A troubling trend in the body of Christ today is that of biblical illiteracy. Although many profess to be Christians and love God, their knowledge of the Bible is minimal. Aside from understanding their favorite verses, they know nothing else concerning what the rest of Scripture has to say! When I consider this topic, I think of two things why there is biblical illiteracy: 1) believers are not consistent in the reading of the Scriptures, and 2) preachers who fail to preach the Scriptures rightly.
Such consequences of biblical illiteracy can range from taking Scripture out of context to embracing false teaching. If anything, the two go hand in hand as false teaching distorts what God's Word says, even if Bible verses are used. Therefore, we must get back into consistent Bible reading so that we can grow in proper comprehension. Ultimately, Scripture helps us grow in the knowledge of who God is, especially as we desire to grow in our faith.
That being said, here are resources that can help us tackle biblical illiteracy.
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1) Bible Study
1) Bible Study
There is much to be studied when reading the Sacred Scriptures. It is easy to become overwhelmed when first starting out but it becomes the most rewarding endeavor. The more you read, the more you will realize how little you know! Nevertheless, it goes to show the vastness of Scripture as we continue to mine its eternal truths.
This is an essential step, a non-negotiable in developing biblical literacy. You can't grow in the Scriptures until you get into them! Although reading may feel daunting or confusing sometimes, continue reading! The best way to grow in learning about the Bible is through much study.
Explore our FREE Bible study articles available on Crosswalk, designed to deepen your understanding of Scripture and strengthen your faith.
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2) Bible Plans
2) Bible Plans
Another good way to prevent biblical illiteracy is by going through a Bible plan, ranging from 30 days to a year, topical or chronological. What I love about the Bible plan is that it provides a guideline for reading the Bible, whether it's 4 chapters a day or 12, depending on the length of the plan. This is a helpful tool, given that people may feel overwhelmed when starting to read the Bible for the first time and end up giving up along the way.
Bible plans also keep one accountable, as you want to maintain consistency in reading each day. Overall, it helps with biblical illiteracy as it helps one become more familiarized with the Scriptures.
Discover our FREE reading plans on BibleStudyTools.com, complete with helpful guidance on how to read and understand the Bible more effectively.
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3) Daily Bible Verse
3) Daily Bible Verse
As we read the Bible, we tend to come across verses that stand out to us. Bible apps also tend to provide a verse of the day so it is easy to to find a verse that is readily available. Taking daily verses and memorizing them is a great way to learn more about the Bible by understanding what it means in context, such as what it means as the original author intended and how it ties into the rest of the Bible!
A major caution in just looking at one verse is taking it out of context. If anything, one of the main reasons we have biblical illiteracy to begin with is that we fail to understand a Bible verse or passage in its proper context. Therefore, it is significant to consider the context first when looking at a verse on its own to maximize understanding.
Explore the FREE Daily Bible Verse from BibleStudyTools.com, which features one verse each day with insightful commentary to help you understand and apply God's Word.
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4) Devotionals
4) Devotionals
Devotionals are a nice way to get into the Scriptures as they provide a given passage for the day. It is a great spiritual exercise to do, especially when starting one's day as you get into the Word of God and receive from what the devotional is covering that day. Devotionals can also vary by length, whether it's 7 days, 30 days, or 90 days, depending on whichever one you end up choosing. Although devotionals are a blessing to read, they are not a replacement for Scripture.
If anything, they should be prompted to get into God's Word and be able to read it in full. It can be likened to an appetizer, which is devotional, to the full-course meal that is the Scriptures. Although appetizers are great, they are not a full meal, and we should not eat them all of the time. It can never replace a full meal. In like manner, devotionals should never replace the Word of God as our sufficient source. At the same time, they are a great way to understand and gain insight from a Bible verse.
Subscribe to FREE daily devotionals that offer insightful breakdowns of Bible verses to enrich your spiritual journey.
We also offer FREE nightly devotionals.
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5) Podcast
5) Podcast
Christians wanting to grow in their knowledge of the Word of God can do so through listening to a podcast that helps break down Scripture. These types of podcasts are helpful in studying the Scripture and gaining further insight. Whether you are new to the Lord or have been walking with Him for years, there is always more room to grow and there are many resources, such as podcasts, that can be of tremendous contribution to spiritual growth.
Tune in to a FREE podcast that provides thoughtful insights and explanations to help you better understand Scripture.
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Originally published May 01, 2025.
