Discipleship methods used by churches
Percent of U.S. Protestant pastors saying their church uses each method, 2019 (in percent)
Key finding
Highest: Ongoing adult Sunday School or small group Bible studies (96%). Lowest: Accountability groups (33%).
- Ongoing adult Sunday School or small group Bible studies: 96%
- Women's groups or classes: 80%
- Short-term adult Bible studies: 79%
Source: Lifeway Research, Pastors, Programs, or People: Who Makes Disciples in Your Church? · Lifeway Research 2019 survey of pastors on discipleship in their churches. Article published 2021-04-13.
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Questions about this statistic
What does this statistic show?
Highest: Ongoing adult Sunday School or small group Bible studies (96%). Lowest: Accountability groups (33%). Ongoing adult Sunday School or small group Bible studies: 96%. Women's groups or classes: 80%. Short-term adult Bible studies: 79%.
Who published this data?
Lifeway Research, 2019. Source: Lifeway Research, Pastors, Programs, or People: Who Makes Disciples in Your Church? (https://research.lifeway.com/2021/04/13/pastors-programs-or-people-who-makes-disciples-in-your-church/).
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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
- Americans coping with the pandemic through daily activities Lifeway Research, 2020
- Americans who pray weekly Barna Group, 2020
- Christians who feel their spiritual life is entirely private Barna Group, 2020
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.