Bible reading is on the decline. You can look at statistic after statistic, whether it’s that only 45 percent of churchgoers read their Bible more than once a week, that fewer Americans than ever believe the Bible is the literal word of God, or that fewer than half of Americans can name the four Gospels.

George Gallup and Jim Castelli probably put it best a couple of decades ago, but it still rings true today: “Americans revere the Bible — but, by and large, they don’t read it. And because they don’t read it, they have become a nation of biblical illiterates.”

In fact, the problem of biblical literacy has become such a concern that some states are taking up the charge. Right now in the Iowa legislature, debate is ongoing on a bill that would allow public schools to teach a class designed to educate students about the Bible.

The world is hungry for the Word of God. What was once a hands-off topic in Hollywood has now become a marketing centerpiece. The success of a TV series on the life of Jesus and the Book of Acts has led to numerous movies drawn from the pages of Scripture, including the Samson epic now showing throughout the country.

We can’t ignore the problem. But we can do something about it. We don’t need to wait for state governments or pop culture to catch up. It begins with our churches putting the Bible front and center.

Timeless Truths in a Timely Manner

It’s not about choosing one model over another. It’s about how we present the Bible to our audience. Digging deep into a text will not only help our churches grow in biblical knowledge, but it will also ensure that the lessons we teach are founded on godly principles. Putting the Bible front and center means that God has the first and last say in our lives.

We will not reach the next generation by providing shallow sermons.

Biblical literacy is more than just memorizing facts from the Bible. It’s about the transforming truth within its pages. It’s one thing to be able to name all Ten Commandments, but how are your people applying them to their lives? Your sermons should be informative, covering the characters and story arcs of Scripture. But they should also be applicable to people’s real-life needs.

Another aspect of teaching timeless truths in transformative ways is that it gives your audience a real hunger to study God’s Word for themselves. As you explain a passage of Scripture, take your time with it. Go over how you study the text yourself, how you read the words for personal growth. And then encourage them to do the same. Let your sermon motivate them to dig deeper on their own.

Preparing for the Next Generation

I often speak to church leaders and pastors about reaching the young people of today. On one hand, there’s a desire to attract millennials to our churches. But on the other hand is an attitude that the youth of today want it easy. I think that’s inaccurate. I have met and encountered many millennials who are willing to do hard work to uncover biblical truth. They want to be challenged by Scripture, confronted by the Holy Spirit and encouraged as a disciple.

This changing audience won’t take “because I said so” for an answer anymore. They expect you to be at the top of your game when it comes to sermon prep and delivery. And just like the Berean church (Acts 17), they will fact-check everything you say. So, you better be ready. The expectations of many people in our communities can only be met when we provide them well-constructed sermons that focus on biblical truths.

Our audiences today have access to the internet 24/7. That means they have Wikipedia or one of 2 million other websites at their fingertips. They crave information. And they are personally offended by the effects of “fake news” today. Why not provide them with the truth that transforms?

We will not reach the next generation by providing shallow sermons. We must bank on the truth of the Bible and go all in. That may mean taking a book of the Bible and going verse by verse, week by week. Or it may mean choosing a topic and finding a text that speaks to it, then going deep into the text. Not only is that more compelling, but it also helps us teach our churches how to study the Word for themselves. It creates a hunger for more of the Bible, and the results are that they will spend more time in Scripture study.

What Will It Take?

The bottom line is that it takes a commitment to excellence in sermon preparation. I’m not suggesting that every pastor needs a mastery of Greek and Hebrew. But I am saying that you may want to spend more time in sermon preparation. Find others on your team or in your church who have the skill set and desire to study. Then employ them to help you get ready.

By focusing on finding the right biblical truth every time, you will create an atmosphere that challenges people. And you’ll soon find that people are hungry for the truth and desperate for answers that work. If we believe in the truth of Jesus, we should never be ashamed of it. In fact, it should be the driving influence of the content of our message.

Each week, you have a great responsibility and opportunity. When you preach challenging sermons that come from careful study, you’ll find that your church responds. Lives will be transformed, Christians will grow in biblical literacy, and lost people will be saved. When we go all in on deep biblical preaching, we will find that the Holy Spirit will move in our churches.