Bible Reading in Australia at Crisis Levels

The last Australian Church Life Survey showed that only 19% of church attendees read the Bible daily or on most days; 12% of respondents read the Bible a few times a week, 5% once a week, 27% occasionally and 37% hardly ever or never!

In an attempt to improve these statistics, seven Scripture-promoting organisations have joined hands to encourage all Australian Christians to develop a habit of daily Bible reading.

The Bible Society, Bible League Australia, Global Recordings Network, The Pocket Testament League, Scripture Gift Mission International, Scripture Union and Wycliffe Bible Translators have sent a letter to over 7400 congregations Australia-wide to ask that they set aside one week in the year to focus on helping individuals to develop the discipline of reading the Bible 365 days a year.

As a practical way of getting started, an easy-to-use Daily Bible Reading Guide has been produced to help each reader on this most rewarding and life-changing journey-reading the Word of God. An order form for churches is found on the Bible Society website www.biblesociety.com.au . The cost is $8.50/50 Reading Guides. A colourful poster with space for adding a date is free to all those who order more than 50 Reading Guides. The Reading Guide may be downloaded and printed for individual use.

Two sample sermon outlines, a children's talk and current Bible distribution figures will be posted on our website-free to download-during June.

For more information on the Bible Celebration material or an order form, please contact Jorge Rodrigues, Director Scriptures Division, scriptures@bible.org.au, ph +61-2-9839 9032.

Courtesy of The Religious Media Agency, Ramon A.Williams, PO Box 494, Padstow NSW 2211, AUSTRALIA