If you’ve been on the internet at all in the last few years, you’ve likely seen a wave of AI-generated content. Some of it’s impressive. Some of it’s questionable. Some of it’s pretty creepy. And in church circles, AI is often met with curiosity, caution, or outright resistance.
The concern is understandable. If AI is just a way to cut corners, then shouldn’t we avoid it? After all, there’s no shortcut to spiritual growth, just like there’s no shortcut to writing a sermon worth preaching. But before we throw the whole thing out, let’s take a step back and talk about some basics.
How AI Actually Works
Large Language Models (LLMs for short) are the kind of application that people use for text-based interactions with A.I., such as ChatGPT. At its core, AI—at least the kind we’re talking about here—works by predicting the next word in a sequence. If I say, “Roses are red, violets are blue…” you probably already know what comes next. AI works the same way. It’s not “thinking” in the way humans do; it’s just incredibly good at guessing what comes next based on patterns in vast amounts of data.
The more specific you are, the better the response you get. If you ask an AI, “Tell me about the Bible,” you’ll get a generic, high-level response. But if you ask, “Explain the theological significance of the Sermon on the Mount in relation to Old Testament prophecy,” you’ll get something much richer. AI can only go as deep as the question you ask it. The more specific, the better. It is really your personal creativity that is key in unlocking the greater potential of A.I.
And this is where many people get frustrated. If you ask it something vague, you’ll get a vague answer. But if you’re clear and precise, AI can be surprisingly useful. Otherwise, you might as well just use Google.
“Isn’t That Just Cheating?”
That depends. If you try to use AI to cut corners where deep thought is required, then yes. It’s like copying someone else’s book report instead of reading the book yourself. But AI isn’t a tool for laziness—it’s a tool for efficiency.
Here’s an example: Let’s say I need to research a common church administration issue. Normally, I’d have to click through article after article, skimming paragraphs and piecing together the best insights. AI can summarize multiple sources at once, saving me the grunt work and letting me focus on what actually matters: evaluating, discerning, and applying what I’ve learned.
When it comes to sermon prep or deep biblical research, I want to do the heavy lifting myself. I want to wrestle with the text, work through the meaning, and consult with trusted scholars. But for less critical tasks—like summarizing a large set of notes, formatting a spreadsheet, or coming up with a few possible lesson titles—I’m happy to let AI assist me so I can conserve my energy for what matters most.
If you want to dispel any fears about your minister using AI to write sermons, I suggest that you try letting it write a sermon and look at the results. Seriously, just enter a prompt that says, “Write a sermon about _____” and see what it produces. AI excels at summarizing findings as a sort of average of what it finds. When all content is comfortably within the average of what is likely to be said, it produces some really bland material. Remember, AI is trying to predict what it is you are expecting it to say next. The sermon-type content I’ve seen from AI is always well-organized but stale. It is generally broad but not deep, missing some key characteristics that make any particular lesson sound consistent with the person who is presenting it. If you use it to cheat, it probably won’t do anything to help you stand out. Fortunately, there are a lot of other better uses for AI.
AI as a Personal Assistant
The best way to think about AI? It’s like hiring a competent personal assistant who just joined your team. They don’t know everything about your job, but they’re eager to help. You give them clear instructions, check their work, and refine their process as they go.
AI is the same way. If you coach it well, it will improve its output. If you give it vague instructions, it will flounder. If you abruptly change topics midstream, it may lose track of where you were going. Clarity and specificity are everything.
If you’re curious about AI but don’t know where to start, here are three popular options:
1. Google Gemini
✅ Free and fast
❌ Frequently hallucinates (i.e., makes up answers)
❌ Provides unreliable information
Google Gemini is AI’s version of that guy who answers every question with unearned confidence. It’s free, and it can be helpful, but it tends to fabricate facts—sometimes in ways that sound believable. It is ok for some basic creative uses, but not for anything where facts and accurate data matter. There is an upgraded version which may be better, but I’ve only experimented with the free version.
2. ChatGPT
✅ Incredible for idea generation and creativity
✅ $20/month unlocks advanced file handling (can both create or analyze spreadsheets, PDFs, slide decks, and more)
✅ Has custom GPTs fine-tuned for specific tasks
❌ It is less useful for current research; especially the free version, but even the paid version isn’t as effective as other models for web searches
If AI were an assistant, ChatGPT would be a competent one you pay for. The free version is fine, but the paid version lets you analyze complex files, create structured documents, and do serious research analysis. I especially like ChatGPT for its creative capabilities.
