Short Attention Spans and Bible Engagement: A Growing Challenge—and an Innovative Aid
Every pastor knows the congregation that listens with appreciation during the sermon, then taps on their screen or slips away from Scripture as soon as they return home. It’s not that they lack faith or desire—many long for deeper connection with the Word—but today’s short attention spans, fueled by the pace and distractions of modern life, are fragmenting biblical engagement in profound ways.
The Distraction Dilemma
Research paints a concerning portrait: though many affirm belief in Scripture’s importance, a far smaller percentage regularly open their Bibles. A Pew study found that while 63% of Americans say the Bible matters, only 22% engage with it weekly—and just over half attend church at least a few times a year. That gap represents more than missed sermons—it’s stories untold, truths unrealized, and hearts left unstirred.
Short attention spans are the invisible disruptors. Between work, home, news feeds, and endless scrolling, sustained reading—even a few chapters—can feel like climbing a hill with a constant barrage of interruptions. For pastors, this reality challenges us to rethink not only sermon delivery but how our congregants encounter Scripture daily.
Why It Matters—Beyond Sunday Morning
Engaging Scripture is more than a spiritual discipline; it anchors identity, fuels transformation, and shapes character. When attention drifts, Scripture becomes an abstract concept rather than living breath. The implication is spiritual: our people may hear truths proclaimed, but without regular, focused reading, those truths can fail to take root in daily life. As Pastor Resources highlights, engagement should extend beyond Sunday—and yet, how often does it truly?
Increasingly, we’re not just competing with weekend plans but with bite-sized content, notifications, and a culture that rewards speed over depth. So how can pastors help bridge the gap between “I am a Christian” and “I am a Bible reader”?
A Bible Focus Aid from Zondervan Bibles
As a Bible publisher, Zondervan is acutely aware of this decline in attention spans today which is making it more difficult for readers to sit down with the Bible. For this reason, Zondervan created the Clear Focus Bible, an innovative format designed specifically to help readers overcome attention barriers. Here’s why it may be worth introducing to your congregation:
The Clear Focus Bible (available in the NIV, NIrV, NASB, and Spanish NVI), was designed using the Bionic Reading method. Developed from cognitive science and Swiss design, the Bionic Reading method highlights, in bold letters, the portion of each word the brain needs to recognize it without reading every letter. The eye is guided from word to word over the text enabling readers to read more with greater comprehension. Readers can focus more easily and read more content in the same amount of time. Many readers find a “flow” of smooth and enjoyable Bible reading when they read the Clear Focus Bible. You can see examples of this method on their website: clearfocusbible.com.
How This Format Addresses Attention Challenges
What makes this format helpful in today’s world is how directly it engages the reality of fragmented attention. By helping the reader smoothly move through Scripture text, the Clear Focus Bible reduces the cognitive overload that comes from staring down a wall of text. Readers who might otherwise feel defeated before they begin can enter Scripture with more confidence, even when time is limited. And because the design is uncluttered and visually calming, it creates a focused atmosphere that prioritizes God’s Word. The aids to focus withing Bionic Reading have also been known to be helpful for readers with dyslexia or ADHD.
Conclusion: Guiding the Distracted Toward Depth
In a culture shaped by speedy scrolling and divided attention, pastors are tasked with helping people slow down, re-engage, and sit under the text again. The Clear Focus Bible is not a replacement for study Bibles or preaching—but a companion that meets readers where they are. It gently guides them into the practice of Bible enjoyment and fosters increased understanding.
As a powerful sermon will often use language and structure to connect with a congregation, the Clear Focus Bible uses typesetting and layout to anchor readers amid today’s noise. It’s an approach worth considering—not only to help your congregation open their Bibles more often, but to help them stay in enjoyment of Scripture, even tackling entire Biblical books in a single sitting.
Zondervan is a world leading Bible publisher and provider of Christian books and Bibles, dedicated to producing quality Christian content with integrity.
Sample layouts and images: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/11Vz7XFcaaPcvXSY8INtyGzQaKZ4FgrBt?usp=sharing
Laura Bartlett is Associate Publisher for Zondervan Bibles, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. She leads the Bible editorial team, acquires and develops new products, and helps manage the business operations of one of the largest Bible publishers in the world. Laura has worked in the publishing industry for 22 years, previously in academic publishing.
