AI in Sermon Prep: How Pastors Can Responsibly Use AI 

AI is here, whether you like it or not. Don’t panic. We haven’t reached Skynet levels yet. However, we’re definitely moving forward in terms of technology.

As a pastor or church leader, you can approach AI in three ways:

• Retreat into a digital cave and pretend nothing is happening
• Use AI to perform specific tasks with human oversight
• Go all-in on AI. Use it for everything. Name your son “Algorithm”. 

Which one is best?

Here’s the thing. AI is a tool. Just like a drill or cotton gin (shout out to Eli Whitney) or computer, AI can be used in good ways and bad ways. 

You can use AI to help you in incredible ways. It can spark ideas that ultimately find their way into your sermon. It can help you clarify a sermon outline and find new insights into the Bible. 

But AI isn’t the Holy Spirit. AI can’t wrestle with a passage, waiting for God-given insights. You can’t use AI to pray over your sermon. AI doesn’t know about the church member struggling with depression or the mom who is totally overwhelmed. 

If you want to honor God while still benefiting from AI, there are some things you need to consider. 

What AI Can and Can’t Do for Pastors

So here’s the deal. AI can’t think like we do.

AI analyzes billions of websites, documents, books, spreadsheets, social media posts, legal documents, medical studies, and tons of other sources. 

Analyzing this enormous amount of information allows AI to identify patterns. It can understand how different pieces of data are related to each other. For example, it could learn that the word “desert” is associated with concepts like “dry”, “cactus”, “heat”, and “sand”. 

It doesn’t instinctively know that these words and ideas go together. It knows that when someone writes “desert”, it’s highly likely that the other related pieces of information will accompany it. It guesses what comes next based on the billions of factors it identified. 

This distinction matters for pastors. AI can help you write more efficiently, but it doesn’t understand theology. It can’t exercise faith or be guided by the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t pray over your message, and it doesn’t grasp the meaning of Scripture.

Some people worry about the existence of AI. I’ve seen social media posts claiming that demons are what’s really behind AI. You don’t have to worry about that. AI is a set of computer code stored on numerous machines.

And even though AI demons don’t exist, AI can still be used in wrong, even sinful ways that dishonor God. 

On the flip side, it can be used to do good things that honor God, like sermon preparation and research. 

Benefits of Using AI in Sermon Preparation

Alright. Now that you know the basics of how AI works, let’s talk about how you can use it responsibly during sermon preparation. 

Generating Ideas and Brainstorming Themes

Sometimes ideas and inspiration flood your brain. But sometimes the well is dry. You just can’t come up with a good theme for next month’s Sunday sermons. Your page is blank. Your mind is blank.

AI can help you get through the dry times by suggesting sermon ideas, titles, or themes you might not have considered. With a simple prompt like “sermon series ideas on forgiveness” or “creative ways to preach on the parables of Jesus,” AI will return numerous possibilities.

This can open your mind to new directions. But don’t take the first idea that jumps out at you and run with it. God still must be involved. Pray through ideas. Compare them with Scripture. Use them as starting points, not final drafts.

Research Help and Scripture Cross-Referencing

Your brain is limited. There are missing connections, gaps in your knowledge, and topics you’ve never studied. This can limit what you bring into your sermon prep. There are thousands of helpful books and commentaries you don’t know about. There are connections between verses that you may have missed. 

AI tools can direct you to helpful resources, provide context for Bible passages, or generate lists of related Scriptures. For instance, you might ask, “What Old Testament passages illustrate God’s justice?” or “What is the Greek word that translates to 'grace'?”

This can help you move faster when you’re trying to figure out related verses to include in your sermon or the historical context of a passage.

Again, you can’t take the Holy Spirit out of the equation. Don’t just grab information without taking the time to think and pray about it. Don’t shortchange yourself with shortcuts. Actively engage with the Lord throughout the entire preparation process. 

Also, AI doesn’t always get details right. Make sure your Bible verses are correct and that it hasn’t made up any information. AI has been known to generate content that sounds authentic, such as quotes, albums, books, and numbers. 

Double-check everything. If a C.S. Lewis quote includes the word “bro”, you know AI made it up (this is an extreme example, but still). 

