Approaches churches use to disciple adults
Percent of U.S. Protestant pastors using each approach, 2025 (in percent)
Key finding
Highest: Sermons in weekly worship service (89%). Lowest: Accountability groups (14%).
- Sermons in weekly worship service: 89%
- Adult Sunday School classes: 69%
- Adult small group Bible studies: 62%
Source: Lifeway Research, Discipleship Is a Priority Without a Plan for Many Churches · Survey of 2,620 Protestant pastors; 95% confidence, margin of error plus or minus 2.05%. Article published 2025-08-21.
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Questions about this statistic
What does this statistic show?
Highest: Sermons in weekly worship service (89%). Lowest: Accountability groups (14%). Sermons in weekly worship service: 89%. Adult Sunday School classes: 69%. Adult small group Bible studies: 62%.
Who published this data?
Lifeway Research, 2025. Source: Lifeway Research, Discipleship Is a Priority Without a Plan for Many Churches (https://research.lifeway.com/2025/08/21/discipleship-is-a-priority-without-a-plan-for-many-churches/).
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More Bible & Discipleship statistics
- Americans in the Movable Middle, curious about the Bible American Bible Society, 2026
- Americans who have not read any of the Bible American Bible Society, 2026
- Churches with an intentional plan for discipling individuals Lifeway Research, 2026
- Churchgoers' agreement with statements about Bible engagement Lifeway Research, 2026
- Churchgoers who read the Bible at least a few times a week Lifeway Research, 2026
- Discipleship habits of Protestant churchgoers Lifeway Research, 2026
About this data
Leader Insights collects statistics about U.S. churches from published research by organizations such as Lifeway Research, Barna Group, Springtide, the American Bible Society and PRRI. Every number is checked against the wording of the original source before it is published, and each statistic links back to the study it came from. Figures are reproduced from the publishers named above; see the source for full methodology.