The Unread Bestseller

We have free and ample access to

God’s Holy Book. Do we know what

it says?

The Unread Bestseller• Approximately 100 million Bibles

are printed worldwide each year making it the best selling book of all time.

• 92% of all Americans own at least one edition

• The Gideons distribute over 45 million Bibles each year

• However, in times past, the words of God were not as readily available as they are today.

The Unread Bestseller• In Middle Ages it took three

tedious years for qualified scribes to hand print just one copy of the Scriptures.

• Only the rich and powerful had a copy of the text.

• Most were uneducated, and unable to read in their own language, much less the Latin text that was most common in that day.

The Unread Bestseller• By the 1450’s Johannes Gutenberg invented

the printing press

• The Bible was the first book printed.– The Gutenberg Bible opened the door for placing

God’s word into the hands of the people.– However, it still took

3 years for 180 copies and still out of reach of the common man.

– Gutenberg’s Bible cost the equivalent of 3 years’ salary for an average worker.

The Unread Bestseller

• Men such as Martin Luther, John Wycliffe and William Tyndale sacrificed greatly in their efforts to have the Bible printed and translated into the common languages of man.

• Because of their efforts and God’s providence, today we have free and ample access to the Word of God. But…

The Unread Bestseller• 64% of Americans fail to read the

Bible because they claim they are just too busy.

• Less than 50% of Americans can name the first book of the Bible (Gallup)

• 66% don’t know who delivered the sermon on the mount (Gallup)

• A 1997 Barna survey reported that 12% of those questioned thought Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife!

• The Bible has become the “unread Bestseller”

The Unread Bestseller

• You have a Bible that has been translated into your own language– Do you delight in it? (Psalm 119:16, 103)

• You have been blessed with an education which allows you to read your Bible– Do you study it? (Psalm 119:148; 2 Tim 2:15)

• You are not persecuted for owning a Bible– Are you ashamed to be seen carrying one?

(Romans 1:16)

The Unread Bestseller

• Many have sacrificed their freedom and lives in order to translate it into the common venacular– Do you stand in awe of it? (Psalm 119:61)

• Apostles and Prophets were imprisoned, whipped, and violently executed so you could have God’s holy word– Do you walk worthy of it? (Ephesians 4:1-3)

• Jesus was crucified so you could have the truth– Will you obey it? (John 1:1, 14; 6:68)

The Unread Bestseller

• You have the life-giving gospel– Will you share it with others?

(Mark 16:15)• Many parents in the past could not read the

Bible to their children– Do you read it to yours? (Deuteronomy 6:6-9;

Ephesians 6:4; 2 Timothy 3:14-15)• You have the divinely revealed mind of God

recorded for you!– Do you twist, pervert, and add your opinions to

it? (Galatians 1:6-9)

The Unread BestsellerThe Unread BestsellerYou have within your grasp the words of eternal life! Do your eyes fail from searching it?

“My eyes fail from searching your word…” (Psalm 119:82)

“These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so” (Acts 17:11).