Structuring Sermons and Organizing Notes

Sermon preparation often yields numerous good ideas that aren’t well-organized or structured. AI tools can help you structure your sermon in a logical way that flows smoothly and effectively. It can suggest ways to group your points so the message flows naturally.

It can also help format your notes or condense sections that feel too lengthy. But don’t let the tool dictate your delivery. Your personal style and connection with your congregation are what make your preaching resonate.

One caveat. God ordained the structure and logic of each verse and passage. Not every sermon can or should be neatly packaged into three points that all start with “J”. AI tools can help you organize your sermon, but ultimately, let the passage itself shape your sermon.

Enhancing Clarity and Communication

If you write out your sermons rather than just using short bullet points, AI can help refine your writing. Maybe you’re working on an introduction or illustration, and it feels choppy to you. 

You can ask AI to simplify the language or make it more engaging. It can also point out awkward phrasing or suggest alternative wording.

However, your voice and tone matter most. AI writing can be bland and somewhat generic. Don’t settle for that. 

Your congregation listens to you, not a computer. Make sure any changes you use are really from you and not AI.

Guidelines for Using AI Responsibly in Ministry

To use AI in ways that glorify God, you need to establish clear guidelines. 

Keep Scripture and the Spirit Central

The foundation of your preaching must always be God’s Word and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Don’t ever let AI take you away from that foundation. Stay rooted in God’s word and always pray for the Holy Spirit to give you understanding. 

If you find yourself using AI to do something you would usually study and pray over, you’re going the wrong way. 

Maintain Integrity and Avoid Plagiarism

Be honest about how you use AI. You don’t have to announce every time you use an AI tool, but someone on your team should know how you use it and hold you accountable. Think of AI like a commentary: it’s a source of ideas, but not a source of truth. You’re still accountable for what you preach.

Never, never, never times a million present something you got directly from AI as your own. AI can write an entire sermon in less than a minute. But if you copy and paste any portion of that sermon (or any substantial text), you are plagiarizing. 

Yes, you’re plagiarizing a computer, but the point still stands. Plus, doing the copy/paste trick is effectively lying to your congregation. 

Prioritize Accuracy and Sound Theology

AI can make significant mistakes. It might mix up Bible references, cite Scripture incorrectly, or describe theology in poorly chosen terms. Always verify any fact or verse before including it in your sermon notes.

One simple rule: use AI for efficiency. Use Scripture for authority.

Don’t Become Over-Reliant

AI can be a time-saver, but don’t lean on it too much. Sermon preparation is more than producing content. You’re not a journalist or author or blogger during sermon prep. You’re a pastor, and the process of study, prayer, and wrestling with Scripture transforms you.

As I’ve said repeatedly, let AI handle the organizational details. But don’t skip the personal engagement with God’s Word. The best sermons come from hearts set on fire by the Word of God and the Spirit.

Helpful AI Prompts for Pastors to Get Started

If you’re unsure where to start, here are a few AI prompts to help get your sermon started:

• “Give me a list of key Bible passages about forgiveness.”
• “Suggest three sermon titles based on the content of the sermon.”
• “Rewrite this introduction in a simpler, more conversational tone.”
• “Give the historical background of 1 Corinthians.”
• “What are some common misconceptions about grace I should address?”

Each of these prompts aids in practical sermon preparation. The goal is to spark ideas, not outsource inspiration.

How to Use AI Without Losing Your Pastoral Voice

AI isn’t going anywhere. Pastors who learn to use it wisely can benefit greatly. It can lighten your workload and give you more time to focus on ministry and people. But your sermons should always be from you, not a soulless, emotionless group of computer code.

More amazing innovations are coming. Maybe they’ll make communion wafers that don’t taste like cardboard. Maybe worship leaders will understand how the law of diminishing returns applies to choruses (sorry, that’s a worship joke). 

Seriously, though, we don’t have to be afraid of new technology. God is still the same. The gospel is unchanged. Jesus still saves, and the Holy Spirit still moves. 

The way we reach people with the gospel might change, but the mission of the church will always remain the same. 

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