Visionary
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Taking the Pulse 

Research by ComRes for the Bible Society published 2008

A selection of the findings:

Leaders
Attitudes to and influence of the Bible

  • 98% of church leaders believe the Bible is divinely inspired and 47% think that is free from errors.
  • 90% of leaders say that the Bible actively challenges them to live in a way which runs counter to the present culture in Britain
  • 76% leaders associate Bible poverty with "our own land where the Bible is no longer at the centre of public and family life" and 90% think that the church should work towards a society that takes the Bible more seriously. 89% also said they think that the church should work harder to promote biblical principles across society.
  • More than 80% of Baptist, Independent and Pentecostal leaders say reading the Bible alone is important for their spiritual growth.
  • 85% of leaders think it is very important that they know the Bible well.

Bible use by leaders:

  • 76% use it for sermons with 73% using it frequently
  • 69% use it for small groups
  • 61% use it for other teaching
  • 46% for public prayer
  • 44% use it for evangelism
  • 36% pastoral care/counselling
  • 87% of leaders said that the Bible is regularly taught at their churches
  • 38% of leaders use an online Bible
  • The favourite Bible version amongst leaders is the NIV at 37% followed by the RSV at 17%
  • 47% of leaders are very confident and another 47% are fairly confident in their knowledge of the Bible.


Non-leaders
Influence of and confidence in the Bible:

  • 57% believe the Bible should shape their daily lives "a great deal"
  • 34% of non-leaders remember the Bible affecting a decision they made in the past week
  • 73% said the Bible actively challenges them to live in a way which runs counter to the present culture in Britain
  • 60% believe the Bible provides moral guidance, sets out God's rescue plan for humanity and shows God's priorities
  • 78% believe the Bible is divinely inspired and 34% believe that it is free from error
  • 58% say Richard Dawkins and other high profile atheists make no difference to their confidence in the Bible

Bible reading and Bible study

  • 35% said they read the Bible everyday and 25% several times a week
  • 43% use daily Bible reading notes
  • 35% use commentaries
  • 26% use a concordance
  • 21% use online resources
  • 68% say the Bible is regularly taught at their church

 

For more details including qualitative results see http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/l3.php?id=209