Bible Reading Practices in the AFM

BIBLE READING PRACTICES IN THE AFM How important is the Bible in the lives of Pentecostal believers? How frequently do they read the Bible and what role does the Bible play in their daily lives? The Education and Training Department of the AFM decided to do empirical research across the country and representative of all our assemblies, to investigate how and why our members read the Bible.

A questionnaire was utilised in the analysis and the demographic realities of South Africa were reflected in the data collection.

The analysis of the questionnaire shows that our members and pastors love their Bibles and use it regularly. They read it daily and it informs their daily practices. Some of the important conclusions gained from the questionnaire about Bible reading practices in the AFM are the following:

98%

read the Bible in its printed form while...

96% have a Bible (indicating that 4% do not have a Bible).

72%

read the Bible in its printed form while...

24% read it on an electronic device

This is an exciting development, that the Bible is available on ipads, tablets and smartphones and our members carry the Word of God with them everywhere they go.

47%

of participants indicate that they only read the Bible while

33%

use the Bible and a commentary and

23%

use the Bible and a daily devotional.

This is also encouraging although one is sometimes worried about the quality and paradigm of the material used to interpret the Biblical message.

74% read the Bible on a daily basis. Isn’t this encouraging?

Our members rely on the Bible as a daily guide for their lives!

41% read more than one chapter a day. 30% read one chapter a day.

This gives a high percentage of more than 70% of participants spending time with the Bible on a regular basis and indicate that participants use their Bibles well.

of families read the Bible on a daily basis together. One is surprised that no less than a third of the participants read the Bible as a family although one wishes that all families will develop this custom

35%

– a family that prays together stays together!

participants indicate that they have read most of the Old and New Testament

42%

think they have read all of 33% the New Testament have read all of the Old Testament.

35%

}

30% attend a weekly Bible study group and 30% never attend a Bible study.

In terms of personal convictions: 92%

87%

85%

75%

Believe in God

Believe in Jesus

Are born again

Are Spirit-Filled

This is also exciting, that 75% of those who participated witness to the fact that the have experienced the baptism with the Spirit.

75% of participants indicate thet they pray more than once during the day. Spirit-filled believers stay in touch with head office!

61%

of participants are of the opinion that their minister knows the Bible well. This perception is worrying, especially if the perception is based on reality.

that the Bible is taught well at their 58% think church.

participants think that their 52% ofminister’s sermons are Bible based.

that reference is made to a Bible 49% state during sermons.

This is a worrying phenomenon that in my opinion deserves the attention of the AFM, its leaders and its pastors, and it should be addressed on a national and regional level.

67%

participants believe that the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God.

66%

that everything the Bible says is true.

30%

believe that the Bible must be interpreted in the context and culture of its time.

This last percentage is worrying since it serves as a sign that a part of the church read the Bible without considering its context in a world that differs from ours.

In conclusion, it seems that the research into Bible reading practices in the AFM shows that the AFM still considers the Bible as the most important book in the lives of believers.

Prof. Marius Nel North-West University