Reading the Bible Provides Hope (07.21.22)

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Plain Bible Teaching Podcast

This week we’re going to be talking about hope. In particular, we are going to see how reading the Bible leads to people having more hope. There’s a good reason for this, and it also explains why those who reject or ignore the Bible tend to be less hopeful for the future.

STORY – Americans Who Consistently Read the Bible Have Higher Levels of Hope

“Hope research goes beyond mere optimism. It includes people’s belief that they can be agents of positive change, as well as their ability to make a plan and apply themselves to it.

“The good news is that America’s hope has bounced back after a difficult year. Hope scores dropped in January 2021, but now they are higher than in January of 2020. The country seems ready to move forward.

“What effect does Scripture Engagement have on Hope?

“Over these last three years, Scripture Engaged Americans have been at least 14 to 19 percent higher on the Hope Scale than the Movable Middle or Bible Disengaged. Scores for all three groups dropped in 2021 and surged in 2022. It might be worth noting that the Bible Disengaged lost more hope in the mid-pandemic poll than the more engaged groups and haven’t yet regained their 2020 level.

“The 2021 survey was conducted in the midst of a difficult time, for many a crisis of faith, but it seems those who turned to Scripture were more apt to find hope.” (State of the Bible 2022, p. 77-78)