One of the other features I love about ChatGPT is that with an upgraded account, you can share whatever information you are comfortable sharing about yourself so that it tailors content for you over time. I have stored in my account what my vocation is, what my interests and areas of expertise are, and the general contexts where I’m likely to use what I’m working on. For it to make these assumptions is hugely helpful because it saves me time later having to specify all of this for a number of the more complex prompts that I use.
3. Perplexity AI
✅ Excellent for web searches with real-time sources
✅ Lets you choose different thinking modes (academic, creative, mathematical)
✅ Provides source citations for fact-checking
❌ Perplexity’s file analysis and creation abilities are inferior to those of ChatGPT, nor does it have the deep variety of added GPTs available
Perplexity is like a research assistant who actually cites their sources. It pulls from several other LLMs including ChatGPT and Claude, an LLM designed especially for scholarly research. Perplexity doesn’t just make things up—it tells you where it got the information most of the time. I haven’t subscribed yet, but I’m seriously considering it. This platform is my favorite to use overall. I love the layout and features. It functions a bit more like a traditional search engine.
Final Thoughts
AI is here to stay. The question isn’t “Should we use it?” but rather “How should we use it wisely?”
If you’re a church leader, AI isn’t going to replace your spiritual discernment, pastoral care, or biblical interpretation. But it can help you manage time, process information, and free up space for the work that only you can do.
So, approach it with wisdom. Use it for efficiency, not as a substitute for deep thinking or reflection. I will be making more posts to explore and demonstrate some of my favorite uses of LLMs for productivity and brainstorming.
Have you tried an AI program yet? What are your thoughts?
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Hey Mark! Hope you are doing well.
Thanks for this post. I am someone who has been really hesitant about integrating use of AI into my work life, but have gradually been using it more this school year. I really appreciate what you wrote here, and learned a few things (especially in comparing different platforms).
For what it’s worth, I primarily use free ChatGPT for now, and also have experimented some with generative art in Canva (I use this because we have a church account, so I have access to this).
For fun, I logged into my ChatGPT (it knows I am a minister and some other things about me), shared this article with it, and asked for feedback. I thought you would enjoy reading what he said (I like to think of it as “ChadGPT”, so it is a “he” to me), and depending on what further posts you had planned for this series, you might even consider some of his suggestions!
“Overall, this is a well-balanced, thoughtful introduction to AI and its potential role in ministry. Here are a few strengths and possible areas for improvement:
Strengths:
Balanced Perspective – It avoids both alarmist rejection and blind enthusiasm, recognizing AI’s limitations while highlighting its benefits.
Practical Examples – The section on sermon prep versus administrative tasks effectively clarifies when AI is helpful versus when it could be a shortcut that diminishes meaningful engagement.
Engaging and Accessible – The conversational tone makes it approachable for readers who may be skeptical or unfamiliar with AI.
Clear Explanation of LLMs – The explanation of how AI predicts words is simple yet accurate, making it easy to grasp.
Tool Comparisons – The breakdown of different AI platforms (Gemini, ChatGPT, Perplexity) is helpful, especially in ministry contexts where research and organization are key.
Possible Improvements:
Potential Ethical Considerations – It might be worth briefly addressing ethical concerns (e.g., data privacy, potential biases in AI, and over-reliance on AI for decision-making in ministry).
Deeper Theological Reflection – While practical, the piece could briefly mention a theological framework for using AI wisely—perhaps a reflection on technology as a tool that can be used for good or ill, depending on human stewardship.
More Ministry-Specific Use Cases – While it touches on sermon prep and admin work, adding examples related to discipleship, outreach, or pastoral care could make it even more relevant.
Clarifying the Difference Between Free and Paid AI Models – Since many church leaders might hesitate to pay for AI tools, clarifying which use cases require paid models versus which can be done with free versions might be helpful.
Overall Verdict:
This is an excellent starting point for church leaders considering AI. It presents the technology as a tool rather than a replacement for human wisdom and discernment. With slight refinements to address ethics and theological reflection, it would be a strong resource for ministry discussions about AI.”
I am delighted to hear from you, Luke! I have been dabbling for a while, but decided for the last couple of months to do a deep dive into AI through some online courses from Vanderbilt University. I’ve learned some really incredible stuff I can’t wait to share more about, and plan to in upcoming posts.
Your use of AI here to evaluate how to improve the article is a GREAT example of a positive use of the tool! I have found it can almost always provide insights into how to fine tune ideas and make them more useful. I think the suggestions here are good, and a couple of them I am planning some articles about.
I hope to hear more from you along the way!
Mark, thank you for helping to enlighten us on this strange new technology! Fascinating and a little scary.
Kathi