, connect in their local churches, and thrive as faith-filled leaders.  However, 2025 has marked some hopeful trends.

The American Bible Society defines “Bible Users” as those who connect with Scripture on their own at least three times a year. The 2025 State of the Bible Report indicated that from 2011 to 2021, nearly half of all Americans qualified as Bible Users, with little change from year to year. In 2022, Bible Use fell dramatically and kept sliding. In 2024, the study found less than forty percent of American adults were Bible Users. However, this year, research showed good news when it came to the story of Bible engagement:  10 million more American adults are Bible Users. The total represents 41 percent of the adult population, the highest total since the 2021 State of the Bible report.

Here is what is most exciting: Millennials are taking the lead in this move toward greater Bible Use, and in every generation, men are using the Bible more! In the 2024 report, Millennials trailed all other generations, with only three in ten (30%) qualifying as Bible Users. This year they’ve jumped to nearly four in ten (39%), surpassing their younger siblings in Generation Z. Both male and female Millennials have seen a substantial year-to-year increase.

In addition, according to Barna’s State of the Church Survey in 2025, 66 percent of all U.S. adults say they have made a personal commitment to Jesus that is still important in their life today. That marks a 12-percentage-point increase since 2021, when commitment levels reached their lowest in more than three decades of Barna tracking.

Among the biggest drivers of the Jesus resurgence are younger generations — particularly Gen Z and Millennials. This is a significant change from previous Barna tracking, which showed Elders and Boomers as more committed Christians than younger generations.
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As 2025 draws to a close, there is reason to celebrate an awakening of faith in the next generation. May we be faithful to pray for, support, and encourage the young people around us as they pursue spiritual growth!