Bible Reading Resolutions Rise Significantly In 2026

New Year’s resolutions have taken an entirely different turn for many Americans in 2026. Instead of the regular choices of gym habits and diet plans, more people are choosing a more noble goal: Bible reading plans that spans through one year.

Estimates suggest that only 13–20% of Americans have completed the challenge of reading through the Bible. However, this number is expected to rise significantly, as more people have committed to the challenge in 2026. Bible sales increased by 11% in 2025, reaching more than 18 million. These numbers are projected to surge this year and beyond, as many are now turning to the Scriptures.

Bible Reading Habits Surge in 2026

According to CBN, Dr. Corne Bekker, Dean of Divinity at Regent University, said this development is a response to cultural instability and a hunger for truth.

In his words,
“I do think increasingly, our world is falling apart. The foundations of our society are being eroded at a record speed—and people are longing for that which is eternally true, that which is ancient, that which is unchanging.”

Planning to read the Bible in a year and achieving the goal are two different things. Out of the 2.2 million people who started a year-long Bible reading plan on the YouVersion Bible App this year, only 1 in 5 are predicted to finish.

A study by the Center for Bible Engagement found that reading the Bible four or more times per week is the single biggest predictor of spiritual growth. Reading the Bible is about consistency, not perfection. It takes reading just four chapters a day to complete the Bible in a year.

Churches like Brentwood Baptist Tennessee are turning to structured plans to help their congregations build consistency in reading the Bible together. One example is the Read and Remain campaign.

According to Lead Pastor Jay Strother of Brentwood Baptist Church, he said, “Yeah, I would say it really sparked a fire in almost every part of our church life. And that fire spread there, as roughly 5,000 people completed the entire year-long plan. The path can be challenging, however, especially with unfamiliar books or difficult passages. The journey requires daily discipline and often involves spiritual wrestling.”

According to Dr. Bekker, “Wrestling is a normal part of the spiritual walk. And so, this is what I would say to people: bring all of your wrestling to the reading. Bring it to the Lord. The Lord can help you. And the Lord is big enough to handle any wrestling that you might have.”

In all, this year-long Bible-reading plan that many people have embraced is more than just following a routine; it is a spiritual discipline with the power to transform lives.

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