News

Go Figure

Recent stats on church life, the Bible, and spirituality.

Church Life

272 Messianic congregations in the United States, not counting small house-church fellowships.

150 Messianic congregations in 2003.

Source: ChristianSourceLists.com

Bible

68% Americans who can identify that the 3 in John 3:16 refers to the third chapter of John.

103,923 Wikipedia searches for John 3:16 the day after Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow threw for 316 yards in a playoff game.

18,327 Wikipedia searches for John 3:16 the day after Focus on the Family aired a John 3:16—focused ad during the next Broncos game.

Source: David Kinnaman, Barna Research

Spirituality

66% Churchgoing Americans who say they have “felt a real and personal connection with God” there.

44% Weekly churchgoers who say they feel that connection weekly.

18% Weekly churchgoerswho say they feel that connection monthly.

Source: Barna Research

Copyright © 2012 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

Related Elsewhere:

See our past “Go Figure” postings from February 2012, January 2012, December 2011, November 2011, October 2011, September 2011, August 2011, July 2011, June 2011, May 2011, April 2011, February 2011, January 2011, December 2010, and earlier issues.

See CT’s news section and liveblog for more news updates.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

The Missing Factor in Higher Education

Vicarious Humanity: By His Birth We Are Healed

Wilson's Bookmarks

Review

Could God Have Created a World Without Suffering?

Michael Patton Brews a Potent Theology

My Top 5 Books On Archaeology

Review

The Heart of Christian Life: Pillars of Hospitality

Are Secular Television Shows with Moral Messages Good for Christian Children?

Why Are Our Communion Meals So Paltry?

Interview: Julie Lee

The 'Above All' Commandment of the Sabbath

Family as Calling: Finding Vocation In and Near the Home

News

Evangelical Foundations See Surge in Donations

Editorial

The Supreme Court's Religious Freedom Reality Check

The Evangelistic Question That Died

News

Persecution in VBS Materials: How Much Information is Too Much for Children?

News

Tsunami Aftermath: Second Chances in Japan

Excerpt

Your Church Is Too Safe

Sailing into the Storm: Philip Ryken and D. Michael Lindsay on the Challenges in Christian Higher Education

News

Presbyterians Form a New Denomination, Court Upholds Ultrasound Law, and More

Letters to the Editor

News

City Shuts Down Church Club

Learning Life Lessons from Russian Babushkas

Little Colleges That Could

GCB: Desperate Christian Housewives

News

Quotation Marks

News

Is Mercury Pollution's Effect on Newborns a Pro-Life Issue?

Review

Out of the Darkness of Porn

More Media

Books to Note

Two Minutes With ... Julie Lee

Folkie Finds Love

Online Poll

News

Passages

Why Last Saturday's Political Conclave of Evangelical Leaders Was Dangerous

View issue

Our Latest

Sent to Your Street

Mission isn’t just across the ocean. It’s across the street. God places his people in neighborhoods and cities so the nations might know him.

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Brooke Baldwin: Is the News Broken – or Are We?

The just life means living in the light with truth and integrity.

The Just Life with Benjamin Watson

Angela Stanton King: Mothers, Babies and The Measure of Justice

How ordinary people can create extraordinary change and why serving moms and protecting children belongs at the heart of justice.

The National Guard Won’t Fix Our Crime Problem

Lasting solutions come when we draw near to victims and seek God’s help in prayer.

How Then Shall America Pray?

The White House’s new prayer initiative reveals much about our national character.

News

Most Men Are Pro-Life. Activists Want Them to Speak Up.

Programs seek to help fathers voice opinions and take responsibility.

Analysis

For Kirk’s Fans, Provocation Wasn’t the Point

Young Christians in Kentucky remember how he treated question-askers and critics.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube