Good News! Bible sales in America soared 22% in 2024. These rising sales are driven by new buyers and Gen Z-ers (born between 1997 and 2012), and especially among young men.

Who is praying on the wall?

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According to the Wall Street Journal, this Bible Boom is being fueled by increased anxiety, worries, and a growing sense of hopelessness. People are seeking answers to life’s challenges and difficulties and are turning to the Bible. They want answers to the age-old questions, “What is the meaning of life? What is my purpose here? Where is the world going?”

HarperCollins Christian Publishing attributes this spike in Bible purchases to two groups: the spiritually curious and those desiring a deeper spirituality.

Gen Z-ers have expressed a “deeper craving for really understanding what it means to walk with God.” They acknowledge that understanding starts with reading and studying the Bible. Or as Scripture states, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Who are Gen-Zers and why are they so interested in the Bible?

Gen Z-ers are the children of younger baby boomers and Gen X (born between 1965 to 1980.) Geb Z-ers are known as “digital natives” – the first generation to have grown up in the information age. They have only known a world full of computers, mobile phones, internet and social media. They are extremely online, spending six or more hours a day online.

Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation concludes, “Gen Z is the first generation to have gone through puberty hunched over smartphones and tablets, having fewer face-to-face conversations and shoulder-to-shoulder adventures with their friends.”

The Economist describes Gen Z-ers as the most stressed and depressed generation compared to prior generations. They have more fears and greater anxiety than any previous generation. Gen Z is also considered the least religious generation in history. The McKinsey Report reveals Gen Z-ers have the least positive outlook on life and the highest occurrence of mental illness.

It’s no wonder Gen Z-ers struggle to find positivity when they are bombarded with news and information 24 hours a day. They’re the most fearful generation of wars and rumors of wars as well as mass shootings. They’re told the climate is collapsing and the world will soon be unlivable. They’re warned that democracy is ending and dictators will lock them up. Biology is fluid. Masculinity is toxic. Marriage is temporary. America is racist and evil at its core … and on and on the negativity goes.

The world’s “religion” instructs Gen Z to find fulfillment in yourself. Love yourself, take care of yourself first, be your “authentic” self … and other such self-worship.

Maybe Gen Z-ers are fed up with such navel-gazing nonsense. Maybe Gen Z-ers are growing weary of the alphabet religion of the rainbow. Maybe they’re tired of the “if it feels good, do it” mentality and of being sexualized at an early age. Maybe they’re finding sinful pleasures meaningless and degrading.

Maybe they’re simply tired of the doom and gloom, self-serving attitudes, shallow relationships and casual pleasure that surrounds them. Maybe they’re longing for true deep connections with one another and to someone and a belief system that is real and eternal.

Tyndale House Publisher, Amy Simpson, attributes the surge in Bible reading, particularly among Gen Z-ers and college students, to a “generation that wants to find things that feel more solid.”

The American Bible Study in its report, State of the Bible USA 2024, concludes, “Young adults who engage with Scripture flourish just as much as older folks. The Bible, meaningfully applied to their lives, makes up for many of the negative issues that affect Gen Z more than older generations.”

Maybe God is revealing to their hearts that the way forward is to reach out to the God – the Great I AM – who changes nought. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Maybe they’re ready to hear the truth of the prophet Jeremiah 6:16…

Thus says the Lord: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.

Are Gen Z-ers Hungry for a New Way?

While Gen Z-ers have been described as the least religious generation America has ever seen and are considered twice as likely to become atheists, there is hope. God is moving within this generation.

Remember, The Asbury Revival in 2023? It was sparked by Gen Z-ers at Asbury University in Wilmore Kentucky. For 16 days, young people repented and worshipped God. Asbury attracted 50,000 to 70,000 students from over 200 colleges. Many said it was “a genuine authentic outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Gen Z.”

Gen-Zers have also been encouraged to read the Bible by social media influencers and celebrities who have become more open about their faith, such as Mark Wahlberg, Chris Pratt, Kirk Cameron, Reba McEntire, Dennis Quaid, and many others.

Even President-Elect Trump has spoken out on reading the Bible. He said, “All Americans need a Bible in their home, and I have many. It’s my favorite book. In the end we don’t answer to bureaucrats in Washington, we answer to God in Heaven. Let’s make America pray again.”

The Word of God is living and active

As Christians we know that the Bible is not simply words on a page. It’s “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12).

And who is the Word of God? Jesus. Or, as my favorite Christmas hymn O Come all Ye Faithful describes him, “Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.”

Let us pray that every single soul that has bought a Bible for the very first time this past year will find Jesus and ask Him into their hearts. Let us claim God’s promise for these young seekers of peace and truth, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.

Let us pray that they’ll discover the God who loves them so much that He was born to save them and died on the cross to pay the price of their sin. May they come to know the truth they will find in the Bible that it is only God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, who offers true hope to not only live victoriously in this world but offers the hope of eternal glory. “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13).

I encourage you to give a Bible to someone you know and suggest they begin with Genesis 1-11 for the foundation of why we’re here and our need for a Savior. Then the Gospel of John to understand who Jesus is and why He came. Then Romans which explains the gospel and salvation by faith in Christ. That’s a good place to start.

Let us claim God’s great promise for all who turn to the Bible, “So is My word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to Me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

Let us pray for the seed of God’s Word planted through the increased Bible sales in 2024 will lead to a bountiful harvest of souls in 2025. In the mighty name of Jesus our Savior. Amen.

“For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17

Share your prayers for God’s Word to go forth and change hearts below!

Belinda Brewster analyzes cultural, political, and world events from a biblical worldview. Belinda’s passion is to equip, support, and encourage parents and grandparents who are courageously battling against the spiritual and cultural forces impacting children and grandchildren. Photo Credit: Timothy Eberly on Unsplash.