[2025 Study] People are hungry for the Bible. Will your church feed them?

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There’s a quiet revival happening in the hearts of younger generations, and it’s not getting the attention it deserves.

According to the 2025 State of the Bible report from the American Bible Society, Bible engagement among Gen Z has risen 36%, and among Millennials, it’s up an astounding 41%. For the first time since 2021, overall Bible use in America has increased, with 10 million more adults now reading Scripture outside of church.

Let that sink in. 

As we emerge from a cultural moment focused on deconstruction and disengagement, millions of young adults are doing something countercultural: They’re reaching for the Bible. This growing engagement with Scripture signals a potential shift towards increased spiritual growth and well-being for this generation.

This isn’t a coincidence.

At Subsplash, we’ve been seeing the same trend reflected in the 20,000 churches and organizations we serve. Ministries that embrace digital tools for discipleship and connection are not only growing in reach but deepening in impact, which is essential for church growth in 2025, and beyond. 

This isn’t just about technology. It’s about meeting people where they are—and where they are is increasingly digital.

So here’s the big question

How is your church providing Gospel-centered resources and access to authentic community in a way that relates?

Because here’s what we know:

• Two-thirds of Bible users access Scripture digitally—through apps, websites, or even YouTube.
• 62% of digital Bible users prefer Bible apps.
• 82% of spiritually curious Americans (the “Movable Middle”) wish they read the Bible more.
• And over half of all Americans say they want to engage more deeply with Scripture.

People are hungry. They’re curious. They’re spiritually open.

But if the Church doesn’t show up in the spaces where people are already looking, who will?

We’re not in a Sunday-only world anymore

Discipleship has left the building. Literally.

Gone are the days when spiritual formation could be confined to a sermon or midweek Bible study. Today’s disciple is listening to a podcast during their commute, watching a sermon clip on Instagram, or pulling up a scripture in an app before bed.

The American Bible Society study is clear: There’s a growing audience ready to be discipled. However, they’re not waiting for the next Sunday service. They’re opening apps. They’re searching online. They’re craving community and clarity in a chaotic world. 

But would you rather have them get answers from YouTube, social media, or from your church? This is your opportunity. With rapid innovation constantly competing for people's limited time, churches must adapt quickly or risk missing this crucial moment.

It’s time to rethink digital engagement

I talk with pastors every week who feel the tension between technological overload and the desire for deeper connection. And I get it—there’s no shortage of tools out there.

But here’s the truth: Digital discipleship doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to be intentional.

At Subsplash, we’ve seen that when churches go from scattered platforms to a unified, complete experience, three powerful things happen:

1. Gospel content becomes the main focus, not the distractions of social platforms.
2. Churches reclaim the digital space as a tool for formation, not fragmentation.
3. Engagement goes up—15% increase in giving, 50% more media and sermon plays, and 3x app downloads.

Because when access is simple, discipleship becomes scalable.

The Church has a choice

We’re witnessing a rare cultural window—one where digital curiosity and spiritual hunger are colliding. The question is, will we meet it with passive hope or proactive leadership?

Younger generations are ready. They’re opening their phones. They’re hungry for Truth.

And as the Church, we have the greatest message the world has ever known.

Let’s not wait until curiosity cools or screens go silent. Let’s meet this moment with humility, innovation, and gospel-centered excellence. Let’s lean into digital not as the end goal, but as a key part of the process for bringing people into genuine, in-person discipleship through today's innovations.

Want to see how other churches are using technology to engage the next generation? [.blog-contact-cta]Schedule a one-on-one meeting with our Subsplash Team.[.blog-contact-cta]

More resources you may find helpful

• 11 effective ways to attract young families to church
• From differences to strengths: Leveraging generational diversity in discipleship
• Digital discipleship: Practical ways to bridge the generation gap
• Webinar recap—Multiplying your ministry impact in the age of AI
• Church discipleship: Biblical principles & lessons for today’s leaders