Source Library | Chapter & Verse

How to use a statistic well

Every statistic should do one of four jobs: describe the world people live in, illustrate a human need or condition, clarify the scale of a problem, or support wise ministry planning. Never use one to exaggerate a crisis, shame a population, stir up emotion, or claim more than the study shows. Scripture is the authority; a statistic only helps illustrate why the teaching remains relevant. It never “proves” it.

1. Start with Scripture. Decide the biblical truth first (for example James 1:19).

2. Name the human condition. What need or situation are you speaking to?

3. Find the original. Pick a category below and use the search buttons or live look-ups.

4. Read beyond the headline. Fill in the research note and check it.

5. Use it and cite it. Send it to your sermon, copy it, or add it to a slide.

Find a statistic

What should the search look for?

Research note

Fill this in before you use the number. Clicking “Use this” beside any topic above starts the note for you.

Paste from the original report (optional)

The statistic, exactly as the source states it

Population studied (who was measured)

What was measured

Year or dates data were collected

Year published

Geographic area

Sample size and margin of error

Original source (the organization)

Report or dataset

Direct link to the original report or table Limitations (what the number does not tell us)

Sermon, class or devotion topic

Biblical text

What job does this statistic do? How it supports the lesson (say “helps illustrate why the teaching remains relevant”, not “proves”)

Date verified

The organization behind this number could gain money or political advantage from an alarming conclusion

S.O.U.R.E. test Source: I know who published it Original: I found the original, not a repeat Universe: I know exactly who was measured Recency: the year is current enough Context: I read the text around the number Evidence quality: the method is sound

Use it in your work:

Your saved notes

Notes are saved only in this browser on this device. Download them to keep a copy. Live look-ups (World Bank, Bureau of Labor Statistics, UNHCR) pull the number straight from the official site; for everything else the buttons open the official source so you can read the original yourself. This program never makes up a number.