“There are many words and concepts in Scripture that are completely foreign to the average 10^th grader. And yet, I know many wonderful adults who have been raised in the church and openly say that they can’t get through a popular level book on theology. It does make me wonder if they can get through their Bible then, because these type of books are to help and supplement their Bible reading.”

Did you know that the average adult reads between a 7^th and 9^th grade level? And studies show that we like to read two grades below our reading level for entertainment. Well I have a daughter going into the 7^th grade, and one going into the 10^th this fall. They are intelligent girls and all, but my 38-year-old self would be insulted if I had to stop at their reading level.

And yet there are plenty of intelligent people who do not have the stamina to read a popular level book on the basics of theology. As a writer in this genre, I often wonder at the irony of writing a book that is technically supposed to be at a lower reading level than the Bible. I mean, the Bible is for everyone, right? What reading level is the Bible? There is some disagreement, but according to the chart offered at Christianbook.com, the ESV is written at a 10^th grade reading level.

I think that is generous.

There are many words and concepts in Scripture that are completely foreign to the average 10^th grader. And yet, I know many wonderful adults who have been raised in the church and openly say that they can’t get through a popular level book on theology. It does make me wonder if they can get through their Bible then, because these type of books are to help and supplement their Bible reading.

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