I remember having a conversation with a young woman about Christianity that left me scratching my head. I set out to explain the basics of the faith. I started with creation but she’d never of the Genesis account. Same with the story of the Israelites. “Have you heard of Moses?” I asked. Nope. She wasn’t even aware Jesus’ story; only that he had something to do with Christmas.

It was a sobering experience. She wasn’t hostile to Christian faith. Just completely unfamiliar with it. She was raised in the west but completely biblically illiterate.

This is becoming more normal every day.

Brad East shines a light on our declining rates of literacy and what it means for engagement with Scripture. Though the situation looks dire, he points to the past for potential solutions for the reality that we face now and for what awaits us in the future. Read: Biblical Literacy in a Postliterate Age.

Speaking of studying Scripture, we have a great resource on Leading Life-Changing Bible Studies. It features wisdom from Beth Moore, Priscilla Shirer, and Lisa Harper.